Counterintuitive though it might seem, the shadows at the corners of Maea's vision had no power over her when she closed her eyes against them. The sounds of the jungle around her came into greater focus as her other senses compensated for the lack of sight by reminding her of the life that buzzed and screeched and sang and chirruped all around. Not all of the sounds were reassuring, but they were the noises of the Greatwood and the Oerwoud before the Void infection.
And the rope in her hands was reassuringly solid and connected to her friends.
Thalassa sank into the abyss, but though she had fallen under the Void Lotus's influence she was more resilient than she knew. The chill of the waters was nothing to take lightly but it was not enough to turn an Ancient immediately to stone. And as the Lotus sank away from her in the water its influence waned with distance, slowly and reluctantly releasing her from its spell.
Her hero - if the term could be stretched that far - was no champion swimmer. He was proficient in the doggy paddle and the freestyle flail, but at least he was determined. And he could hold his breath for a really long time. Thanks to the magic of his Goggles he could see through the darkness of the cenote's waters and strike out in the right direction. He chased Thalassa's sinking body and snagged her arm, pulling her close.
And then paused, staring into the glimmering darkness that flowed away through a hole in the wall of the natural well.
It was only for a few heartbeats and then he shook his head and tugged hard on the rope to signal Maea before he began an even more awkward kicking and wiggling through the water, following the rope back towards the surface - hopefully with his friend's help - and towing the Captain with him.
Breaking the surface he sucked in a grateful lungful of humid air through his soaking wet handkerchief and hauled Thal halfway up onto the shore, helpfully thumping her back a couple of times to try and dislodge any water she might have swallowed.
And the rope in her hands was reassuringly solid and connected to her friends.
Thalassa sank into the abyss, but though she had fallen under the Void Lotus's influence she was more resilient than she knew. The chill of the waters was nothing to take lightly but it was not enough to turn an Ancient immediately to stone. And as the Lotus sank away from her in the water its influence waned with distance, slowly and reluctantly releasing her from its spell.
Her hero - if the term could be stretched that far - was no champion swimmer. He was proficient in the doggy paddle and the freestyle flail, but at least he was determined. And he could hold his breath for a really long time. Thanks to the magic of his Goggles he could see through the darkness of the cenote's waters and strike out in the right direction. He chased Thalassa's sinking body and snagged her arm, pulling her close.
And then paused, staring into the glimmering darkness that flowed away through a hole in the wall of the natural well.
It was only for a few heartbeats and then he shook his head and tugged hard on the rope to signal Maea before he began an even more awkward kicking and wiggling through the water, following the rope back towards the surface - hopefully with his friend's help - and towing the Captain with him.
Breaking the surface he sucked in a grateful lungful of humid air through his soaking wet handkerchief and hauled Thal halfway up onto the shore, helpfully thumping her back a couple of times to try and dislodge any water she might have swallowed.
