(ch 21) Close shave
"We need to move, now."
As Nephis turned to them, Sunny grabbed Cassie and helped her stand up. His face was even paler than usual, and there was a panicked look in his eyes.
"Now you two! Help me get her back on the scavenger!"
The girl with silver locks lifted her gaze toward the heavens. A swift transformation overcame her countenance, as a shadow of concern crept across it. Panic etched its presence on Rin's face as she, without uttering a word, complied with the urgent request.
Cassie seemed a bit disoriented. She grabbed the reins and helplessly turned to her friend:
"Neph? What is going on?"
Changing Star glanced at her. When she eventually spoke, her voice sounded heavy.
"A storm is coming."
'not good, shit has officially hit the fan, we need high ground'
In the interim, Rin watched as Sunny dispatched his own shadow to ascend a towering coral pillar, surveying the landscape ahead in an attempt to gauge the distance to the cliffs they sought. Initial observations hinted at a substantial journey still lying ahead. Nevertheless, the colossal statue stood at a considerably greater distance, accentuating the challenging path that lay before them.
Retreating at this juncture would have been a perilous decision.
Both faces pivoted towards Nephis:
"We're about three or four kilometers away from the cliffs. D-...do you think we can make it?"
She scowled.
"If we take the most direct route. Maybe."
Sunny, then asked:
"What about the monsters?"
And rin didn't want to answer but she had a crude answer to what nephis wanted to to and she joined in
"I agree we have no other options we just need to-"
Changing Star looked ahead and gritted her teeth.
"cut through."
*That's it? That's the plan?*
*You got a better one?, you know preferably not drowning*
*Well no, but we could..... I don't have any other idea*
Nephis turned her head and glanced at him, puzzled.
"What are you waiting for? Run!"
***
Bounding forward, torrents of rain began to pelt the earth as a chorus of robust winds whipped through the coral blades, propelling flecks of mud and seaweed into the air. Amidst the gathering storm clouds, sunlight waned, plunging the labyrinth into a chilling twilight.
Rin sprinted with an urgency that mirrored the gravity of her situation – her very survival hinged on it. Beside her, Sunny led their compact group, navigating the most direct route toward the cliffs with the aid of his shadow. Nephis trailed closely behind Rin, while the eight-legged scavenger bearing Cassie traversed the muddy terrain with determined stomps.
Rin had been watching through the Shadow too making the split second decision both Sunny and her needed to make
*We need to take this right up ahead*
*Agreed*
Sunny boldly voiced his observations, yet the duo hesitated to disclose to their companions that she possessed the ability to discern the concealed shadow. Remaining cautious and mistrustful, they deemed it essential to maintain secrecy, holding their cards close to their chest.
"Turn right up ahead!"
Freed from the constant threat of monsters and imminent demise, they surged forward with remarkable velocity. Side passages and crimson walls blurred past in a whirlwind of motion. There was no room for restraint; every ounce of strength was devoted to the pursuit. A minute's delay in reaching the cliffs spelled the end of their lives, compelling them to give their absolute all.
Rin had geared up for a succession of intense skirmishes along the journey, yet, to her astonishment, the denizens of the labyrinth posed minimal resistance. The scavengers displayed a level of panic mirroring their own. These massive creatures were preoccupied with concealing themselves within coral mounds or delving into the earth.
In instances where aggression surfaced, a swift sword slash or a menacing pincer clack sufficed to dissuade the monsters. However, their rapid progression was outpaced by the advancing storm. The rain swiftly transformed into a relentless downpour, each droplet evolving into a deluge. The winds intensified, striking their bodies with enough force to induce stumbling. Visibility dwindled to near-zero as the already dim light faded further.
At last, a brilliant flash of lightning sliced through the ominous darkness, swiftly succeeded by a thunderous clap that reverberated through the air.
In the ensuing instant, the earth beneath Sunny's feet quivered, disrupting his balance and forcing him into an unceremonious fall. He tumbled amidst the mud, attempting to regain his footing, only to slip once more. A compassionate arm reached out, seizing him by the shoulder, and aided him in rising from the mire.
Rin had seen his slip up and pulled him up with a slight smile
*You keep slipping Sunny*
He smirked slightly
*Not my fault theres is so much bloody mud*
Both saw Changing Star's face as she turned around to warm them both. She opened her mouth and shouted:
"Don't stop! Run!"
She almost couldn't hear her behind the downpoar of rain, torrent of wind and roaring lightning.
She sensed an increased presence of water around her feet, surpassing what one would expect from a typical downpour. It persisted as a consistent sensation, prompting her to glance downward and verify the reality of it. The obscure, saline water had already risen to the level of her shins.
'damn'
The sea was coming back, and it looked like it was trying to drown them
She struggled to figure out the source of the water, and as each minute passed, it kept rising. Before long, it reached everyone's knees, then climbed to her waist, hindering their ability to run. The group's pace significantly decreased.
It was then, in a sudden flash of lightning, when they saw a dark mass of stone ahead.
*Those cliffs, we need to make it to them!*
*I'm trying Sunny*
Simultaneously, an ominous rumble echoed from the labyrinth's depths. When Rin and Sunny glanced back, they witnessed an immense torrent of dark water surging through the vibrant crimson forest. Not far off, a belated scavenger was ensnared by the force, violently flung against the coral walls. The formidable creature's normally impervious carapace shattered and split open like a walnut
'Curses!'
They turned to Nephis:
"Time is up! Start climbing!'
She caught Sunny by the arm.
"Dismiss your Echo!"
"I'll go last watch every ones back.... Go..Go!"
It made sense, the scavenger could probably climb, the problem was Cassie wouldn't have been able to hold on if it did. Sunny helped the blind girl get down and then sent the monster back to his soul.
Rin observed Nephis as she gracefully crouched, allowing Cassie to mount her back, securing them with a shimmering golden rope. Without hesitation, Rin clenched her teeth and advanced, firmly grasping the damp rocks along the cliff wall.
The quartet swiftly commenced their climb, aiming to ascend rapidly before the impending deluge arrived. After a while, Sunny's scream pierced the air.
"Brace!"
Rin looked behind and paled she was the last person to climb up so..
The water was coming and she was slightly Below it
She summoned her widows bane and looked for a certain rock formation one with a slight indent that could hold weight with the katana, the wave was approaching with rapid deadly intent
*Rin Hurry up, the waves gonna hit you*
*I know*
She carefully wedged the katana into the rocky crevice, ensuring the sword remained snugly encased in its sheath. With a determined stance, she clung to the hilt and let her essence strengthen her grip, fully aware that releasing her grip meant forfeiting not only her life but also her chances of nagging Sunny in the future.
Suddenly, a powerful surge pressed against her back, completely enveloping her in water. The force of the water swirled and tugged from side to side, intent on dislodging her from the rock face. With bated breath, she waited under the water.
*SHIT, RIN!! Please no no no no, talk to me Rin*
She couldn't think straight let alone answer sunny her sole focus and answer Sunny, her whole sense of direction was useless, she didn't know up from down, her fingers still held tight, but they were starting to strain
until the water receded moments later, finally able to draw a deep, exhausted breath.
Somehow, she was still alive.
She coughed out and unsummoned her katana.... She needed to go
The relentless surge of the black water continued, its ominous rise quickening, a menacing force that seemed insatiable. The impending threat loomed, as if the sea itself sought to engulf her without mercy. Urgency fueled her ascent; every moment was a precarious dance with the encroaching waves, demanding swiftness as she battled against the relentless tide.
In the heart-pounding quest for survival, Rin unleashed a curse upon the relentless wind that whipped against her as she fervently sought the next precarious handhold. The daunting task at hand demanded an ascent up the sheer face of the cliff, a frenetic race against time. Yet, the treacherous combination of slick, rain-drenched rocks and the urgency of speed cast a shadow of peril over this endeavor. Each grasp was a gamble, a precarious dance with fate where a single misstep threatened to send her hurtling down, a helpless descent into the abyss below, where the unforgiving cliffs awaited to crush, the icy waters yearned to drown, and lurking monsters hungered for a potential feast.
The torrential rain and hurricane wind made everything even worse.
And yet, there was no choice.
Desperation fueled her ascent as she relentlessly scaled, her flesh meeting the unforgiving edges of jagged rocks. Every sinew screamed in agony, bereft of the shield that Sunny enjoyed. Despite the assistance it provided, the relentless advance of the ominous, dark water continued, drawing nearer with each passing moment.
'don't think just go, don't think just go'
As Rin exerted every ounce of effort, the elusive goal of reclaiming lost ground proved insurmountable. Gradually, the relentless advance of the sea encroached upon her, creeping inexorably towards her feet. Her valiant attempts to ascend were hindered by the encumbrance of the water's embrace, a relentless tide vying to wrest her away from the precipice. First, it claimed her legs, then her torso, each incremental advance a reminder of nature's unwavering power. Undeterred, Rin persisted, grappling against the dual forces of water's burden and the unyielding pull of the tide, each moment escalating the struggle.
With water now enveloping her shoulders, the slick rocks betrayed her desperate grip. Though Rin fought tenaciously to maintain purchase, the formidable current prevailed. Like a fragile plaything in the grasp of a capricious force, she was propelled away, weightless and powerless, surrendering any semblance of control.
In the fleeting brink of despair, as the elements conspired against her, Rin's salvation materialized in the discovery of the cliff's edge.
Without a moment's hesitation, she seized the cliffs edge, summoning an inner reservoir of strength to pull her body laboriously over the rugged ledge, each sinew strained against the relentless pull of gravity and water.
In the throes of weariness and fatigue, she stumbled wearily toward the gathering, her energy depleted. Sunny, observing her approach, was struck dumb with astonishment. In that fleeting moment, the weariness etched across her features led him to entertain the morbid notion that she had succumbed to the grasp of death, leaving him bereft of his sole dependable companion.
"Im back, You.... ain't getting rid of me....that easily....Im.. Still...Standing"
As she stumbled, exhaustion overtaking her, she surrendered to the welcoming embrace of Sunnys arms.....and passed out..... He skillfully caught her, orchestrating a graceful descent into a more comfortable slumber, molding his own body to create an optimal sleeping position for her.
********
Sunny descended to the earth, grappling for each breath as he landed. As moments passed, he cast his gaze upon Rin, whose form rested with her head cradled on his lap. In that ephemeral interval, he drew a breath laden with relief.
He showed complete indifference towards the other two girls. As he revisited the moments when Rin was engulfed by the water, Sunny genuinely believed he had experienced a profound loss, one that left him with a singular sense of emptiness. He really thought he had lost his only...
'i hate saying this and she would definitely make fun of me but...'
Friend
He gazed intently at her, taking a moment to absorb the sight before gently murmuring, almost inaudibly, as he delicately brushed a strand of her damp hair behind her ear.
"I thought i lost you"