And the water never realized its dangerous size! (Open)

[Kalimalka]

Summer 1st, 512 One thing nobody really realizes is how hard it is to get large quantities of water this far north. Ice, there be plenty off, but ask someone for a gallon of water and you will be sitting by the kettle for a very long time. The Storm from the first of spring brought vast changes to the region. A balmy spring, ice structures that have been standing for hundreds of years melting, houses destroyed, game dying off with the violent upheaval, and a lake. Kalimalka stands in front of Mirror lake on four white paws. The lack of ice is disturbing, even frightening, but she is determined to deal with this new Avanthal head on and face its new element. She's going to learn to swim. She stands in front of the lake for a long time. Then with a burst of movement she would rear up like a horse, crash her two front paws in the ankle-deep water, and dance back like it bit her. This happens twice before she cajoles herself into going deeper. So a few chimes later she has made the progress to belly-deep in the tepid lake. She walks back and forth parallel to the shore and marvels at how everything moves in slow motion, and how her feet don't seem to bear any weight. The feeling is novel and highly enjoyable, prompting her to swing her waterlogged tail and snap at imagined things floating on the water. To test herself further, she pulls her feet off of the ground for a few seconds each time. And quickly makes the discovery that floating is only achieved with at least some air in her body. Once this is mastered she paddles out further into the lake until she can no longer see the bottom. And its here that she makes another discovery: wet fur. Her usually straight and thick fur hangs in ropey loops and sticks in all the wrong places. She gives a huff that shoots off a spray of mist on top of the water. Well, she could shift. Her other form is at least 60 pounds lighter, and doesn't have the thick fur to weigh her down, that would help her float wouldn't it? And be much more comfortable besides. She does a few more tight laps in the water. This is easy! And it must be even easier as a human with strong legs. She takes a deep breath, just to be certain, and forces herself to shift. A bright light moves from her back and seems to dissolve with the rest of her body, only to condense into a pale human girl. And it takes a few seconds of confused kicking before she sinks like a rock. Hands grapple for the surface and she pulls herself up for a shuddering gasp before she falls back under. In her panic her legs make a unconscious motion to stand on a surface that isn't there. Her arms stop trying to push herself up but try to pull the air down towards herself. She breaks the surface once more and screams as loud as she can before it is abruptly cut off as the water rushes overhead. The surface above her foams and bubbles with the movement below. Panic sets in, and she closes her mouth tightly shut to combat the pressure in her chest telling her to breath the bubbling water. The corners of her vision fade out and all of her focus shifts to the weak rays of sunlight that make it through the foam. She inwardly snarls and her body to use the last of her energy to make one last break for air before the ache in her lungs wins over.