Colours in Shadows: Book 1 Flooding and Fury

Chapter 19

Sapphire watched as Tide suddenly collapsed and skidded across the ground before coming to a stop.
"Tide!" she exclaimed. She ran over to him and when she reached him, it was obvious something was very wrong. His fur was now a grey-blue colour and it looked damp, as if he was sweating. He looked so much worse than he had before. His breathing was quick and it wasn't normal. "Tide! What's wrong?" she meowed, her voice quivering as if it were cold outside. He didn't respond and her heart began to race.
The next thing she knew, Misty and Branch were standing on either side of her. She moved aside to allow Branch to pass her. She knew that if he touched her, he would end up hurt so she let him stand in her place.
She watched in horror as Branch placed a paw on Tide's forehead. "He's burning up." he meowed, "Misty, create a breeze! We must try and get his temperature down." he ordered.
Sapphire looked over and watched Misty move her paws. In an instant, a cool breeze flew over them.
"We have to move him to the shade. It will be much cooler there." Sapphire watched Branch grab Tide's scruff as he tried to drag him into the shade of a nearby tree. She wanted to help so she grabbed Tide's scruff. Suddenly, she heard a sizzle and quickly backed up. 'Did I just hurt him more?' she wondered. Almost as if he had read her mind, Branch checked his fur. "There are no burns." he said. She stood nearby, wondering what she could do to help. "Misty, keep sending a breeze. I will do what I can to help. Sapphire... just... be here for support." Branch said.
'Is that all? I have nothing to do to help?' she thought, flatting her ears, sadly. Well, they were right, she is fire and Tide was clearly dehydrated. She might end up making him worse. She kept her distance from them. She watched as Branch kept checking Tide's temperature and Misty continued to cool him with the breeze she had created.
Tide was definitely not okay. He kept waking up and then falling right back to sleep. It was almost like he wasn't there at all. There was no change in the colour of his fur from the time that she first watched him fall. She laid her head down, wishing she could help. She closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of the forest. Suddenly, her ear twitched. She could hear an all too familiar sound...

'Water? Water! That's it!!'

She lifted her head and looked around quickly. She dashed off into the forest, hoping not to be seen. She followed the sound of rushing water through the trees until she reached a small, rushing river. 'Perfect! But how am I supposed to get him here? Maybe I can carry him... but I would hurt him! I'm the fire element. I have to risk it! He needs help... and fast!'
She sprinted through the forest as fast as a badger, her feet slamming into the ground. She ran over to Tide's side, grabbing his scruff and lifting him. She pulled him across the ground.
"AHH!" Tide meowed in surprise. He tried to fight back but was so tired and weak, he gave up. The fact that he gave up only made Sapphire worry more.
"What are you doing?" Branch asked.
"There's a stream just near here. I am taking him there... the water might help him." Sapphire meowed, continuing to drag Tide.
"But-"
"She's right." Misty interrupted, "Tide is the water element. He needs to be in water to heal!"
"That's why I'm taking him there!" Sapphire repeated, annoyed. She rolled her eyes in frustration. It felt like no one was even listening to her.
"But Sapphire... you know you'll get hurt. It's water! Isn't water your enemy? Can't it hurt you?" Branch asked, concerned.
She stopped and let go of Tide's scruff, gently laying him down and then spoke, "I will be careful. And water may be my enemy but watching someone that's sick only get worse is my worst enemy. I am helping him, just as he helped me when I was in trouble." she meowed, matter of factly. "I am doing this with or without you. So are you in or not?" Sapphire grabbed onto Tide's scruff again and began dragging him slowly and carefully across the ground.
"I'll help. He needs us!" Branch meowed, walking over to help Sapphire move him.
They both worked together and Misty fell close behind, still sending a breeze throughout the forest to try and cool Tide.
The river was just up ahead. Suddenly, Tide moved and started trying to make his way to his paws.
"Tide! Don't stand... you're not well!" Sapphire exclaimed, still trying to hold onto him. He fought against it and continued to try and get up. Branch tried to hold onto him as well but ended up falling over. He quickly got his footing and rose back to his paws.
Finally, Tide managed to stand. His legs began to shake and it wasn't long before he fell back on the ground. He skidded a little. Sapphire grabbed him again and continued to move him.
'He has to get to the river, that's the only way to help him.'