Maea
Her awareness of the world shrank to the sounds pressing in around her, and to the prickly, coarse texture of the rope in her palms wherever the gloves had ripped. Caught in a trap with no way out - unable to fight this enemy, yet unwilling to flee - Maea was forced to sit with her fear. Breath hitching and shallow, she whimpered soundlessly, all but sobbing with frustration, fear, anger - why was she sitting here alone, useless to help? Why had this happened, what were they even doing, gods, what if the others never made it out again? - and desperately grasping for courage to endure.
When the yank on the rope registered in her hands, she dropped the rope. Frantically diving for it again she caught hold of it and a handful of grass and weed in addition, and heaved herself backwards with a strangled cry. Hauling two people out of a pit would have been impossible if it wasn't waterfilled, and even then it was a good thing that Tal could still swim. Prying open her eyes a crack, it was to see her friends emerge from the darkness, breaking the surface with plenty of splashing and coughing.
The world teetered and tilted iñ her relief; dropping to her knees Maea caught hold of arms or collars, whatever she could reach, and hauled to help them up on dry land. Only then did she allow herself to break down; throwing her arms around her friends, Maea sobbed dryly with her forehead on Thalassa's shoulder, shaking as the reality of the close call washed over her.
Maea hauls on the rope and helps them out of the water. Then she hugs them.
When the yank on the rope registered in her hands, she dropped the rope. Frantically diving for it again she caught hold of it and a handful of grass and weed in addition, and heaved herself backwards with a strangled cry. Hauling two people out of a pit would have been impossible if it wasn't waterfilled, and even then it was a good thing that Tal could still swim. Prying open her eyes a crack, it was to see her friends emerge from the darkness, breaking the surface with plenty of splashing and coughing.
The world teetered and tilted iñ her relief; dropping to her knees Maea caught hold of arms or collars, whatever she could reach, and hauled to help them up on dry land. Only then did she allow herself to break down; throwing her arms around her friends, Maea sobbed dryly with her forehead on Thalassa's shoulder, shaking as the reality of the close call washed over her.
Maea hauls on the rope and helps them out of the water. Then she hugs them.
I can try to pretend, I can try to forget
But it's driving me mad, going out of my head
But it's driving me mad, going out of my head
Table base by Skylark
