Slowly, painfully, Tōga began to claw his way back towards the surface, his muscles screaming in protest as he battled against the relentless current. Inch by hard-fought inch, he ascended through the murky depths, his lungs burning and his vision blurring at the edges. But still, he pushed on, driven by the unshakable belief that his journey was far from over, that the storm was but another obstacle to be overcome on the path to his ultimate truth.
As Tōga teetered on the brink of unconsciousness, his lungs starved for air and his body battered by the relentless currents, a glimmer of hope emerged from the depths. A shimmering length of smooth scales coiled around his form, the gentle embrace of his loyal companion, Strigr, enveloping him in its protective grasp. The small sea creature, its eyes sparkling with an unwavering determination, held Tōga close as it propelled them both upwards, cutting through the turbulent waters with a grace and power that belied its diminutive size.