STARDOM

Today was unlike any other day for Allister. Normally, he would be content to float in his lake and doze the hours away. But today, he decided to do something different. Namely, leaving his lake, swimming into the tributary stream that flowed out from it, and making his way into the larger river.

Finding himself in a calmer spot of the river, Allister absentmindedly swam wherever the river path led him, his tail swishing back and forth to slowly propel him along. He took in the sounds of the river sploshing around him, the birds chirping in the trees, and the sound of the nearby rapids, which he was approaching.

Yep, this was the life for him. Nothing could possibly ruin this day.

---

"You mean like this?" Crafty asked, slowly but surely backstroking across the water

"Yep! You're getting it!" DogDay yipped, doggy paddling beside her.

"Look at you go!" Kickin cheered as from his beach chair.

Crafty smiled back as she kept at it.

However, she may have gotten a bit carried away with it. One minute, she was being enjoying her swimming lessons with DogDay, the next she was pulled into the rapids. Her friend's yelps for her and her terrified screams for help were very quickly drowned out. Crafty was forced to hold her breath as the current jostled her about, slamming her against rocks and popping one of her arm floaties despite her best efforts.

With air quickly running out, Crafty found herself being pulled deeper into the abyss. Her despaired tears mixed with the surrounding water. She begged and prayed for any help, but hope felt farther and farther away with each passing second as dark spots began blotting her vision.

---

Back with Allister, he had just approached the end of the rapids, feeling and hearing the water frothing and roaring around him.

Just then, something bumped into his snout; something pointy and smelled like jasmine.

"OW!" He groaned, his eyes bursting open as he rubbing his snout. "What's the big idea-"

The words soon died in his throat when he saw what it was. Or rather, who. Crafty lay face down in the water with only one intact arm floaty.

"Crap..." He swore.

Wasting no time, the gator grabbed her by the and swam them both to the bank. He pulled himself and the unicorn's limp body onto shore and laid her on her back. Kneeling down, put an ear up against her chest; a faint,but present heartbeat, but her chest was still. Putting his hands over her sternum, proceeded with chest compression.

"Come on. Come on." He growled.

Seeing as that was doing next to nothing, he opted for the other option. Pinching her nose shot and parting her lips, Allister took a deep breath, muttered a quick apology, and pressed his mouth over hers, blowing as he did. Taking another deep breath, Allister blew slightly harder this time.

This seemed to do the trick as he felt water being expelled into his mouth. They both gagged for very different reasons. After spitting the backwash out, Allister loomed over Crafty as she coughed and wheezed. Once her breathing evened out, her eyes fluttered open. And the first thing she saw was his worried frown.

"Hey." He greeted. "You... uh... You good?"

The two simply sat there and stared at each other, unsure of what to do next. Allister was about to open his mouth when Crafty's arms wrapped around his waist, tears of relief cascading down her cheeks.

"Thank you..." She sobbed. "Thank you."

"N-no prob." Allister replied, trying to maintain his nonchalant tone as a blush spread across his cheeks.