Rowan and the River Walnut

Rowan flattened her wings as she perched upon a round walnut as it barreled down the river. She squinted her eyes against the spray of the water, gripping the slickened shell to keep herself from flying off.

She glanced to the side, looking for Rhys, but he was nowhere to be found. Rowan smiled. She was in the lead. She looked back ahead and cried out when a great rock loomed before her. Rowan took flight, and the little walnut bounced off the rock before sinking into the rushing water.

Laughter floated up from the river. Rhys peered up as he sniggered at her, still crouched upon his own shell as he rushed along the water. Rowan frowned, and then flew down in a dive and knocked him off.

“Hey!” Rhys said, the tips of his wings dipping into the water before he managed to take flight. His walnut floated along without him until it disappeared from sight. He punched Rowan in the arm. “Cheater!”

Rowan suppressed a smug grin and punched him back. “There was a rock! Race starts over when there are rocks.”

“Says who?”

“Says everyone. Everyone knows this.”

“Do not, you just made it up.”

Rowan grinned. “Well, then, it’s a rule now.”

Rhys quirked his mouth to the side. “I get it, you can’t beat me without making up new rules. That’s fine, it’ll make my victory all the sweeter.”

Rowan hunkered down and scowled at him. “We’ll see about that.” She darted away from the river and hoisted a walnut up from the ground. Then she returned and poised herself near the water’s edge. “Ready…?”

Rhys also grabbed a new walnut and joined her next the riverbank. “Ready.”

Rowan suppressed a giggle. “Go!” she cried, and flung herself and the walnut towards the water.