Redhawk Caldera Hippos Can't Ice-Fish

Elwood all but stopped breathing during the few seconds that Ashton was underwater with Somnia. If the water was cold enough to take Somnia's consciousness, he worried that it would have the same effect on Ashton. Trying to convince himself that it would be all be alright, he thought that, since Ashton was prepared for the freezing temperatures, his body might be able to withstand it better. Besides, the medic would be kicking and thrusting with his legs the whole time, which hopefully would be enough to keep the blood circulating through his body.

When Ashton finally reappeared with a mighty splash and the sound of gasping, Elwood nearly leaped into the water alongside him. The Gamma forced himself to remain where he was, however, as his friend paddled towards him. Ashton had Somnia's scruff grasped firmly in his teeth, but it looked as though the grey she-wolf was nothing but dead weight; she hadn't come to and was hanging limply, her body swaying with the motion of Ashton's swimming.

Taking a deep breath, Elwood began to ease himself further into the water, until he could feel its cold burn against his chest. He dug his paws into the soft earth at the bottom of the lake as shards of ice pressed against him, ebbing and flowing with the tide created by Ashton's movement. "A little closer..." he grunted, stretching his neck out as far as he could. He could tell that Ashton's strength was waning, so he grabbed his friend as soon as he could, muscles straining as he threw himself backwards and hauled all three of them up onto the shore.