Round 332

Varrika's scream echoed off the stone walls as the water burst through, flooding the chamber in seconds. Merrin was already moving, her rogue's instincts kicking in despite the agony shooting up from her twisted ankle. She grabbed a loose rock, throwing it with all her might at the massive slab pinning Varrika down. "Get out from under that shit!" she yelled, her voice barely audible over the roar of rushing water.

The ledge was their only hope - a narrow shelf running along the far wall, just above the rising tide. Merrin limped forward as fast as her damaged leg would allow, one hand trailing along the stone for balance. "Come on, come on," she muttered through gritted teeth, the cold already seeping into her bones.

Behind them, something moved in the churning water - glowing eyes breaking the surface before disappearing again. Merrin's stomach dropped. "Varikka!" she shouted back. "Move your ass! We've got company!"

The ledge creaked ominously under their weight, water lapping at its edge as they scrambled forward. Merrin's fingers found a small crack in the stone wall, and she jammed her dagger into it for leverage. The blade held, giving them precious extra inches of space above the rising flood.

"We need to keep moving," Merrin called over her shoulder, her breath coming in short gasps. "I'll take point and try to clear a path ahead." She glanced back at Varrika, making sure her friend was keeping up despite her own injuries. The water was already halfway up their shins, ice-cold and relentless.