Runo sat down on the floor and gratefully accepted the water given to him. Lifting the makeshift bowl to his lips, he tried to force a little of the water down his throat only to come up choking again the first time. It seemed that his throat just wouldn't let him swallow anything easily. When his sputtering finally subsided, he tried again, managing to keep a little of the cool liquid down this time. 

After a few more attempts of this, the merman finally placed the container down and tried splashing some of the water on his legs, throat somewhat numb by now.