Chapter Text
The Amurta’s research expedition into flora in the southernmost islands of Sumeru had been quite the success (despite Ashpazi being bedridden for ninth percent of the expedition from eating poisonous mushrooms, again).
After loading up the plant samples, the scholars were already making good time on their return trip home before their supplies ran out.
A warm wind brushed against Tighnari’s cheek, making his ears twitch in anticipation. He looked out west and noticed the clouds forming on the horizon.
“Collei.”
His apprentice who’d been engrossed with sketching the samples of fungi they discovered on one of the southern Ardravi Islands jumped upon hearing her name be called, “Y-Yes Professor Tighnari?”
"First off— you can still call me 'Dad' at work, you know."
Collei's already ashen face flushed, "Not in front of the other researchers Da- Professor!"
Tighnari rolled his eyes and turned back towards the distant horizon, “Tell Rana and Sag to raise the sails, it looks like there’s a storm headed our way.”
Collei trotted up to him and raised her hand to shield her eyes to see the forming storm clouds, “There are hardly any clouds in the sky. How could the weather take such a turn so suddenly.”
“Collei, I know correlation is not causation, but you really need to be careful about tempting fate.”
Less than a hour later— wind and rain tore through their ship as the researchers worked with everything they had to keep their sailing vessel from capsizing as mountainous waves crashed into the ship’s side nearly every heartbeat.
Over the screaming winds, Tighnari’s ears picked up a cry, “Professor! I-I can’t hold on!”
Tighnari whirled around, his task long forgotten and rushed over towards Collei who was losing her fragile grip on the tethers that were the only thing keeping any of them from being swallowed by the waves.
“Hang on!” Tighnari shouted over the wall of noise as he tied one end of a spare rope around his student’s waist and the other to the sturdiest part of their ship, “I’ll get you secured to the mast! You’ll be safe!”
Collei looked up at him, her Amathyst eyes were wide and filled with fright.
“It’s going to be okay.” Tighnari reassured his daughter, “I’ve got you—“
A sudden force knocked Tighnari’s feet out from under him and sent him tumbling to the ground and he heard Collei scream—
“Dad!”
Only, he didn’t land on the deck– but in the ravenous waters below. Tighnari frantically kicked his way up to the surface. Before his breath gave out he broke through, managing to get a lungful of air before another wave sent him spiraling underwater.
But just before his vision turned pitch black, Tighnari swore he saw the lightning lit silhouette of a girl swimming towards him…