He stood there rigid.

"Not yet...just..." he trialed off.

He needed to calm down.

He felt his heart pounding, his body screaming at him to get out or he'd drown.

He took a few deep breathes before unclenching his body.

"Okay....im good now..."

Eke was completley rigid.

"R-right..." he said grabbing rykers hands desperately.

He was fighting his fear of water.

He was trying so hard not to scream.

"I...i was fine till you let go..." he said.

He slowly walked with ryker until the water was to his stomach.

He couldnt go further.

He couldnt make his feet move.

He tried to slow his breathing.

Tried to tell himself he was okay.

Slowly he shuffled forward.

"D-dont let me drown..." he said obviously terrified, and for good reason.

Eke could feel his heart pounding.

He slowly let his arms fall, though he had to fight the urge to pull his hands to his chest.

"Okay...i..I'm okay i think" he said looking at Ryker.

Eke nodded and looked around at the water.

It was cool, but not cold.

He moved his hands in the water looking down at it. He was still trembling some, but he was absolutely determined not to run.

He cupped one of his hands under the water and brought it up to his face watching the water drained.

Slowly he began relaxing as he stopped feeling like he was in danger.

He watched the tiny fish tilting his head, his hair falling around his horns.

With a clawed hand he scooped up one of the fish staring at it like it was the most incredible thing in the world.

Thats when he heard it, the clear ringing of nature, like a pure clear bell.

He looked around for the source of the sound. What he didnt realise was that he was letting go of his fear and could sense natures "spirit", something most dragons were attuned to.

"Did you...hear that?" he asked

"The bell ringing? Yeah" he said still holding the water in his hand.

"Wait...how come you and I can hear it but Ryker cant?" he asked looking around.

"Its so...peaceful here"

He blinked as he has never thought about that.

He always had something to worry about. But right then..it was just him and the lake.

He looked to the fish and closed his eyes putting the poor fish back into the water.

And for the moment he just stood there, listening to everything.

He felt warm and at peace. After a bit he looked at Ryker and his always tense shoulders were completely unscrunched.

Eke nodded.

"He said it was nature communicating with me. Its...like one of those meditation bells. Clear, pure, relaxing." he said looking around

"Its like theres a light within me and i can feel the balance" he added

"Maybe its because im not afraid of the water anymore"