Round 886

The river's grip is relentless, pulling Merrin deeper into the icy darkness. Her lungs burn with each passing second as she struggles against the current's insistent tug. The water rushes past her in a torrent, threatening to sweep her away entirely. Her arms and legs flail desperately, but it's like fighting against a living thing—every movement seems only to feed its hunger for her descent.

She can feel the pressure building in her chest, her body screaming for air as she fights against the water's relentless pull. Her mind races with thoughts of Varikka, wondering if her friend is even still alive after being dragged under. The fear of drowning again claws at her, but she refuses to give in, driven by a desperate need to survive.

Just when Merrin thinks her strength will fail her, a sudden updraft catches the torch flame, sending a flickering beam of light through the churning water. She spots Elric clinging to a rocky outcropping nearby, his face pale with terror as he searches the water's surface. "VARIKA!" Her voice emerges in a choked gasp, barely audible over the roar of the rushing water.

With a final surge of effort, Merrin breaks free from the current's grip and surfaces with a choking gasp. Water streams from her face as she frantically swims toward Elric's position, her arms and legs burning with exhaustion. "Did you see where she went?" She demands as soon as she reaches the ledge, hauling herself up with trembling arms. Her body shakes uncontrollably from the cold and exertion, but her dark eyes are wide with fear for her friend.

Elric shakes his head, his face pale in the torchlight. "I lost sight of her when that section collapsed. The current's too strong—we need to get out of this river before it takes us all down." As if to emphasize his point, the Guardian's roar shakes the very stone around them, and a shower of dust rains down from the ceiling.