As Tatiana waded through the icy black water, it bit into her skin like shards of glass.
The fog around her thickened, swirling with an unnatural life of its own, obscuring everything beyond an arm's reach. The air was heavy, carrying a faint metallic scent that clung to the back of her throat.
The current strongly tugged at her legs, pulling her deeper into the river.
Tatiana's breath came in steady, measured exhales. She made sure not to lose her resolve despite the oppressive atmosphere.
She could feel the eyes of the emissary watching her from the riverbank. The steady reassuring sound of Elda's voice had already faded into the silence.
She pressed forward, the black water rising past her knees, as she went deeper, then her waist.
