Third's POV
As Savanna's soul gently detached from her lifeless body, she found herself suspended in an ethereal realm, an expanse of pure white light that felt both familiar and foreign. It surrounded her like a soft embrace, calming and serene. In the distance, three glowing gold orbs floated gracefully, their light pulsating softly, casting shimmering reflections around her.
In unison, the orbs spoke, their voices harmonious and soothing, echoing through the vastness. "We have heard your plea, child. We have decided that indeed, the thread that holds your life was cut too short."
Savanna listened, her essence swirling in the light, feeling a strange blend of hope and uncertainty. The orbs continued, "We offer to mend your thread, but know this: you will be altered to keep this from happening again. You will never be able to drown again."
A wave of contemplation washed over her as she absorbed their words. They spoke of challenges she would have to face, but assured her that they would never present a trial she couldn't overcome. The possibilities hung before her like a shimmering horizon, both daunting and alluring.
Then, before her, a beautiful staircase appeared, adorned with white and gold trim. It spiraled upward, leading to a place unknown. "If you choose to lay at rest, ascend these stairs," the orbs urged. "If you would rather transform yourself self then stay here in the bath and relax, for it isn't quite time to go back yet."
Savanna glanced at the staircase, its allure pulling at her, but the promise of the calm water beckoned her too. She took a moment to ponder, weighing the options that lay before her. After a breath, she slipped into the water, allowing herself to relax, feeling the weight of her decision linger in the air as she settled into the serene embrace of the ethereal realm.
The moon hung high in the sky, casting a soft silver hue over the shoreline where Sean cradled Savanna's lifeless body in his arms. Each beat of his heart felt heavy, the weight of loss pressing down on him as he swam along the familiar path they once shared, memories flooding back with every stroke of his tail pushing him forward in the water. The waves lapped gently at the shore, an unsettling contrast to the turmoil within his heart.
He reached the spot where they had first met, a place that had once been filled with laughter and light. Now, it felt hollow and void. Kneeling in the sea as close as he could go toward the shore,Sean laid Savanna down, his hands trembling as he brushed a strand of hair from her face. Tears streamed down his cheeks, mingling with the salt of the ocean air. "I'm so sorry, Savanna," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I should have... I should have done something."
The sound of footsteps approached, and Sean looked up to see two girls. Ones who looked like the friends Savanna had talked about and had pictures with. Brooke and Molly, were their names. They were running toward him, their expressions shifting from joy to horror as they took in the scene before them. The realization struck them like a tidal wave, and they halted in shock, their eyes wide and mouths agape.
"No... no, no, no," Brooke gasped, her hands flying to her mouth as her gaze fell upon Savanna.
Molly froze, tears welling in her eyes as she clutched her stomach, unable to process the sight. "What happened?" she managed to choke out, her voice trembling.
Sean looked between them, the gravity of the moment settling heavily in the air. "She… she drowned," he said, his voice barely a whisper, as if saying it too loudly would make it more real. "I couldn't save her."
Brooke fell to her knees beside Savanna, her sobs breaking the silence of the shore, while Molly stood frozen, grappling with the reality of it all. The three friends, once inseparable, now found themselves bound by grief, their hearts shattered on the sands where laughter had once flourished. The waves continued to roll in and out, indifferent to the pain that echoed in the air, as they mourned the loss of a light that had been extinguished far too soon.
As the waves crashed violently against the shore, Zander emerged from the water, his presence commanding and intense. A surge of energy radiated from him, forming an unseen force field that pushed back Brooke and Molly. Their shocked expressions turned to confusion and fear as they stumbled back, unable to comprehend the sudden shift in atmosphere.
Zander's voice, thick with emotion, echoed through the air. "You shouldn't have asked someone else to tell her to kiss you!" he shouted, his words laced with anger and betrayal. " she would still have been alive and she would have been mine!" The force of his voice seemed to ripple through the air, amplifying the tension that hung between them.
Sean looked up, bewildered and hurt. "What are you talking about?" he replied, his voice trembling. "This isn't the time for this!" Sean yelled.
Zander continued, his eyes blazing with frustration. "You think that was just a game? You put her in danger!"
Brooke and Molly, stare still recovering from the shock of Zander's sudden appearance and forceful intervention, exchanged glances, caught between their grief and the unfolding confrontation. The air grew thick with unspoken words, the weight of accusations hanging heavily.
"I didn't mean for any of this to happen!" Sean shot back, his own anger flaring. "I loved her! I wanted to tell her! You think I wanted this?"
Zander stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "You think love is enough? You think you can just play with someone's heart and not face the consequences? Look where that got her!"
The tension crackled in the air as the King and the Sea Witch stood rooted in their grief and anger, the shoreline bearing witness to the shifting dynamics of their relationships, each struggling to cope with the loss in their own way. Once childhood friends, years making the distance wide between them. Now the death of a human tore them apart even more. The waves crashed behind them, a relentless reminder of the chaos that had unfolded.