Nathaniel 'Creepster Hermit' Porter (techmech) wrote in emillion,
Re: Ari/Drake/Nate
The caltrops seemed to be having mixed results, and Nate was just fumbling in his pouches for some other effect-grenade when a bellowing shriek echoed out from the dragon out in the harbour. The toads lent back, then turned and began flopping as fast as they could, even as a rumbling sound started up. It was so deep, Nate could almost feel it through his boots.
Wait. That couldn't be right. Over his shoulder, Nate caught sight of the water rising. "Wave!" he shouted, turning to try to back away even as the first thunderous tons of water collapsed over the edge of the just-rebuilt docks.
There was nothing to grab on to, no time to cast a line around a lampost or catch a doorway. Nate expanded his lungs to their fullest and leapt out above the crashing wave.
It took him under anyway, battering his just-healed body against the corner of a roof, then a chimney. He could feel his ribs protest, but something diverted the worst of the damage, and the bone held. He sputtered as his head broke free of the bitter, brackish water, then vanished beneath the surface again. Once more, he surged up, kicking strongly. The pouches and sacks weighed him down, but Nate was a docks brat; he'd been swimming almost since he could walk. He could stay up like this.
It looked like Ari was struggling, though, especially given the weight of waxed canvas tangled around her. Nate set out towards her, since he couldn't see Drake immediately, and he was not about to watch someone drown when he could do something to help.