Over the Edge

Ah, it's the middle of summer--only so many more weeks before some of us have to head back to school. Most of us are crazy kids who are dying to do something thrilling and worth talking about before heading back to school. I mean, like anyone wants to hear a summer vacation spent sitting around like a bump on the log. Instead we want something a bit "over the top" perhaps. Recently, I've been talking to good friends of mine about their experiences cliff diving this summer. Everyone knows that amazing rush and thrill cliff diving brings. But that's not to say it's completely painless. My friends told me how they witnessed maga wedgies and bruises from the impact, but despite the pain they say it's totally worth it.
Oh, the crazy things we humans do. Taking this in a non-human perspective and we might as well be mad. At least that's what Daisy and Ivy think before they unwillingly go over the edge of a cliff. But their experience is far from what is expected. Here's a sneak peek of a part in Chapter 12 Leap. You might want to hold on tight--it's a real "cliff hanger."

"Oh, c'mon, Daisy, it's an ocean. Nothin' but very big water, an' unless there's some beach down there that goes for miles, I don't see any way aroun' it except goin' left. An' even if there is some beach down there, how would we get t' it, jump?"

I finally took my eyes off the ocean to look at Ivy with a huge grin stretched across my face.

"What?"
I said nothing. My eyes flickered to him and back to the ocean as I continued to grin.
"Why are ya--Oh, no, there is no way I'm gonna jump."
My grin began to slip. "Aw, why not?"
"Uh, yeah, I'm not sure if ya noticed, but we're kinda on a cliff!"
"I know, but you haven't seen me jump the way I did with the baboons were trying to kill me. Besides, I'll make sure my tail catches us, just in case."
"Oh, sure, Daisy, let's do what the humans do. I bet it's a lot safer," Ivy said sarcastically.
"Ivy, c'mon I promise everything will be just fine."
"I'm sure that's what the last human said b'fore they went splat like a bug!"
"Ivy, I'm ninety-nine point nine nine percent sure this is the way to get to this place. Why else would my spotted map tell me to go this way?"
"Daisy, if this spotted map of yer's told ya t' jump off a cliff, would ya do it?"
I wasn't sure if this was a rhetorical question. "Well, yeah."
"Daisy, it's suicide."
"Don't you think you're overreacting, just a little?"
"No."
"Ivy, I can feel it. It's telling me to go that way."
"Well, I'm tellin' ya t' go this way." He motioned his head to the left. "An' my way doesn't involve b'comin' some fish-flake feline fillet on an all-ya-can-eat barracuda buffet!"
"Okay, fine! Have it your way." I got up and began walking slowly with him. We were a little more than ten feet away from where we were. I turned back to look at the ocean. I wasn't going to give up this easy, even if this was Ivy I was dealing with. I felt like that obediant dog again. This time my master was pulling hard on my chain, drawing me toward the water. I felt as if someone were calling--no shouting--my name nonstop. I couldn't take it any more!
Ivy was totally oblivious to my behavior, but then, of course, he had no idea what was going on in my head.
"See," Ivy said in a voice almost as cheerful as Sadie's. "Isn't this a lot better than bein' close t' guppy gummies?"
I couldn't take it any more. The invisible chain tried to tug me back so hard I felt I was choking. Then there was the constant name calling that nearly gave me a splitting headache. It was so much that I was surprised my fur wasn't rippling as it had earlier. Suddenly, I no longer felt like Daisy. It was as if my instincts had completely taken over. "No," I replied simply, then pulled Ivy onto my back before he could even seen it coming. It was as if I were in a trance. My instincts completely took over. I wasn't fully aware of what was going on except that I was running.
It wasn't until I heard Ivy shout, "Are you crazy!?" that I became fully aware of what was about to happen.
I couldn't believe it, I was actually going to jump. I was going too fast, and it was too late to stop. Ivy and I were going over the edge, no matter what.
What was I thinking!? Oh, yeah. I wasn't.
This was it. Ivy and I were going to end up like the humans. I closed my eyes and braced myself for a life-flashing, splattering death that awaited us. I wasn't sure how long I had to say my prayers, or any last words. I knew the only thing I could do now was jump.
My eyes were still tightly shut as I leaped off the cliff. I only hoped my tail would act as a rope again, saving us both. I was too afraid to look. I prepared to hit the water, prepared for death. I knew not even my tail could save us now.
I was ready to hit the water any second, but I felt nothing except Ivy on my back. I didn't even hear a splash. Everything was silent. Death was a lot quicker and painless than I could've imagined.
"How are you doing this!?" I heard Ivy's shocked voice say close to my ear.
I wondered how I could hear Ivy so clearly, and what exactly was happening. We're dead, aren't we?

To find out what happens to Daisy and Ivy and more check out DESTINY at http://www.leighmartinauthor.com/ or Google: Destiny by Leigh Martin.