Alive at Dawn

Jakart remained motionless beneath the calmer waters of the flooded territory. He had dreamed just as dawn broke over the water. Dreamed that he was with his mother and had spoken of his life since her loss two years ago. It had been but a moment since he had closed his eyes and but another to let his mind drift as he conversed with Tahlia. The lack of air brought him back, being nudged further to rouse himself from drifting beneath the waves, sent into a gentle tumble as his back made contact with the floor of the temporary river. Already he felt strength returning to his limbs even as the cold water made a shiver jolt his body, paws pushing off of the bottom as he was sent towards the surface.

With a spray of water Jakart's muzzle broke through the surface, immediately inhaling a great lungful of air. The disorientation stopped quickly as he paddled his paws to try and get to shore. It was close, trees moving by his blurred vision quickly as he gave several blinks of his mismatched eyes. A shiver shook his body again as he felt the tugging current try and drag him back down. Determination immediately set in. With each motion of his right shoulder the ragged wound stung. He wasn't going to die because he was cold or tired to get out of the water. He'd sleep on shore. That was the prize as he bullied his way to land. As soon as his paws met the submerged surface of the shoreline Jakart let out a furious snarl. So close, the tug of the water caressing his flanks like a nuzzling lover and threatened to bring him back. With a final burst of his remaining strength the grey male dragged himself free of the floodwater, scarred and bleeding forelimbs not even tucked beneath his body as he flopped upon the damp soil. The entire frame of the male surged with a drawn out sigh as he closed his eyes, each shallow breath barely raising his sides as his thoughts turned to sleep. He wished he could return to his mother, maybe if he kept his eyes closed for a few more moments the familiar female would appear.