[Gift] Cold bath insanity

Öreis wasn’t sure why the rest of his family wanted to go to the inshore lake. If they wanted to watch the water they could go to the beach that was much closer to their cabin. But it was either option one of staying behind to avoid the cold and waiting for them to get home. Wondering if something happened on the way home. Wondering why it was all taking so long for them to go back. No, if he had to worry about it he could do that worrying while they were on the way together. He didn’t need to stay home in their comfortable cabin just to worry twice as much. He could worry half as much with his family.

At least that was the argument that Chrail had made and the one Öreis chose as all three of his four children that were still with them jumped up and down in front of him as they hoped he would say yes.

His family also wanted him to join them. It wouldn’t be the same if one of their parents, despite how much he preferred to keep them all home, warm and comfortable. Wärechaw had stood beside Öreis as he debated on whither he was going to stay behind or join them. And it was the kids instance that had in the end convinced him.

He regretted it now. Slightly. He was happy that he didn’t have to worry twice now.

“I don’t understand why you all want to go to a lake at this time of the year. And so far away as well. If you wanted to watch the water we could have gone to a closer place.” Öreis added for the fifth time.

“Dad.” Ashqua rolled her eyes as the three siblings laughed. “We are not going to watch the water. We are going to jump into it.” Öreis had to stop at this information. Chrail stopped as well but none of their children stopped. They were too busy talking to each other to realise that Öres had stopped and looked horrified. 

“You are going to bath in the water?” Öreis started to get a slight panic. “In this cold weather?” 

Chrail had to join up beside him. “Don’t worry. This is why we went in the middle of the day after all.”

“But what if they freeze? What if we freeze and get hurt? How are we going to warm up afterwards? I don’t understand why would we do this? Bath in the winter?” Chrail hugged him closer as Ashqua, Wärechaw and Moswuiro had stopped to wonder what their parents were doing.

“What’s wrong?” Ashqua yelled back. 

“Why aren’t you walking?” Moswuiro added to their siblings question.

“Don’t worry. You go ahead of us.” Chrail yelled out to them with a smile on his lips. “We will catch up soon I promise. But don’t go too far ahead.”

“Okey! If you don’t catch up to us soon we will stop.” Wärechaw added as the three siblings ran ahead of them. Chrail smiled as they disappeared slowly into the forest ahead of them. He stroke his green feathers close to Öreis, letting their feathers blend into each other in a colourful, beautiful mix. 

“Don’t worry Öreis.” Chrails voice was low as Öreis was still clearly contemplating the information. “If they get cold they can just run around for a bit.” He stopped laughing when Öreis glared back at him.

“The kids really want to do this. They really want to take the polar plunge.”

“The polar plunge?” Öreis looked at him. “How did they come up with that name?” He looked skeptical which again made Chrail chuckle a bit even if he did his best to try and keep it inside.

“They didn’t. It's a thing dinosaurs do now. The polar plunge. A quick bath in cold water. They say it’s refreshing.” 

“Refreshing.” Öreis snorted as he watched the spot where their children had walked into. “I am sure it’s refreshing. I am always refreshed when I am freezing.” He kept snorting but his annoyance at the trend had at least made him start walking again. Chrail quickly caught up to him as Öreis had begun to walk fast to catch up to their children. 

“Dad. Papa.” The three raptors were all waiting for them just a bit up ahead. “We are here!” There were more than them at the lake. A lot of dinosaurs had joined up to take the polar plunge. Some already were in the water.

“Okey, Okey. Before you do this. Let’s talk.” All the three siblings looked back at Öreis. Knowing what was coming. A lecture about safety. “If you feel any pain. You have to tell us okay. If anything happens at all. And make sure to not stay in the water too long. If you are cold afterwards you have to tell me.” 

All three of the raptors all nodded and told Öreis that they would do that. They would take safety before anything. Chrail stood beside him.

“Do not worry. It will all be fine.” Before Öreis could say anything Chrail yelled out to their children: “Last one in is a rotten fish!” 

All three children exclaimed that Chrail had been cheating as they jumped into the lake after their dad. Splashing water up on each other.

“Öreis. Join us.” Chrail yelled from the water as Wärechaw, Ashqua and Moswuiro all splashed him with water. Making sure to not bother the dinosaurs around them. Öreis looked at them from the side of the lake. They didn’t look as cold as he thought they would have been as they splashed around. They probably couldn’t stay in the water for long. Öreis looked around him. There were many dinosaurs that were on their way into the water, getting out of the water or currently in the water. If all of them could jump in despite the cold. Then maybe it wasn’t so bad. As Chrail was play-fighting in the water with their children Öreis took the leap himself as well.

“Watch out!” Öreis yelled as he closed his eyes and leaped into the water just far enough away from his family to splash them but no one else. 

“Öreis!” Chrail said, shocked as he realised what had happened. “You made it!”

“Papa!” Wärechaw, Ashqua and Moswuiro all yelled out in unison.

“That means.. You are the rotten fish Papa!” Wärechaw exclaimed as she laughed. She had previously been called the rotten fish by everyone. Now she wasn’t technically the last one into the water as Öreis had taken her title. 

“Haha, yes I made it.” Öreis chuckled. Feeling the cold and realising he probably made a mistake after all.