Warm water lapped at Tristan's forelegs, where he dangled them over the rocky sides of the spring. Minerals and white foam clung to the dark stones, but the sun above still kissed the heated bottom. It really wasn't that deep. Two body lengths, tail not included, and he could touch the bottom. It was perhaps seven of him wide. Rather spacious, if he said so himself!
And the best part was how out of the way the spring was. It had taken a good day's trip to reach, particularly without being followed, and without losing track of his companion.

His companion who, as he perched there basking on the heated stone edging the spring, had procured an innertube from gods only knew where, and lay draped in the ring. Legs hooked over the rim, arms sprawled, tail dangling below her in the bubbling water.
Calista was a beautiful rixixi. Always beautiful. But here, basking in warmth and sunlight, golden throat bared to the sky, and a deep purr emanating from her plush chest, she was more than beautiful and...
If he was honest, looking at her made him want to cry. She was so beautiful, so perfect and it really wasn't fair. He flicked his ears, huffed, and shifted himself, extracting his paws from the water,
The water was excellent. He wanted to share it, wanted her to purr at him like that, or at least look at him.

Silent as could be, he slipped into the spring, circling behind Calista, watching to see if she'd even notice that he'd moved.

The warmth of the hot spring warmed Calista's back, drawing a purr from deep in her chest. The warm steam wafting from the spring felt nice on her vents... She really could just fall asleep here. It was wonderful. And quiet. A break from the hustle and bustle and constant lessons she was expected to keep up with...
And the inner tube did a lot to keep the water out of her fur, though her tail was soaked.

Tristan rested nearby, she knew. Just... being near her friend was enough to make this sweeter. Enjoying this quiet and warmth with him. Especially when he had worked so hard to slip away with her so they could have a break like this...
She'd have to thank him later.

No acknowledgement. A contented sigh from her vents, but she otherwise was deaf and blind to Tristan and his presence. Why did that make his gut twist? That she was right there and yet... so far away.
He did a full circle; what little noise he made covered by the bubbling of the spring. He just wanted a smile. A purr. He'd settle for a glare--he knew how to get that one. He closed the distance between them and kicked himself into stillness, swirling his tail under around him, manipulating his fins to hold himself steady.

He could probably just... say something. It wouldn't be as mean. She'd probably like it a lot better if he just... Spoke to her! 'Hey let's talk'. 'Hey, I miss you'. 'How do you like the water'? It should be so simple, and he opened his mouth--
but his voice caught in his chest. And she was almost asleep there--
Why couldn't he just speak his mind? Grinding his teeh, he placed his paws on the inner tube, and dove.

There was a swish in the water, probably Tristan breaking the surface. Calista started to turn to greet him, maybe poke him in the muzzle...

The world inverted.

She yelped as her inner tube tipped, unceremoniously dumping her into the bubbling water. She was able to hold her breath, but that was about it-- splashing and snapping some rather uncouth words as she tried to right herself in the water. Her fur was soaked through and she knew she looked like more of a drowned yeru than a dignified dracocat.

Unfortunately, water that wasn't that deep to a ketucari, even a smaller Danuoc breed, was much more intimidating when you were only about nine hands tall (not including the ears).

Her inner tube was bobbing a short distance away. Kicking with her feet, she managed to grab onto it and catch her breath with the vents not below the water. "What was that for!?" she sniped at her companion, ears pinned flat to her skull.

There was splashing and sputtering above him, and he rotated himself to return to the surface. He shook his forelock from his eyes, and tried again to make words come. Once more, they lodged in his throat and he could only manage a groan. Within a tail length of him, Calista scrabbled through the water to grab her tube, now thoroughly soaked, her plush fur spiked and clumped with wet mineral water, little wings flapped for stability. The scent of her indignation and frustration and anger slapped him, and guilt clawed at his chest.

Sure, he had her attention now. But she was upset and all of his excuses, even if he Could voice them, rang hollow between his own ears.
He lifted his paws as best he could over the surface, "You... looked so peaceful, I couldn't help it." it was difficult to sign clearly, with the water in the way.

"Do you enjoy being a bully, Tris?" she snipped, sharp and hard, then took a breath-- he wasn't talking, which meant he already felt bad. She shouldn't rub it in.

Instead, she focused for a moment, her form warping and stretching-- and the water kicked up a splash as a much larger Ketucari flopped into it. It hadn't been long since she'd gotten the mutagen to be able to fit in a little better with her Ketucari friends. She was still clumsy in this new form, but she knew what she was doing enough to leap a small bit into the air and bring her paws down to soak Tristan half as much as he'd soaked her.

Calista's voice was sharp and he flinched away, throat tight and heart thundering down in his gut. Ears drooped, not looking at her, he pulled his right paw to his chest and Clenched, pulling down. "Sorry..."

The answer, however, was a splash, a shift in her scent. And a second, larger splash, the water tugging at his fur. And then the wave crashed over him and he was left sputtering and scrabbling away.
Oh. Okay so she wanted to play That game? He tossed his forelock from his eyes, meeting hers with a grin and a silent dare. And shoved the water right back at her, diving below to dodge her retaliation.

A splash soaked her own fur and feathers-- Tristan's eyes met hers and she flicked her tail before he dove. "Oh, no, you're not getting away this time!" she purred, launching herself into the air to cannonball him out of his hiding place, laughing wild and free.

That was a surefire way to lighten the mood-- if a scuffle was what Tris wanted, she was going to make sure he got one.