He dislikes this slide, intensely so, bare feet attempting to propel himself backward and away from the softly lapping water at the base of it, though he achieves little more than a skidding, sliding effort as dark eyes grow wide and panic seems to ensnare him. There is little, truly, that the boy is given to fear either on the face of the earth or beneath it and yet water remains his single most potent terror. His mind simply cannot comprehend it, his fear of it so deeply ingrained and yet perhaps it is some small mercy that he cannot remember why, such things hidden within the shadows of his mind if only to protect him perhaps- from things and moments better forgotten- his all-consuming fear of it existing alone. The shouts and irritable mutterings of angry people have ceased to exist, the Leopard incapable of hearing them as he simply stares towards the lapping water, the liquid rushing briefly towards him at the arrival of a paddle board and yet in this moment even Birdie simply does not exist. Like any animal in the grip of panic any ability to truly perceive sense fails to inflict upon him, the woman's words falling entirely upon deaf ears as he struggles to dodge another small wave of water the threatens to brush against his bare toes. It takes several moments more before his attention returns to Birdie, dark eyes lifting at last to the woman, the sound of her voice seeming, finally, to have penetrated the foggy cloud of fear that rests over his thoughts as he looks towards her, gaze drifting from her to the floating board and back again as his head simply shakes.

He does not trust the floating board mere inches from the water, his mind unable to perceive it entirely as her hand moves to rest on his own, this single act of touch seeming to drag his attention to her once more and yet his head simply continues to shake, refusing to move towards the board despite her efforts.

"Not.....like it....no"

His stuttered words hold the beginnings of agitation within them, his fear rapidly beginning to give way to perhaps the only other emotion in which he understands entirely, the shouts of the crowd feeding his aggression- his mind trapped dangerously in between. He desires to go to Birdie and yet the board hardly appears stable, instinct alone warning him from it- though one hand reaches gingerly out towards it- fingers barely gracing the surface when the lifeguard at the top of the slide seems to loose all patience. He moves to grasp the hose beside him, aiming the jet of water readily down the slide- an evidently serious mistake that is given to push the Leopard entirely to far as his hand withdraws from the board and he turns to look towards the sound of the rushing water- eyes suddenly grown wide as he lunges directly towards the unfortunate Birdie now. It is by miracle alone perhaps that neither go tumbling into the water, the force of him colliding with the board propelling it back across the pool in a rush of waves as he clings to his companion before the paddle board collides with the side of the pool, sending both crashing onto the pool deck.

"Do not....like....floating....table."

That he cannot even identify the object remains to be seen, one hand reaching down to grasp Birdies own and help her to her feet, ignoring the stares of those around him as those dark eyes fixate readily upon the lifeguard at the top of the slide. He understands, on some level, that this is the being responsible for his distress, claws extended once more as a low growl rises readily within his throat and the man promptly turns away from his companion. That she might not desire he exact his revenge upon the man remains to be seen, long strides rapidly carrying the boy back towards the line as he moves to roughly shove past those waiting once more. He understands only one thing, perceives only one thing, assured this man is entirely out of line- Tobias content to remind him of his place as he steps abruptly onto the platform once more- the lifeguard moving to tell him to get back down as one hand reaches out to seize the man by his shirt, hoisting him up and out of his chair until he dangles pathetically there, grasping at Tobias' arm in an effort to have the Were release him. Birdie had suggested he get something to eat, the boys more volatile side, it would seem, having unleashed itself fully- fixating rapidly on this single individual as cruise staff rapidly move to radio security.....

madness, as you know, is like gravity: all it takes is a little push