We are running and racing and I am SURE I am going to get there first. I had merely done it because I knew my brother loved competition and he wouldn't say no. He wouldn't even think twice about the river if I distracted him with racing. Except that I trip and I tumbled into his path with a frozen expression of surprise that turns to horror when he trips over me. It is only worse that instead of falling on stable ground he falls into the water and disappears. DISAPPEARS! I scramble up, my small claws digging into the soft loam, and race to the edge. My ears are pressed forward and my head hangs over the rapid waves as I look for him. I glance to my right and see him pop up, gasping for air.
"THOR!"
I scream, afraid, and I race down the edge of the river. The beaver has taken off into the water now, my voice scaring him, but I didn't care about the beaver! It meant nothing to me, not like Thor did.
I run. I run as if my life depends on it because maybe my brothers does. I run past him as he pops up then goes under and I know he is trying. See, this is why I didn't want him going in period. What if the rapids carried him down to the sea and spit him out and then he was swallowed by those huge waves or even whales? NO! I whimper as I run, fear giving flight to my feet, and I spot a small curve ahead with a jutting log. Oh god, please, oh god, I think as I race towards it and leap upon the slippery log. It is coated with mist and the waters rush beneath it but I try to position myself so that my claws hold on and my body is wrapped around it.
I see him coming and I move side to side to try and predict his position and as only a foot separates us I move into position, locking my body in place with my claws and lean down to grab at his neck with my teeth. He is bigger than me but I had adrenaline to help. I would hurt but so would he because grabbing his scruff was almost impossible at this angle. I didn't care - I was going to get him and I was going to save him. If I get a hold of him I will keep him above water and try to drag him sideways through the current back to where he can climb onto the shore but if I missed.... oh if I missed....