Freezing waters burnt gills and made scales lose their shine. Why did he go to the surface, he knew there was a storm coming. There was no time for self-pity. The waves threw him hard against rock, hitting his head and knocking him out.

He awoke in a pond. The water was murky and smelled stagnant. Nico willed himself to swim to the surface, his head throbbing. He swam slowly, moving every aching muscle. He barely peaked his head over the water, when he saw a human at the dock