Love in the Time of Trepidation

Chapter 13: A Frenzy

Honestly, feels like I waited forever to use this as an actual title for a chapter. Chapter 13 time!

Chapter 13

A Frenzy

Akari gasped, barely able to keep her head above the water. Each eddy and swirl whisked her along, her limbs trying to grab any piece of flotsam, whether it was tied down or not. Each turn in the whirlpool dragged her under, giving her another spluttering of water to her lungs. She really wasn't sure how much more her body could take, even simple breaths and movements becoming an effort to her battered body.

Meanwhile, the whirlpool continued to drain downward, as if attempting to reach the sandy floor of the bay. Worse yet, Akari could feel her body and see Palina and Iscan beginning to be sucked down to that very bottom. Once the sea would crash back in, they would be buried in a watery tomb. Knowing that, Akari's hand found just enough of a grip to hold Dewott's Poké Ball.

"De-Dewott!" With her cries and coughs, she managed to send her Poké Ball up. It exploded with light, and Dewott appeared. He, too, was bruised all over his body, but seeing her state, he dove for her and picked her up with his body. She caught the Poké Ball, taking lungfuls of air that made her entire chest hurt. "Aim for the top!"

"Dewa!" Dewott cried. His own body was covered in water, and he cut a path upwards, slicing for the very top of the whirlpool. The nearer they got, the more of a sight Akari got on the whirlpool and Iscan and Palina's state. She also saw the island, and the freezing water that was coming from it. Dewott jumped high, and Akari let go, her fingers clasping the edge of the icy bridge and pulling herself up. She coughed, her body trembling and threatening to slip before a hand caught her and held her up.

"Akari! Akari, say something!" Irida was shouting. Glaceon was next to her, breathing heavily as she let out an Ice Beam in intervals to try and freeze the sea before them. Akari pounded a fist on the ice.

"Dewott, get them out of the water, now! And find Quilava!" Dewott saluted, and before he could even touch the ice, he spun and dove back into the waters. The lightning above crackled away, no longer flashing down. It was as if it had finally found its target and was now wholly satisfied, waiting for the whirlpool to do the rest. "That damn shadow..."

"Akari... Ah! Glaceon, keep it up in that direction!" Irida's shout and jump back from the deteriorating ice caused Akari to push herself up. Already the bridge was fading, breaking away as their one link to the island. Akari rubbed across her face, forcing herself to stand and look out over the whirlpool that was slowly turning into a deadly series of cataracts.

Dewott was diving into them, aiming straight for the pair that was clasping together, heedless of any of the broken wood, trees and stones swirling around. He leapt over them, his body focused in fierce determination. The ice cracked underneath Akari's feet and she stepped back, letting some of it tumble into the sea, washed away by the whirls.

"Where are you?" Akari muttered. More ice broke, and this time, her foot nearly slipped into the water, only for her arms to be hooked by Irida, trying to drag her back. Down below, Dewott had managed to get to Palina and Iscan, dragging them forward in a slow chain. The whirlpool fought against him, but the large Growlithe on their side lit his own body in flame, attempting to speed their ascent and evaporate the water. It did little good.

What was worse was the pair of red eyes lost in the steam, burning through it.

"Dewott! Look out!" Akari knew her cry couldn't be heard. They were too far away from each other. The Growlithe with Palina turned, barking loud enough that it overcame the crashing of the stormy waves for a second. Palina turned her head, and though she shouted something, Dewott did not stop. Even when the little Growlithe, larger than before and his eyes a menacing red, leapt from within the whirlpool, his fangs ablaze, he refused to stop until he reached the top of the drain.