Thread: Life's Journey (The_Gladiator & darkangel76)

The boat seemed to move faster along the water's surface as it coursed along, the waves only getting rougher with each passing moment. Rhonwhyn's tummy fluttered as the boat jostled and jolted, her tiny body bumping about as she held on both to it and to Brandon for steadiness. But it was to no avail. She could feel herself tipping slightly one way or another depending on how the boat moved and swayed, unused to such movements and definitely due to not being able to see the path of the river that laid ahead of them both. Rhonwhyn had all she could do not to shout out in fear as the panic tried to consume and overwhelm her senses. A few times tiny gasps and stifled screams did manage to escape, but nothing that should cause alarm, especially with how loud the water's once babbling, now thundering, sounds rushed about the boat as it continued to glide over the whitening waves. In truth, Rhonwhyn just wanted to hide, to somehow make the boat stop and all the frightening things around both herself and Brandon to dissipate into a soothing mist. She knew it was a foolish wish, just as she knew it was foolish to turn around and throw herself, sobbing, into Brandon's arms for a comforting hug. He wasn't Torth... he... For a fleeting moment, Rhonwhyn thought about her previous guardian and how she'd been told that he'd betrayed her. Had he? If she allowed her mind to go calm despite the chaos, she had to admit, that it was the only explanation that truly made any sense. But, to believe that such a reputable man could be capable of such atrocity, such betrayal, such... Once again, Rhonwhyn's eyes began to well with tears and her hold on Brandon tightened. But her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when she felt his hot breath against her ear, whispering words that she knew very well might save her life, words that sent chills along her spine. In the darkness, Rhonwhyn dared to let go of the boat's edge while her other hand remained on Brandon's thigh and reached down for the broken oar. For what felt like several minutes, she allowed her hand to feel around the boat's floor until she found what she was seeking. Smiling, she slowly brought the oar up to her lap, letting it rest upon the tops of her thighs. As she let out a soft puff of air in relief, she turned around to look at Brandon, her platinum curls falling in front of her face ever so slightly as her head moved. She gave him a warm smile, one masking the fear she felt underneath though she knew he'd still see it, sense it, feel it. Just then, Rhonwhyn felt something tug her one arm off of Brandon's leg. It took her off guard completely, causing her to slip and fall onto her side. She reached for the oar that she'd almost totally dropped, bringing it about her body to swing at whatever it was that suddenly seemed to be grabbing at them. The oar connected with something hard and a loud thwack resonated in the air. She could feel her own body shaking from the strike, but at least whatever it was that had held onto her let go. Though, as it let go something else grabbed at her now exposed ankle. Rhonwhyn began to panic, whimpers turning into cries as the tug on her ankle caused her to be pulled to one side of the boat. Brandon! she finally shouted out, her voice not too loud, but loud enough. One hand reached for the man while the other tried to swing at whatever it was that was grabbing at her with the broken oar.