My feet couldn't reach the ground. I would have to kick my legs wildly, splutter and cough water out of my system. It was hard enough to stay afloat. Sometimes, I couldn't keep my head above the water and sank down under, swallowing mouthfuls of water and stinging my eyes until they red like a demon's. I made slow progress.

Then, the big currents came.

It was horrible. The eddies would grab me with their mighty fists and throw me to places I didn't want to go. I picked up more bruises than I have ever picked up in my whole lifetime by smashing into the ground and greeting rocks with random parts of my body. Sometimes, the currents would pick me up and spin in never ending circles. They would make me feel sick, nauseous and dizzy. I hate you, currents. You mischievous, cold hearted, play-boy currents. I hate you. Rage flung up inside me. I couldn't hold it in and I kicked the muddy lake bed. My head sudden popped up above the surface. A second later, a monster wave swallowed me in, and a current dragged me down. The floor suddenly appeared too close, and I hit it head on.

The world turned black.

An endless black, for miles this way and that. No sound, no smell, no taste, just blackness. It felt dark and heavy. I struggled to my feet. Where...am I? I swung my head around. There was nothing in sight. A depressing thought drifted closer, but I pushed it away. Well, wherever I am, there's no point standing around, is there? I picked a direction and started walking. My footsteps sounded muffled and incomprehensible. Like I'm at the bottom of the ocean. I want to get out of here. I continued walking slowly, no idea where I'm going.

I walked for minutes, hours even. Down a path of no feelings, no emotions, no sights or sounds. I didn't even realize that some sounds were starting to materialize.
"Lo........here..hat..appen...him.....strea......it"
I listen.
"Is....al..right.....can...help....he..so...upid"
"No! It's all my fault!"
I stopped in my tracks. Was that...Tuftyfur? I spun around, trying to find the source of the sound. "Tuftyfur! Are you there?!" I yell, frantically. I start running wildly. "Tuftyfur! Where are you!"

"You'll never find him."

The words cut through me like a blade. I knew the truth. After all, the signs were clear. However, I didn't accept the truth. I never did, and I never will. I took the long way around. I raised my head proudly.
"Who are you? Why are you here? Can I see you?" My voice rang out in the darkness. A chuckle followed.
"All right. I'll answer your questions, stubborn wildebeest." the mysterious voice replied. The space in front of me started to shimmer, and something started to form in front of me. Something wet. Something large. Something blue. Two golden eyes opened from the large yet delicate body of a sea serpent.
"Hello Hornstreak. My name is Seafoa, one of the great Mother Nature's daughters. I am the guardian of all lakes, and today, you died in this one."

"I don't believe that."
"Don't believe what?" Seafoa asked, her golden eyes narrowing into a frown.
"I don't believe I'm dead." I lunge at Seafoa's underbelly, my teeth biting, my horns stabbing and my hooves kicking. This didnt seem to affect Seafoa, since she merely flicked her powerful tail and sent me flying.
"You ignorant beast! Don't you know how powerful us guardians are?" She hissed. Seafoa leaned closer.
"How much do you know? It can't be much." Her eyes glinted. "After all, you didn't know that Predator Island doesn't let anyone get away." Seafoa remarked gleefully. She flicked her tail. "Now Tuftyfur has to live in guilt because you wouldn't listen to him. She smiled evilly. I grimaced. Poor Tuftyfur. He was never as strtong as me. Seafoa came me. "It's even worse that Tuftyfur's great grandfather died in this very spot." Pangs of guilt sliced through my heart. "Tuftyfur's...great grandfather...died in this very spot?"
"Yes. Chief Sturdyhorn was killed exactly where you died."
"I still don't believe I'm dead.". Seafoa hissed angrily. She swished her tail, and a midnight blue scroll with blood red writing appeared. On it's cover was; The Time, Details and Place of Those Who Died in Lakes. Trusted to Guardian Seafoa. Seafoa opened the scroll. On the top said; Hornstreak Sturdy, Son of Windstreak Sturdy and Hornwield Sturdy, died at 5:46pm in Predator Island lake. "You're 100% dead. Now believe it. I don't have time to play around any longer." She said, annoyed. I shattered inside. I'm so young...why do I have to die now!?! "But, but, I haven't done my before-death activity yet! I was suppose to eat a macadamia nut for my before-death activity!" I shouted anxiously. Seafoa sighed. She whipped my forehead.
"Ow! That hurts! Why did you do that for!"
"Look, boy. The world isn't fair. You don't know when you're die. You don't know when something bad is going to happen to you. Many animals miss their before-death activity."
"So, I really am dead?" I say softly.
"Yes. It's time you to go to your after life." Seafoa replies. Inhaling a deep breath, Seafoa blew out a spiral of warm, sparkling purple mist. "Enter." She commanded. With my eyes closed, I stepped forward and let the purple mist whisk me away.