"Mother!" Tait shoved through thick bushes. Ouch. Ouch! Sticks and thorns tore at his sides. He ran harder. “Don’t worry, Mother!” Tait peered over a bush, panting. “I’ll save you!”
Mercedes gummed berries to mush. Her seat was wet and flowing, but she didn’t mind. It was nice when the ground was cool every once in a while. She popped two more berries into her mouth to the mushy mess that waited inside.
“Mother!” Tait bulldozed his head through a thorn bush. Ow, that’s going to hurt later. His face ached with the small, thin scratches terrorizing it. But that didn’t matter now! He had to save his mother! She drifted further down the raging river, further to her demise. “Ah! Mother! Don’t panic! I’m coming!”
The river roared louder. Tait stepped on a sharp thorn. “Ouch!” he grabbed his foot and spun around, bouncing backward. No, he couldn’t stop. He had to keep going. He ran with it anyway. The thorn burrowed deeper. Tait squeezed his mouth shut. Now was not the time to cry over little pain when his mother’s life was at stake!
Mercedes finished her last berry. Rattles teeth. Those were good. Now, where was that last berry bush she saw?
Vines drooped across Tait’s path. He rushed through them, but they held him back. “No, you, don’t!” He yanked at them, pulling them down from the above trees. “Don’t worry, Mother!” Tait threw his head back. “I’m almost there!”
Almost? How dare he tell her that! He should be there now! He chomped those vines, tearing them to shreds like a wild beast. He broke free and jumped.
“I’m here, Mother!” Tait jumped into the river, landing with a splash. He propelled himself forward, clawing with both front and back legs. Nothing could stop him now. He rose to his hind legs, his mother in sight. Not much further, and she’d be back to safety. He picked up his pace, sloshing the water to the banks. Just a few more steps…
Tait stubbed his toe and fell forward. “Ow!”
“Splash!”
Something pinched Mercedes’s tail. She picked up her tail, and a little creature was hanging off of it. She pulled the creature off. It had lots of teeth, but it wasn’t a berry.
“Hm,” she chucked it over her shoulder.
Tait shoved himself up and spat out water. The river wasn’t stopping him today. Something landed on his head. He looked up. The creature had lots of teeth… lots of large, sharp, and terrifying teeth. The fishy monster smiled big, real big. Oh, no, Tait gulped. The fish chomped down on Tait’s fragile head.
“AHHH! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!” Tait clawed at his head. His arms were too short to get the creature off. He shook his head. The pain, oh the pain!
The monster shook Tait’s flesh in its jaws, “Yum, yum!”
“Ahh…” Tait slammed his head under the water and shook his head hard. The creature let go, and Tait fell over. Phew!
Mercedes floated along. A bush ahead shone purple with delicious berries. She reached for them, but she fell over in the water.
“Mother!” Tait jumped up. He rushed to her side and helped her up. “Are you ok! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry I took so long!” Tait cried. He led his mother to the safety of the bank, taking each step with care. “Are you hurt, Mother? Please tell me if you’re hurt!”
Mercedes stared at Tait. Why on earth was he acting so crazy? She walked over to the bush and picked the berries, shoving them into her mouth. Not as sweet as the others, but they’d do.
~Lacy Duckwing
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