A dark ginger head broke the surface of the bubbling water, limbs flailing wildly. The cat took a shuddering gasp of air, opening their jaws as if to yowl. Suddenly, the water parted too late to reveal the stepping stones, only for the small cat to crash into them. Winded, they went under, flame coloured pelt no longer visible. For a couple of heart-beats, all was peaceful and silent except the soft crashing of waves on the bank.
Once again, a body burst from the river top, their glowing fur plastered to their skin. "He-" the strangled wail was cut off as a large, foaming wave crashed over their head. Suddenly, a fallen branch, stuck safely into the sand on the bank with the end trailing into the water, jerked. The cat, with a pelt the colour of leaves in leaf-fall, scrambled onto the branch, their hind-legs swaying into the water.
"Help!" They turned their head weakly, to see if any cat was there. Not a cat in sight. The ginger cat gave an exhausted sigh. "I'll be safe here until a cat finds me..." they murmured to themself. Suddenly, the branch jerked again. The small cat gave a yowl of terror. Water crashed onto her shoulders - the cat wouldn't be able to keep this going for much longer.