Round 360

Merrin's heart pounded in her chest as she watched Varikka struggle up the narrow ledge. The rising water lapped at her ankles, cold and insistent, while the creature circled hungrily below. She had to act fast.

"Varikka!" Merrin called out, her voice echoing off the stone walls. "Look for anything you can grab onto! We need to get you stable before that thing comes after you again!"

The halfling rogue's eyes darted between Varikka and the circling horror below. She knew they were running out of time—the water was already waist-deep in some areas, swirling dangerously close to the ledge her friend clung to. And the constant groaning of the chamber walls told her something far worse was coming.

Merrin's mind raced, weighing options that felt increasingly dire. Her injured leg throbbed with each movement, but she pushed the pain aside. There had to be a way to help Varikka up without putting them both at greater risk.

The creature lunged again, its screech echoing off the stone walls. Merrin reacted instinctively, drawing her heavy mace from their shared inventory and swinging it in a wide arc to deflect the attack. But the weight of the weapon and her compromised balance caused it to slip from her grasp, clattering to the ground with a loud clang.

The sound seemed to startle the creature, causing it to hesitate mid-lunge. Merrin saw her chance. She quickly scanned the ledge Varikka was on, looking for any handholds or footholds her friend could use to secure her position.

"Grab onto that outcropping!" Merrin shouted, pointing to a jagged piece of stone protruding from the wall beside the ledge. "Use it to pull yourself up! I'll try to keep the creature distracted!"

She knew it was a risky move—distracting the monster meant putting herself directly in its path. But leaving Varikka behind wasn't an option. The water was already too deep, and the groaning of the stone around them grew louder with each passing moment.

Merrin's fingers tightened around the hilt of her remaining dagger as she positioned herself between Varikka and the circling horror. The cold water lapped at her thighs now, sending shivers through her body. But she pushed the discomfort aside, focusing solely on keeping her friend safe.

"Hurry, Varikka!" Merrin called out, her voice tight with urgency. "The water's rising too fast!"

Time was running out—their only hope lay in working together, and fast.