The Little Neko (girlxgirl)

Chapter 12

Rylie's pov 

The lunch went by too fast for my liking. The feeling of fitting in, eating surrounded by people like me, it was something I've never experienced before.  While there, Jay explained to me that his father was chief, he also went over a lot of the rules and traditions.

Dakota explained the puzzle to me as we walked.  "We need you to be smart the same way that we are, able to get through a problem with what's around you."

I nod my head, glancing between her and where we are walking.  "So what is the puzzle then?"

"First I have to ask, how well can you swim." she says as we came to a open area. I looked ahead and gulped nervously. There was a river ahead of us, not too large but none to small either. I had a feeling I knew where this was going and I didn't like it.

"I- um, I cant swim." I admit nervously causing Dakota to grin. 

"Perfect. Your challenge is to use the items we have around us to cross the river." She pointed across and I noticed a small basket of something on the far side. "Fetch the basket of fruit and make it back. Try not to fall in, the current is stronger than it looks." she says. As if to prove her point she threw a large stick into the water and I watched as it was quickly swept away. 

Jay and Violet were already there, sitting comfortably in the shade while I stared at the glimmering water. Despite how clear it was, it was too deep for me to see the bottom towards the center. I knew I had a time limit because Dakota mentioned me having the get close to her time. 

"Are you ready little cat?" jay called in a playfully teasing tone. I glanced back at them and nodded, crossing a river for a life time of belonging, I can do this. 

"Start!" Dakota said and went back to sit with the others. 

I looked around for anything that can help me. I walked a bit further upstream to where the river was narrowest. I bit my lip and looked around, trees, more trees, some rocks... nothing there that would do much. I didn't have the time nor the knowledge to construct a raft. 

I noticed a small dead tree close to me and got an idea, admittedly not a very smart one. I ran over and gave it a test shove, seeing the tree bend under my weight. I smiled a bit and set my shoulder against it before pushing with all my strength. The tree groaned in protest as it started to lean but didn't break. I grunted in frustration and took a bit of a running start before trying again. This time I heard the bark start to crack. 

I continued to push, hearing the sound of snapping wood before the dead wood toppled over, still semi connected. Though not much, those few inches connecting the tree to its stump was enough to keep it from drifting down river. The tree stretched most  of the way across but I still had about six feet before it would reach the shore. 

There was no way I could jump that far without spilling fruit or breaking the thin ends of the tree. So I looked for anything to make a sort of bridge out of. 

"You got this Rylie!" violet cheered.

"Not at this pace she doesn't." Dakota scoffed at me. What did I ever do to that girl, I thought hybrids licked being together. That's it!

"Jay, hybrids are never alone. you told me that the rules say you must always keep at least one person with you at a time."

He nodded, seeming a bit confused on where I was going with this.

"So, Dakota can help me reach the shore because I wouldn't have to do this alone."

Violet giggles. "Well, its a loop hole but you never said she had to do it alone." she pushed Dakota towards me.

Dakota huffed. "Fine, cross the river and jump to shore. As you're trying to get back on ill take the fruit so you don't worry about spilling it." she gave m a smile that made me a bit nervous about this plan.

"Okay." I nodded, knowing I was running out of time. So, we made our way across the tree and I jumped  onto the shore. Well, not quite. I landed in about knee deep water but I stayed up in the current and made my way to the basket. I then waded back into the water until I was waist deep. I had to lodge my foot under a rock in the water to stay in place. Dakota laid down and took the basket from me. 

She then set it on the tree and reached for my hand. I smiled in thanks and took it as she pulled my closer to the tree. I kicked my legs in the water, trying to keep y head above the surface as it got too deep for me to stand. I was just about to grab onto the tree and haul myself out when Dakota gave me a devious smile. "oops." she whispered and let go of my hand. 

Immediately the current swept my body down stream. I tried to remember every time I had seen others swim, the motions they made. My head would bob under the water and I would fight my way back to the surface, gasp for air, and be pulled right back under. 

I could see violet and jay running along the shore and shouting something at me but I wasn't able to hear it over the sound of blood rushing in my ears. Suddenly, I wasn't moving. I opened by eyes, despite the burning pain from the water and saw my foot was stuck. I fought desperately to get the to surface but it held me back. My lungs started to burn and I tugged at my foot. The rocks moved a bit but didn't release me. I fought against the current and tried to push the rock aside. Blackness started to fil my vision and I felt hands wrap around me. Another pair of hands were prying the rock that was holding me off. 

The black dots fully took over my vision but I felt myself being pulled to the surface. I gasped for air only to feel as if something was blocking my lungs. As I was pulled to shore I coughed up murky looking water and pulled as much air as I could into my burning lungs.

Soon I was dropped onto the ground and heard someone beside me panting. I turned to see it was jay who had dragged me from the water. Violet was pulling herself to shore, she must have been the one that freed my foot.

"I think-" jay spoke between his panting, "I think that's enough for today."

"Mo." Dakota walked over. "No one gets a break when theyre in danger, she doesn't get a break from the trials. We continue them once she gets her breath and calms."

I was shivering as the cold air blew over my drenched body. "thank you." I mumbled to jay and violet. They nodded in reply. 

I saw Dakota glaring at me and I glared right back. she thinks I'm weak, she thinks ill go down easy. Ill prove her wrong. I'm a hybrid, and I, never going to give up. Even if it kills me.

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