//climb in the barrel

As you shuffle along through your camp, the [if (isday) {heat of the sun and }]lack of any moisture in the air leave[if (!isday) {s}] you looking for any chance to get out of the elements for a bit. Of course, your [cabin] isn't much better, and even though simply imagining the stream has you feeling a bit refreshed, it's far enough away that you wouldn't be [if (camppop=1) {able to keep an eye on things|around if [if (camppop=2) {[follower's name]|anyone}] needed you}].

That's when you remember the barrel tucked away in the corner of your camp, full of so much delicious water you can almost shiver at the thought. [if (kida) {Sure, it's a little occupied at the moment, but [if (height < 60) {you think the two of you could easily manage to squish in.|isn't it a parent's privilege to cuddle up embarrassingly close to [his] daughter?}] Besides, the little anemone probably knows better than anyone else how good it feels to submerge when someone's built like you.

[if (izma) {Well, maybe is Izma is close.[if (latexy) { Or [latexyname].}] But Kid A has to be up there, and you're sure she'll understand.}]|It's not like anyone else is using it right now, after all, and it seems [if (height > 84) {like it might be a tight squeeze, but you'll manage|to be sized just about right [if (height < 60) {to be your own personal swimming pool|for you}].}]}]

So that's decided, then. [if (!isnaked) {Not wanting to get your [armor] wet, you strip down until you're clad in nothing but your [if (hasscales) {[if (skintone == underbody.skintone) {[underbody.skinfurscales]|eye-catching array of scales}]|[skinfurscales] and [underbody.skinfurscales]}].}] The final difficulty remains getting yourself inside, a problem only exacerbated by the limitations of your mer[if (isgenderless) {folk|[if (isfeminine) {maid|man}]}] tail outside of the sea. [if (canfly) {Or at least it might be, were you not equally adapted for the air as for the water. Instead it's as simple as unfurling your [wings] and rising into the sky like one of the dragons of old, diving into the barrel from above with little more than a splash[if (kida) { and a surprised squeal from Kid A}] left in your wake|Maybe you could manage to heft yourself over, and with that thought you press your palm into the rim of the barrel and press up with all your might[if (str > 50) {. With your considerable strength, it's almost effortless to pull yourself up and over, swinging your tail out wide as you slide in with a splash.|, thrashing your tail for any momentum that might help you swing yourself high enough to slip inside. [if (str > 20) {And it's working, surprisingly enough, even as the wood rubs rough against your fingertips and your teeth grit and grind under the strain, your body giving all that it has until [if (kida) {a curious Kid A peeks out of the barrel at you, needing [if (kidaxp < 40) {a moment of recognition|no time at all}] to reach down and help you inside|your tail scrapes across the rim and you can let the rest of you follow along behind}]|Soon your breath quickens, your muscles burn and ache, and no matter how much your will stands strong, the barrel seems as insurmountable a foe as ever. With a shaky sigh, you're forced to release your grip, crumpling to the ground in a graceless heap. [if (kida) {

[say:Um... help?]

You blink [if (isday) {into the light|away the darkness}] as your breathing slows enough for the world to refocus, and you're met with the concerned face of your anemone child peeking [if (kidaxp < 40) {shyly|in bewilderment}] over the edge of her home. [if (kidaxp < 40) {All it takes is a|There's no need to even}] nod before she's crawling out of the barrel with an ease you can only envy, and though it might feel a little silly to be wrapped in the cool embrace of your daughter's arms as she helps you off the ground, you're thankful for her help.

Which is right when she dumps you unceremoniously over the rim with a splash before climbing back in herself.|You're not about to be deterred that easily, though, and after a quick break to recover, you set about building yourself the crudest of ramps with whatever odds and ends you can find nearby: loose stones, your camp's chest, [if (builtchair) {that chair from your cabin|some logs from your storage}]. It's not much to look at by the time it's done, and sure it probably drained you more than even the water will restore, but it's more about making a point. If nothing else, dragging yourself up those jagged rocks and rough wood lets you bask in the sting of victory when you finally manage to crawl inside}]}]}]}].

The first caress of the water within washes away your exertion as steadily as the tide, filling your lungs with new purpose as [if (kida) {Kid A settles in beside you, evidently unsure of why you've climbed inside this time, but wrapping your arm around your daughter seems to serve as answer enough. It's rather[if (height > 84) { cramped, but still}] cozy when she nestles into your embrace, and [if (isday) {the bustle of daily life fades to the gentle lap of the water|the night rests quiet and peaceful}] as the two of you bond in your own amphibious way, your tail winding lazy loops around her legs as you pull her close enough [if (height < 60) {to rest your head upon her shoulder|[if (height < 72) {lean into each other|for her to rest her head upon your shoulder}]}]. It's effortless to remain beside her for as long as you'd like, drinking in her affection as readily as the cool water all around and letting [if (height < 60) {her dote on you like you were [if (ischild) {her|a}] child}|[if (height < 72) {the world pass by in silence|your fingers tangle in her gooey hair}]}], the two of you content to watch the [sun]light shimmer off your [underbody.skinfurscales] with every shift of your tail.|you dive beneath the barrel's rim, luxuriating in the [if (isday) {comforting|refreshing}] coolness that surrounds you. It's like you were meant to be here, a private sea all your own, the world outside little more than a distortion beyond the surface. You could soak for hours and let the stress melt out of your limbs, minutes passing by like ripples as you [if (height < 60) {swim|float}] with effortless ease.}]

Still, you can't stay forever, not matter how much you'd like. Life on the surface continues on whether you're ready or not, the demons won't stop themselves, and [if !kida && str <= 20) {somebody has to clean up this mess you've made|there's always more to do}]. With a disappointed sigh, you suck in a dry breath[if (kida){, tell your daughter your good-byes,}] and heave yourself over the side of the barrel[if (!kida && str <= 20) {, thankful for your ramp to bump and slide your way down|[if (str > 50) {and lower yourself to the ground|[if (kida) {with your daughter's help|flopping to the ground in an awkward lump}]}]}]. It almost makes you want to climb back in again, but no, you must brace yourself for this life on land and [if (!kida && str <= 20) {set about pushing your storage chest back to your [cabin]|go about the rest of your [day]}].

[if (kida) {Kid A waves at you when you give the barrel one last parting glance.}]