(follows will show up as from @ineffabells)

B keeps pressing cold washcloths to A's head, whispering sweet nothings and trying to comfort A through their hallucinations.

C keeps going back and forth, bringing ice and cold water and doing their best to assist B, looking incredibly worried.

A is shivering so much that they start getting painful cramps, and tears start rolling down their flaming cheeks.

B turns to C, in a hushed whisper. "I think it's time to call the doctor. Fever's getting out of control."

convulsive coughing or vomiting water after being pulled out

violent shivering and/or hypothermia (or concern about potential hypothermia)

bruised or cracked ribs from CPR

rapid breathing and heart-rate for hours afterwards, even if their body is tired and achy

Exhaustion and chest pain - they're limp, lethargic, but still needy for touch and comfort

Chest infections settling in their lungs from the cold and the dirty water they inhaled

An aversion to food or water due to a paranoia of choking/drowning

If the drowning lasts between 4-6 minutes, the rapid death of brain cells can cause memory loss and (usually short term) speech impediments.

Seizures. These can occur weeks after near-drowning, and can be a source of constant paranoia or pain for Whumpee

A cough that lingers for hours or weeks (Whumper might get pretty tired of that)

Fearing baths or showers, even a full sink—really any body of water deep enough to submerge the head

Flashbacks.

Nervousness when it rains. Additionally, if Whumpee is driving, the fear of suddenly being caught in heavy rain. They may have to pull over and wait it out, listening to it all around them until it stops

convulsive coughing or vomiting water after being pulled out

violent shivering and/or hypothermia (or concern about potential hypothermia)

bruised or cracked ribs from CPR

rapid breathing and heart-rate for hours afterwards, even if their body is tired and achy

Exhaustion and chest pain - they're limp, lethargic, but still needy for touch and comfort

Chest infections settling in their lungs from the cold and the dirty water they inhaled

that boneless collapse from both the rescuer and the rescued whumpee on the shoreline, and the splat sound their clothes make against the hard ground

fumbling hands that wrap towels and blankets around trembling shoulders, rubbing them both for reassurance and for warmth

simultaneously, the swapping of sopping wet clothes for dry blankets/warm sweaters/cloaks

a sore abdomen from all the coughing

trying to stand on shaky legs that are spent from trying to kick themselves above the surface for far longer than they should have

if they’re staying somewhere nearby, a rescuer hoisting them up in a bridal carry and hurrying them back home to tuck into bed

if they’re roughing it, rushing back to their campsite to build the fire higher, praying that tonight isn’t as cold as last night

damp hair slowly drying by the warmth of the fire, cold fingers pulling blankets tight over cold noses

being unable to stifle the deep, rattling cough, the metallic taste of the dirty water in their mouth lingering

still feeling the icy cold in their bones the next day, despite being buried in blankets—whether it’s the lingering chill of the water or a rising fever, only time will tell

examples include but are not at all limited to:

“bless you, angel.”

“honey, you sound awful.”

“you’re running a fever, sweetheart.”

“love? can i get you anything?”

“i’m sorry you feel so awful, baby…”

“Are they… crying?”

“They look so small on that hospital bed.”

“I didn’t realize how quiet things would feel without their incessant chatter.”

“They always looked after us, but we never asked if they needed help. We always just assumed they were fine, we never bothered to check?”

“God, I forgot just how young they are.”

The starvation, dehydration, and exhaustion were expected. The finger shaped bruises the leader caught sight of before being hastily covered up were not.

They insist over and over that they got lost, nothing happened, everything was fine, they would be okay after a good nights rest and something to eat.

Give me semi consciousness

The feverish flutter of eyelids.

How they can only mutter inaudible sounds and noises

But what if Whumpee knows they’re about to faint

Whumpee quickly grabs onto Caretaker’s arm to try to steady themself

Caretaker holds Whumpee and guides them to sit/lie down

Whumpee shakily tells Caretaker “I need to sit down…please”

Whumpee stumbles to their bed trying to make it time

Caretaker notices the signs and gently pulls Whumpee into a hug

Like, yeah. I know that sometimes people really do just collapse. But I have personally had my blood pressure drop on multiple occasions (usually this happens because of heat, period, or not eating enough) and have fainted as a result. I know to slowly get myself lying down if the signs start to appear. Obviously everyone is different. Sometimes, the circumstance behind low blood pressure can be different and can lead to a person straight up collapsing. But it's not exactly uncommon for people to know they're about to faint?