The ocean remained impossibly calm along their route while continuing to break in natural waves elsewhere, as if concentrating its attention on maintaining this passage.
Thorin remained rooted to the beach, his expression thunderous. "This is madness," he growled, watching as Mira and Nik advanced further along the strange path. "I'll not drown chasing a boy's visions."
"Then stay here alone," Renna said pragmatically, already removing her own boots. "Though I'd wager splitting our group is more dangerous than whatever waits in that temple."
"You too?" Thorin's bushy eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "I thought you had more sense."
Renna shrugged, tucking her boots into her pack. "I've survived this long by recognizing when the flow of events is too strong to fight. This ocean, this temple, whatever's happening to Cale, it's all connected to our path forward. Fighting it seems... unwise."
