Redhawk Caldera m a r d u k

Seconds seemed to stretch on forever. Too long… too long…

Bridget forced herself to remain calm. In reality it was only a moment before she spotted the dim outline of the girl. She shoved herself forward and pulled Ani to her, then clasped her scruff and kicked for the surface. Her own lungs were starting to burn, and her one leg felt weighed down by the cold. Too slow

She pushed towards the light. A little further… a little further…. And then she was there, breaking through the surface.

Ani was heavy. Bridget lifted her as much as she could above the water, scrabbling at the ice along the edge as she tried to lever her up onto firmer ground. Her breath came in hurried bursts around the fur she clenched. If she was going to call for help, she needed to get to a place where dropping her wouldn’t send her back into the water.