Skai wasn’t nervous.
Far from it, in fact. What kind of phoenix would he be to be scared of something as silly as pool water?
…Still, though, as he stared into the sloshy reflection of himself, distorting with the distant splashes of the few people in the pool this early, he couldn’t help but feel a little apprehensive.
His domain was the sky, and fire. A pool of water couldn’t be more different.
…and, admittedly, he wasn’t the greatest swimmer. He was nervous about swimming in general. Much less in public.
So, as he turned to head back to his chair and put his sunglasses back on, it was with no small amount of defeated grumbling about how hot it was and how he’d totally be in the water if he felt like it… grumbling that, unfortunately for Skai, carried.
Across the pool, a little lifeguard was busying themself polishing their vinyl for another long day in the sun – Drift was, naturally, best suited for it. They barely needed naps, and floated better than any of the other community pool lifeguards, so of course they got the early shift. Naturally!
Perking up at the sound of grumbling and talons on the concrete pool deck, the otter watched a forlorn phoenix plop back down in their chair, longingly staring out at the water.
Hmm. Worth checking out! After, uh, another coat.
So, as Skai closed their eyes to take in the warm sun, there was a sound to their right; opening them took in a rather large blue nose, goggles, and a pair of bright plastic decal eyes staring back at them.
“Uh.” Skai said, helpfully. “Can I… help you?”
The inflatable otter nodded, and gestured out at the pool with their paws, making a little swimming motion before tilting their head questioningly.
“You’re wondering why I’m not swimming?” The phoenix asked, bewildered.
Drift nodded.
“…I, uh.”
Skai sighed.
“I can’t swim. Never really learned, and I’m… worried.”
Drift blinked, before slowly nodding. Hmm.
One of their paws dove into their scarf, seemingly searching around for something, before with a little pop! they pulled out a… sticker?
A tiny, white sticker, shaped like an inflatable valve?
Before Skai even had time to react, the sticker had been slapped onto their tummy by the otter’s plastic paw – sending a shock through their whole body! It was ice cold, and as Skai glanced down in shock, there was a POOF…
…and when the smoke cleared, two toys stood there, a bewildered squeaky phoenix and a cheerful lifeguard otter.
Drift pointed out at the pool water again, and made a fingerless gesture best described as a thumbs up.
Skai sat there for a moment, bewildered, before glancing out at the water.
Huh. Pool day, here I come!