One girl was rushing to help the others. "Change of plans," she barked. "We're building a dam. The water's rising too quickly."
Victor noticed Osiris and frowned. "Good to see you," he called over the sound of the waves of water crashing against the board. "A huge evacuation is underway. Where's Dahlia?"
"She's getting the place we're staying prepared," he said, "she's been sick and I didn't want it to get worse again."
He opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by a young man who ran up to them. "We need to build the dam further back," the man yelled at Victor. "We can't keep this up!" "You need to send a scouting team, then, Alder," Victor barked through gritted teeth. "There's colonies up the river!" Alder was interrupted by a large wave crashing over. A log groaned and caught Alder in the chest, pulling him into the water. Within seconds, he had perished.
Victor looked stricken, but quickly regained his composure. "Uh... we need to get the people downstream aware that we're moving the dam, and we need to move aside the framework. Let's get away from the water."
Osiris nodded, looking a little stricken himself. "Okay. I'll stay here and establish the dam. I don't know the area here well."
He nodded and looked over his shoulder. He gestured to the girl that Osiris had first bumped into. "Willow will help you get the next one made. I need to go send the scouting groups. I'll be right back." Many people who were evacuated had run from the recent wave. The crowds surged around them, screaming in terror as the water roared dangerously.
He would begin to notice a pattern. The water would rise suddenly and unexpectedly, taking out multiple lives around him. The crowds would swell and flee, the chaos leading people away so much that Osiris often had to fight to remain where he was. Hours must have passed. Victor returned and was working at his side, although he was frequently called away to deal with other things further down the river. He always returned, though. After a long, long time, he would hear a familiar voice calling out in the crowd. "Osiris!"
Osiris had managed to stay in this place, sweat that had formed was washed away by the endless rain. He looked up in surprise when his name was called, immediately recognizing it. "Dahlia?!"
He would see her in the crowd, fighting to get closer to him, clutching a basket to her chest. Her hair was soaked. She wasn't wearing a coat. Her gaze met his and she looked desperate to get to him, moving closer. "What's going on?" she called over the loudness of the crowd. "What's happening?"
Victor noticed Osiris' distraction and looked over his shoulder. "Deal with her, then come back," he said, focusing on the job. Dahlia seemed to lose her footing for a moment, stumbling for a second. "You shouldn't either!"
He nodded to Victor, rushing over to her and taking her arms carefully. "Please, Dahl. Go back home. I'll be okay. I don't want you to get hurt."
She looked desperate, holding the basket in her arms. There was some sort of food inside, and she clutched at his hands fearfully. "This is so much worse than we thought, Cy," she said, her voice hushed and shaking. "You shouldn't be out here."
