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Unsure of how close to shore she was getting, Katalina crossed her fingers that Joshua would still be asleep and came up to the surface, scanning the beach. Now that it was actually coming down to it, she almost wished she'd convinced Narcis to stay instead of going back to the caverns - this sort of thing was easier to face with a friend. He wasn't spineless like she was, which helped, too.

Returning to scanning the beach, she froze momentarily when she saw Joshua standing in the water, looking back. Without thinking, she went straight back under and arrowed back to the coral. She wasn't ready for another fight - she hadn't even recovered from the last one yet. Why was he already up?

Katalina curled around the coral, staring moodily through the clear water. She knew she was being ridiculous, but she didn't want to face him if he was still angry with her. Even if acting like a silly, sulky little child was humiliating, it was safe.

The little rabbit fish tentatively swam out, milling around her and making her smile despite herself. Running her fingers over first one, then another, she began to focus on Joshua and then let it go several times. It might be easier to talk to him telepathically first, just to see, but that was the coward's way out.

Taking her courage in both hands, Katalina left the coral again, moving very slowly in the direction of the beach. When she broke the surface, she looked around cautiously.

Katalina remained exactly where she was, still looking for Joshua. Had he wandered off? Perhaps she would--
Her thoughts broke off when she spotted him at the treeline. She hesitated, but slowly began to move towards him. Once she was about halfway to the beach, she stopped again. Watching him warily, she waited for his reaction.

Katalina remained still for a few minutes. He didn't sound angry. It was weird to have him coax her as though she were a child, but she didn't hold it against him. After all, she was being awfully hesitant.

Last chance, she thought. Move in or stay out.

After a brief moment more of simply remaining where she was, considering, she moved in. It was a simple matter to close the distance until she was just out of arm's reach. Settling back in the water, she cocked a brow at him and inquired cautiously, "What?"

Katalina softened. She hadn't been angry so much as hurt, but decided she could live without making that distinction to him. "There's really nothing to forgive," she told him. "You were hurting and I was being pushy. Snapping is a natural enough thing for you to do. So I'm sorry for pushing you." At least, she thought it was natural.

She found it interesting that he felt the need to make his apology so formal. And it also made her feel a little sad. Was she still that distant to him, that he thought a simple "I'm sorry" would not suffice?

Katalina was a little unsure of how to put this completely behind them. She didn't want to make it any more awkward than it had already been, but didn't know what to say to make it better.

Finally, she just gave a big, exaggerated sigh. "There now. Aren't you glad that's over?" she asked lightly. A tendency to make uncomfortable subjects into a joke might help, after all. "I know I am. So now what?"

Relaxing into the water, she breathed a little easier. Although there was no way to know how he would take it, at least the worst - hopefully - was over.

Katalina wondered if he remembered her earlier offer. To explain to him about the clan. That ought to take up most of the week. Probably just the explanation of her closest relationships - those she had with Nezik and Narcis - would take up the rest of the day, but she wasn't sure it was the right time. So instead of bringing it up, however innocuously, she kept quiet. She wasn't going to offer, but if he asked, she would talk about it.

Instead, she flipped over and let the warm water soothe her. "Headache mostly gone now?" she inquired.

Katalina decided she must have jinxed herself by thinking about it, but resigned herself. "Yeah," she said. "Now's as good a time as any, I suppose." She settled into the water a little more, thinking. Where to start? There was a lot to explain, and she'd have to keep in mind that Joshua knew nothing at all about politics among the clans.

Finally, she decided it would be best to just find out what he wanted to know. "What do you want to know?"