The rabbit was soon eaten and the night's camp cleared of evidence. Running for the first time is days was a little hazardous, but I soon got used to being on the move for hours on end again.

"I could really do with some water," I panted trying to tip the last drop from my flagon.

"Mine is empty too," Gale said tipping his bottle up side down.

"Be great if we could find a-" I began before Gale held his finger to my mouth in order to silence me.

"Do you hear that?" he whispered.

My heart began beating faster and my I found myself reaching for Gale's hand.

"What?" I replied almost inaudibly. He continued to hold his finger to my mouth as he stood silently, his ears on full alert.

His lips curled into an exhilarated smile and he said "I think I hear a river." 

I felt all my anticipation to relinquish and I exhaled deeply.

"Gale! You frightened me half to death," I exclaimed to which he looked at me with a puzzled look. "I thought you could hear someone coming after us."

"I'm sorry but now you know that is no longer a threat, let us be excited because I think we found our river!" he exclaimed like a small child as he tugged me away from the tree I was leaning on and in an easterly direction.

It wasn't long before I too could hear the flow of water and not long after that could we see it.

 The water was clear and shallow allowing us to see flickering distorted images of the smooth pebbles underneath. Little ripples lapped at the shore-side rocks producing tame little splashes as the water danced downstream. Flowing not too fast and of a satisfactory cleanliness, it was perfect for our purposes.

"Picturesque," I observed as I knelt at the bank.

"And with any luck, it will lead us to our waterfall," Gale said taking my canister and his and filling them with the river's clean, icy cold water. I took a long drink and then refilled.

With my mouth saturated and my hope restored I allowed myself a deep sigh before saying "Then let's go and find that waterfall."

He took his hand and we ran side by side along the river bank with the wind blowing our hair and filling our excited lungs.