The warriors stood in a loose circle near the boat, chanting under their breath as they scattered crushed herbs into the water. These were meant to ward off sharks, manta rays, and other unseen dangers lurking beneath the waves. Though it was ritualistic, Evan noted the way their eyes remained sharp, scanning the water as if expecting something to surface at any moment.
As the hunters readied themselves for the dive, one of them smirked as he nudged Alunay. "Since you're the one who dragged your stray dog here, you'd better keep him from wandering off."
Another warrior laughed. "Better tie him up before the ocean claims him out of curiosity."
Alunay rolled her eyes. "If he gets eaten, that's on him."
But despite her words, she grabbed a length of rope and looped it around Evan's waist before tying it securely to her own.
Evan raised an eyebrow. "Is this really necessary?"
One of the warriors grinned. "Just making sure the dog doesn't run away."
Evan sighed. "You do know dogs can swim, right?"
Alunay ignored both of them, finishing the knot with practiced ease. "Stay close and do what I do."
Before he could protest further, the first diver slipped beneath the surface, vanishing into the brilliant blue below. One by one, the rest of the hunters followed with practiced ease, their movements fluid and precise, as if performing a well-rehearsed descent into the depths.
Evan took a deep breath and plunged beneath the surface, the ocean swallowing him whole. He opened his eyes, blinking against the sting of saltwater as his vision adjusted. The moment he was fully submerged, the world shifted, sounds from above muffled into a distant hum, replaced by the steady pulse of water all around him.
He had done this before, but always with a safety vest, the buoyancy a quiet reassurance. Now, there was no bottom to brace against, no edge to cling to, only the vast, open water stretching endlessly in every direction.
Panic threatened to claw its way up his throat, but he forced it down. Breathe. Focus. Well, not breathe, not yet, but he had to stay calm. He kicked his legs and pulled his arms forward, trying to mimic the smooth, effortless movements of the divers ahead of him.
They moved like shadows in the deep, their bodies cutting through the water with practiced ease. The divers swam with effortless grace, their strokes smooth and powerful, propelling them downward in controlled, fluid motions. Their bodies seemed weightless, perfectly in sync with the currents as they adjusted their course with small shifts of their arms and legs.
They descended slowly, the light filtering from above growing softer, turning the ocean around them into shifting shades of blue. Below, the coral reef stretched out like an underwater city, vibrant and alive. Schools of fish darted in and out of their hiding places, weaving through the coral in synchronized bursts of color. The occasional sea turtle glided lazily by, unconcerned by the presence of the divers.
The divers plunged deeper, their bodies slicing through the water like hunting birds in freefall. The warriors fanned out around them, instinctively forming a loose perimeter, their nets in hand. It wasn't just the divers who would be gathering, it seemed the warriors were here to hunt as well. They moved with practiced coordination, their eyes scanning the depths, ready to strike at whatever prey they sought. Despite the open water, there was an order to their movements, a silent understanding between them that kept their formation tight and efficient.
Evan felt the rope going taut, dragging him toward a particular area. She gestured with quick, efficient motions, and though he wasn't fluent in her silent language, he gathered that they were searching for something, perhaps a particular type of catch or a good vantage point. Either way, he had little choice but to follow her lead.
Evan tried to follow her but he was struggling. Every kick drained more energy than it should, every stroke felt uncoordinated. Water resisted him in ways it didn't seem to resist the others, and the burn was already creeping into his muscles.
But he was managing.
The divers worked efficiently, pulling oysters from their resting places and securing them in woven bags. A few carried long wooden prying sticks, using them to carefully dislodge stubborn shells without damaging the reef. Others carried spears, not to hunt but to ward off any unexpected predators.
They resurfaced in intervals, pacing themselves so they wouldn't exhaust their lungs. Evan followed suit, grateful for each chance to gulp in fresh air before diving again.
The first few rounds passed uneventfully. He was improving, slightly. His strokes became more controlled, his kicks less frantic. He still wasn't graceful, but at least he wasn't flailing anymore.
By the fourth dive, some of the warriors had begun to surface for longer periods, satisfied with their hauls. Others remained below, continuing their work.
Evan followed, breaking through the surface with a sharp inhale. He treaded water, rubbing the salt from his eyes. Around them, several of the divers were already back on the boat, passing their collected oysters to those on board. A few warriors remained in the water, some floating lazily as they recovered, others still diving.
Alunay wiped the water from her face, exhaling slowly. "You're not completely useless," she admitted, her tone somewhere between amused and begrudgingly impressed.
Evan huffed, catching his breath. "High praise."
One of the warriors on the boat chuckled. "Maybe this dog can swim after all."
Evan rolled his eyes but didn't bother responding. He was too busy reveling in the fact that he was still alive, still in one piece. The ocean was terrifying, but damn, it was incredible.
As the divers submerged for the final time, one of the warriors suddenly dropped his spear and dove, not downward, as Evan expected, but straight across the water, away from the boat.
Evan blinked in confusion, watching the warrior glide through the waves with powerful strokes. Before he could make sense of it, the other warriors erupted into cheers and whoops, hurling themselves into the sea one after another. Their excitement was infectious as they raced after the first swimmer, splashing and laughing as they surged forward.
Alunay, never one to be left behind, dropped her spear onto the boat and launched herself into the water. Her movements were swift and sure, cutting through the sea with practiced ease. Unlike the others, she didn't just chase, she surged ahead, determined to outdo them all. Only when she had left the floating warriors far behind did she finally surface, throwing her head back triumphantly.
Then, after catching her breath, she called out, "Your turn, Aso! Show us what you can do!"
Evan hesitated, unsure if this was a challenge, an invitation, or a joke at his expense. A mix of nervousness and excitement twisted in his gut. Then, the remaining divers on the boat gave him reassuring pats on the back, murmuring words of encouragement, their grins equal parts teasing and supportive.
So folding his arms together, he dived. The water enveloped him, and he pushed forward. His arms sliced through the waves, his legs kicking in a steady rhythm. The motion was familiar, reach, pull, kick, breathe. He angled his body just right, trying to minimize resistance, but the ocean wasn't a controlled swimming pool. Every movement took more effort, every breath had to be timed carefully with the rise and fall of the waves.
Before long, his lungs burned, demanding air. He broke the surface, gasping, and looked around. To his surprise, he had made it past most of the warriors. A chorus of amused whistles and cheers greeted him.
"Wow, that was fast," one of them remarked, grinning. "But it looks like Aso can't hold his breath for too long!"
The warriors burst into laughter, and Evan couldn't help but chuckle along with them.
The laughter was cut short as one of the hunters spotted movement in the water. His expression shifted in an instant.
"Sharks!" he shouted, his voice sharp with urgency.
The warriors barely hesitated. One by one, they turned and swam hard for the boat, their playful energy replaced by sheer survival instinct.
Alunay, either caught off guard or not fully grasping the warning at first, turned toward the commotion. The moment her eyes locked onto the fins cutting through the water, her body tensed. For just a fraction of a second, she froze.
Evan's breath hitched. He instinctively kicked toward the boat, his body already moving before his mind fully processed what was happening. But then his conscience grabbed hold of him, yanking him back.
She's too far from the boat. She won't make it before they reach her.
His pulse hammered in his ears. His survival instincts screamed at him to go. To get out of the water. To let the others handle it. But another thought surfaced, louder than the fear:
She's not swimming. She's still in the water. If I leave, what happens to her?
Gritting his teeth, he took a deep breath and turned back. Alunay was already swimming toward him, her movements sharp and determined. He kicked off, surging toward her.
A memory surfaced, a YouTube short about divers calmly deflecting sharks with just a touch to their snouts. No punches, no struggle, just guiding them away. The key was grabbing the nose before their mouths opened. If the jaws were already wide… well, then he'd need the help of whatever ancestral spirits were looking out for Alunay.
He powered through the water, surfacing again to scan his surroundings. His stomach clenched, only one fin remained, slicing straight toward Alunay. The others had disappeared beneath the waves.
Are they circling? Are they closer than I think?
Alunay was nearly at his position. Instead of wasting time moving further, he forced himself to stay still, filling his lungs with air before plunging his head underwater.
The world below was vast and shifting, the deep blue stretching endlessly. His eyes darted left and right, searching for movement. Then he saw it, a dark shape approaching fast, sleek and powerful.
His brain scrambled for every bit of information he had ever absorbed about sharks. They don't actually want to eat people. They're just curious. If I can redirect it.
The shark glided forward in a slow, eerie drift, its presence unnervingly effortless compared to the frantic pounding of Evan's heart. It was either still a fair distance away or simply taking its sweet time, he couldn't tell. Either way, it gave him a chance to surface and take a breath.
As Alunay reached his position, her breath came fast and sharp. "Leave!" she shouted, urgency clear in her voice.
Evan shook his head. "Relax."
"What?" she snapped.
"Stay steady in the water," he said, forcing his voice to stay even. "And we might just survive this." Her expression shifted, understanding flickered across her face for a moment before survival instinct took over, the two instincts warring within her.
Evan's eyes flicked to the approaching shark. Its fin cut through the surface like a knife before slipping beneath the waves. His pulse hammered as he took one last gulp of air and dove.
Underwater, the silence was suffocating. He twisted his head left and right, searching for the others. For a moment, the ocean seemed empty, but then, instinct screamed at him, and he remembered.
Below.
He forced himself to look down, and his stomach dropped. A massive shape lurked beneath them, its pale underbelly catching faint streaks of sunlight. Its mouth was slightly open, revealing rows of jagged teeth.
Move now.
Evan's body reacted before his mind could hesitate. He pulled his knees up to his chest, then kicked hard at an angle, propelling himself downward and slightly to the side, just enough to shift out of the shark's direct path. As the beast glided closer, he extended his arm, tensed his muscles, and snapped his fist forward, striking the shark's snout with as much force as he could muster.
A jolt ran up his arm from the impact. The shark veered sharply, its sleek body twisting as it turned away, vanishing into the depths.
Evan barely had time to process his relief before he turned, and saw the next one closing in.
He kicked hard, propelling himself toward it, repeating the motion. This time, the shark was closer, its eyes dark and unreadable. He struck fast, another sharp punch to the snout. The moment his knuckles connected, the shark twitched and veered off, fading into the blue.
But his stomach dropped again. In all his movement, he had unknowingly shifted Alunay between himself and the last shark.
Shit.
There was no time to think. He lunged forward, wrapping an arm around Alunay's waist and yanking her behind him, twisting his body to shield her just as the final shark surged forward.
Evan reached out, his palm pressing firmly against its snout. Instead of a desperate punch, he shoved with all his strength, redirecting its momentum just enough to make it veer off course. The shark twisted sharply, its streamlined body cutting away into the depths.
He knew the sharks might circle back for another pass. They weren't done yet.