Riverbank

"So, do you happen to be a good swimmer?" Squall looked out over the river again, choosing not to make judgment on Casia's lack of thought all together. He didn't want to swim it himself either, being in such heavy clothes already. They'd weigh him down the whole day. Of course, he could always leave most of his clothes here at the River and come back for them when the opportunity presented itself.

"Ah..." Casia held her two hands close together, tapping her index fingers against each other as she thought about the question.

After a moment, she nodded, "I think I can swim... I haven't drowned or anything, so..."

She paused again, before asking, "... is there something important on the other side...?"

Does she expect me to know? "Your sister could be over there, you know." Squall said a little flatly and with an obvious hint of 'just quit talking'. But he still didn't take to the water yet, he wanted to make sure she'd go with him so he could expect her to be on the other side or not. He didn't want someone drowning on his hands, "So are you going to swim it?"

"Uhm..." Casia fidgeted a bit, not sure why Squall was asking that.

She deliberated for a small time, before saying, "W-well, if my sister might be over there... I guess I don't really know where she might be... but I suppose I should check where I can...?" she looked at Squall, "Are you going to?"

"Yeah... That should've been obvious," Squall took a deep breath to assure himself, a double edge preparation. Then he stripped himself of his jacket and his undershirt. He then sat and began taking off his boots. The less he weighed with water soaked in him, the better chance he'd have of making it through the day without collapsing from exhaustion. Sometimes, Squall wished he picked a better attire.

"Uhm..."

Casia turned slightly red as she watched Squall, and shook her head as she looked down at herself.

The only thing she could take off without showing off too much skin were her boots and her chest guard; the former which would make walking around a pain, and the latter had negligible weight. Regardless of that, she took off her boots. They were rather large, afterall.

There was also her spear as well as her bow and arrows, but those were things she'd rather keep on her person in case trouble showed up.

"Uh... I guess I'm ready to swim..." Casia said, beginning to carefully step into the water.

"...Right," Squall stood up, and took a moment to breathe. Then he ran and jumped out into the river as far as he could, a good start would hopefully make the trip bearable. He made a decent jump distance before swimming as hard as he could. He regretted not taking more classes on it at the garden, but now it was the point where he had nothing to say about that but 'Oh well'.

Casia paused, noticing that Squall jumped.

"Oh, that's a good idea..."

She stepped out of the water, frowning in thought.

I should be careful of rocks and things...

The archer leapt forward... clearing half of the river before plopping into the water. She then began to swim as hard as she could.

Just like Katarin taught you... just like Katarin taught you... she repeated in her mind over and over again, concentrating on her strokes.

Squall almost drowned when he saw Casia leap halfway across the river and then begin swimming. She could jump farther and swim better than him. What a drag, how was he supposed to keep up with that? Maybe she is just acting like she has no clue... Squall wouldn't let himself fall too far behind her though, starting to pick up the speed at which he was swimming.

Then eventually he reached the other side and grabbed onto the stone ledge. He held there for a minute, just dangling in the water by one tired arm. Casia was probably already on land and waiting for him. I hope I don't ever have to go back...

With the lead Casia had on Squall, she did get there before the member of SeeD did. She barely avoided hitting her head on the other end of the riverbank, but otherwise made it through fine.

"Um..." Casia walked over to the ledge, tilting her head in thought as she looked down at Squall, "Did... you want me to help you out...?"

"Not really..." Squall let himself hang there for a few more moments before pulling himself up onto the edge of the river. Now they were at least closer to seeing what was out here to find. Among food and shelter, they might find the other things that were important. Friends, allies, and, most of all, answers.