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The words of the curt buck echoed in Crimson Tears’ head, engraving themselves into his brain. He was weak – he knew that, but something within him disagreed. Reflects Light scurried back onto his head, as if the mongoose knew they were taking off again. With what appeared to be a newly found determination shining in his pale silver eyes, the buck dove back into the water and swam northward. Even if he couldn’t save anyone, even if he was utterly useless, he would keep both he and Reflects Light alive.

His legs were appreciative of the short break he took; they worked together and paddled him forward. His head and back ridges were the only things sticking out of the water as he guided himself through the flooded swamp. He hadn’t made it more than a hundred feet when he saw a doe swimming toward him. From what his vision would allow him to make out, she was all black with speckles of color peppered all over her body. His first instinct was to keep going, but he couldn’t deny feeling the urge to make sure she was okay.

Reflects Light squeaked from on top of his head when Crimson Tears sped up their pace. As the dark-haired male approached the female, he adjusted himself to swim by her side. “Are you alright?” he asked, wincing when a sharp stick from below scratched against his thigh.

"Alright." Take Flight was relieved to hear that they were getting close to higher ground. He smiled as he watched the buck and his faithful companion together again. It would have been bad if he told Triage to continue his search for King. All he could do was believe that the Swampmother would keep him safe from harm. So for now, just wait King. I'll be there soon.

Take Flight kept paddling and it seemed like the swamp would never end, but he would take Peregrine's word for it that he had found a safer place. He still wish he could keep a level head and be more of a help rather than weigh this kimeti down. Take Flight couldn't help but be pessimistic when they were in such a dire situation.

Feeling energized again Creep slides off her log and swims off to make more misery. She was intent on Kimeti, but anyone would do. And the family of mongeese she sees perched on a tree limb are just right. Creep heads over to them and scrambles up onto the limb. As she does Creep jounces it as much as possible, trying to fling them off. This gets two, who are swept away. Four are left, and Creep grins. Time to have some fun, she scoops up the first mongoose by his neck scruff. For what ever reason none of the creatures flee, either being used to Kimeti or being more afraid of the flood then Creep. Not that she cares, it just makes her fun easier.

With a jerk of her head Creep shakes the poor creature several times, leaving him dizzy. One more good shake and then she drops him into the water, watching as he is carried away. In his dizzyness the mongoose swim in drunken circles for several minutes. This ends, in Creep's opinion, too soon. The next one must be damaged more, make the fight to live a challenge. But when she turns back Creep sees the other three decided the raging waters were preferred to the evil doe.

The grey kiokote swims -- and swims and swims, until legs are tired and ribs ache underneath its pelt. Ducking quickly underwater to try and see if anything still lurked down there, all it could see were murky shapes; it is hard to discern between grasping, gnarled mangrove roots and the flailing hooves of kimeti. A moment later pink legs suddenly appear in the water, surrounded by curtains of bubbles; a kimeti, perhaps, jumping into the water to save someone else. Surfacing, the grey kiokote cries out, "Have you seen any more of my kind?"

There have been a great deal more kimeti than kiokote around -- it makes the grey one worry. How many kiokote raced blindly into the swamp, got lost, and were drowned, killed, or worse? "Kiokote! Kiokote, to me!"

The floodwaters are, at least, beginning to slow down; they are no longer the racing, angry foaming waters of the initial flood. Slow and steady, they keep moving farther into the swamp, no quicker than a river's sedate pace.

The water seemed to rise, and the currents were faster, more hazardous. For a brief moment, his thoughts went back to that buck he had left behind. If that buck were to remain as he were, afraid to even save his own life, it would definitely be claimed by the swamp, and -

No, that's not what he was doing right now. The buck could fend for himself. He'd pull through, this he was sure. Right now, he needed to save that lovely lovely- HEY!

He stopped as he saw another doe approach her, seeming to try to make the doe follow her, but it seemed she soon turned back, the eaglehound still yipping around the frightened pale doe.

So... the hound was hers? If he wasn't currently fighting the current, he would of called out to this doe also, seeing if he could win her favour, but it seemed she already had a companion as she and her eaglehound returned to the buck, who seemed to look at her with disapproval for not bringing the doe back. Well, this was his chance now. Kicking the water to push himself closer to the doe, he reached out with a hoof, brushing her neck, and tried to speak to her with a reassuring voice.

"No need to worry, miss, I'm here to help. Try climing onto my back, if you would, and I'll lead you to safety."

Whistles Twice felt comfort sweep over him as Alder placed his head atop the colt's and reassured him. Whistle liked Alder. Alder was cool.

He couldn't help but feel angry as the long-haired doe nudged him away from the mossy buck. He didn't want to sit with her, he didn't even know her. (Then again, he didn't really know Alder either, but the combination of the glowing eyes and the fact that the buck had saved him from drowning made Whistle trust him just the same.) He pouted but submitted to Life's grooming.

Whistle kept his eyes loyally on Alder as the doe sang and the strange not-kimeti creature spoke to the legendary. Then, suddenly, the little world they all had been sitting safely atop of shook, and with a swiftness of motion the little colt could barely understand, he found himself in the water once more. It was not as rough and scary as it had been earlier when Alder had pulled him from the rushing waves, and Whistle could swim fine on his own, but the change was still unwelcome. He let out a shout as he fell and looked desperately around for his new friend. "Alder! Alder, help me!"

Thoushalt reached the struggling doe just as her beautiful (but painfully tangled by the water) pink hair caught on a loose cypress branch. She screamed, and Thou could see the weight of the sinking branch beginning to drag her under. "Don't worry, Miss!" he shouted over the raging waters, "I'm going to try and help!" He dove, swimming underneath her and attempting to break off the heavy part of the branch with his hooves before it drowned her completely.

Hollyhock cringed and ducked under the water at Rockface's shout before bobbing up again, ears twitching every which-way in desperate hope for a response, but all she could hear were creaking trees, and the sounds of water, water everywhere. Her heightened emotional state was wearing on her, and she slumped lower in the water, leaning against the buck for support. "I'm...I'm sleepy," she said, sinking until only her head was above the waterline. "Is there anywhere to sleep?"