Jinshi x OC

The Hunt (P.3)

***

She felt the wind wisp past her. She felt the mist of the waterfall spray. She felt the burning venom flow through her veins. She felt the sharp sting of the cold water as she plunged into the pool. The impact, knocking the breath out of her lungs. She watched through blurred vison as the light from the water surface continued to distance itself from her as she was pulled further into the depth of the pool. Panic seized her as she struggled to kick back up to the surface, the pain in her leg intensifying with each frantic movement. Mei's lungs burned for air, her chest constricting with the desperate need to breathe.

The darkness started to creep into the edges of her vision as she felt her head slam against a rock on the waterbed. Enabling the darkness to fully take over her.

She saw nothing. Only a dark void pulling her in. But she felt everything. The pain in her already wounded arm. The venom burning through her. The ache in her chest from the look in Jinshi's eyes as she fell. The bruises across her body from last night attack. She felt how weak her body has become. How weak she was. She felt her body surrendering to the suffocating embrace of the water. But what's that? She felt a pull on her arm then a pressure wrapping around her waist and then nothing.

There was a firm pressure, first against her mouth, then against her chest. Then again. Mouth then chest. Mouth then chest. Mei's mind drifted in and out of consciousness, the sensations around her disjointed and muffled. There was a rhythmic pattern to the pressure against her mouth and chest - almost like a heartbeat. Slowly, she became aware of a warm presence beside her, the sensation of being cradled in strong arms. Jinshi's voice cut through the haze, filled with panic and desperation.

"Mei, breathe!," he pleaded, his words barely audible over the ringing in her ears. Mei's body instinctively responded to the command, her lungs heaving as she sucked in a desperate lungful of air. The water burned in her chest as she coughed and spluttered, her body wracked with pain.

Mei's eyes fluttered open, her vision blurry and unfocused. She could just make out Jinshi's worried expression, his usually calm features twisted with fear. With great effort, Mei tried to push herself upright, but the pain in her leg shot through her like a lightning bolt. Gasping, she collapsed back on a hard rock-like surface.

Mei's sight start to focus and quickly noted the dark cave she somehow ended up in. The dim light filtering in from the opening of the cave painted eerie shadows on the walls around her. The sound of water dripping echoed in the cavern, adding to the surreal atmosphere. Jinshi hovered over her, his hands trembling with unspoken emotions as he gazed down at Mei, relief washing over his features at the sight of her conscious.

Jinshi's hands moved to cup Mei's face, "Mei, thank fuck you're alive," he murmured. Mei could see the worry etched into every line of his face, a side of Jinshi she had never witnessed before. Struggling to sit up again, Mei winced as the pain throbbed through her leg. She looked around the dimly lit cave, trying to piece together how they had ended up there. Memories flooded back - the snake bite, the fall, and an arm pulling her.

"Jinshi, how... how did you?" Mei began, her voice hoarse from the water she had inhaled during the ordeal.

Jinshi's eyes softened as he pulled his hood off his gown, balling it up to act as a pillow under her head. "You fell...," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. Mei's heart clenched at Jinshi's words, the vulnerability in his voice catching her off guard. He jumped in after me.

She reached out a trembling hand to touch his cheek, her fingers brushing against his skin with a tenderness. "Jinshi" she whispered. Jinshi caught her hand in his, the chill of her touch sending a jolt through him. He placed a feather light kiss on the palm of her hand, thanking the heavens she was alive. Until her hand suddenly fell limp, slipping from his face. Her eyes rolling back as she let out a pained gasp, her body convulsing slightly. Jinshi's heart started hammering in his chest again as panic surged through him.