[center][color=0076a3][h1]- Valen -[/h1][/color]
[color=0076a3]Location:[/color] Flight BAW229; Los Angeles to London.
[color=0076a3]Interacting with:[/color] Juliet [@Vicier], Lavena [@Caits][/center][hr]
Valen's extremities were all but numb when he heard Lavena's faint voice echo from behind him over the soft splashing of the waves. [color=coral]”Valen… How much further?”[/color]

A quick glance over the shoulder that the little girl's head wasn't looking over revealed that Lavena's facial expression was quite lethargic, and her face was almost halfway under the water. She was fading fast, giving into the bitter frostbite that was setting in on the entire group. If she was fading fast, that meant there was even less time for the girl.

Valen's voice was low and powerful when he barked a command at the woman behind him with whatever breath he could spare. [color=0076a3]"Lavena! Wake up!"[/color]

If the woman's head slipped under the surface for even a moment, it was unlikely she would be able to bring her head back above water. The cold had a way of making you seem like you were safe and secure as it pulled you under, like the seductive touch of a viper. Once you realized you were in danger, it was too late.

[color=0076a3]"Hey, come on! Snap out of it! The lighthouse can't be more than a hundred feet, it's just behind some debris,"[/color] Valen shouted, struggling to stay above the water himself. [color=0076a3]"We just have to make it to shore, then we can rest, okay? Okay, Lavena?"[/color]

Between the biting cold and the child practically strapped to his chest, Valen was losing energy fast. His body was built to take a beating, and he was used to being shut out in the cold, but this was like something he had never experienced before. The cold wasn't just painful or numbing, it was permeating. He could feel his internal organs losing temperature rapidly, constricting and tightening in his abdomen into a compact ball of icy tissue. Breathing in particular was remarkably difficult, as if an cage of ice had constricted around his lungs and prevented them from expanding to suck in the much needed ocean air.

With Lavena in tow, Valen forced on, occasionally stopping to coax the woman beside him along, despite how much it slowed him down. If needed, he would leave her to save the girl and come back; hopefully, Lavena would be able to survive on her own for a few minutes. No matter what, the child was of the utmost-

Valen's hand scraped against something hard, causing him to start as he looked up, realizing he had reached the lighthouse. The structure rose right out of the water, its cold edges blocking any sort of access to the building. The reason for it being built and the person behind it was a mystery to Valen, but that didn't matter; He just had to get the girl onto dry land.

A staircase spiraled around the structure a good ways up, curving off down and to the left, wrapping around the tall stone spire. Mentally imaging where the steps would meet the water, Valen realized that if he swam right around the lighthouse, there was a chance he could be able to get onto them, assuming the water was near the steps end.

Without a word, Valen kicked his legs and swam to the right, quickly making it around the curve of the building until he arrived at the stone steps. The staircase plunged straight into the water, continuing to descend around the outside of the structure deep underwater, as far as Valen could see with no indication of stopping.

Slipping on the wet stones, the frozen pair fell against the cold, hard rock, giving Valen a moment to rest. Keeping the girl close to his body heat was probably a good idea, but it seriously restricted his movement. Maybe Lavena could keep her warm while Valen went to go get help...

Valen sat up as much as he could with the girl on his chest, looking around at the dark, empty waters. [color=0076a3]"Lavena? I found the steps! Lavena?!"[/color]