Things begin to get more exciting in this bit. Reviews bring cookies:
"You're going to trust me hanging onto your legs?" Kalvor's sounded disbelievingly from her right as she moved into position. "I thought we weren't being friendly."
"Just do it," Her words snapped back at him and she pushed herself to the edge of the outcrop, reaching towards the raging torrent. She could feel his fingers seize hold of her ankles in a powerful grip and she reached out. Her head and shoulders protruded out from the cliff and she stared down at the water. The debris was coming nearer and she reached out. Her fingers dangled in the air, the flood still too far away. "Not quite there." She shuffled forwards, feeling his hands take a stronger grip about her knees as she stretched out once more. Leanadas was now hanging from the waist above the raging torrent, watching the wood drift closer and closer.
"Come on," She muttered as the wood brushed the tips of her fingers. Grimacing with effort she reached further, her hips brushing the edge of the cliff as her fingers gained a tentative hold on the drifting material. "Just a little further." Hanging above the torrent, she could feel him pulling at her legs, keeping her from stretching out further. "I've nearly got it," She shouted back at him. "Just a little more."
"If you stretch out a little more, you'll be in the water," She heard him snarl as she reached further, trying to drag in the piece of wood with the tips of her fingers. "Stop reaching for it."
"Nearly..got..it." Her fingers finally hooked about the debris and she seized hold tightly. "Pull me back!" She shouted, suddenly aware of the raging water just inches from her face.
"I'm trying." She heard him shout as she felt his arms wrap about her legs. Before her, the swell roiled and bubbled, spray drenching her arms, face and neck.
As he slowly drew her back from the edge, she felt the rough stone of the ledge scrape her hips and then nothing. She screamed in pure fear as the edge of the cliff crumbled beneath her and she felt her body rocket forward.
"Lea!" She heard the shout from behind her, his grip tighten on her as she pitched forward from the ledge. The boiling fury of the water filled her vision and she closed her eyes, waiting for the impact. It never came, Kalvor still had hold of her legs and she was suspended, head first, above the flood. "It's all right, I've got you." His voice sounded far away as the blood rushed to her head, making her dizzy.
"Please don't let me go?" Her voice, panicked and frightened tore from her lips as opened her eyes, only to be confronted by solid rock and water that was so close she could feel it. "Kalvor!" She screamed his name as several small stones skittered free from overhead and bounced off her shoulders. After what felt like an eternity, she She felt herself being drawn backwards, away from death and towards the relative safety of the ledge. Painfully slowly, she felt his arms draw her up until she was finally safe on dry ground, the wood still clenched tightly in her fingers.
Breathing hard, she dropped the piece of totem pole and rolled over, facing Kalvor. He was knelt next to her, gulping deep breaths of air.
"Thank you," Without even thinking about it, she reached for him. Startled by her sudden movement, Kalvor was completely shocked as Leanadas flung her arms about his neck. "Thank you.. thank you.." She muttered against his chest. Kalvor, stunned from her hug, did not move as her reddish hair tickled his chin. For several long moments, Leanadas hugged his stunned, immobile form before finally coming back to herself. With the speed of a striking snake, she backed off and tried to regain her composure. "I'm so... so.."
"Think nothing of it," Kalvor smoothly interjected, recovering from the shock of her embrace and trying to act as though nothing had occurred. "It's perfectly natural."
"It is?" She raised an eyebrow, instantly suspicious.
"Of course it is," He stood and lifted the wood towards the shelter. "I know it's embarrassing asking your enemy for a hug when you clearly wanted to. You didn't need to go through all those dramatics. Next time just ask." And with that he ducked into the shelter, leaving a red faced and instantly angry Leanadas alone on the ledge.