Round 845

Varrika grits her teeth against the pain in her ankle as the water surges up around them both, threatening to sweep them away. "Elric!" She calls out, her voice strained with effort as she tries to steady herself against the current. "Can you see that stone door over there? The one with the runes on it?" She points towards the partially submerged door, its surface etched with ancient symbols now visible through the churned water.

Merrin staggers towards Varikka, her muscles burning from the effort of fighting against the current. The water tugs at her legs, threatening to pull her under at any moment, but she refuses to let go of the dwarf woman's hand. "Hold on!" She shouts, her voice barely audible over the roar of the rushing water. She glances towards the stone door Varikka mentioned, her eyes fixed on the ancient runes etched into its surface. The water churns around them both, and she can feel the Guardian's unyielding gaze fixed on their location from across the channel.

Suddenly, a massive chunk of rock crashes into the water nearby, sending a spray of icy droplets over them both. Varikka's grip tightens instinctively as she feels Merrin stumble against her side. "We need to move!" She hisses through clenched teeth. "That door might be our only way out of this channel before we're crushed or drowned!"

Merrin nods frantically, her dark eyes wide with fear but determination evident in the set of her jaw. "I'll try to get us closer," she manages, her voice barely more than a strained whisper. "But I can't promise it won't be dangerous." She begins to inch along the narrow ledge beside the channel, one hand still gripping Varikka's tightly while the other scrabbles for purchase on the slick stone wall.

As they move, the Guardian continues its relentless pursuit through the water, its heavy footsteps echoing off the ancient walls surrounding them. The sound grows louder with each passing second, a constant reminder of their precarious situation.