I was too weak and cold to swim. I tried to keep my head above water but I could feel myself sinking lower and lower. I tried to look for Ethan but I couldn’t see him. He had gone.
A strange beast was speeding through the water. It was coming right at me. The beast had bright green eyes. It opened its mouth and I saw its white teeth. I thought about the horror stories of Sea Wolf.
It opened its mouth wider. Its head grew bigger and stranger as it came closer. I tried to scream but my mouth filled with cold sea water.
I closed my eyes and felt the monster sink its teeth into my sleeve. Then, my body was pulled, higher and higher until my head was out of the water. The monster dragged me, on and on through the wild water. I suddenly felt myself being pulled out.
When I opened my eyes I was lying on the deck of a small boat. A huge black beast was standing above me.
A man said, “Well done, Blue. Clever girl!” He turned to me. “Are you OK?” he said, “does it hurt anywhere?”
“I’m fine,” I said and looked up. Ethan was sitting, wrapped up in a blanket. The beast walked over to him and sat down.
“Maya,” Ethan cried. “Is she going to be alright?” he asked the man.
“She’ll be fine,” said the man, “She’s safe now.”
I breathed in the cold sea air. I was alive. Ethan was alive. I felt a wave of happiness wash over me.
Tears rolled down Ethan’s cheeks. “Maya, we made it,” he said.
I sat up and saw that the beast was a huge, shaggy black dog.
It was wet and pools of water were dripping onto the deck of the boat. It had bright green eyes. It looked like a wonderful, wet, cuddly bear.
“Hello Maya. I’m Adam, from the coastguard. And this is our brave Blue,” said the man. He pointed at the dog. “You are lucky kids. Blue saved you both. Now we must get you back to dry land. Your mum will be worried sick. The doctor is waiting to check you are OK. Then we need to get you home.”
Blue bent down and licked my cheek and I reached up and hugged her and then Ethan.
I cried all the way home but not because I was sad. That day was the happiest day of my life. After that, things changed for me and Ethan. We were not just brother and sister; we were best friends too.
Ethan’s happier now. Adam lets him help at the rescue hub. I don’t think he misses Dad quite as much as he did. And me? I help to take good care of Blue.
She is the most amazing rescue dog in the whole world and Ethan is the most amazing brother.