Fortress 4 [End] (Patreon)

"Gasp...Shina, you okay? (Gasp)"

"Yes...I thought I'd become a fish! (Cough)"

Just when Shina was all ready to give up and about to draw in a lungful of water, Yuri reappeared and pointed her finger to her mouth and then to a whole new direction. They were heading to even deeper into the cave, but then Shina had nothing else to lose. She clutched her teeth and rejoined her aunt, who then made some miraculously strong kicks with her legs so that they were soon feeling the flow of water against their cheeks. And Shina recalled she was a climber. 

Finally, the nebulous dark gave into the flickering rays of the  sun, and they both broke through the glimmering surface of what seemed to be a small pool within a branch of the cave, a vertical shaft shaped like a funnel. They were gasping and panting, spitting out the seawater that was burning against their sore throats. but at least they were alive - Yuri was almost in disbelief that they had made it through the excruciating three or four minutes underwater Shina apparently deserves a triple gold star from her swim class. 

Yuri blinked and let her tears moisten and wash away the tingling salt in her eyes.  The sun rays danced against the pillars of the vertical cave, like cobwebs of light. Her breath was easing down but she drew an additional breath of fresh air. It was good. It was still on her to figure a way out of the shaft - possibly through the water back again - but she felt a new confidence grow within her and a determination to bring her cute little niece back home.