So here she was. Surrounded by wreckage, underwater, her feet chained to her tail, armless and really unable to swim at the moment. And in better circumstances now than she had been in over half a year.

No, really.

Between being injured, captured, mutilated, humiliated, and even violated by the Endless Knives bandits, Guan Riyin had had it rougher than she ever thought she could withstand. So after she figured out an alternate way to cast her magic spells, she was ready to mind blank everyone on that accursed airship and send it crashing into whatever was convenient. Nor did her own death factor particularly high in her estimation.

But then she found an unlikely ally within their crew, a Selchan named Sal'tasnon. Guan had initially dismissed his aloof nature as typical Selchan detachment, but her newly restored mind spells told her how disturbed he was by the cruelties of his captain and fellow crew. Suddenly, her options expanded. If he were ameniable (and she could sense that he was), Sal'tasnon could be her key to not only stopping the Endless Knives, but surviving the encounter. He knew where and how best to sabotage the ship, and he could help her afterwards where she could not yet help herself.

So, they reached an accord and bided their time. Soon enough, opportunity knocked, and Guan found her lynchpin and pulled, sending her airborne prison to its doom, her newfound ally fought their way clear to dive off the side into the seas, hopefully to avoid the ship's death throes.

So, yeah, definitely an improved state of affairs. Just one problem: she couldn't remotely swim like this! And with Sal'tasnon injured as he was, would he be able to breathe for them both while they stayed submerged?

Characters are mine. Art by  JunkieBoi.