The highblood clenches his teeth, trying to hold his breath properly even with those persistent hands reaching for his throat. His eyes snap open in a mixture of fear and anger, the suffocating pressure of water closing around him in that familiar terrifying way that he could remember from sweeps and sweeps and sweeps ago. It's the only clear memory he has, being underwater, unable to breathe and no one around to even help.

His body suddenly thrashes, reaching out for Darkleer's arm and full intending on breaking it if he even so much dared to keep him under.