Flooding, I won't make it

"The river's flooding! Everyone get out of here!" Bree looked up from where she had parked her chair next Fin, Isa, and Ivory. 'Flooding?... Flooding! Crap crap crap!' "It'll be here in a few minutes!" Bree's heart sunk to her stomach, 'I'm not going to be able to get out of this one. But I'm not going down without a fight!'

"Let's get out of here!" She urged her friends, ears picking up on the rushing water. "Move it!" The students scrambled for the high ground while Bree gritted her teeth and struggled to get her wheelchair up to some kind of higher ground The water was starting to come up to her knees. Glancing up she was relieved to see most of the other teens had already left and wouldn't see her struggle. As the water reached above her head Bree shoved her body out of the wheelchair its weight dragging her down under the water. The wheelchair tipped and fell farther down, dragging Bree with it as she struggled to release her jean cuff from being caught on the brakes of her wheelchair. 'Come on! I can't die like this!'

:) :) :) :) :) :)
"Is everyone out of the water?" Skylar asked the group of trembling kids. Jay was standing near the edge of the high ground, listening to the rushing water.

"Where's Bree?" He heard Ben say, "Where's my sister?!"

"What? She isn't up here?!"Jay rushed over, tripping slightly on the rough terrain, "Where is she?"

"She must be back in the water, she can't swim Jay!" Ben said frantically, "Bree can't swim!"

Jay judged the edge of the cliff listening to the rushing water and falling stones. Kicking a pebble he listened for it falling into the water. Before starting to run towards the edge.

"Jay what're you doing?!" Skylar gasped.

"Helping my friend." He replied curtly as he jumped into the rushing water. Getting his bearings he surfaced, listening for any traces of sound. "Bree?!" He yelled, listening for a reply.

"Jay? Over here! My foot's caught!..." The sentence was cut off by gurgling as she went back under the water. Jay swam over to the sound, he hated the water but he wasn't having a repeat of what happened to his cousin Flake.

"Bree! If you can hear me grab my hand!" He felt something wet seize his hand, he could hear bubbles as she tried to surface. 'Starclan let me see! Just this once! He dove under, tracing his way down where the water was shifting a lot more than anywhere else, something was kicking against the water, he floundered trying unsuccessfully trying to free her foot, but he couldn't see what he was doing.

Then Jay's vision blurred and lightened to a murky gray, amber brown eyes were staring back at him, Bree's eyes pleading for him to either help her or get to safety himself. 'Thank you Starclan, I'm lot letting her die.' Bree's foot was jammed under her wheelchair's wheel, stuck in the spokes she couldn't free herself with her useless legs, instead of pulling desperately with her arms. The cuff of her jeans was caught around the brakes. Jay swam closer and quickly worked on getting her free, unsuccessfully pulling with her he then unlaced her shoe and managed to get her foot free, now for her jeans.

Bree started struggling to surface, her lips blue accidently inhaling water in her struggle to breathe. Jay swallowed some water himself as he grew frustrated with the fabric. Taking out a pocket knife he defiantly cut away the caught fabric and looped one arm around the half drawing girl's waist before kicking upwards and surfacing, coughing violently Bree hacked weakly, seeming to be irritated that she could help him. Jay pushed himself over to a rock and heaved Bree up onto the rock before helping her up too, he took a moment to look around at the rocky cliffs, finally seeing them like they actually were. His gazed rested on the coughing girl in front of him, brown hair wet and sticking to her forehead and clothing, amber eyes mostly closed, the cuff of her jeans cut roughly, missing one of her sneakers, she was lying on her back coughing, and she lips were blue.

Then his vision blackened once more. Checking Bree's pulse and finding it slowing he pushed against her chest forcing the water up from her lungs, causing her to vomit mouthfuls of the murky water. After getting the water out he carefully put her one his back and picked his way back up to the others, clothing dripping, and the wind wasn't helping, chilling him to the bone. Bree occasionally warned him about holes and unusual dips but mostly stayed silent, her breathing rattling moist and wheezy against his ear, her body limp and tired. Jay was getting tired, unused to the extra weight on his back and the rough terrain. He finally started hearing voices and stumbled his way over to them. He carefully put Bree down before dropping down on the ground next to her, distant blue eyes roaming around, chest heaving as he fought to catch his breath. He was a skinny little twig without a lot of muscle, carrying a girl his size and weight was a struggle.

"Jay are you alright?" He heard his teacher Leah ask as she knelt next to both of them, checking their pulses and breathing.

"I'm fine." He replied curtly after coughing a few times. "How's Breanna?"

"She'll need some medical attention but she's alive and breathing." Leah responded crisply, "You're going with her. Both of you need to be checked for hypothermia, that water is just above freezing."

"Didn't feel like it." Jay muttered turning his head so he was staring in Leah's general direction, "How're we being picked up and taken there?"

"Firen's coming with the four wheeler and a few blankets and towels, he's supposed to be here in a few minutes until then try not to suffocate." She teased before getting up and checking everyone else for injuries.

"Jay?" Bree rattled, he could hear her teeth chattering violently, shivering just as bad.

"Yes, Bree?" He responded curtly.

His attitude didn't seem to affect him, "Thank you."

"Just doing my duty." He felt a weak punch against his upper arm and glared at her, "What was that for?"

"If it was for duty you would've let someone else do it, remember you're blind?"

"Yes, I do quite remember I'm blind Breanna-"

"If you'd let me finish you Grumpy bear you wouldn't get mad," Bree said, her voice slightly annoyed.

"Hmph." He huffed indignantly.

"Anyway I was saying that you would've let Leah fetch me if it was out of duty, so why didn't you?" Cheek now colored her tone as she leaned forward on her arms, "I think you appreciate me."

Jay sent her the coldest glare he could muster but wilted when it didn't affect the girl who he could tell was grinning cheekily, knowing there was nothing he could do about it. "No, I don't."

"You totally do!" Her voice was bright and teasing, "You only treat your siblings with that kind of helpfulness, nobody else Jay. So you have to appreciate me somehow."

"How the heck did you get that tricky?" He muttered silently surprised at her reasoning.

"I learned from a pro." She replied coolly, he could just imagine the smug grin on her face.

Jay sighed, knowing Bree wasn't going to back down till he told her the right answer. "Alright, so I do appreciate you, how can you tell?"

"Because you smile more." She replied cheerfulness coloring her tone, "And you don't snap at me as much, ooh! I can also tell you like that blonde transfer what's her name? Oh yeah," She leaned farther forward a grin coloring her face at the light blush covering Jay's cheeks, "Hadara Mason." She whispered in his ear before leaning back a wide grin spreading across her features at the darker blush, quite visible against his pale skin. "By the way, she has very light blond hair lighter than Diana's, green eyes like Holly's, she's taller than you by about four inches, and she has a lighter tan than Cindy. Ooh! She's over there! Hey, Hadara!" Jay slapped a hand over her mouth as the girl greeted his crush. Hadara smiled weakly at them a bit confused why Jay was acting like that and turned back to her friends.

"What are you doing?!" Jay hissed, blind blue eyes wide open.

"Having some fun!" Bree replied giggling behind his hand before nipping his hand and causing him to sharply draw it away and wipe it on his soggy jeans.

"That was gross Bree." He stated bluntly.

"I know!" She grinned, amber eyes twinkling, "Aren't this fun?"

"No, it's not!" He hissed back, "You're going to embarrass me!"

"No, I'm not, I'm giving Hadara a jolt in the right direction." The brunette smiled, amber eyes twinkling mischievously.

"What? No Bree you are no getting involved."

"And why not? She keeps glancing over here and I want to give her something to be jealous about since she suspects I'm with you."

"Bree no, I'm not letting you."

"And why not?" She asked with a grin, her breath on his face. Jay pushed her back, "Because I don't want any girl problems!"

"I promise I'll explain when she comes and asks alright?" Bree compromised, out of the corner of her eye she saw Hadara gain a light angry blush as she stared and her and Jay. 'Hopefully I can knock some sense into her and Jay.'

"No Bree, just no."

"Too bad." Bree grinned, overpowering his futile efforts and getting closer, keeping an eye on Hadara's expression, the angry flush spreading up to her ears. Bree flashed a cheery grin at Hadara before gripping Jay's collar and kissing him, just for a moment before drawing back, settling back against her arms while Jay floundered and Hadara came over. Bree grinned widely at Hadara, "Hello!"

"Um hi… Hey, Jay."

"Hi, Hadara."

"I was wondering… I have a soccer ball tournament after camp, would you like to go? I can pay for your entry fee and other things."

Jay didn't answer and Bree elbowed him, grinning innocently up at Hadara who's green eyes were narrowed at the amber-eyed brunette. "Oh, of course, I'd love to."

Hadara smiled, "Alright, I'll see you there then?"

"Yes." Jay replied then waited for Hadara to leave before rounding on Bree, "What the heck, why did you kiss me?"

"Me? Because Hadara wasn't going to do anything anyway. I just helped you that's all. And don't you dare pull the first kiss thing, Mister. Willow-kissed-me-and-I-ran-away." She replied cheerfully, she wasn't blushing or even embarrassed, she just helped him get the girl he wanted, not shame in that.

"I wasn't going to pull that card because I know you were there and you were the one who saved me from her anyway. How do you know she wasn't going to do anything?"

"Call it girl's tuition. In simple I just know, I don't know how but I do." She responded seriously before shivering, "I hate the water." She scowled as her shivering got worse.

"Ugh. Come here." He scowled, pulling her over to him so she was against his side, sharing his body heat. Bree was indeed freezing cold. "I think you have hypothermia Missy."

"Probably. You do know this is just annoying Hadara just as much as the kiss right?"

"Seriously? Girls. Can't help a friend of the opposite gender without them getting mad at you. All except you of course."

"Yup." Bree grinned, still shivering, her teeth chattering. She'd given up a while ago getting jealous of Hadara, she was just a friend with a broken spine, nothing special.

"You alright?" He asked looking down at her, blind blue eyes distant but yet focused on her.

"Course, I'll be alright when I can be warm and stop sneezing." She replied studying his features a little before looking back at everyone else 'He's Hadara's now. Take care of him Hadara.'

"I'm not anybody's Bree."

"Of course, I forgot you can magically read my thoughts." She snorted, "I was just thinking that you're going to be spending more time with Hadara and unable to save me all the time."

"Eh, I can still do that. After all, what's worse, a person without a sense at all or a guide to fill in that gap where that sense goes?"

"Alright then, I'll be your eyes and you can be my legs."

"I'm not carrying you everywhere."

"I know."

"..."

"That would be asking too much from the Grumpy Jay."

"There's the teasing I was waiting for. How's your blue jay doing?"

"He's amazing! He know's all kinds of tricks now…"

Jay inwardly grinned as she started eagerly chattering about her bird with his namesake. He may like Hadara more than this little ball of energy but he'd always have a place in his small heart for her chattering and crazy ideas. He had responsibilities to many people but he was sure that Bree being the stubborn mule she was wouldn't let him distance himself from her, she'd been that way since he met her many years ago, a bright ball of energy with a heart of gold.

Bree smiled as she chattered about her bird, sometimes it was nice she kept eye contact when she was talking, and that meant he was used to her staring at him as she talked so she could usually study his features and discover new things like the faint spray of freckles along his nose and above his upper lip or the quirking of his lips as she talked about how her blue jay crashed into the sofa the other day and was stuck till she got home from his house to help him out. He may have a higher priority than her but Breanna would always be sure to wriggle her way into his life, he wasn't her best friend for nothing. And she was content staying in the friend zone for no matter how long it took, she'd silently love and support him for as long as she could.

Ok, I personally love the ending :) The part with the whole Hadara thing was hilarious XD I was laughing super hard as I wrote it. There is something for both Briarfeather and Halffeather fans :) Sorry if you're a Willowfeather shipper, there's a whole reason behind the running away and hiding behind Bree when she kissed him but I probably won't write it as a short story. To those who are waiting for the CInderpelt's Accident I am still working on the plot and her actual injury, her injury is going to be hard to do, she has to break her hip getting hit by a car to push Bailey (Bluestar) out of the way of a car along with her leg. It requires a special set of circumstances and it has to be worse than Cinderheart getting most of her leg replaced with artificial ligaments and bones… So yeah