A/N: Hey everybody! This is my first challenge; one for OceanClan! Psst, go check them out. They're cool.
Challenge: Young Swimmers
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"Help!" the small mewls came from the direction of the rushing water, "Help me!"
I pelted through the forest, paws crunching the leaves scattered among the ground. My surroundings were a blur as I sprinted; coming closer to the river every second.
I skid into the clearing, sand billowing up around my paws. Green eyes darting around, I finally sighted the two kits.
Pinekit and Jaykit had managed to sneak out of the camp this morning, and everyone had gone to search for them. I had been checking the Mossy Hollow when I had heard their mewls, as the river was close by.
"Hel-," Pinekit's cry was cut off by water rushing into her mouth. A tree-length away from her was Jaykit.
"I can't swim!" Jaykit screeched from a bit farther down the river. I glanced at the blue-grey tom, panicked.
My gaze darted from kit to kit as I stepped closer to the riverbank.
Jaykit, or Pinekit?
Pinekit was my best friend's kit. Jaykit was Blackfang's kit; a cruel merciless tom. If I didn't save Pinekit, my best friend would hate me. If I didn't save Jaykit, Blackfang would probably kill me.
I've got to at least try to save both.
Gritting my teeth and flexing my claws, I leaped into the strong current of the river. Letting out a fierce cry, I struggled upstream to grab Jaykit before allowing the current to carry me down to Pinekit.
I was about a rabbit leap away from Jaykit when the small kit hit a rock and was thrown under the fierce torrents. Gasping for breath, I dove down with my jaws open to grab his tiny figure. I kicked fiercely as I attempted to locate him. I was running out of air and I felt my vision getting blurry.
Something brushed my back paw and I twisted around, snagging the object in my jaws. I emerged on the surface again, coughing with a limp Jaykit in my grasp.
I flung him onto the bank, gasping for air, and started to move downstream, but with a sinking sense of horror I realized I could no longer see Pinekit.
"Pinekit!" I spluttered out, my strength leaving me rapidly as the cold water turned my muscles to mud.
"Help!" I heard another muffled cry, and I saw a flash of brown a few mouse-lengths away.
I pushed off of the side of the bank with my last bit of strength, back claws tearing up clumps of grass.
Nearing her, I lunged for the kit. I felt flames of exhaustion lap at my vision.
I felt her fur in my teeth and I struggled to the side, flinging her out of the water. My chest burnt as the last bit of breath escaped my mouth in the form of a bubble.
Paddling feebly towards shore, my front paws brushed against a rock, just before I was slammed into it, head first.
My vision faded to black as I sunk to the bottom of the river.
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A/N: Dunno how I feel about this one! Not my best work, but it's not TOO bad. I hope you like it, Splashstar.