“Aesira!” Stone dropped below the surface, the icy spring water burning his eyes and nose. The dark was endless, only a few shards of moonlight piercing through the water’s surface.
Another slither against his leg. He spun, arms fanning around him. Searching and failing. His lungs burned as he broke through the surface, took another large inhale, then dove back under where a serpentine body darted around him. He planted his feet firmly to the bottom of the spring, mud and rocks scraping against his toes.
Thick scales were rough against his chest as the beast circled tighter and tighter. He thrashed in the water, kicking his feet up, up, letting his instincts take hold, until his face breached the surface, just long enough to take a precious inhale, before the monster yanked him back down.
Its snake-like body wrapped around him, its long, dark tongue darting out, pressing against his face, his neck. His head dizzied, his vision blurred. He wouldn’t last more than a few minutes, and Aesira…
He fought against the massive beast, finding its gills and punching straight into them, clawing with his nails at the tender flesh of its underbelly. All he needed to do was get away from the beast and stand, break through the surface, fill his lungs. Find her.
Move faster, Stone.
Hit harder.
Never let it go dark.
Dark.
It was so fucking dark, but through the murk and the pain of the water snake tightening around him, he could make out the blurry shape of the moon.
Stand up, Stone.
With new determination, his nails dug deeper until the beast thrashed around him, a gurgled screech leeching from its maw.
He gathered the last of his strength and when the beast opened its mouth, black tongue darting out, he caught it with his hand. Stone twisted the tongue around and around until the screeching bled into his ears and the beast let him go.
He crashed through the surface, a gnawing, endless pain spreading through his chest.
“Aesira!” He scanned the pool, it was eerily still. Calm. As if the water didn’t realize what it housed below its depths. The thought had him flying for the shore.
Clawing his way through the rocks, he laid on his back, steadying his breathing enough to jump to his feet. “Aesira!”
The trees groaned, wind curling through their branches, rippling the water across the spring.
“Stone!” His name caught on the wind, but it wasn’t her voice.
Birdie.
“Stone!” His bare feet slammed against the rocks, but he ran through the pain until he saw her on the distant shore. Aesira laid half in the water, half out, Birdie and Bee clutching her shoulders. Blood dripped from her nose, her curly hair spread out beneath her in a tangled mess.
He pulled her out of the water and wrapped her in his arms, covering her as best he could, rubbing his hands over her arms to warm her.
“Fuck.” He examined her face, her arms and legs. “Is she alive?” His pulse pounded up his throat, in his ears.
“Somehow, yes,” Bee said. “We heard you scream.” She tossed him Aesira’s shirt and he placed it over her.
“Aesira,” he whispered against her ear.
“She’s unconscious.” Birdie stood and toed the edge of the water. Stone nearly ripped her back in case the beast was lurking just beneath but Aesira coughed and grabbed all of their attention.
“Commander.” He pushed her hair from her forehead. “A rough go?”
A half-hearted smile split across her lips, then she held up a tiny blade, vile green ooze dripping from its edge. “Good thing I had Kamari's pathetic blade.”
“Where were you possibly hiding that?” Bee scanned over Aesira’s almost naked body, save for her undergarments.
She shrugged then sat up with another wet cough. “Always be prepared.”
“I wasn’t.” Stone’s body ached, his lungs still reeling from exertion.
