Aliana finally decided that she was just going to have to swim across with the saddlebags strapped to her back, and trust that her supplies didn't get too soggy. It wasn't a perfect plan in the least, but she could see no other solution. If only she could find a flat piece of tree bark, she could simply place the bag on that and then push it across as she swam. However, that would require that she leave the Cave, and go searching in the woods outside. Somehow, Aliana was not so keen to do that. She knew, instinctively perhaps, that once you enter the Cave, there was no going back. You just had to make do with the best you had.<br/><br/>She placed the bag on her back, thankful that it wasn't too heavy, and strapped it on tightly. She glanced at the water again, and found herself mesmerized by it's deep, dark color. She had to shake herself, and looked away. There was something about that lake, that was just drawing her in. She stripped off her boots, and threw them in the bag on her back. She knew from experience that the boots, which were made of leather, would only weigh her down in the water.<br/><br/>Finally, she reached the water's edge, and placed her foot in the lake, testing the the temperature. To her surprise, she found that the water wasn't cold or frigid as she was expecting. In fact, it was actually, quite warm and soothing. "Well, that's always nice.!" she muttered to herself, and began to wade into the water. She was surprised again as she realized that she was standing almost waist deep in the water, and while she could still feel the strange warmth of it--she was not wet. Rather than water, it merely felt as if she was moving through very heavy air.<br/><br/>This stunned her, and she stood there for a minute, unsure of what to do. Of course, she had heard of the wonders, and the magic of the Cave. But never had she imagined something like this even existing. Then a sudden thought struck her,<em>Is it possible to breathe in this water?</em><br/><br/>That concept frightened and excited her at the same time. She decided to test it out, and waded in a litter further, until the "water" was up to her shoulders, then, she took a deep breath, and plunged under. She opened her eyes first, and found that she could see as clearly in the water, as she could on land. The light from the cave hit the water at a strange angle, and the effect was that everything was tinted with a greenish color. Then, ever so slowly, her head close to the surface in case this didn't work, Aliana let go of her breath, and began to breathe in.<br/><br/>It worked. She was able to breathe under the water, just as she would on the land. She couldn't help it, a giggle burst out of her, and she twirled around, "This is amazing!" she said.