Cold water sprayed over Clay's head, jolting him awake with a gasp as the rest of his body was thrust downward into the river's grasp. Powerful claws gripped his shoulders, forcing him beneath the surface.

Panic surged through him; the current felt like a wild beast trying to drag him away. Just as fear threatened to swallow him whole, the other dragon pulled his head above the water, her voice cutting through the chaos: "Stop fighting! I'm saving you!"

The urgency in her voice pierced through his terror, grounding him amid the swirling darkness. He locked his gaze onto her fierce, determined eyes, realizing she was his lifeline against the thrashing waters.

It was then that he felt the icy cold whisper of her breath, and the flood of memories surged back like a tidal wave. He thrust himself back toward the surface, gasping for air. "Icemoon!" he called out, his voice strained against the turbulent waters. Desperation clawed at him as he sought to wrap his wings around her, flapping and splashing in the engulfing darkness.

Her claws dug into the spines along his back, grounding him in the chaos. "Seriously, Clay, stop moving!" she pleaded, her voice a mixture of urgency and affection. With a swift flick of her tail, she sent a wave crashing back into the water, forcing him to focus. "I don't know what this white substance is, but it smells terrible, and I think it's trying to dissolve your scales. You have to stay in the water until it dissipates."

She maneuvered his claws onto a rock, bracing him against the fierce current while she poured more water over his head. With determination, he strained to catch a glimpse of her, or even a shadow in the inky blackness that could belong to her, but it was too dark to see. Yet he clung to the sensation of her cold, wet scales against his, anchoring him in reality. She was truly here.

"What happened?" he gritted out through clenched teeth. They had to shout to be heard above the roar of the cascading waterfall. "The tsunami and the others had to evacuate, so I dove in after you the moment I could," she said, her smile shining like a beacon amidst the chaos. "I can't let you face this alone, Clay."

Clay felt a warmth flooding his chest as he let out a deep sigh. "Thank you, but I... I didn't want you to get hurt. That's why I told the others we had to do this while you were away," he admitted, his voice tinged with guilt.

Icemoon snorted, a cloud of icy mist escaping her nostrils. "Frog dung, Clay! You know I'd rather endure pain myself than let you all suffer in my place." Her fierce gaze locked onto his, filled with unwavering resolve. "We're dragons. We face these threats together, not apart. You should know that by now."

Her words struck him, igniting a flicker of hope amid the turbulent waters. The bond between them was undeniable, forged through trials and tempered by their willingness to protect each other, no matter the cost.

Clay sighed and nuzzled his head against hers, seeking comfort, but Icemoon kept her grip firm, preventing him from moving too much. "Don't thrash around too much. The water is doing its job," she warned, her tone a blend of care and authority.

He felt the rush of the river around them, the way it tugged at his limbs, and he understood her concern. Despite the panic still pulsing through him, he took a deep breath—his heart steadied by her presence. "I can't let you take all the risks, you know," he murmured, glancing up at her with a mixture of gratitude and worry.

"That's what partners do," she replied, her voice steady. "We share the burdens and the battles. Just hold on tight, Clay. We'll get through this together." With that, she spread her wings, buoying him above the churning water, and they surged forward through the river's rush, united in their struggle against the chaos around them.

"Did you see the glowworms?" Clay asked instead, his curiosity piqued. "Pretty cool, right?"

"Oh, I can top that," Icemoon replied with confidence. As her icy grip tightened around him, he felt the temperature drop even further, but the ice was enchanting, shimmering with an ethereal glow as if it held some kind of magic within. She smiled at him, the light reflecting in her eyes. "Not so bad, is it?"

Slowly, the cave around them began to take shape, and Clay had never been more grateful to see anything in his life. The walls glistened with the enchanting ice, creating an intricate pattern that felt alive.

"Thank you," he said, feeling a swell of emotion. "It seems a bit unfair. You guys can see in the dark while the rest of us need glowing shells or glowing ice to navigate."

Icemoon laughed lightly, the sound echoing gently off the walls. "It's just something I have. I don't know why. I touched it once, and I almost broke a claw from the cold!" She chuckled, her pride evident.

"But now, look at this!" She gestured around at the cave, the beautiful formations illuminating the darkness with a soft, enchanting light. "We can explore together, and it's all thanks to you."

Clay smiled back, the warmth of their connection chipping away at the cold that surrounded them. This moment, illuminated by her ice, felt like a promise of greater adventures ahead.

"Alright, so we can't climb over the rocks," Clay said. "What do we do about the waterfall?" He hoped she wouldn't ask about the pain from his scales. He just had to endure it until it subsided.

She smiled broadly. "We dive right over it!" she said with a glint in her eye. "How high can it be?"

"And how many sharp rocks could be at the bottom?" he replied, worried. "I'd like to see what we're jumping from first, thank you."

"Okay, let's go check it out," she said. Suddenly, she let go of him and threw herself into the water. The current swept her away, and he had to release his grip on the stone to follow her quickly before the light from her ice disappeared. He had no idea how a hybrid could swim so fast; ice dragons were not typically known for their swimming abilities, but they could hold their breath for a long time, and so could night dragons. Suddenly, the glow vanished, and he was thrown back into darkness. "ICEMOON!" he shouted.

A heartbeat later, Clay felt the air suddenly open up in front of him. Instinct kicked in, and he extended his claws and tail. One of his claws snagged a jagged rock, and he wrapped his front claws around it just as the rest of him flew out into the space.

He dangled over the waterfall, a mix of fear and relief coursing through him. He dug his claws into the rock and held on for dear life, closing his eyes despite the total darkness already surrounding him. His poisoned skin screamed in pain as it stretched under the scales. He couldn't bear the thought of how far Icemoon might have fallen. He could picture her broken body somewhere far below...

Something hit his foot with sharp spikes. "Watch out, Clay!" Icemoon's voice teased, playful and light. "It's really dangerous! You might stub a claw!"

Clay opened his eyes. The waterfall roared beside him, crashing into a frothy heap of bubbles just a short distance below his hanging hind claws. Icemoon splashed and rolled in the pool, sending waves splashing up at him with her tail.

"Hold on tight!" she shouted. "Whatever you do, don't let go!"

"Ha ha ha," he said, relieved but a little mocking. He moved his tail under him, checking for rocks, and then let go. The waterfall lightly thumped against his head as he resurfaced. "You knew how short it was," he said accusatorily.

"Maybe," she said with a grin. "Alright, yes. I had just gotten to the edge when I heard you scream, so I went back for you."

"Good thing I'm not the type to suffer and die in silence," Clay retorted, but he couldn't help but think... What would have happened if I hadn't shouted? What if we had lost each other?

Icemoon looked at him with a gaze of understanding. "No matter what happens, Clay, promise me we'll always stick together. We won't lose each other." Her words, simple and direct, made him reflect on how much they had experienced so far and how they could overcome any challenge together.

They enjoyed a moment of silence, only the sound of the waterfall crashing in the background, and in that instant, Clay knew he would do anything to protect the bond they shared.

Icemoon turned toward the cave entrance, and her head bumped against the corner of the sharp spikes she had rattled. "I sense something; it's like there's an air passage here," she said, moving closer, her claws paddling through the water. Clay swam after her, but then the hybrid dragoness completely vanished from sight.

Panic surged within him as he looked around. The darkness seemed to thicken, and he felt a momentary surge of fear wash over him. "Icemoon!" he called out, trying to keep his voice steady. He kicked his legs harder, propelling himself deeper into the cave.

Just as he was about to lose hope, he caught a glimpse of her faint glow flickering in the distance. Instinctively, he followed the light, swimming faster until he burst through a narrow opening.

Suddenly, he was greeted by a rush of fresh air and the warm glow of daylight. He emerged into a hidden grotto filled with iridescent plants and stunning rock formations, the sunlight streaming down from the above, illuminating the scene like a dream.

And there, floating a little above the water's surface, was Icemoon, her scales shimmering as she gazed around in awe. "Clay! You made it!" she exclaimed, her voice echoing in the cavern.

"Where did you go?" he asked, panting as he joined her. "You just disappeared!"

"I'm sorry! I found this entrance," she said, gesturing with her wing. "It's like a secret tunnel that leads to this incredible place. You won't believe what I felt; it was almost like the air was calling to me."

Clay looked around, mesmerized by the beauty of the grotto. "This is amazing," he said, feeling the tension of moments before slip away. "But be careful. We don't know what else might be down here."

Icemoon nodded, her excitement bubbling over. "Let's explore! Together, there's nothing we can't handle!"

As they ventured further into the grotto, the magical surroundings seemed to pulse with energy. Clay couldn't shake the feeling that this hidden place held secrets waiting to be uncovered—secrets that might lead to the next adventure in their journey together.