She watched, as the huge shark came at them, knowing there was nothing she could do to stop it. As the shark struck the log, both she and Prue were thrown into the sea, disappearing below the surface. Sinking, Piper tried to find her sister, knowing she could not swim, she would need what ever help she could give her, but her injured arm made it too hard for her to make her way back to the surface.

Gasping for air, Prue's head broke the surface as she flailed wildly, reaching for the log. As her arm connected for it, she searched the surface, yelling to her sister, but she received no reply. Brushing her tangled hair out of her face, she scanned the surface of the water, hoping to find Piper, but the only things she spotted was the gray fin bearing down on her, and the branch Piper had been using.

Having no choice, she momentarily let go of the log, reaching out as far as she could to grab at the branch, her fingers barely making contact as she once again felt the water close in over her head. Kicking and thrashing, her hand found the log and she pulled her head free from the salty water, her body shaking in fright. Turning her head, she could not spot the fin, but, there, coming up out of the briney ocean was a torpedo shaped form, heading straight for her.

Holding the branch tightly, she prepared to meet the cold blooded beast, not ready to become its lunch no matter what, yet she knew she would have no real chance of escaping from the razor sharp teeth. Pushing up on the log, she rose higher out of the water, grabbing the branch with both hands, she brought it crashing down on the sharks nose.

Knocked off its intended path, the shark swam off, turning swiftly for another run at her, she swung the branch once again, she had to spin away as the enraged shark came close to hitting her as he flipped away. Swimming towards her yet again she knew she had to drive it off, or she would never be able to find Piper, though it seemed like an eternity, it had only been a minutes since the attack had begun, and she was fast running out of strength.

As the silent killer swam at her yet again, she raised the branch, bringing it crashing down on its nose, hearing the thick wood crack as it drew blood. Turning away from the stinging pain, the shark quickly vanished, not even leaving a ripple in the water. Letting out the breath she had been holding, Prue laid her head against the log, sobbing in relief, until she spotted several more fins, moving swiftly towards her, from two different directions.

Crying out in disbelief, she could only stare helplessly as they bore down on her. Her eye's grew round as she saw one group disappear, only to have them attack the other, driving them off in a bloody battle beneath the surface of the water. Her gaze locked on them, she did not see the shape coming at her from below.

Piper swam like she had never swum before, struggling to the blue sky she could see from the watery depths, and her oldest sister, who was even now fighting for her life against a predator of the deep. She saw as the shark swam off, not noticing the other shapes approaching, just trying to make the surface, and the air that her body needed so badly. Finally, with one last stroke she was in the air, grabbing onto her sister for support.

Letting out a scream, Prue spun around in the water, losing her grip on the log, knocking them both back under. Gasping for air, they both surfaced, looking at each other in relief, and a bit of fear, not knowing what they would be able to do without the paddles. Just then, a rounded nose broke the surface, sending out clicks and whistles at them as the dolphin danced backwards on its tail.

Swimming over to them, two broke away from the group, approaching the two beleaguered sisters, and trying to get them to hold on, as they headed for shore. Laughing, Piper reached out for the smiling faced mammal, running her hand over its smooth, warm skin, much to Prues surprise.

"Prue, you have to try this," Piper said, forgetting everything for a moment in the joy of her discovery "they feel like warm rubber, and just look at the 'smile'"

Reaching out tentatively, Prue touched one of them, pulling her hand back as it raised its head. Realizing it was not trying to hurt her, she laid her hand upon it, remembering all the times she had watched 'Flipper' on TV as a child. Looking at her younger sister, she suddenly realized what they were trying to do. "Piper! They want us to go with them."

"What? You mean like on Flipper?"

"Yes." she said, a bit of fear in her voice.

"Lets do it."

"Is it safe?" Prue asked still unsure of the mammal before her, after her encounter with the shark

"It will be safer then staying in the water alone."

"Ok, but if I drown, I will never forgive you." Prue said, trying to convince herself that Piper was right. Grabbing on to the dorsal fins, they released the log, letting the dolphins take them to safety. An hour later, the two sisters finally touched the ground, their arms tired from the long trip, but grateful to the comical, yet brave creatures, they made there way to shore, laying there for a while, they let there water logged bodies rest.

As the sun finally started to set, they both rose, mindful of the tender skin on there faces, arms and shoulders from a day spent on the water and in the sun. Gazing around, they spotted the smouldering fire and the branches, pointing off into the jungle. With a brief nod to each other, they set off in silence, walking slowly as they felt unseen eye's watching them, following their every move.

The silence of the jungle unnerved the two, causing them to jump as a twig snapped, or a leaf rustled. Holding each others hands, their heart leapt to their throats as the heard a scream tear across the night, the sound of someone in extreme pain, and it sounded like Phoebe.

To 1treehillcharmed...guess you called that didn't you . she punched it in the nose ... ok with a stick but still..