guys, i can't swim!

Despite the fear and panic that both father and daughter had endured not more than a few minutes ago, hearing Bramble manage to giggle at his bad humor brought a peace to Artorias' soul. The sound let him know she would be all right, and it was music to his ears. She even managed to joke back about the gross salty taste of the ocean water, earning her a little rumbling chuckle from her sire. The little sweetheart that she was, Bramble was swift to rebuke his story of how he had been a klutzy pup and adolescent growing up in the castle, and Artorias couldn't help but give a hearty laugh as well. "You are much too sweet to me, Brammy! It's true! Why do you think we have so little pottery in the castle?" Well, that, and a destroyed suit of armor he'd managed to walk into in a drunken stupor following one Feast of Unity, but she didn't need to know that story just yet. Art offered his daughter a compassionate and empathetic smile when she whined about how her siblings all seemed so good at the things they did. "Everyone has talents, Bramble. Some find theirs sooner than others. It took me seasons to learn to fight with a sword when it took your Aunt Gwyn only weeks to memorize herbs and make medicines. I know how it feels when you do your best, but it feels like others get things so much easier than you do." The dire wolf leaned down to nose and nuzzle his pup's damp crown. "You must remember that everyone grows at their own pace. Do not judge yourself by the standards of others. The only one who can defeat you is yourself."

Bramble eagerly accepted his offer to learn how to swim, even going so far as to demand he bring her down here every day until she got the hang of it, earning another delighted laugh from her sire. "As you wish, Your Grace!" he teased her with a mock bow of his head and a wide, toothy smile of amusement. In all honesty, it would be easy for him to give both Bramble and Talyssa swimming lessons together down here, but something in him said that it might be a better idea to let Bramble have solo lessons with him, at least at first. She promised not to come down to the water without an escort anymore, then fixed Art with a gaze that practically begged to be let go to swim. Well, he wouldn't keep his little darling waiting any longer! "That's my girl. Now come, let's find some more agreeable waters for us." Releasing Bramble in the direction of the shore, Artorias stood up and waded back to the beach, keeping to Bramble's side every step of the way to ensure she was okay now. Once his paws hit warm golden sands, Artorias led Bramble a short distance down the coast to the calm little cove he had found to teach Talyssa in. The waters here were much gentler, with placid ripples of the tide barely disturbing the water's surface and shielded from the larger waves by the rocks that surrounded it. A pup's perfect little wading pool!

Artorias gestured for Bramble to get in, then waded in with her to make sure he could grab her if he needed to, but otherwise left her to do all the motions herself. "Swimming is a combination of letting your body float naturally in the water and paddling your paws in synchronization to move yourself around," he explained to his daughter. "Relax your body. Try floating and just feel what it's like. Don't worry, I'll be here for you the whole time. Once you've gotten used to the feeling of floating, try paddling your paws like you're trying to walk in the water. Smooth and steady now."

"Artorias" | "Carpathian"