Firestone Hot Springs the tidal wave breaks

Of course, he chases her. She can't even be sure she's leading him away from Shige, and already she can feel him bearing down on her. Essie grit her teeth as she dodged between trees, not daring to glance back at his snapping jaws. If she can just lose him in the brush and the rain, she might get away.

That's when she feels teeth close around her tail, in the same moment her paws slip against a wet rock and she goes tumbling. Her yelp is frightened and furious. Saoirse twisted around to face him again, ignoring the pain of the bite in favor of lunging forward with a snarl.

She isn't going to let him take them. If Essie has to fight, if she has to die to make sure Shige lives, then she's damn well going to. With that thought in mind, she ducked low and threw herself at the male.