The urgency of her movements was like something life-threatening, as if she genuinely believed salvation to lie on the island ahead. It didn't, and she didn't truly believe it, but as the water reached her thighs, soaked through her uniform, if sheer willpower would have let her run, she would have.

The water was warm. She hadn't felt it before. It felt like something almost welcoming. The weight of the air seemed to blanket around her, and if only it helped her freezing cold hands.

"When we came here..." She slowed only because she had to as the sloshing water reached her hips. "It was like the whole planet hated us. Animals attacked us on sight, insects ate through my suit, the trees started screaming at one point and they just wouldn't stop."

Waist height, and a fish swims past her, dark in the vivid blue-green water. She stops and nods to the island. Now that they're closer, small grass-and-wood buildings are vaguely visible along one side, on the low cliffs.

"They attacked too. The Neraki." She sucks in a breath sharply and keeps going. "They only had spears and knives and arrows, but they came at us anyway." She was determinedly not looking at Shepard, focused on reaching the opposite shore.

"We had assault rifles, heavy vehicles, magic. They didn't stand a chance." Her voice wavered, more than just with exertion. "Especially not the children. The ones they gave spears to."

She's never been so glad to be wearing a mask.