The freezing water still clung to her clothes as she knelt in the mud, Arceus's body heavy against her.
She reached out and touched his cheek.
"Enough," she said softly. "You scared me."
She gave his shoulder a small shake.
"Wake up."
Nothing.
The weak smile on her face slowly disappeared.
"Ark?"
She shook him again, harder this time.
"Ark."
Still nothing.
"No…"
Her hand went immediately to his wrist. She pressed her fingers against it, searching.
Nothing.
She moved to his neck.
Nothing.
"No."
She leaned down and pressed her ear against his chest, holding her breath so she wouldn't miss the faintest sound.
Silence.
She frowned.
"No."
She checked again. Wrist. Neck. Chest. Over and over, as if the next try would somehow be different.
"No…"
Her voice had grown firmer, almost angry, as though sheer refusal could change what her hands were telling her.
"You're just cold," she muttered, grabbing him tighter. "That's all. You're just cold from the water."
