Sadie cried and screamed for him again.
“Daddy!!!”
Myka was lifted into the air, his hands clawed at the root, desperately trying to tear it away from his throat.
Sadie wanted to go back and help him, but she didn’t know what she could do. Tears streamed down her face as she watched him struggle to get free.
Then a sudden movement caught her eye, something in the trees. It dashed forward and severed the root that held Myka in the air. He fell to the ground, coughing and pulling the remains of the root from his throat.
“G.o… Sad..ie!” he shouted through coughs and gasps for air.
Behind him, Ashleigh stood in a defensive stance, prepared to protect him from any other attack.
Sadie smiled and took a relieved breath before turning around and crawling back through the bushes toward the lake.
Myka got to his feet, still panting but recovered enough to fight.
“Thanks,” he said.
“Glad I made it in time,” Ashleigh replied.
“Me too.”