Chapter 7

Chapter 7

"REED!" Fingal yelled, as the dagger sank into Reed's back. Reed cried out as she fell to the ground. "Paddle!" He drew his sword and ran at the she-otter. Paddle ran for it. She scrambled up the mountain in a way that Fingal couldn't follow. "I'll track you down and you'll wish that you had never thrown that dagger, you rat! I'll get you back!"

"You wish, you idiot!" Paddle called over her shoulder. "You wish but Reed has little time to live!"

"I'll show you!" Fingal shouted. Then he ran back to Reed.

"Again, you're slow paced," Reed chuckled then she started coughing.

"I'll find the stone," Fingal promised. "I'll find it, Reed."

"It's for Dry Weed Fever," she muttered. "Not a dagger wound. Fingal, it's okay, you tried."

"And I'm not giving up," Fingal said.

Reed chuckled again. "That's you Fingal, care free but responsible when necessary. You're too stubborn for your own good."

Fingal blinked back tears. "I'll save you, Reed but you have to know." He took a deep breath.

"I'm listening, Fingal," Reed murmured.

"Here it goes," he muttered. "All right, Reed, Rapid and Waterfall aren't your parents."

"What?" Reed gasped. "That's impossible."

"Husk tried to kill you when you were a baby and he killed your parents when they tried to protect you. Waterfall and Rapid took you in then they told you that you were their daughter." His voice was shaking. "And Padra let them lie to you. I'm sorry, Reed. I knew you when we were small kids, I remember but you don't because you're slightly younger than I am." Reed's eyes began to slip out of focus. "No! Reed hang in there, don't go, please." He looked around. "Stay calm, Fingal, stay calm." He picked her up and carried her to the pond, setting her down in the shallow water. "What water can do for an otter is amazing."

"Fingal…" Reed murmured. "…Look…" She pointed in the water and, leaning in, Fingal saw a white rock sitting next to Reed's tail, which was moving back and forth slightly. He grabbed it. The moment that the rock made contact with his paw, it glowed incredibly bright and made his paw feel warm. "You're the… one…" He gently moved Reed so that he could reach her wound then he placed the rock there. His breath caught in his throat, as he watched, expecting something, anything to happen. Nothing.

"No…" Fingal whispered. "No…"

"I'm sorry," Reed whispered. "Take it to… Tide, Fingal. It might not… work on dagger… wounds but it will… work for Dry Weed Fever…"

"No," Fingal said firmly. "It'll work, I'm doing something wrong."

"Stubborn Fingal," Reed chuckled. "It'll get you into trouble one day." Reed's head titled to the side and her tail went limp.

Fingal gritted his teeth. "No. NO!" He held the stone inches from his eyes. "You stupid, useless thing!" He tossed the Stone of Warmth into the pond. A moment later, he realized what he had done. "Dang it, Fingal!" He dived into the pond and searched franticly. He saw a white stone on the bottom and grabbed at it. When it was in his grip, he began to swim upwards but something grabbed his hind paw.

Fingal looked down and saw reeds tangled around it. He went to untangle his paw but he dropped the stone. He got his paw free then went back down and saw two white rocks lying side by side. He opened his mouth to cry out in frustration but salty water spilled into it.

Fingal grabbed the two rocks and swam upwards. H surfaced and swam towards Reed's body. One of the stones was glowing and felt warm in his paw so he thrust it against Reed's back. He waited, wanting something to happen but nothing happened.

Fingal looked at the other stone in his paw. It felt slightly warm, glowed lightly, and was whiter than the first one was. He gently put it on Reed's injury.

It happened in a flash of bright light. He couldn't see anything, not even white because it was so intense. When the light subsided, the first thing he saw was Reed. She was still on her side, not moving.

"I'm sorry," Fingal sobbed. "I could have been faster, I could have…" He clenched his fist. "WHEREEVER YOU ARE PADDLE, I"LL TRACK YOU DOWN YOU RAT!"

"You rat!"

"You rat!"

His own voice echoed around him, taunting him. Fingal swayed on his paws then he fell to the ground, unconscious.

--

Fingal felt salt water rush into his lungs, as his eyes fluttered open. He had rolled into the water in his sleep. Fingal tried to swim up but, once again, found himself tangled. He tried to untie himself but he had inhaled too much salt water. This is the end, he thought. I'll see Reed again. Then he thought of Tide, sick and dying. I'm sorry, Tide. I tried. Goodbye Mistmantle.

--

Fingal blinked sunlight out of his eyes. He was alive!

"Fingal?"

He looked up and saw Reed. He bolted up, shaking sand out of his fur.

"Reed? Reed!" Fingal's breath caught in his throat.

"Who'd ya think it was?" Reed demanded, waking him on his head.

"Uh…" Fingal was at a lost for words.

"Wow," Reed said. "I should nearly die more often. You're actually quiet! It's a miracle!" Reed laughed and picked up the Stone of Warmth, her expression becoming bitter. "Unfortunately, you failed to notice that the Stone of Warmth, well this particular one anyway, was failing. When you spent it on me, it died."

"I don't care," Fingal snapped. "Even if I knew, I'd use it on you."

"Tide is dying at home!" Reed yelled. "I'm not worth it." She turned away.

"I'll find another for Tide!" Fingal shouted. He hesitated and opened his mouth as if he was about to say more but stopped.

"Well, let's get going," Reed said. "We have to hurry. Any news on Paddle?"

"Well," Fingal began, "she ran off and I was unable to follow her."

"You should have listened," Reed groaned.

"I know," Fingal replied. "I know."

"All we can do is move forward, right?" Reed said.

"I… guess." Fingal stared. "You aren't mad?"

"Frustrated, yes, mad, no," Reed replied.

"Oh." Fingal looked at the ground. "Sorry."

"Let's get moving you great lump," Reed snapped, regaining some of her old attitude.

Fingal grinned and ran ahead. "Who's the great lump now?" Reed laughed and ran after him.

--

It is finally up! That took a long time but it's done! Please review and I'll put more up soon.