Part 2
The world was black. And cold. So very cold.
The chipmunk felt himself sinking into the darkness, sinking and tumbling. Something struck him, or he struck it. He wasn't sure in this new world of liquid night.
Bobbing along in space, he was unsure whether he was up or down, or if up and down even existed here. And his chest ached. Why did it ache? And why was it so dark here?
His right leg still hurt from striking the branch. The branch! Oh, stars, he had been caught in a flood, and now he was here in the Next Place, the Great Beyond. But it was so dark and cold, and he kept bumping into things. There! There was a flash of light. And over there!
What was happening? His eyes opened. He wasn't in total darkness after all. Oh, his throat was sore. Stars in the sky! He was underwater and alive!
The chipmunk kicked feebly at first, then with strength as patches of blurry light surrounded him. He must get to the surface. He must get air!
Kicking and thrashing toward the brightest light, he rose through the water. He felt it pulling him along and tugging him deeper, but he fought with every ounce of strength he possessed. Something grazed his hindpaws, and he found his footing. He pushed off from the gravel and rocketed toward the light. In a great burst, he exploded from the water, sucking in air. He went under again, but his paws found the gravel bar once more, and he pushed himself to the surface. The current wasn't as strong here, and he swam to land as best he could.
At last, he reached what part of the gravel bar hadn't been washed away and pulled himself ashore. Soaking wet and exhausted, he looked upstream. He was on the other side of the waterfall, and he had survived...
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