Water Fight! Life and death style

Kalyke was roaming the water's edge, hopping in especially shallow areas to see how big of a splash he could make or swatting at tadpoles, biting mosquitoes and dragonflies, and all manner of fun games.  Kal was doing a great job at paying attention to all sorts of things, but mostly whatever just showed up directly in front of him.  Everything was new and fun so he didn’t have to look very far.  

Several minutes later he was doing the same thing only slowly making his way farther from the protection of his grandfather.  They were out of sight but that’s ok cause Kal wasn’t looking behind him to worry about that.  Unfortunately, something was watching him.  One foolish pup all alone.

A tiger ran from the bushes towards him and with a howling cry out for help Kal ran in the only direction possible which was to leap into the water!  Swimming lessons came early but luckily with the desire to run all his paws were working and kicking hard.  It wasn’t eloquent swimming but the boy was in the water.  As he swam or was pulled along by the river he kept up his concern calling for ‘grampa’ while watching the giant cat.

Swimming was no problem for the cat and it charged in after him. Luck was so far saving the boy.  The tiger’s weight drove it deeper into a boggy mud mess than the small pup had to deal with.  Branches already stuck in the mud made the agile cat far less agile and the water was moving him farther downstream, back in the direction of the family.  The tiger finally made it into deeper water and was gaining ground on the boy.  Kal looked over his shoulder at the cat and gave his best snarl, then swallowed it down staring into the tiger's eyes.  Dead dead dead!
“Helppp!”

"Speech"