A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

Back and forth, back and forth, the fish continued this pattern. Its hands would occasionally reach out and try to grab her, but she stayed huddled close to the wall. She could feel the sharp pieces of stone press against her skin, but she was glad that the effects of the water had soothed her injuries some before. The cuts were still there, but the bleeding had stopped. Perhaps if she stood next to the tree for long enough, her wounds would be completely healed, but she didn't exactly have time to test it out.

Somehow, she needed to get around the fish. She could jump over it and into the water, but it would catch up to her quickly. That would also give away her location. Thankfully, the fish was rather quiet with its movements. (F/n) took in her surroundings once more to see if maybe there was a hidden way out, but it continued to look all closed off except for the one entrance and exit.

Getting to her feet, she pushed back some strands of (h/c) hair and kept her fingers in her locks. Tarhuinn's screams played back in her mind, and her chest tightened. He was probably being tortured at that very moment. She despised being so weak, yet she also wanted to break down and cry. (F/n) wished to pour out her emotions and relieve her mind completely of them.

Her pacing stopped. She froze completely before she felt a sob form in the back of her throat. Leaning against the wall, she covered her mouth with her hands. (F/n) closed her eyes. He had called her name, but it had sounded so faint. Tarhuinn was probably in no condition to expend his energy on speaking her name. His own health was more important right now.

Swallowing the sob, she lowered her hands. Tarhuinn needed her now. (F/n) glanced back down to the fish. There was no other way out, and she couldn't out swim the fish. She did have a dagger, but it would only break the fish's contact for a mere moment. With the fish around, she wouldn't be able to sneak up on the guards if that were even possible. No matter what, the fish had to be dealt with before she could do anything else.

It jumped up and reached for her. She took a step back and dodged before it merged with the water again. Its movements continued, and its back fin could be seen every now and then. The fish's hands were the main problem. If she could secure them, she could possibly ride the fish out. That would surprise the guards awaiting her, but how could she secure water?

At times, the fish would harden itself, like it had done when it had grabbed a hold of her ankles, but it could immediately go back to its complete liquid state. The only way to secure the fish might be to have it catch her. If she surrendered herself, she would have more control of the situation.

First, she required some of those leaves. She still wished to see her captors as she had no intention of going with them willingly. (F/n) waited for the fish to grab for her again; she would have to time it right. Dagger at the ready, she held it in a modified saber grip.

The fish leaped up and came towards her. She waited until it reached its highest point. There, she slashed it. Water split apart and started fall back down, but she wasted no time in watching it. (F/n) dived into the water and zipped through the water to the best of her ability. It grew warmer as she went nearer to the tree, and she was tempted to slow down, but she kicked regardless. Soon, though, her efforts at forcing her movement became fruitless. Already, she could hear the fish coming up behind her.

Shimmery water began to surround her and cloud her vision some. Her pace was now leisurely as though she were taking a casual afternoon stroll in her old village. Of course, she never had taken one given her past situation there. What was odd, though, was that the fish stopped. Its gaze was pinned on her, but it didn't come any closer.

Breaking the surface, she took in a breath of needed air and continued to move closer to the tree. The top half of the fish could be seen at the edge of the shimmery liquid. Amtoma had mentioned that they couldn't risk injuring the tree so that might be why the fish was keeping its distance. Whatever the reason, it gave her a safety zone.

Standing up, she looked out towards the entrance and exit. She could see no guards in the illuminated area, but, beyond that, she couldn't tell. No one was emerging from the dark so that gave her some comfort, though. Attention on the tree again, she reached up and took off some leaves. They continued to glow in her hand, and she would make sure to keep a tight grip on them.

She allowed herself a deep breath before she looked back to the fish. Steadily, she walked to the edge of the glimmering water. (F/n) secured the dagger at the back of her pants and made sure that it wouldn't fall out. Once she was certain of that, she returned the fish's gaze again. "I surrender. Take me back to your master."

In response, the fish moved closer and turned its back to her. Thankfully, it didn't seem to mind that she still had a blade on her or leaves for that matter. Hesitantly, she climbed onto its back. It took off, slowly, and kept her above the surface. Its watery hands pushed the water aside, and ripples dominated the water around them.

Effects of the tree ebbed away. Doubt in her decision crept up on her, but she couldn't back down now. Presently, she was in control, and she would keep it that way. The guards ahead would be defeated, or she would never return home with Tarhuinn. To her, that wasn't an option. They had worked so hard to get where they were at, and she wouldn't let the authors stand in their way.

Darkness rolled in. She loosened her hold on the leaves a little bit and held up her hand. They illuminated the space a little bit and revealed that no guards were currently in sight. There was a corner up ahead that blocked some of her view, but something seemed odd in the distance. (F/n) lifted the leaves up more, and the light caused something to glint.

Squinting, she noted that it was the tip of an arrow. More of it revealed itself, and a guard soon came into her field of vision. The arrow was pointed at her right side, and she quickly held up her hands. "I surrendered. I've realized that I can't win; I've accepted my fate."

Lowering the arrow, the guard relaxed as she came closer. "Hand over those leaves," they ordered when she was right next to them. She gave a simple nod while they both continued to move. The guard matched the pace of the fish and held out his left hand towards her.

Swiftly, she switched hands so that she could draw her dagger. The guard reacted almost immediately, but she already had the blade swiping across his midsection. A pained gasp left them as they leaned forward. She slashed the blade again, this time across their neck. (F/n) put the dagger away and grabbed the guard's bow and arrows.

Surprisingly, the fish paid no mind. It merely kept going forward with her; it seemed to only care about getting her to its master and that she had surrendered to it. None of the guards needed her acceptance of defeat.

Apparently, the authors had overlooked this detail. Her (e/c) eyes shot towards the next guard. She hid the blade before they made eye contact with her, and she held the leaves behind her back. It appeared as though her hands were bound. The guard caught on quickly, however, since fresh blood could be seen on her. They called out an alarm, and two more guards rounded another corner.

Pressing her legs more into the sides of the fish, she made sure that she wouldn't fall off. She would need complete balance to handle this situation, but that might not even be enough. All three charged, and she aimed. Her aim wouldn't be that great, but she needed them to at least be stunned for a bit. The first arrow flew and struck the one guard square in the chest. A victory smirk painted her lips, but she couldn't cheer yet; the other two were near to being on top of her.

Shooting another, the next guard dodged and rolled through the water towards her. They rose right next to her as she was about to string another arrow. Quickly, she grasped the arrow and slashed at their face. Their cry rang out, but she felt the other guard pull on her right arm. She refused to be taken, so she stabbed the arrowhead into their left forearm, but the other guard now secured her other arm. Even with this occurring, the fish continued to move, but it noted that it was losing its catch.

All of a sudden, the fish sprung out of the water. She was thrown off while the guards were pulled down with her. Their grips loosened, and she wrenched her arms free. (F/n) released her dagger and rolled on top of the one guard. The blade flew downwards and into their chest. They died shortly after while a growl of fury left the other guard.

Before either could attack, the fish swam up under her and started to carry her once more. Her back was to the front of the fish, and she nearly fell off again, but she had managed to grab the bow and arrow. Aiming, she made the shot. The guard had been too slow to react, which resulted in him falling back into the water. As the distance between them grew, she could spot the shaft of the arrow sticking up out of the water from where the guard's head was.

Unfortunately, she had lost the leaves in the process, but they were floating down the water path. They didn't move as quickly, but they allowed a little illumination to exist in the dark tunnel. Hopefully, though, there would be no more guards.