If the sudden increase in churning is any indication, there is something happening to the creature. Surely it would have scooped them both back up by now if now. Johnny continues furiously kicking his way to the surface and finally breaks it, treading water and sucking in air. Nova scrambles up onto his shoulder, clinging awkwardly. He can barely keep them afloat, but across the water, standing beneath the beast, he sees Daine. Not even in any big imposing shape, just herself, her wolf at her side.

"Holy shit," he says before he dips halfway under water again. He's exhausted, his body still reacting to the fuckton of trauma it just went through.

"Johnny!" Nova protests, struggling to stay on top of him and out of the water. She sees Mako coming and lifts up her head. "Over here!"