` ✦ ° — THE RAINS DOWN IN AFRICA / DROWNING

[FRANKIE]

[align=center][div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 60%; text-align: justify;"]Frankie had not been in the area for long. The harsh winds and the pounding rainfall had been enough to coax the young feline into a temporary shelter, but unfortunately, her cover did not last long. The rains progressed, and eventually a wave had raged down her path and had swept her into its clutches.

Torrents of mud tossed her around like a ragdoll, and she had barely managed to resurface. Parted jaws expelled a desperate cry, "Help!" Was Frankie usually one to seek the assistance of other? No, of course not. She was independent and determined to prove to the world ( but mostly herself ) that she didn't need anybody else. However, this was a different situation. Her life was at stake, and there was no way that the girl could possibly help herself — she didn't know how to swim.

The Japanese Bobtail had managed to latch onto a tree-branch jutting out of the river of mud and debris, and as she hoisted herself to safety, she parted her jaws, "H-Help...!" This time, it was a more weakened call, seeing as fatigue and the freezing chill of the flood waters was numbing her down to the bone. Frankie wheezed and hacked up the water that had gotten lodged in her lungs and throat, her eyes half-lidded, and she nearly had let go of the branch she was hanging onto.