Round 966

The stone floor gave way without warning, and Merrin found herself tumbling forward into darkness. She hit the ground hard, the impact jarring through her already aching body. Before she could even process what had happened, a familiar voice cried out beside her.

"Varikka!" Merrin managed to choke out between labored breaths. The dwarf was sprawled on the ground next to her, clutching at her ankle with a pained expression. "Are you alright?" Merrin asked, her eyes wide with concern as she struggled to sit up.

Varikka let out a pained gasp, wincing as she tried to move her injured leg. "I'll live," she grunted through clenched teeth, "but this ankle isn't going to make running easy." Merrin's stomach twisted with worry. If Varikka couldn't move properly, they were both in serious trouble. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed from above, growing closer by the second.

"We need to keep moving!" Merrin hissed, scanning the area for any sign of a way out. The tunnel stretched ahead into darkness, water rushing past them on either side. There was no visible escape route, and every second counted.