A/N: Hello every one, here is the long awaited (Well I hope long awaited) chapter three of Ai: The forsaken!
The Stranger and the Maiden of the Sea II
Ying huffs laboriously as he pushes through the strong undercurrent, 'Please don't let it be too late, please don't be too late, please don't be too late.' He explodes through the surf to but is dunk immediately by the ocean in retaliation. He returns to the surf coughing as he raging waves thrash him around. 'Please don't be too late, please don't be too late, please don't be too late!' Ying spins around in place with the fervor of this being life and death for him. However, in the harsh reality this truth, without knowing, will cut him deep for not only as a soldier but also as a friend if he didn't succeed in his mission.
"Jun! Jun where are you?" Ying sputters as the ocean attempts to get him under in her fury. 'Please don't be too late, please don't be too late, Jun please be ok, please don't be too late!' Thinks Ying as he starts to swim while fighting the stabbing crests working to impede him on his search for the oceans newest victim to her fury. As he swims, Ying remembered what happen before he and Jun left on her little excursion. "JUN!"
Three hours earlier…
Jun swims through the halls of the place that had witness her birth, her first stroke, her laughter bouncing off the walls, her tears when she was happy, sad, and angry, also where she first met Ying. She casually glances at the person in front of her, ignoring the other two who finally return to them feeling perturb about their behavior. Yes, she known Ying for a long time, they became friends when she was five and he had just turn six. Her father had invited his Royal Guard Second Regiment General and his family for dinner.
When Jun first met Ying, she thought him a typical big fat meanie. Only because he was reluctant to play with her, a baby and a little girl at that. Nevertheless, after that little bump, they quickly became friends. Ying especially became Jun's best friend since he took her with him on his little mini-adventures in the coral edges. However, he only brought her because she promised him she would listen to him since it was dangerous for the both of them. Jun can even dare say they became closer when his father died during a battle against rebels.
The rebels had cornered the late general's troop, Ying's father saw an opening where they could escape if they could keep the enemy forces from following them. Therefore, the late general with a small force of volunteers, stay behind holding off the enemy forces allowing the rest of the troops to escape. Those men, were loyal to Ying's father, did more than escape they had gather reinforcement and return quickly to save their fellow comrades and general. However, they return to, sadly, rescue only a fourth of the force. They crush the rebels in one swoop, returning home victorious with heavy hearts carrying the remains of their fallen comrades and beloved general.
Ying was devastated at the news, but no one knew for he kept a strong calm façade. However, Jun saw through it and somehow gotten the older boy to break down in the privacy of her room, crying on her shoulder. She knew their friendship deepen in the following months as they found comfort in each other. Or more like Ying found comfort in the arms of Jun.
Jun smiles softly at those memories, both happy and sad, they help them become close. However, the memory of the day Ying became her personal bodyguard made her smile a little more prominent. She turned sixteen and had just finish planning the night before Ying's early graduation party from Meridian Academy, one of the top schools where those who want to be an officer in the Atlantian army attended. She was happy she was going to see her friend after a three year absent, but had to meet with her parents introduced her to her personal bodyguard.
It was a surprise to learn he was her bodyguard. Later that night until the wee hours of dawn, they caught up in each other's lives during the three years. Jun quickly glances at Ying and swims a little faster to be beside him. Ying glances to his right, when he sense Jun moving up to his side. He notices the smile on her face and wonders what cause it to appear so magically. Jun looks over at Ying, who raised a brow, in question, and she responds with a bright shrug as if saying, 'just cause.'
He huffs amused at Jun's little antics, when the front door comes in view the amusement on his face was replace by a solemn mask. Jun internally frowns, wishing to see the Ying she grew to know. She falls back in place behind him as the doors swing open revealing the outside world. There sits a crowd of green with specks of lavender, blue, grey, and white. In the center of the whole crowd was Jun's parent hand in hand, mother smiling kindly and father wearing a fake smile as plain for all to see.
All four of the youth stop before the royal couple, the two soldiers that were behind Jun flank the right and left of Ying and they all bow in unison saying, "Greetings mi' lord and lady." Jun's parents nod in response, the three raise back up and the two soldiers joins with their respective regiment. Ying, on the other hand, glides back behind Jun keeping vigilance for any danger like his fellow comrades. Jun look to her parents with her head held high and back straight, making her mother beam in pride at her daughter's effort.
"Jun, my child and only daughter," spoke her father with a melancholy tone, "At age sixteen you where introduce to the court as princess and heir to Neo-Atlantis. Now at the ripe age of twenty-one, you are about to commence in a tradition started by our forefathers. Mermaids and mermen had been given the chance to leave the safety of their home and protection of their parents to explore the ocean for the first time."
Jun beams softly as she nods for him to continue, "So it is customary to let you go, but sadly since you are of royal blood I cannot allow you to go completely alone." Jun stares at her father in disbelief. She started to retort but she calm when he raised his hand. "I know it may seem unfair, but please allow this one time for the sake of your mother and me, as well as the people?" He pleas, wishing to convey the worry he feels about the whole thing. Jun narrows her eyes at him and glances at all the apprehensive faces of the people.
"I will relent this time." Jun respond wishing to get going already and formulating a plan on how to lose the sorry escort her father dooms. His eyes brighten at this and he said happily with an invisible glint of mischief in his eyes. "Good. Royal Guard First Regiment Captain Ying will be your escort." Casually spoke the king enjoying the young adults' identical reactions.
"You can't be serious?" yells Jun pointing at a shock and then slightly offended Ying in disbelief. She was hoping it to be someone else and that he was joking. If not than it was not a moot point in trying to lose him. Ying is the only soldier and guard in the Royal army able to keep up with her. "Yes I am serious," chuckles her father enjoying his daughter's reaction, "Now if you're not pleased with this decision then this tradition can go to the waste side again."
Jun gasp at her father's little innocent, which is not so innocent, ultimatum. "You wouldn't?" Jun softly challenge him, and her father raised a brow as if saying, 'I wouldn't would I?' Jun's brow twitches in annoyance and irritably complies to it. Shortly after the agreement, everyone disperse, leaving Jun and Ying alone in the courtyard. Ying looks over at Jun, noting her tense shoulders, bowed head and her two tight fists. "Jun?" Ying calls out quietly not wanting to set her off, if there was one thing he learned from their friendship that is never make Jun even more piss.
Ying heard her mumble something angrily; he raised a brow wanting to ask but afraid of setting her off. The mumblings steadily grew louder, "Why does he always do this? Why can't I ever do things like a normal person? Why must I always be babied by everyone, damn it!" The more Jun talk the tighter her fist, until her knuckles where stark white. Ying quickly places a calm hand on her shoulder, causing Jun to jump in mid-rant turning on him.
"What!"
"Jun," calmly said Ying looking at her with serene worried eyes, in which calmed a ranting Jun to a diluted steaming Jun. "What Ying?"
"Remember when we're little how I always took you out on little adventure in the nearby coral?"
Jun nods her head while looking at him, "And how did our little adventures work?"
Jun look at Ying confusedly answering, "I can explore were ever I wanted without you following me as long as I either didn't go too far in my exploration or quickly return to where we meet. Why do you ask?"
Ying smiles a small smile saying, "Last time I check, that was an excursion with an ESCORT, which I may add is the horrible protocol us bodyguards are doom to follow."
Jun stares at Ying for a few minutes, "Your right," and then giggles at the little joke. Ying smiles seeing Jun's face brighten and let her have a moment to enjoy. After a few minutes of laughing Ying comments, "Can we please go while there is still sunlight?" Jun huffs in in annoyance at Ying's understandable impatience.
"Fine, but I get to lead us out this time."
Ying nods saying, "I wouldn't have it any other way. "
Shortly after, they left quickly on their little excursion with Jun in front and Ying following her over the coral ridge that divided their home from the rest of the sea. Jun look in 'ah' at the vast blue depth and took note the further away they were from the city the darker it became. 'He wanted to leave before it gets dark? I say it's already dark.' Thinks Jun as she unconsciously slackens her pace allowing Ying to catch up.
Ying notice Jun subtle decrease in speed as if she was uncertain, taking note of the unusual dark surface. He quickly swims up next to Jun, causing the girl to release a quiet breath she reflectively held in. Jun lightheartedly glares over at a silently snickering Ying, knowing he was aware that she was a little anxious. Jun jump when Ying took her hand as if she was a little frighten child.
She huff in annoyance as Ying's snickers erupts into small fits of laughter. "It's not funny." Jun mumbles, "I'm sorry…but it is funny." Jun rolls her eyes but internally smiles, she enjoys the times he laughs. After his father's death, his laughter became scarce when he focused on honoring his father's name. The two, hand in hand, fell into companionable silence as they travel the dark depths. 'The water should be lighter than this.' Thinks Ying as the water remain dark, and if he dare say, it became even darker at each stroke.
"Hey Ying, has the surface always been this...dark?" Jun questions looking around, "and desolate?" There was no life what so ever, well may be the planktons, but other than that desolate. "No it usually is bright and full of life." Ying let go of Jun's hand as they stop in mid-ascension looking around the area with calculated eyes.
Ying continue his search, which sadly yield nothing. Internal alarms in Ying started to go off in the eerily calm waters. 'The last time the water was like this…' thinks Ying when a bright flash erupts from the surface above. "By all that's Neptune!" yells Jun jumping onto Ying, which he deftly caught the small women in his protective embrace. 'Damn, of all the people who could have their first excursion in a storm is Jun.' Thinks Ying as another flash of light erupts above.
"Jun it's time to go." States Ying as a strong urge to escape the temporary composed water pulses with his internal alarm. Jun, with face planted the crook of his shoulder, nods as another flash lightens the entire area. She moves away from him but stop when something caught her eyes, "Ying…what's…that?" Ying stop and looks at Jun with his brow raised in question. Then glances in the direction she points at.
A large brown foreign object trudges through the thrashing waters, 'that's a...'
"A ship." Whispers Jun finishing off Ying's thought process. Now Ying know it was time to go, "Jun let..." starts Ying when a rather powerful flash strikes the ship, causing the great vessel to burst into a florescent of orange, red, and white.
Above the surface a few hours prior, a vessel and her passengers had been sailing peacefully on the serene waters. Nevertheless, those passengers, that were seasoned, knew not to let this fool them. While the passengers, that were green, lounge around enjoying the king's glory, enjoying the breeze, completing their tasks, and conversing with others.
Swift the sails jerk violently.
Everyone freezes in place. The vessel lurches back from a rogue wave. Everyone quickly race to the vessels' edges staring into a tall rumbling dark wall. The brunette stood there amongst the crowd, with the hooded figure at his side. He snarls at the buffoons gawking at the storm, "What all you standing for? All hands on deck, get the sail down, secure the deck and the cargo, and I want the kitchen workers gather all necessities and prepare the rowboats for emergency. Now move it!"
All sailors scatter across the deck, doing as told. The seasoned sailors instructed and calm the nerves of the green sailors. The brunette quickly rushes up to the steer but stops to turn to the hooded figure staring at the wall. He returns to his side quickly saying, "If you want you can help some of my men. If not than I ask for you to wait below deck where it's safe."
The hooded figure stands there, but nods showing he hear the man. The brunette nods and quickly takes to the steer as they burst through the first assaulting wave of the storm. The figure heads to the rowboats and assists the kitchen workers. Lightning flashes brightly in the distance, as if warning of them of their ultimate fate. A huge wave bears down on them, "I hate storms! Brace yourselves!" yells the captain as he locks himself and the steer in place.
Everyone quickly braces themselves as the wave slams into them. They quickly went back to securing everything and double-checked the secured items, before they brace for another assault. Suddenly two lightning strikes adjacent to them in a deadly dance. The first mate rushes up to the captain, "Sir everything is secured." The brunette nods as he looks to the distance of the churning water. "Kou," calmly spoke the captain catching the first mate by surprise. "Yes captain?" Kou answers.
"Take everyone to the rowboats and get out of here." The first mate looks at the captain as if he was crazy, "But sir, what about…" started the first mate but the captain interrupts coolly, "A captain never abandons his ship. Now go." The first mate was about to protest when another wave hit them. "All men hit the boats!" yells the captain gaining everyone's attention. "But Captain!" yell his men in shock and he yells back saying, "Don't turn into little girls on me! I order said hit the boats! Abandon ship!" everyone stares at the captain and he glares at them waiting for more protests.
"Come on you sissies; let's go…it's no use in trying to reason with a dead man." Said one of the seasoned sailors as they race to the boats. Sailors, seasoned and green, all scramble onto the boats as the ocean renew its efforts in deterring them from their escape. One by one, the boats lower to the raging waters. The last boat hover close to the edge with hooded figure and captain close by. "Get on." Commands the captain gesturing to the awaiting ride.
The figure shakes his head saying, "It would be better if you get on." The brunette smiles softly saying, "I may desire that too, but sadly it cannot be." Gesturing the figure to enter the boat as the ship tumbles from angered wave to angered wave. "Sorry, but I can't allow your kindness to go unpaid." Replies the figure, causing the brunette to scrunch his nose in forward into the waiting arms of the figure. He quickly hands him over to his thankful crew. The figure watches as the men lower the boat, quickly joining the other retreating boats.
'Have safe travel.'
After watching them go, the figure races to the steer as the waves revamp its strike on the empty vessel. The figure steers the vessel through more assaulting waves for a few long seconds when suddenly lightning strikes the steer, the figure flies back with the explosion of soggy wood. He gets up miraculously unscathed and his hood lying soundlessly on his shoulders.
Revealing the figure's long curly silver locks held in thin binding at their nape, their well-rounded bangs clung to soaked pale skin. Crystal sapphire studies the destruction of furious Mother Nature. He gets up running down to deck seeing how he could not stir the large vessel any longer. He stops at the bind sails and untightens them hoping to use the winds to his best advantage.
Suddenly, another strike came; this time flying passes him by with barely a foot between them. The stranger went to assess the new damage the lightning caused, but instead flies with splinter soggy wood and torn cloths instead. He lands roughly on the slippery bark, and shelters himself from falling debris. He slowly lifts himself up with minor pain, but stills at the crackling of severed wood. He quickly rolls over narrowly missed becoming the broken sails cushion.
He hazards his attention to see a room engulf in flames, and his sapphires widen realizing what content rest in the burning room. Especially at the crackling sounds of gunpowder filling the air. He quickly gets up running to the rails, when it exploded.
Jun and Ying watch in horror as the ship erupts in flames before their eyes. 'We need to Move!' panics Ying as he grabs Jun as the bottom of the ship explodes causing a heated strong current rushing at them. Seeing the current speedily approaching them, Ying quickly hugs Jun to him, facing his back to the barreling current, taking the full brunt of the impact.
"Ying!" yells Jun with worried ruby pink staring at Ying, after they tumble into the depth for a few agonizing minutes. "I'm fine, are you?" Ying replies casually to Jun's panic but his tone soften on his inquiry for her wellbeing. Jun snorts dismissingly at him but answer, "Yes I am." Jun than notice the intimate way Ying was holding her and she believed Ying did as well if the slight blush told her anything. Ying quickly release Jun like she burn him and Jun back away while looking away at everything but Ying, who rubbed the back of his head while mimicking her actions.
After a few moments of awkward silence, "We should head home now." After breaking the silence Ying starts to descend when Jun said, "No, we need to see if we can help those beings up there." Ying stops and turns to Jun saying, "No, we need to return home. From what we just witness, I think there're no survivors."
Jun huffs crossing her arms saying, "We have to at least try." Ying huffs exasperatedly, "There is no point and besides it's too dangerous to go up there." Jun glares at Ying stubbornly and Ying returns the glare just as stubborn as her. "There is a rule about going up to the surface during the storm, Jun. It's don't go up there. Jun!" said Ying to yell exasperatedly at Jun's retreating backside. During their whole discussion, the remains of the ship sink all around them. Ying floats there in place debating should he follow her or just wait for her return. He knew returning home without her was not an option, her father would kill him if he did or more like he would kill himself for leaving her defenseless.
After the latter came into mind, Ying quickly swims after Jun. During his ascending, he dodge sinking ship debris of all sizes and fought the strong undercurrent of the storm, bursting through the surface, "Jun!" yells Ying after seeing no sign of her. The waves toss Ying around during his search for Jun. He turns around, at a creaking sound, to see a still standing ship's bow that was splitting apart at a fault created by the lightning strike.
Ying quickly dives and swims a depth of about hundred feet narrowly missing the fast sinking left half of the vessel's bow. Ying stops and watch the piece of the vessel sink as worry quickly grips his heart. Ying quickly swims to the surface, fighting the undercurrent a little bit more, burst to the surface yelling, "Jun!" Quickly a small wave dunks him under, allowing the undercurrent to carry a dazed Ying away from the wreckage.
Ying snaps out his stupor as he dives once more into the depth, to return torpedoing to the surface. He burst out of the surface, looking around below him yelling, "Jun!" landing back into the water as a medium large wave slams him back down into the ocean depths. A dazed Ying sinks to the ocean bottom, 'Shipwreck, storm, waves, Jun…JUN!' Ying quickly rights himself up as he swims to the surface.
Ying huffs laboriously as he pushes through the strong undercurrent, 'Please don't let it be too late, please don't be too late, please don't be too late.' He explodes through the surf to get dunk by the ocean in retaliation. He returns to the surf coughing as the raging waves toss him around. 'Please don't be too late, please don't be too late, please don't be too late!' Ying spins around in place with the fervor of this being life and death. However, in the harsh reality this truth, without knowing, will cut him deep for not only as a soldier but also as a friend if he did not succeed in his mission.
"Jun! Jun where are you?" Ying sputters as the ocean attempts to dunk him under in her fury. 'Please don't be too late, please don't be too late, Jun please be ok, please don't be too late!' Thinks Ying as he starts to swim while fighting the stabbing crests working to impede him on his search for the oceans newest victim to her fury. He returns to the floating remains of the wreckage, pushing the evidence aside in his search.
"Ying!"
Ying fervidly turns around at the distance call, "Jun?" he calls out hoping beyond hope she could hear him. "Ying!" Ying turn to the direction he knew he heard the voice yelling, "Jun! Where are you?" He calls out knowing the third time would be the charm.
"Over here!" yells Jun in the direction he was facing, "I'm coming!" Ying yells as he swims forward with renew determination in his eyes. His adrenaline skyrocket into overdrive, since throughout the first thirty minutes it was already running on high. Ying thrust through the crashing waves, following the yells of Jun that were getting louder at each stroke. Ying quickly breaks the crest to see Jun clinging onto a flat rickety looking wood holding a waterlogged person.
"Jun!"
Hearing her name Jun looks up to see Ying coming towards her. "Ying!" she calls back as the water bash into her and the floating thing she was holding. Suddenly the spearing water was replace by a warm body "Jun, thank goodness you're alright." Exhale Ying hugging the girl close to him while sheltering her from the storm.
"I'm glad to see you too. Now help me with this." Jun said causing Ying to look over at the being lying on this makeshift raft. Ying took note of the feminine being with long silver hair and very pale skin. She was wearing a strange garb, a blue wrapping grab hugged her very flat torso with a pair of matching baggy or more like puffy shorts gathered below the knees. Her sleeve was detached from the top and flows open towards and over the hands. She also had a pair of blue sandals with a gold star on each strap. Thin golden belt with dangling golden stars attach wrap around her small waist.
'She's cute, in a masculine kind of way. But not as cute as Jun.' Ying quickly snaps out of his stupor on from the last thought. "Ying?" questions Jun catching the boy's attention. "Right...ok…which way is land?" Ying ask as he braces himself and Jun against the nonstop assaults of the waves. "Um…Ying I'm not the one who's been up to the surface a lot." Jun comments as she held on Ying and the object during the assaults.
"So…you just came up to the surface to possibly help any survivors without knowing where to take them to safety?" Ying ask as he feels a twitch coming on, "Well I was counting on you following and having an idea of where land might be." Jun said looking up at Ying with innocent round eyes. Ying stares into Jun's secret weapon as his eye twitches in annoyance, 'Why the eyes?'
Ying sighs in defeat, "Fine, I think there's land…that…way." He replies turning in the direction he spoke of as his eyes rest on an over hundred-foot wave approaching them. "Ying." Jun squeaks seeing the wave as well. Ying quickly formulates a makeshift plan in his head, leaving Jun for a minute; he jumps on the makeshift raft. Hisses as his fluke scrapes the edge of the raft, he grabs the girl lying on the raft and, being mindful not to cut her, drags her over to the edge.
"Ying?" questions Jun seeing as the large wave coming closer, she heard a splash next to her and turn seeing Ying back in the water holding the unconscious person. He grabs Jun and bringing her over to him as he push the raft away from him. "Jun," Ying said gaining Jun's attention, "Whatever you do. Don't. Let. Go." Ying grounds out, Jun nods and hugs Ying the best she could with the person also in his arms.
The wave come bearing upon them as they brace against one another. The two scream as they went under the water. Jun fought to keep her grip on Ying and Ying did the same. After the current lighten up, Ying quickly return to the surface to see any solid land mass. Luckily for them, only about a mile or two away lying in wait was a huge shadow.
"Jun get on my back." Ying said knowing it would be even more of a challenge to swim with two in his arms. Jun was about to protest but the look in his eye stop her. She nods as she move and wrap her small arms around his neck. Then Ying quickly went to swimming to the shore, fighting against the current. The water with renew strength crashes and slams into the moving bodies trying to deter their renew hope. Jun grits and tightens her hold on Ying when she felt herself slipping.
The island was coming into view as the water stilled and silence rang supreme. Ying pauses in his swim, breathing heavily from the unrelenting batter. "Ying is it over?" Jun questions in a whisper afraid she'll break the tranquility.
"I don't think so, Jun."
Suddenly the roaring sound of rushing water assaults their eardrums. Jun and Ying turn around to see the king of waves heading straight for them.
"Ying…SWIM!"
Ying without having to be told twice torpedoes through the water towards the island for their very lives. Jun screams bloody murder in Ying's ear as he struggles to breathe and keep up with the pace. Suddenly they start to move sideways instead of forwards. "Ying!" yells Jun as they were dragged under. Ying tries to fight the super strong currents. He then notices they were going around in a circle, "Crap we're in a whirlpool!" Ying yells as he tries to swim out.
"I HATE WHIRLPOOLS!" Jun yells as they spin around in circles, she slips off Ying but he catches her before she went too far. Jun's momentum in her slip miraculously freed them from the whirlpool. Jun quickly took to swimming dragging Ying along until he slugs her over his shoulder swimming towards the shore. "Hey!" Jun yells at Ying for his abrupt move.
"Sorry. Don't have time." Ying replies as he swims faster towards the shore. Ying notice a calm inlet close by and goes for it. Jun looks up from her spot seeing the huge wave coming closer, "Ying…hurry!" Jun screams as she beats on Ying's back to move faster. Ying didn't reply because he was using everything that he got swimming her, the unconscious person and himself to the inlet.
His eyes brighten up at the sight of the now close inlet. With one last scrape of leftover energy, Ying pushes himself across the threshold. Ying freezes in place as exhaustion conquer him. He knew they needed to get to shore but he didn't have a lot of energy left. Huffing he looks at the incoming wave, than the shore. Judging by the distance, he thinks he could make it if he could ride the oncoming wave, or someone helps him carry their package across. "Jun." he calls in a hoarse voice.
"What Ying?"
"Do you think you can help me get to shore?"
Jun looks questionably at him, the oncoming wave, and judging the shore distance.
"Yeah I can." Jun responds and Ying slides her off his shoulder. Ying starts to swim, dragging the person with him. Jun join him on the side pulling the stranger with all her might swimming to the shore. A second later, the wave hit the threshold and Ying look back at the larger but smaller wave coming in. "Jun dive!"
Jun nods as she dives shortly after him right when the wave wash upon the spot they were. But sadly, the undercurrent for the wave was strong, knocking them both. Jun kept her grip on the thankfully light person, but watch in horror as Ying, exhausted from the heading against the assaulting waves, sink to the below unconscious. "Ying!" she screams about to follow him but remember the person in her grasp.
She quickly swims to the shore, pushes the man onto the sands quickly, and went back swimming quickly after Ying. She swims looking for any sign of him, as she progresses further down the depths. She gasps quietly as she found a still Ying on the pebble ground. She went down to him and check his pulse first, she release a breath seeing that he was still alive but just knock out.
Jun than lift Ying's left arm and place it over her head. She lifts him up with a grunt and almost fell back with his added weight. But she righted herself and swim to the surface. Jun with Ying in toll, brakes through the surface. The first thing she notices is another gigantic wave bigger than the last coming into the inlet. Jun curses as she swims quickly to the shore with Ying.
She pauses at the sight of an enclosed area amongst the rocks, which appears to be a good buffer against the wave and weather. Jun glances at the still unconscious Ying, she took one deep breath and swim quickly to the enclosed area. She made it to the first rock and maneuver around the rocks carefully until she came to the enclosed. She quickly jumps onto the landing and pulls up Ying onto the landing.
Jun quickly slides off the slippery rock making sure Ying didn't slide off. Then she left its safety to retrieve the stranger, who she left on the shore. Jun saw the wave was towering over the whole inlet. She quickly swims to the stranger, pulling them off the shore. Quickly, Jun drags the stranger behind her as she swims to the enclosed area, or landing, when the wave enters the inlet.
Jun pumps her tail harder as she came to the rocks surrounding the inlet. Jun maneuvers faster, now experienced, around the rocks and made it to the enclosed with the still unconscious Ying, right when the wave pounces on the shore.
R&R...if you dare.