Strange Attractors - Kim Falconer [14]
Ripples expanded across the surface as he lowered himself into the water. The tiny waves raced away, leaping in victory when they reached the far edge of the pool. His body vanished into the black, his head and neck bobbing above the surface like a harbour buoy. Nothing bit off his arms or legs…so far. He dunked, suspecting it couldn’t be much worse than getting his head bitten off by Selene. There was no sign of predators, though in this thick soup he wouldn’t see them coming if there were any. He sucked in another breath and submerged, pushing off from the rock wall.
The darkness engulfed him and all he could think of was how distasteful this would be to Selene. She was a strong swimmer, but in the depths of the mountain cave pool, it was a cold, blind journey and she would hate that. He had an advantage. He’d been this way before, seen where it led. This was the way out; at least it had been in a future he’d already experienced. Focus. Don’t let the mind wander.
He groped along, his hands stretched out to feel the way as he flutter-kicked deeper into the cave. An opening couldn’t be far off. He kicked harder, straining to see light up ahead. There was none. When the first niggling desire to breathe crept over him, he felt it—a tickle of scales sliding past his arm. He swam by it—twice his own length. Bubbles escaped his mouth. He needed air.
With a force that expelled his breath, it slammed him into the rocks. Heat ripped across his side, cutting like knives, jolting his body. The last air bubble escaped his lips and he panicked, the darkness a tomb around him. His eyes bulged wide, desperate for the surface, for light. His hands pressed the vault above him, searching for an opening. He had to get out before that thing came back. He couldn’t see the blood flowing from his wound, but he could feel it warming the water around him. He had to breathe. He turned back; he was kicking hard but his legs barely responded.
His head spun and his body tingled as he sank, too weak to carry on. This was it. Shane MacVenton, master bard, left-hand rank of the T’locity border scouts and many-worlds traveller, was about to die, drowned in a cave pool, filleted by a dark water demon. He tried to imagine the look on Selene’s face when he didn’t return, when the minutes passed and she knew that—even with his massive lung capacity—he could no longer be alive. Would she mourn him? Miss his company? Most likely she’d be venomous at his disappearance. After all, he was abandoning her—her very worst fear, as it turns out. He’d never live it down.
Stop being so dramatic, Shane MacVenton. It’s not as bad as you think.
Shane pulled his head back. What?
Relax. I can get you out of this. Just let go. The words had to be in his head. They were as clear as a high whistle on a sunny day.
You want me to let go?
Exactly.
Help me! I need help. He struggled again at the wall of rock but his hands were unresponsive, doing no more than brushing across the rough stones.
That’s what we’re here for, lad. To help you. Follow.
He didn’t know who was speaking to him but his last glimmer of consciousness locked onto the light ahead of him. He forced his legs to kick and followed the light until the desperation for air made him gulp. As water rushed down his throat and into his lungs, the light faded and darkness swallowed him up.
Rosette ran hard to keep up with Teg. By the goddess, that Lupin could cover ground. He took long, graceful strides, his paws gliding over the rough terrain without a single misstep. Effortless. She’d matched him at first but they’d been running for hours now and the strain began to show—on her, anyway. Her limbs ached, the impact of each paw jarring her spine. She stumbled more than once and imagined the Corsanon warriors releasing a shower of arrows that clanked onto the ground behind her. She was safe enough, out of range, but they were gaining.
Stop thinking about falling, Maudi. It’s not helping.
Her familiar’s voice was like a splash of ice water. He seemed tireless too, like Teg, his sleek body bounding over the