AYDA

Escape

I darted forward, catching Ayda's body in my arms. She was dead weight, unloving except for the small breaths of air rattling unsteadily through her body.

I quickly darted backward, aware of the danger of being that close to Tamatoa. Sure enough, one of his claws crashed down where I was just kneeling.

I crept backwards into the shadows, grabbing my hook and booking it for the exit, rocking Ayda.

"Maui...?" She murmured sleepily, her eyes half opening and then slipping closed again.

"Shh..." I hissed, putting one finger over her lips. Her soft... Totally kissable lips... Stop thinking like that! I Not now! I yelled at myself, running the rest of the way oit of the cave, trying to be silent.

I tripped on a pebble, and it clattered backwards into the cave loudly. I froze.

Tamatoa gave a shriek of rage as he discovered we were not in the cave with him.

I positively booked it over the flat land, stopping atop an inactive geyser.

I put Ayda's hand on the surface of the geyser.

Tamatoa crashed towards us.

Suddenly, the geyser exploded, sending us flying upwards into the bottom of the Ocean.

We were propelled to the top, my hand over Ayda's mouth to stop her from inhaling water.

We slammed into the boat hard, knocking the wind out of me. I laid Ayda down on the deck of the canoe, checking her breathing again.

It was almost non-existent.