Maya's lungs were shaking. The tough dragoness had exercised this of course and came prepared. But after so long in these temple tunnels, she was reaching a limit nevertheless.
--At least we got the treasure! Just gotta get out of here!"
Indeed despite needing all four limbs to push through the flooded area, she certainly checked that the bag tied to her waist was still in place. It was filled with gold coins they had found deep inside this place. It was the "mermaid's hoard", just like the inscription at the entrance had promised.

"M..mhgmbl!"
A sound from her diving partner distracted her: It was Freggie, a frog girl. She was swimming perhaps more graceful than the marginally aquatic dragoness, but she clearly was running out of air as well. Maya couldn't help it but grin a little when her glance fell on her sleek partner's bare crotch. The sexual distraction was quite welcome in this situation.


It was that particular inscription that had led to this situation: Surrounded by nothing but water and stone walls while no scuba gear available.
Of course the two adventurers had come down here wearing some - the temple was easily hundred feet beneath the ocean surface after all and not easy to find - but the ancient barrier at the gate denied entrance to any technical gear they may have tried to take in.

That had not kept Maya and Freggie from pursuing this adventure nevertheless. They could outsmart and outskill what was quite obviously a trap, so they thought.

Freggie turned around for a moment, swimming on her back and Maya could see her chest convulsing and the shape of her ribcage showing while she had a worried expression. Freggie's webbed hand went to her lips when an especially strong urge of her lungs for air made her expel some stale breath.
Freggie was too proud to ask for air, Maya knew that, but in the end, the two were trusting each other deeply. They had survived way more.
Thus the dragoness shook her head and kicked her strong tail once faster to catch up with the anthro frog.
Firmly she pressed her lips up against Freggie's for an important connection.
She exhaled what she could, almost overfilling Freggie's lungs lightly with the mostly stale air. She quickly returned it as they did their best to use this increasingly hot air to its fullest.

"N..mhmgbl!.."
Freggie thoughtfully hugged Maya's head in hope to help her last longer. Maya instinctively blushed.

Despite all this, the two did not cease swimming. The only way to survive this was to make it back out of the barrier!
And finally, after so long, the tunnel ahead of them was finally becoming brighter - a hint of sunlight in the distance.

They broke the kiss and Maya gritted her feral teeth to not loose more air but it was practically useless now!
A burst of adrenaline kept them from panicking though as they both darted towards the entrance. The movements had loosened Maya's bag slightly and she heard some coins loudly drop to the floor but she could not care about that while her lungs were on fire!
"NWGBBL! Glrugbl!"

The water was vibrating intensely when they passed through the mystical barrier but the two freedivers only could focus on their gear that was laying outside.
Inwardly they were cursing themselves for not being more mindful and prepare something like an air pocket instead.
Especially Freggie realized how much of a good idea that would have been. Being the way faster swimmer, the last kicks had brought her ahead of Maya but that didn't mean she could breathe already. Her gear was a half-body diving suit. The helmet needed to be connected to the bodywear to function!

Hastily she started pulling the stretchy, skintight material up her body but the vigorous spasms of her diaphragm forced her to use a hand to cover her mouth again. Her cheeks bulged rhythmically with her futile attempts to breathe.
In the meantime Maya made it out too. The last of her bubbles were slipping from her lips.
As fast as she could she reached for her gear but she was feeling her vision narrowing. Her body feeling like moving through honey...

Will the two make it?~

---

An absolutely incredible drawing by  SeaTeal
I have been certainly daring with asking for such a crazy idea and Teal truly delivered! :3