Only in the water for less than two minutes, Caelan was sincerely and thoroughly not enjoying the experience. He regretted sharing that he couldn’t swim, even now having forgotten how the topic was broached. Caelan was positive he looked very much like a frazzled cat in the water, clinging to Dusty like he would be swept away by a wave if he let go. He didn’t move a muscle, his limbs stiff and unwavering. The water was cool against his skin, but that only caused goosebumps to prickle along his arms.<br/><br/>“Dusty-” Caelan panicked, nearly slicing his fingernails into Dusty’s shoulders. He knew what was coming before he heard the first thud in the boat. “Dusty, no, please. Please, Dusty. My shoes!” The second came off and Caelan felt sick. He felt cold water between his toes just before his stomach crept into his throat.<br/><br/>It took Caelan time to thaw, glued to Dusty with his eyes squeezed shut. Under the water, his toes were curled up while he struggled<i>not </i>to imagine every single worst possible scenario to exist beneath the surface. Migrating Great White sharks. Piranhas. Alligators and poisonous catfish. Rusty barbed wire. The bodies of the very folk that lived in this area. Dusty said the dead didn’t mind. Was that because their bones were laying on the bottom of this very inlet?<br/><br/>When he finally relaxed and peeked his eyes open, he was greeted with Dusty’s face. The man was still holding onto him, instructing him on how to keep his head above water, essentially. “My body wants to get out of the water just as badly as my mind does.” Caelan murmured, his teeth chattering. He wasn’t sure he could trust his body to know what to do, as Dusty so easily proclaimed. His body would abandon him if given the chance.<br/><br/>Caelan took a leap of faith and pushed off of Dusty’s body, just enough so that he had space, but was still holding onto the man. Fear was still evident in his eyes, but he knew he had to be brave. He couldn’t trust his neighbors as far as he could throw them. It would be beneficial to learn how to swim. Caelan didn’t live far from the Mississippi River, and after his last conversation with the Vultures, he wasn’t positive that one wouldn’t “accidentally” push him in.<br/><br/>He kicked his legs and moved his free arm in a haphazard motion, sort of circular and zig-zaggy. Caelan pulled his hand free from Dusty and moved his other arm in unison, excitement exploding on his face like fireworks. “I’m… swimming…!” He hated the feeling of kicking and kicking and kicking and touching absolutely nothing. Caelan grunted as he reached blindly for Dusty, pulling himself closer.