His last thoughts were of betrayal as water and mud replaced every bit of air he had left in his lungs. He had bit back and struggled but his malnourished form was no match for the armored beast he had been pit against. He knew he was screaming but the deeper he had went the quieter it had become.

Quieter and quieter, and then Eel took a deep breath as his head come up out of the water. The confused wolf howled in anguish as he tried to pull himself out of the water before the creature come back. He climbed up the intricately stacked stones, and steadied himself with wobbly legs on dry ground. Once he caught his breath he realized something; everything was quiet again.

He couldn't remember where he had been drowning before, but it certainly wasn't here. It was much too peaceful. Eel's head tilted as he approached the calm waters. There was no hungry white beast in sight. This left him very confused. Surely, he hadn't imagined all of that. And what happened before any of that? Surely, there was more. Eel growled frustrated and used on back leg to kick at his freshly scared face. This couldn't be real, but he also couldn't see himself imagining a place so calm. The beast snarled again with wide stormy eyes and let loose another wailing cry of frustration.

Why couldn't he remember? What was after him?

He could still feel it chasing him. He still felt the need to escape, and the need to keep his eyes everywhere. He still felt the knife of betrayal in his back. Yet there was nothing even to defend himself from anymore. It was just him, and the buzzing of dragonflies in this quiet sanctuary.