AN: Short, I know. Bear with me, please. These are just the...introductory chapters.
CHAPTER ONE:
The River
When she found the river, that was when her panic nearly overtook her. The rain and the wind had whipped the moving water into a frothing frenzy, the roaring hurting her ears so badly that she barely heard the meow.
Later—much MUCH later—she would decide that it had been fate (or the will of the Valar) that allowed her to hear that tiny, panicked mew, and she saw it.
It was a Maine Coon, like her own cat Sweetie-Pie at home, and it was being washed down the river like just another piece of jetsam in the debris. It struggled to keep its furry face out of the water, pawing frantically at the rapids, but it was such a little kitten in such a very big river.
Part of her brain (that sounded like her Father) screamed at her that what she was about to do was VERY very stupid; that the cat was as good as dead, and she risked becoming the same way if she tried to help it.
`Cassie Marie Andrews` the beloved voice rang in her ears `Don't you even THINK of getting anywhere NEAR that water! It'd pull you under quicker than you could blink!`
The other—and much louder—part of her screamed that she should at least TRY.
That was when she noticed the fallen tree.
It was a huge, old and stately oak that had finally given in and toppled over in the storm, its top branches still adorned with leaves. The gigantic old thing spanned the entire river, making a kind of bridge, even though the angry, muddy water nearly reached it, threatening to wash it away.
The kitten was barreling towards the fallen tree…..
….so did she.
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Running had NEVER been her strong point; just a few yards generally had her panting 'Uncle' but another life was a great motivator.
On her hands and knees, she scrambled onto the oak, grateful beyond measure for the texture of the trees bark that made it easier for her to grip and find some traction.
Taking a deep breath, she began a weird sort of scoot/crawl over the bark. Glancing to her side, she tried to measure the distance between herself and the drowning cat.
Close…..
Closer….
Closer…..NOW!
She reached out, rejoicing when her fingers grasped wet fur….and that was when she slipped.