From the Depths, Into the Abyss {Gala & Thomas//Day 2}

With a battle being left behind us, the struggle through the water doesn’t feel quite as miserable as before. Anxiety still pulses my heart with stern attention upon what other threats may be swimming through the abyss, or fluttering up in the clouds - but still it’s not as agonizing as earlier. Even with additional wounds marking our bodies alike, it’s for some reason not as painful. Gentle jokes and light conversations even encircle us in attempt to soften the mood. And with determination and petite luck on our sides, the discovery of further dry lands welcomes us, though not to entirely new terrain.

Wetness forms the air in the absence of waist deep floodwaters. Or perhaps the humidity was as thick back there, and my mind was simply too preoccupied with fear to notice it - leaving me in curious internal debate on which is worse, humidity or fear. “Lets break for a while, lick our wounds and shit.” I suggest to Alexander, still within sight of the water we left behind though far enough for comfort to rejoin me. Within the muddy grounds I sit in deceleration of our temporary haven. Again I collapse to laying on my back, a deep sigh exhaling my lungs with no care of the muck surrounding me.

My eyes pierce over to Alexander seconds later. Calmness and confidence remains in his posture, though I can sense the pain he must be disclosing. “The more wins we have under our belts, the stronger we become. And we need that strength to overcome everything else.” Assurance coils from my lips, in a mere coin toss of whether he’ll accept it or not. But he has to know that battle against those stupid mutts wasn’t entirely in vain - that it wasn’t just unnecessary injuries for us to simply swallow. “Though I must admit this Game is harder than it appears on television. You taking notes D2 kids? Get off your lazy asses already and get back to training!” I joke to a potential camera that’s watching, before turning my grin towards Alexander with certainty.