[1-2] The Tail

[Granite]

Okor had done little more than look at Granite before he had been wrested to his knees by the turbulence. Then another wave of turbulence thrusted the stone giant into the air and flung towards the back towards the midsection. Then, in that split second, everything went downhill. The plane split apart at it's midway, and those who were not belted down in time were sucked out, sure to die. Granite had just enough time to grab hold of a stool that was placed in front of a barstool. He looked back, and through the rush of wind, could no longer see the front of the plane.

Some form of debris hit Granite in his shoulder, loosening his grip upon the bolted down stool. The wind pulled on his right arm harder than he could retract it, and, without the extra grip it had given him, he could no longer hold on with his other. The Gargoyle was sucked out posthaste. The wind rushed from below, forcing him to tumble this way and that. All Granite could think to do was curl up in the fetal position and wrap his wings around himself. But, in this position he could no longer control his descent, not that he had the skill to do so, and he could no longer see where he was going to land. Lucky for him, he had a hard water landing. The water absorbed his kinetic energy, and by the time he had hit the bottom, he was sinking no faster than if he had jumped in from a diving board.

A cloud of dust and the panic of a shark had graced Granite's landing. Granite slowly unfurled from his position, ending up on his back looking up. The light could sparsely be seen from this depth, and he could feel the weight of the water around him. "If that is how flying always goes, then I prefer the ground." The flightless statue stated through the water. The sea rushed into his mouth and into the cavity connected. He grimiced at the action, as he would have to go later and get rid of the fluid and salt. Granite finally stood up after a few minutes and tried to get his bearings, but the water was still clouded somewhat, obscuring any coast. He then knelt down and felt for the curve of the seafloor, and was soon satisfied he had found an answer. Every step he made threw up a cloud of dust, constantly obscuring what little vision he had in this water. And secretly, the man of stone wished he was light enough to swim.

It took about a good half hour before Granite's head poked up through the water. He was met with a sight worse than the descriptions of Okor - fire, shrapnel, bodies. But Granite had survived. He lumbered out of the water, readjusting himself to the weight he had lost under the ocean. Then, unceremoniously, he gagged up the ocean water.