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The flying thing had gone on ahead, seeming not to notice Ash as he quivered on the ground, tensing his muscles to spring. The hedgehog had curled herself tightly around his antlers, ready for anything.

Ash gathered himself and leapt away, higher and farther than ever before. Wish Rye had been here to see that, he thought proudly as he landed perfectly, hooves already churning the ground to much as he bounded away. The hedgehog let out a little noise, but he couldn’t tell if it was of fright, or glee, or both.

Glancing behind him, Ash marked the progress of the water. Fast. Too fast. There was no way he could outrun it unless he climbed faster than it did. He needed high ground. Cedar and Ivy needed high ground.

“Look out!” the hedgehog squealed in fear. Ash whipped his head back around to see the cliff rising sheer and menacing in front of him. He skidded to a stop with a whirl of leaves, turned, and dashed along the cliffside as fast as he could.

It was no use. No longer was he running away from the water, but parallel to it. Across the rushing torrent was a steep hill, one he could easily scale to get across, but the angry flood blocked his path.

The cliff curved left, directly in Ash’s path. But he knew this land, and he knew this cliff.

Finding the narrow trail, Ash leapt onto it, head swaying slightly as he got used to the hedgehog’s weight balancing carefully on his head. “Stay as far against the wall as you can,” he muttered, than began the tiring trek upward.

Spring after wearying spring he took, climbing higher and higher above the tumultuous waters. Elation swept through him like a wildfire when he glanced down and saw that they were far above the swollen river. He grinned – take that, Master River! Ash and his companion had won.

The hedgehog let out a small squeak of fear as she noticed how high up they were. “Don’t be afraid,” Ash said gently, trying to see her and failing. “I won’t let us fall.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” the hedgehog replied in a dainty female tone (I’m actually unsure what Faith sounds like. BR?). “It’s that your trail just ended.”

Ash’s heart sank to his hooves. How could he have been such a fool? Indeed, the narrow trail dwindled to nothing a few feet above him.

He climbed as high as he could, straining to see any place where the path began again. Nothing but nearly vertical stone walls.

He’d failed. He’d just killed himself and the hedgehog.

Unless…

Ash carefully turned so his head faced the opposite shore. His hooves were twisted awkwardly to fit on the ledge, as was his body, but he thought he could make it.

What other choice to we have? I’m sorry, Cedar. I’m so, so sorry.

“I’m so sorry,” Ash repeated his thoughts, but this time to the hedgehog. “This is my fault.”

“What are we going to do?” she asked.

Ash took a deep breath. “Jump.”

And he soared.

Far, far above the flooded trees, he leapt from the cliff’s trail. He let a smile creep over his face for a split second. It felt like he was flying. If this was his final moment, it was a good one.

Then the river rushed up at him, grey and brown and frothing white. Ash watched the shore. Ten leaps… five… three… they weren’t going to make it. The water was there, reaching up to him with dark maw stretched open.

Ash’s eyes flew wide as he opened his mouth to scream.

Cold, cold water, enveloping him on all sides. The river raged into his mouth before he closed it, making him snort, bubbles drifting to mingle with the froth. Which way was up, or down? Was the hedgehog still there?

Up.

Bubbles.

Ash snorted what little oxygen he had left, and followed the bubbles.

His head broke the surface just before he passed out. Gasping for breath, he listened for the little hedgehog’s  choking. Nothing.

“Hedgehog!” he screamed, spluttering on the water as his hooves found the rhythm to swim. He scanned the water as it roared in his large ears, making him wince. Something rammed into his side, sending him swirling. Rocks brushed his antlers as he turned upside-down. A sharp stick slashed his flank. His leg caught in a trailing bit of moss, and he barely managed to kick free and swim to the surface before a huge shape plowed over him.

“Hedgehog!” he shouted again, ducking a branch as the current tossed him like a leaf caught in a rough wind. The shore whizzed by – how fast was he going? He choked on more water, his legs scraping against debris as large sticks threatened to duck him under the surface again.

Nudging a branch out of the way with his antlers, Ash noticed with surprise that a tiny wet thing was sticking to it like a burr. She coughed.

The hedgehog!

Ash kicked the current, trying to ride it and fight it at the same time. He had to get to her. She couldn’t drown.

“Here! I’m right here!” he shouted hoarsely. Cold crept into his bones, but surging adrenaline gave him strength.

He wouldn’t reach her in time. She was being swept in one direction, and him in another. So he said the first thing any deer thinks: “Jump!”

She met his eyes weakly, hesitated, then leapt with a cry of terror.

Ash’s head went underwater, but when he lifted it again he was smiling. “Excellently done,” he congratulated her. She shivered.

There! A pine tree, with its top peeking above the churning waves. Ash struck out towards it, long legs moving with a steady rhythm. Something was already there, something that was so dark a red it looked nearly brown. Oh! The fox! He remembered her.

Ash managed to lodge himself by the tree, finally stopped by its branches. Gasping for breath, he lowered his antlers into the branch and watched the hedgehog scurry into the top of the tree. Good. Even if he was swept away, she’d still be safe.

For now.

Looking around, Ash tried to see some way out of this mess. Even with his long legs, he couldn’t touch the surface. Unseen objects swirling in the brown water kept hitting him, and the wet pine needles and sharp branches dug into his fur and flesh with every push of the current. He couldn’t hold on… it was so cold… it would feel so good just to let go and sleep…

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@crazywriter @rebekah12 @birds-rock @jasmine

Sorry that was so long… I got a bit carried away. 😛