I wish upon a star...I'm trying to believe..

[Prankster101]

Night settled upon the luscious Green Isle like a large blanket. The harsh spring sun left its post high in the sky to be replaced by its gentler counter part. The moon sat peacefully still in the night sky, casting a glow upon all that sat in the dark. All around it the millions upon millions of stars twinkled brightly, as if they each were waving down to the sleeping otters.

However, not every otter slept this night. There were always the night guards, and the cooks in the kitchen preparing the next morning meal who didn't sleep at night, but tonight, they were joined by another otter, who should have been asleep.

High Queen Rhulain Mona Wildlough should have been asleep. She had a busy day the day before and was expecting another busy one to follow, but she was still awake.

Mona sat alone in her private quarters in the Castle at Holt Summerdell. She rocked slowly back and forth in an old squeaky rocking chair next to her open window, looking up at the night sky.

As Mona looked up at the stars, she remembered the secret her mother used to tell her about the stars. The stars were not just flickers of light in the night sky, but the souls of past warriors who were just and true. Everybeast who did good, when they passed away, became the stars. And as the stars, they watch over you at night and during the day, even if you can't see them.

The rocking chair, squeaked as Mona gently rocked it back and forth with her rudder. Mona tried to hold back the tears as she thought about the chair. It was made by her father, as a gift to her mother on their wedding day. It then was used by Mona's mother to rock her to sleep. Mona herself used this chair to rock little Danju to sleep when he was little or when he was afraid when he got older. Now all the beasts that made this chair a happy thing for Mona were gone. Her mother and her father were both dead, and she had no idea about Danju.

Eyes moist with tears, Mona looked up at the stars, knowing that her parents were among the fallen. She could bearly bare that fact. And with little Danju gone, Mona didn't know what to do.

In her paws, Mona fingered Danju's little blanket. It was made for him on his nameday. Danju had never gone anywhere without it. He even took it on the Voyager. Now it was all that Mona had.

Tears streaked across Mona's cheeks. In her heart she pleaded to her parents that they watched over her son, where ever he was.....

The sound of light pawsteps out side her door alerted Mona to another creature's presence. quickly wiping her tears, Mona took a deep breath to clear her head if the passing creature was to knock on the door.....

[Kenyon]

Kenyon was hot, sweaty and tired. The night came to lay a muggy blanket over the sun as he walked the path from Green Harbor to Holt Summerdel and his queen. He had been away these last two months on another one of his searches. They were farther and farther apart now, that he got the urge to go in search of his son, but he wasn’t ready to give up yet.

---

Arriving at Summerdell, he dove into the pool under the falls. The water was cold, he could feel it on the pads of his fingers and toes and his nose, but his thick fur kept it from his body. He clambered out and shook the loose water from his fur before grabbing a towel left on the ledge and giving himself a rough tousling. He pulled his old tunic on--it was dirty and sweat stained but no help for it, he could change it later.

It was quiet in the Castle, not many beasts stirred. He went past the guards with a quiet word and padded down the hall to his and Mona’s quarters.

sqeeeaaakkk, sqeeaakkk.

Kenyon paused outside the closed door, he knew what he would find, Mona in her mother’s old rocker, fingering Danju’s old blanket. How could he go in there and tell her he’d found nothing whatsoever of their child? That he had failed yet again? For barely the time it took to think the thought Kenyon considered walking on, leaving her in peace, hoping he would bring back good news one more night.

But he’d always been one to face up to his responsibilities, and he couldn’t leave her to grieve alone. He turned the knob and stepped into the room, closing the door and walking over to the window.

“Mona…” He crouched by the chair and wiped away a stray tear, slipping his arms around his wife’s shoulders.

[Prankster101]

Mona heard the pawsteps stop at her door. She knew exactly who it was. It was Kenyon. He had gone on one of his searches for Danju.

Maybe? Just maybe he had found some notion of where Danju was? Mona looked hopefully at the door, but then sank deeper into the chair. Clutching the blanket closer to her.

He hadn't found anything. If he had, he wold have rushed into the room with the good news, no matter what time it was. But he wasn't. He was still outside the door, blaming himself for being useless again.

A stray tear streaked down Mona's cheek as she heard Kenyon open the door and close it quietly. He then walked over to her, and crouched by the chair.

“Mona…”

Kenyon said softly to her as he wiped away the loose tear and put his arms gently around her. Mona couldn't hold it in much longer. She leaned closer to him and tears began to flow freely down her face.

"Why Kenyon, why?" Mona spoke gently through the tears. "Why did this have to happen? He was so little..."

[Kenyon]

"Why Kenyon, why?" Mona spoke gently through the tears. "Why did this have to happen? He was so little..."

Kenyon moved so he was kneeling, leaning on the arm of her chair as he put his arms more firmly around Mona. Her tears were soaking the front of his travel-stained tunic, but he paid no notice, resting his chin on her head as she cried. Silent tears tracked down his own furry cheeks, leaving only faint trails in the still-damp fur.

“I don’t know, Mo, I just don’t know.” He admitted, his voice slightly roughened. “I don’t know what ‘e was doin’ on deck, or who took ‘im, or why, or” his voice cracked a little, “even if he’s still alive.”

They sat in silence only a short time before he spoke again, his paws tightening into fists. “Though Seasons help the beast who killed ‘im…if Danju’s dead…” He fell silent, not able to admit even to himself that that might be true.

[Prankster101]

Mona couldn't see through the tears, so she just shut her eyes. All of the emotions that she pushed down, the brave face she had to put on for the rest of the otters of Green Isle, all that she worked so hard to maintain, collapsed.

Mona could feel Kenyon shift his weight, and put his arms tighter around her. She was glad. Mona was unsure on how strong she was going to be. Mona knew her tears were soaking Kenyon's shirt, but she didn't care right now, even as he spoke to her, his voice rough with emotion.

“I don’t know, Mo, I just don’t know. [...] I don’t know what ‘e was doin’ on deck, or who took ‘im, or why, or [...] even if he’s still alive."

Mona couldn't speak. Everything hurt. Memories of the night flooded her mind. The horrible storm. The horrific fight. Danju's voice..his tiny scared little voice....calling for his mama..who didn't make it.......

"Though Seasons help the beast who killed ‘im…if Danju’s dead…”

"Don't say that...just don't... I can't...I can't..."Mona threw her arms around Kenyon. Holding on tight. "He can't be...he just can't...." She couldn't believe he was dead. Even if Kenyon promised to kill the killer. That last little hope in her would die. She would fail as a mother. And her little baby would be gone forever ...... forever .....

[Kenyon]

"Don't say that...just don't... I can't...I can't..." Mona threw her arms around Kenyon. Holding on tight. "He can't be...he just can't...."

“He’s not… I know he’s not…”Kenyon said soothingly, stroking his finger through her head fur. “He’s not and I’ll find him. Or maybe he’ll find us.” His tears had dried up, leaving a crusty feeling at the edges of his eyes, but he was near to exhausted and didn’t notice or care. He wiped Mo’s face with a corner of Danju’s blanket.

“Ssshh… are ye alright, Mo?” He asked gently, looking at her. “Its late, you should be asleep.”

[Prankster101]

“He’s not… I know he’s not…”

Kenyon spoke reassuringly as he gently stroked Mona's ruffled headfur. His strong touch comforted Mona. He isn't dead. He isn't!Mona thought to herself, trying to bring herself back together.

“He’s not and I’ll find him. Or maybe he’ll find us.”

Mona nodded as she snuffed her nose. The last of her tears leaked down her face. She just couldn't cry anymore. Kenyon gently wiped the evidence of the tears away with a corner of Danju's little blanket. Gripping the blanket tight in her paws, Mona felt it's still soft threads and distantly in her mind recalled that the softness of Danju's baby fur was just like this blanket. Leaning on Kenyon in his arms, Mona sighed.

“Ssshh… are ye alright, Mo?”

"No..no Kenyon...I'm really not...but until Danju is found, or comes home..I'll..I'll manage." Mona said quietly. After that episode of tears, Mona felt even more exhausted than he had before. Now her body was really regretting staying up this late...

“Its late, you should be asleep.”

"Ye sound like my mother." Mona said with a chuckle. Truth to be told, she should have been asleep and she was really tired. Sighing again, Mona looked up into Kenyon's green eyes. " Yes, I should be in bed. I just couldn't sleep is all. You weren't home yet and I had a long day...I...I just couldn't sleep..."

[Kenyon]

"No..no Kenyon...I'm really not...but until Danju is found, or comes home..I'll..I'll manage."

Kenyon rested his head against Mona's, sighing. They both insisted on being so strong, for themselves and for the other otters. He placed a kiss on her forehead. "We both will." He said sadly as he stood and went into the next room to get a clean tunic. He returned, pulling it over his head.

" Yes, I should be in bed. I just couldn't sleep is all. You weren't home yet and I had a long day...I...I just couldn't sleep..."

"Well I'm home now..." He yawned, stretching his paws high to the ceiling. "C'mon, we both need some sleep." Kenyon took her paw and helped her out of the rocking chair.

[Prankster101]

Kenyon kissed Mona on the forehead as he gently let go.

"We both will."

Mona nodded as Kenyon stood and walked into the next room. Folding Danju's little blanket, Mona set it gently upon her lap. She had done enough crying for tonight.

Kenyon returned, pulling a clean jerkin over his head.

"Well I'm home now..." He yawned, stretching his paws high to the ceiling. "C'mon, we both need some sleep."

Kenyon reached over for her paw, and Mona griped it tight as he helped her arise from the rocking chair. "Yes, we do need sleep." Yawning slightly, Mona walked gently over to the bed and sat down. The blankets felt soo soft after sitting in the rocking chair. Mona was so very tired after crying her heart out. "Good night *yawn* Kenyon..."

The bed seemed to swallow Mona up as she laid down, the fully pillow cushioning her head, the soft sheets rubbing gently against her fur. Her eyes flickered closed as Mona drifted into the land of slumber, and in her dreams, Danju ran into her open arms, once again that little son, so dear to her heart.....

[Kenyon]

Kenyon crawled under the covers. He lay close to Mona, watching as she settled in to sleep. Though the sandmouse made his eyes want to sink into sleep, he couldn’t help himself. He reached out and smoothed a tangled whisker, how often had he lay like this, hardly believing his luck? She was a kind, beautiful, strong queen, what had possessed him and gave him the audacity to love her, him a simple commoner?

His lifelong ambition had been to serve as Armsmaster and watch her from afar. But fate had turned the tables. She loved him, he loved her. And now it was fourteen years later, their only child gone, but he loved Mona more than ever. Kenyon moved closer, draping a paw around her waist and finally surrendering to sleep. “G’night Mona…” His voice was quiet, hardly a whisper of air.

[Prankster101]

Mona saw her son again. Even if it was only a dream, she cherished the time all the same. He was little again. He bumbled into walls like he used to. He babbled in his childish languages as he smiled his large smile. He was always smiling...

The sunlight was the only reason Mona woke up. A single ray of light happened to shine right through the window where Mona had sat the night before and right on to her face.

Opening one eye in annoyance of being woken up, Mona yawned and stretched her rudder out as far as it could stretch. Rolling over on to her back instead of her side, Mona looked up at the ceiling. She had to get up. She had so many things to do today, but she really didn't want to get up. If only she could go back to her dreams, then Danju would be back.

Sighing, Mona looked over at Kenyon and rubbed his arm that he had draped across her waist while she was asleep. He worked so hard. She shouldn't wake him up. Trying to be a gentle as she could, Mona lifted Kenyon's paw from her waist and slipped out of bed.

Stretching her paws wide, Mona yawned again. Looking back at Kenyon, he always looked so peaceful asleep, just like little Danju. Mona than moved into the next room to change.

Trying to be as quiet as she could, Mona changed into her plaid skirt, while blouse, wrap and pin. If felt so good to be in clean clothes after spending all night in the same outfit. Walking back into the bedroom, Mona looked in on Kenyon to see if he had awoken yet....

[Kenyon]

Kenyon had slept soundly, with nary a dream. The big otter rarely dreamed, and even then they faded away like wisps of fog when his subconscious started the wake-up process. He was warm, very warm. Kenyon yawned, his eyelids fluttering as he stretched and curled into a ball in the middle of the bed. He felt hazy, in a good way, floating in a warm hazy sea.

But the ray of light he was laying in had other ideas. It pried his eyelids open, shining brightly on his eyes, sending a signal to his brain that it was time to get up. With a grumble, the armsmaster sat up, quite unhappy about his waking, but resigned to it. He blinked fuzzy eyes, Mona was gone. He had to get up.

Sliding from beneath the covers, Kenyon wandered into the other room, nothing more than a glorified closet. He was pulling a clean (and unwrinkled) tunic over his head when a knock sounded. He grabbed his sharkskin belt and went through the bedroom to the common room of their suite. “Who’s there?” He asked, looking over at the corner, where Mona sat, enjoying a breakfast tray that had been brought up. “What’s the plan today, Mo?”

[Prankster101]

Mona smiled to herself. Kenyon had curled into a ball upon the bed, drifting between a light sleep and being awake. Being as quiet as she could, Mona slipped past Kenyon and into the common like area of their bedroom.

Opening the door to their room, Mona saw two breakfast trays placed outside. Smiling to herself, Mona picked up the two trays and closed the door with her footpaw. The cooks were always very considerate. They know that Mona and Kenyon liked to start the morning at different times then most otters at the Castle, so they always provided a hot meal at their door when ever Mona and Kenyon wanted to have it.

Placing the two trays on the small table on the sitting area, Mona sat down and began to eat one of the warm bowls of oatmeal with warm bisects and some cool cider.

A knock interrupted Mona as she took another bite of breakfast, and as she stood up to get the door, Kenyon walked into the room.

“Who’s there? What’s the plan today, Mo?”

Mo smiled. "I don't know? Why don't you sit down, have a bite to eat and we'll found out shortly when I open the door."

Walking over to the door Mona opened it to find a otter standing at the door. Dakango, the knocker and a Castle messenger, stood loosely at attention, sweet dripping off his brow and making his uniform clung to his chest in several damp patches.

"Marm? Is this a bad time?"

"Oh no! Come in and have a drink we are just having breakfast." Dakango nodded and came inside. Only by Mona's persisting did he sit down and help himself to the pitcher of cider provided in the breakfast. "Now," Mona said as she pulled up another chair and sat down. "What is so urgent that you had to run all the way here Dakango this early in the morning?"

Dakango took a long gulp of the cider then began to explain his mission. "I had been staying in a little fishing village on the Eastern Coast of the Isle for the night as I was late getting back from an assignment. It's not too far from here, but I had to run fast. For just a little while ago I was woken from bed. Apparently part of the cliff next to the village is about to break off into the sea! They don't know what to do! The villagers don't want anybeast neer it when it falls and they defiantly don't want the cracks to get any bigger. So they sent me to go get you Marm. They figure you will know what to do."

Mona sat back in the chair a pensive look on her face. "I'd need to go see the damage this crack is causing and how far it is inland to know exactly what to do. Can you lead us back to the village Dakango?" Mona asked as she stood up and grabbed her traveling cloak.

"Aye Marm and sir." Turning to Kenyon.

"Good." Mona said, straightening her skit. She followed Dakango out of the room, stopping at the door. "You coming Kenyon?" She asked with a smile. And with that she walked swiftly out the door, her cloak billowing behind her urgent strides.

____________________________________________________

The Little Fishing Village was a peaceful place. Not one tribe of otters lived there, but small families from many tribes lived in harmony, living off the sea's abundant gifts of fish and crustaceans. It was cozy village with one main road and multiple houses along the street, all with the aromatic sent of cooked or raw fish.

As the sun rose in the East, the light turned the dusty road a rusted red and the wooden houses the same. A rather homely sight, but Mona wasn't to concerned about scenery at the moment.

Kenyon; Dakango; Benvolio Streambattle, the elder elected to be the leader of the little village; and a small procession of curious otters followed Mona down the main street toward the cliff. Many of the villagers were proud to see the High Queen Rhulain at their home, but they were also very anxious. What was she going to do about the cliff? Mona herself wasn't exactly sure what she was going to do, but she had to do something.The little village wasn't built directly on the cliff, but it was a good stone's throw at the very end of the road. And if part of it broke, it could cause a serious hazard to the villagers.

After walking for most of the morning, Mona was relieved when the gray furred otter called Benvolio pointed toward a jutting edge of the cliff, about 20 paces from where the company stood. "There." He said with a scratch voice, worn form age. "The cracks reach a good 3 rudder lengths from the point."

"Thank you Mr. Streambattle. We'll check it out." Mona replied as Benvolio bowed and took a step back. Looking toward the point, Mona could see where parts of the gray stone jutted up from the short grasses beneath her paws.

Wanting to get a closer look, Mona inched her way toward the outer edges of the apparent cracks. He movement was slow and cautious as she got closer and closer to the cracks. Mona didn't want the sudden addition of her weight to cause the rock to collapse.

Oblivious to any talk headed her way, Mona bent down toward the cracks. The rock was broken, that was for sure, but how deep? and why were the cracks there? Looking closer at the cracks, Mona could see that the cracks, although deeper at the edge seemed to come together at one point. A tree. A very old, dwarf tree that sat no more than 10 fairly sized paces from the edge. The very tree Mona happened to be under!!

Mona voiced her thoughts aloud. "This tree is dead, looks like is has been dead for a while. To me it seems that the tree's roots have finally given out. But because the tree was so close to the edge, the roots grew into the rock. So when the roots died, the rock had no more support, the rocks fell back to where they original where before the roots grew into them. But that means..." Mona trailed off as she pointed the direction of the roots, and noticed that the front edge of the group stood close to the cracks in the rocks!

Mona's eyes grew wide! If that many creatures applied that much weight upon the cracks, this whole chunk of the cliff could go crashing into the sea! Mona stood up, spreading her paws wide. "Every beast needs to back up now! Yer getting too close! The cliff could.." But Mona was interrupted by a loud grown. Turning slowly around, Mona watched the old tree sway dangerously in the wind. "Oh, no.." she whispered.

Time practically stopped as Mona felt the ground beneath her loosen and begin to fall. The tree and the cracked ground was crumbling down toward the sea, and Mona with it! Mona didn't know what to do. This falling sensation didn't seem real. But she had to do something, the water was getting closer and those rocks down there looked very sharp.

Unsure of what she was doing flung out an arm, hoping to grab something, something that would catch her from falling. But she caught nothing, her paw only grazed off the rocky cliff side. She was doomed! Mona's gut seemed to rise into her chest as she closed her eyes. She was going to DIE!

However, it seemed that fate was being kind to Mona today. Either that or her Mother and Father were truly watching over her. For Mona didn't fall and hit the water, instead she landed on a small jutting of rock on the cliff face. A piece of rock only big enough to catch Mona, and nothing else.

"Aaaaggghhhhh!" Mona cried as she hit the rock slab. For as she landed, she broke the fall with her right footpaw. Mona felt the paw flatten under her weight.

Opening her eyes again Mona saw the last of the falling rocks crash into the sea and shatter upon the jagged rocks. Swallowing the little saliva left in her mouth, Mona found the edges of the rock slab she was on and gingerly sat up. The slab was extremely small, not giving Mona much room to maneuver, or even stand up for that matter. Of course, her paw wasn't much in the mood for standing anyways. It was swollen and painful to look at. It was defiantly sprained, if not broken. Looking up, Mona guessed the platform was a good 5 rudderlenghts down from the top of the cliff.

Mona strained to hear voices from above over the roaring of the surf below. Where they all still up there? From what it looked like down below, only Mona's part of the cliff collapsed. Was everybeast else alright? Was Kenyon alright?

Mona was about to cry out when she heard a small crack. Slowly looking down again, Mona could instantly see where the slab she sat on was starting to break away from the cliff side. She wasn't going to be sitting here much longer! She thought to herself.

Calling upon every strength in her body, Mona shouted up to the top of the cliff, hoping that she would be heard over the waves. Because she needed help, and fast! "WILDLOUGH!!! IS ANYBEAST STILL UP THERE? HELP!!!! KENYON!!! WILDLOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!"

[Kenyon]

The wind was strong as they reached the concerning cliffside. Kenyon looked out to sea. “Good day for sailing.” He commented to his neighbor.

"Thank you Mr. Streambattle. We'll check it out."

“Mona…” He cautioned, “that cliff isn’t stable, stay away from it.” But Mona, High Queen Rhulain, was stubborn. She continued on, cautiously, to be sure, but still moving. “Anyone bring a rope?” Someone had, and they tied it to a boulder. Kenyon grabbed it, muttering about stubborn queens and what would he tell the clan back at Summerdell if she fell down the cliff. There were specialized otters for just an occasion like this, all she really needed to do was acknowledge the problem. But no, she had to walk out on an unstable cliff.

"Every beast needs to back up now! Yer getting too close! The cliff could.."

Kenyon, who had been moving slowly and watching his step, whirled to look behind him. “Everybeast get back!” He snapped, feeling the shudder under his footpaws as the wind picked up. He turned back and lunged for his wife as a look of horror came over her face and she began to fall.

He couldn’t reach her! His fingers grasped at air, Mona was gone.

For a moment he lay there on his belly, uncomprehending. She couldn’t be gone! His jaw firmed, he wouldn’t allow it. “Get me more rope! I’m going down!” Waiting was inscrutable, but finally they had more rope tied on.

"WILDLOUGH!!! IS ANYBEAST STILL UP THERE? HELP!!!! KENYON!!! WILDLOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!"

Hardly able to believe it, Kenyon peered over the cliff edge. She was there! “MONAA!” He called, the first time he’d said anything but an order. “WIIIIILLDDLOOOOUUGHH!” He tugged at the rope, reassuring himself that it was secure, and started over the ragged edges of the cliff.

Nothing was more of a relief to the big otter than when he approached Mona and saw she was all right. But the rock under her wasn’t. Clinging to the rock face, he looked to be sure there was slack in the line tied around his waist. He braced his rudder against the cliff, then pushed off with all five limbs, opening his arms wide. “Mona, jump!”

[Prankster101]

“MONAA!” He called, the first time he’d said anything but an order. “WIIIIILLDDLOOOOUUGHH!”

Relief flooded Mona's frightened body as she looked up and saw Kenyon's mahogany fur and green eyes looking down at her as he yelled down to her. Kenyon was fine! He would help her! Kenyon would rescue her!

But when Kenyon disappeared from sight, Mona's mind focused once more upon her deadly position. The crack in her slab was getting larger. Mona knew it wouldn't hold much longer. She was also coated in dust from the crumbling rocks during the fall, had minor cuts and scrapes all over, and her ankle was in extreme pain. Mona knew her chances of getting out of this were slimming the longer she stayed.

Gripping the rock wall next to her with her cut paws in an effort to hold the slab together, only one thing echoed through Mona's mind. If only she could be with Kenyon and Danju one last time. Maybe a hug or a kiss, or even the brief exchange of a simple smile. Then she would be more prepared for the worst scenario.

Yes, if she could have that, then she would be OK with whatever happened. But she hasn't been able to do that. She could be with Kenyon all she wanted, but Danju. Her last wish wouldn't be complete without him. Mona needed to stay alive! For Kenyon and for Danju!

Upon hearing a noise above her, Mona looked up and saw Kenyon scaling the cliff-side with a rope tied about his waist. Mona smiled as best as she could, but it didn't stay for long as she had to grip the rock wall harder as the crack had now become about a paw length wide.

By the time Kenyon got down to almost her level, Mona's left footpaw was the only thing keeping the slab attached to the cliff. Mona was forced to stand, holding on to the rock face for support, for if she put any pressure on her right footpaw, pain lanced through her entire leg.

Looking over at him, Mona watched Kenyon push off from the cliff, arms open.

“Mona, jump!”

Mona braced herself against the cliff as she prepared to jump, keeping her eyes locked on her mate. For she knew that if she even looked down once she you doubt her ability to make to him and Mona couldn't have that happen! She had no doubt that Kenyon could catch her, but if she doubted herself, she would defiantly fall.

"Agh!" With a short cry of pain and a loud crack of stone. Mona jumped to Kenyon as the stone slab fell with a sickening sploosh into the waters bellow.

Mona felt the wind whistle through he fur as she lept through the air. She had to make it, she had too.

With a light bump and small jolts of pain, Mona landed in Kenyon's strong arms, causing the rope to jerk in response to the extra weight.

Clutching Kenyon tightly, Mona was barely able to whisper,"Don't let go Kenyon. Please don't let go..." Her body shook with tiny tremors as she held on to his iron strong frame, out of both fear and shock. She closed he eyes and buried her face in his chest trying to hold back the tears. Mona just wanted to be off this accursed cliff side!

[Kenyon]

She jumped. Kenyon hoped this would work, he didn’t know if he could live without his Mona. She slammed into him, he felt the rope stretch as the extra weight was added, but it would hold. He wrapped his arms tightly around Mo, clutching her to him.

“Don't let go Kenyon. Please don't let go..."

“I won’t, I won’t…” He whispered soothingly. A face appeared above them, it swiftly retracted and they started moving. Kenyon gathered her to her with one strong arm, holding onto the rope with his other and using his feet to keep them from scraping against the cliff. He continued to murmur to Mona soothingly.

Soon they were at the top, willing paws helped them over. Everyone then scrambled away from the cliff, back onto firm ground. Sitting, Kenyon ran a paw through damp forehead fur and smiled. “I wouldn’t want to do that again.”

[Prankster101]

“I won’t, I won’t…” He whispered soothingly.

Mona's body trembled with shock and fear as she clutched Kenyon tightly. To her joy he held back. In his strong embrace, Mona was sure that she was safe.

As they slowly started moving back up the cliff, Kenyon switched his grip on her to one arm and the other held on to the rope as his footpaws walked up the cliff. They were going to be OK, Mona had to keep repeating to herself as the harsh sounds of the sea floor began to lessen in her hears. All the meanwhile, Kenyon murmured to Mona soothingly. It was going to be OK, he wasn't going to ever let go.

As they reached the top, Mona felt many paws help them over the ridge and onto the firm ground again. Still trembling and sweating, Mona sat down clutching her left knee to her chest as her right footpad hurt too much to move.

Sitting, Kenyon ran a paw through damp forehead fur and smiled. “I wouldn’t want to do that again.”

Mona couldn't find a voice. She only nodded in agreement, tears streaking down her face. The shock of the event was now taking it's toll. Mona felt tired, queasy, scared, and her footpaw burned. She was covered in rock dust and bleeding scrapes and she just wanted to go home....