The battle, while showcasing their formidable strength and invincible spirit, had inadvertently strained Strigr beyond her natural limits. As a creature of the sea, she thrived in the embrace of the ocean's cool waves, which kept her scales iridescent and her strength at its peak. On land, however, even her newly evolved form could not escape the toll of dehydration. Her scales had lost some of their luster, and with each labored breath, it was clear she was far from her aquatic sanctuary.
“Get back into the water, girl. I’ll handle the rest from here,” Tōga insisted gently, running his hands over her smooth, damp scales in a comforting gesture. His touch seemed to reassure her, and with a grateful hum, she leaned into his caress, her large eyes blinking slowly, reflecting a mix of fatigue and relief.
Understanding the urgency, Strigr gave a soft nod, her body coiling gracefully as she prepared to return to her domain. With a fluid motion that belied her weariness, she turned and slid towards the ocean’s edge. The cool sea foam greeted her like an old friend as she merged with the waves, her form gradually blending with the deep blues and greens of the water until she disappeared beneath the surface, leaving only a trail of ripples behind.