The New Girl (Fairy Tail Fanfic)

Chapter 10: Old Friends

The New Girl (Fairy Tail fanfic):
Chapter 11: Old Friends

Elaine's POV—

I gasped for air, but the icy, rushing water filled my mouth, choking me. The river's powerful current pulled me under, tossing me like a rag doll.

I tried to scream, but the water swallowed my voice. My arms flailed uselessly, the current too strong, pulling me under again and again. Every time I fought to the surface, the water dragged me back down. My long hair tangled around my face, blinding me, and the roar of the river drowned out any sounds.

"Why did I push him?" I thought as my limbs grew weaker. I couldn't hold on anymore. Panic surged, and my chest burned as my vision blurred.

I felt something hard slam into my head. Pain shot through me, and my body went limp as the water surged over me, the cold biting deep into my bones. I started to sink, my senses fading, when suddenly something grabbed me—a hard, tight grip around my waist.

—

Third Person POV—

Gray burst from the river's surface, gasping for air as his eyes locked on Elaine's limp form being carried farther away by the current.

"Damn it."

His chest burned as he swam toward her, anger boiling inside him. She had pushed him out of the way—knowing she couldn't swim—and now she was the one in danger. He fought through the water, his strokes powerful but desperate, closing the distance between them. As soon as he reached her, he grabbed her around the waist and yanked her up, holding her tightly against him.

"Come on, stay with me!" he yelled, more to himself than to her. Her body was completely limp, her head hanging, water pouring off her.

Gray: Ice Make: Grappling Hook!

With a flick of his wrist, chains of ice shot out, wrapping around a nearby tree on the riverbank. Gray used all his remaining strength to pull them both out of the water, launching himself and Elaine onto the shore. They landed hard on the rocky ground, Gray immediately shielding her as they hit the earth.

Panting heavily, Gray rolled off her, gasping for breath. His eyes darted to Elaine's motionless form. Her eyes were closed, her skin pale, and blood trickled from a gash on her forehead, mixing with the water still dripping off her.

"Come on, princess!" Gray snapped, his voice cracking with frustration. He leaned over her, wiping the blood from her face with shaking hands. His heart raced, a knot of fear tightening in his chest.

She still wasn't moving.

He pressed his ear to her chest, listening intently. After a long, agonizing moment, he heard it—a faint, shallow breath. It was barely there, but enough to make him exhale sharply in relief.

He quickly summoned an ice signal, shooting it into the sky to alert the others. As the beam of ice soared upward, Gray turned his attention back to Elaine, brushing the wet hair from her face. His mind was racing, the weight of what just happened crashing down on him.

"What the hell were you thinking?!" Gray muttered, his voice tight with anger.

His hands tightened into fists as he glared down at her still form. He should have seen it earlier. Back on the pirate ship, when she had insisted on using the boat instead of swimming, she had looked nervous. It all made sense now, and he hated himself for not picking up on it then. If he had, maybe he wouldn't have insisted on jumping. Maybe they wouldn't have wasted time arguing. Maybe he would have noticed the snake coming instead of being too distracted.