At first the cool water is pleasant, soothing to weary bare feet, the pebbled riverbed smoothly textured and yielding underneath.

After about ten minutes of wading, though, it's starting to be a struggle; the chill of the water is setting in, and the shifting footing makes each step more work than it would be on solid ground.

Kaya sets her shoulders grimly and plods on. There's no sound of pursuit behind them yet, at least.