"Dead don't mind," Dusty told him assuredly from the water, watching as Caelan dressed down in preparation of actually getting in. He waded calmly as the young man sat on the edge of the boat, warring with himself evidently. If Dusty had hesitated so, his father would have beat him black and blue and tossed him in regardless. He had learned not to hesitate in the presence of fear, but rather muscle through. Caelan worked through it on his own, in a different way. Dusty watched the seconds tick by as he bolstered himself and reached for him, requesting that Dusty didn't abandon him in the water.<br/><br/>Sliding into the water, Caelan clung to him with both hands. Instinct didn't take over. His limbs were heavy, useless weights, especially with the wet sneakers. Undoubtedly, he would have sunk like a stone if Dusty did let go. A paralyzing sort of fear, and Dusty probably had his work cut out for him trying to teach the tall, gangly city boy what to do with those long limbs in the water.<br/><br/>"You're alright," Dusty reassured. He hefted Caelan a bit closer, wrapping an arm around his waist so that he could reach down and pull both shoes from his feet to toss back into the boat. Wet and sopping, they would only weigh Caelan down and make it harder for his feet to cut through the water. There was no risk of touching bottom where they were, something Dusty was conscious of.  There was nothing good at the bottom of the riverways, after so many years of fishing and trapping. He wasn't so much worried about predators, but rather rusted old fishing gear or sharp knobs of the mangrove trees.<br/><br/>"Got to use your limbs," Dusty said, as if it was that easy, lowing him back into the water. He kept one hand under the back of Caelan's elbow, but drew away to show him how to his his arm and legs to glide through the water to keep him afloat. He didn't know how to really explain it. Swimming wasn't something he thought about, so engrained. It came as natural to Dusty as taking breath.<br/><br/>"No one ever explain it to me. Just got to trust your body to know what to do. Work trew da fear."