Qeya River to die for

a pain struck his brow, sharpened by the cold bite of the river he was submerged in. even from just beneath the thin, thread-like surface, he couldn't hear but feel the commotion. star eater's cry for help was answered by three plunges into the river, their voices unrecognizable in the rushing current. ghelan tried to do his part too, but struggled to paddle back up. it was only when his side scraped skin against another of the jagged rocks that pain propelled ghelan further.

eyes heavy, swollen, they peak through small red crescents. gulping down the air, ghelan floated helplessly — forced to watch as ridgeback, a dark stranger, and father chased after him. in the short time spent submerged underneath the river, star eater had become a speck in the distance. to give the others a chance, drenched and tired arms of the boy would reach for whatever he could. an ice block that would've threatened to smack him in the head — it was too high up, and his arms slipped from it. a rock, too slippery. instead, it just cut ghelan along the wrist, another hissing pain aside the current wasn't enough of a toll.

panic had already ensnared him, it was frenzy now that drove ghelan to search for anything — anything — to be rescued. teeth snapped at any root hanging but they'd dried up of all their strength and ripped from the ground when he tried to, he'd begun to position himself against any rock to give himself a barrier, but he was too slow and the waters too fast. front legs tried to reach for the river banks, but despite all of the strength he'd built up nothing could ever compare to the sheer might of the river that even his father lay helpless to it.
ghelan could only watch as qeya river remained firm to keep him with her.

replied just to keep the ball rolling; the rest of saatsine is still welcome to join!