Growth Prompt- Dangerous Adventure

Thorrin wasn’t a stranger to getting lost. He had a habit of wandering off when his parents weren’t looking, oftentimes to come back beat up and filthy. 

On one particular occasion, Thorrin was gone for more than usual, even for him. Finding caves was not too uncommon in Orbille, but that never made exploring them any less of an adventure. In this particular cave, Thorrin found a small river deep within its twisting caverns. Red and blue crystals shone faintly, reflecting its light back into the river, and through the cave. A friendly little snock slimed its way across the damp banks. 

Thorrin had never been in such a cave, especially one so far deep into the earth. Coming up to the shore of the serene river, he gazed into its depths. Leaning over, he stuck a paw into the water, recoiling at the subzero temperature. As he recoiled, he lost his footing, slipping into the caverns river. Life seemed to pause. Nothing could be heard or seen in the icy depths. Finally, Thorrin’s senses returned as his head burst through the surface, gasping for air. Unable to swim, the sprout struggled to keep his head afloat, legs kicking desperately at nothing. Running out of energy as the cold frigid temperatures sucked the last stamina from him, he sank below the waters at last. 

Is this how it ends, really? 

His last thoughts included those of his parents, his friends…his dreams. Would he see them again? Become a knight at last? Regret and sorrow flooded him as he passed into the cold, dead hands of the river. 

Water spat from his nose and mouth as he regained his consciousness. Taking a moment to let the blur of water fade from his eyes. He was….alive! But…how? Thorrin looked around at the cave, perplexed. Something had pulled him out. 

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of red and yellow fur. A creature peered from the darkness, it’s eyes glowing in the dim light of the cavern. A…teggre? No, a bit bigger, and had a coat of gold and carmine. Struggling to stand, Thorrin started to move toward the creature. Surprised by his movement, the creature hissed, and ran away into the darkness of the cave beyond the rivers bank. 

Returning home was…more than embarrassing. His mothers scolded him, and worked hard to lick clean the mud and grime from his fur. He didn’t dare tell his parents what really happened that day, sticking with the excuse of playing in some mud. 

Someday, he’d have to visit the cave again, after learning to swim, or course. Someday, he’d give a proper thank you to the creature who saved his life.