"I know you don't like being touched," she said, letting go of his hands gently. "I'll stay away. I promise."
"I would be sad if you were less comfortable than I was," she told him, her hand on his back before she leaned over beside him, helping him with the pit. "This'll be good."
He exhaled, smiling slightly as he observed her before shaking his head. "Like I said, we'll see. Are you ready to go?"
She looked over, straightening up cheerfully, her hair falling out of her small ponytail. "Born ready."
She took his arm instinctively, looking up at him affectionately. "Where I'm going to learn how to swim."
"You don't know how to swim at all?" he asked curiously, looking over at her. "I thought you just might've been a weak swimmer."
She squinted at him. "I've never seen the ocean, Zerras," she told him flatly. "I mean, I won't drown in the river by my house, or anything, but... It's more a survival response than an actually trained response. I just wiggle until I get onto land."
She tilted her head before taking his arm again. "I bet I could convince her. If you wanted to, that is."
"I would like to," he admitted smoothly, "but I am afraid she wouldn't be easily swayed. Then again, I don't know her."
