Cyclonis stood at the edge of the lake, her back to Aerrow. The cool water shimmered beneath the rising sun, casting faint ripples across the surface. She glanced over her shoulder at Aerrow, her expression severe.
"I swear, if you even *think* about watching, I'll rip your eyes out," she warned coldly, her fingers resting on the clasp of her cloak.
Aerrow, standing a good distance away, held his hands up defensively. "Relax, Cyclonis. I'm not that desperate for company. I'll be out of here before you even hit the water."
With a scoff, she watched as he turned and walked away, heading back toward their makeshift shelter. She waited until he was out of sight, ensuring that his figure had vanished into the trees before she let her guard down. Finally, she stripped off her cloak, armor, and underclothes, dipping her toes into the cool water before wading in.
The lake was shallow at first, but it deepened quickly as she moved farther from shore. The water was surprisingly refreshing, calming the tension that had been coiled inside her ever since their crash. Her muscles relaxed as she dipped beneath the surface, letting the water wash away the dirt and grime from the past few days.
For a moment, Cyclonis allowed herself to enjoy the rare peace. She closed her eyes, floating on her back as the water gently lapped around her. But just as she began to relax, something cold brushed against her leg, causing her to freeze.
Her eyes snapped open, and she looked down into the depths, but saw nothing. The water seemed still, but an unsettling feeling began to creep up her spine.
Then, without warning, something strong and cold wrapped around her ankle, yanking her violently beneath the surface.
Cyclonis gasped, swallowing water as she was dragged down into the lake's depths. Her arms flailed as she tried to fight against whatever had grabbed her, but it was too strong. Panic surged through her as she struggled to free herself, kicking and thrashing wildly. Her hands reached for anything to pull herself up, but the creature's grip only tightened, dragging her deeper.
Her scream was lost in the water, bubbles rising to the surface.
On the shore, Aerrow had been absentmindedly collecting wood for their shelter when he heard the faint, muffled scream. His head snapped up, heart pounding. Without hesitation, he dropped everything and sprinted toward the lake.
"Cyclonis!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the trees.
He didn't waste any time. The second he reached the shore, he saw the ripples in the water, the thrashing beneath the surface. Aerrow tore off his jacket, diving into the lake without a second thought.
The water was murky, making it difficult to see, but Aerrow's instincts kicked in. He swam deeper, his sharp eyes catching the faint outline of Cyclonis struggling against the dark, humanoid figure below her.
Without hesitation, Aerrow grabbed one of his blades and slashed at the creature's arm. The grip around Cyclonis's ankle loosened immediately, and the creature snarled, a guttural, inhuman sound echoing through the water. Aerrow slashed again, forcing it to let go completely.
Cyclonis, freed from the creature's grasp, kicked her way to the surface, gasping for air as she broke through the water. Aerrow, meanwhile, engaged the creature head-on, using his superior agility to outmaneuver it in the water. The fight was brief, and with one final strike, the creature dissolved into the depths.
Aerrow surfaced, breathing heavily as he swam toward the shore. He glanced over at Cyclonis to make sure she was alright, only to freeze in place.
Cyclonis stood waist-deep in the water, her face red with fury—and something else. She was completely, unmistakably naked.
For a moment, Aerrow was too stunned to move. His brain registered the situation a second too late, and his eyes widened. Cyclonis, realizing his stunned expression, let out a furious scream.
"*Turn around!*" she yelled, crossing her arms over her chest as she tried to shield herself.
"R-Right! Turning around!" Aerrow stammered, immediately spinning on his heel and facing the opposite direction. His face was burning with embarrassment, his heart racing from more than just the fight.
Cyclonis stormed out of the water, quickly grabbing her cloak and pulling it around herself. She shot Aerrow a murderous glare even though his back was still turned, his hands awkwardly resting on his hips.
After a few tense moments of silence, Aerrow cleared his throat, trying to ease the awkwardness that hung in the air. "I didn't… you know… see anything. Really. I swear."
Cyclonis's eyes narrowed dangerously. "*You saw everything!*"
Aerrow winced, knowing there was no escaping her wrath now. "Well… I mean, in my defense, I was saving your life. And also, I have a really bad memory when it comes to… uh… details like that."
Cyclonis's glare intensified. "You have a lousy excuse."
"I have a lousy memory," Aerrow insisted, raising his hands in surrender. "It's the truth!"
Cyclonis fumed, her fists clenched tightly at her sides. She was humiliated beyond belief, but as much as she wanted to throttle him, she couldn't deny that Aerrow had saved her life. For now, she'd have to let the matter drop—though not without a few more threats.
"If you so much as mention this to anyone," she hissed, her voice low and dangerous, "I will personally make sure you regret it for the rest of your very short life."
Aerrow gave her a sheepish grin, still not daring to face her fully. "Understood. Not a word. Ever."
Cyclonis huffed, pulling her cloak tighter as she stomped past him toward their shelter. Aerrow let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Of all the things I've fought…" he muttered to himself, "this might be the most dangerous one yet."