guys, i can't swim!

Unlike the rest of her siblings, Bramble had not gotten a chance to receive swimming lessons. From the view of a balcony high up in the castle, she would watch the water. It taunted her. Calling out as if it were a siren serenading a sailor. If she were being honest, she was rather terrified. Baths given to her by her parents were one thing. The stream running through the grove was different too. Those bodies of water were shallow. They weren't intimidating.

But Bramble Carpathius was not a scaredy cat!

So out she went. Her newly acquired raven (which she had dutifully named Bristle) twirled in the air with her father's companion, Corbin. Both birds kept an eye on the adventurous and brave little girl. They watched her as she scrambled down the rocky pathway from the castle and out onto the shore. It would have been smart of her to invite someone other than a couple of birds to accompany her, but she didn't want to admit that she was afraid of something.

Standing on the sparkling sand on that sunny afternoon, she closed her eyes. Inhaling a deep breath of salty ocean air, Bramble tried to settle her nerves as best as she could. The quiver in her growing legs and the heavy thump of her heart was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. She could do this! There was nothing to fear, right? It was just some water!

Rushing forward, Bramble met a rolling wave that was topped with frothy foam. Sputtering out a cough, her eyes squeezed shut as she dashed back out. Wet from ear tip to toe tip, she let out a shaky laugh. Okay, that was kind of fun! Maybe the ocean wasn't as scary as she thought. Running back toward the waves, she hopped and skipped for awhile, splashing about. Distracted by a good time in the water, she didn't notice a particularly large wave headed straight for her. One moment she was enjoying the feel of the water rushing over her and the next she was nearly enveloped.

A gulp of water instead of air filled her throat. Both eyes widened out of fear as she struggled against the current. Who was going to save her?!

Bramble Carpathius