i managed to find my extra outfits, and after some more searching, a large backpack, that i had memorised the contents of. I pulled the items out of the cavern, and was about to load them onto my back, when I head a loud shriek, high pitched, female, and young. There was a river nearby, that had a considerably fast current, and it was in the direction the shriek came from. I bolted over, and I saw a young girl, probably only 7 or 8, trapped in the raging waters. Almost immediatly, I would have gone blank and attacked her, but I managed to hang on. This was none of my buisness, or so I told myself. Suddenly, something snapped in me, and before I was aware what was going on, I was in the water, managing to move using my claws aginst the bottom of the river. I nearly toppeled over as the girl was swept into me, but I held steady. Once I was sure I was not moving, I lowered myself slightly to let the current drift her onto my back, as i headed for the opposite shore, which was difficult because I was continuously telling my raptor mind that she wasn't food...
I hauled myself up onto the bank, sopping wet, and i let the girl slide herself off my back, and I could hear two adult human's calls. Knowing that she would be safe, I dove back into the water and struggled to the side of the river I was orrigonally on, and i emerged from the water half-frozen, the chill of the water having gone un-noticed during the panic. I shook myself, and moved back over to the outfits and backpack, carefully placing them on my back, and taking off, aiming to return to the house. I was near collapse in this form, and I knew I'd probably faint then instant I got back to a human form..
The unfortunate part about the trip home was that it had started raining, making me even colder, and it took everything i had to get back to the house, where i collapsed just inside the doorway, the rain coming off my body in a steady stream. I was thankful my backpack was water-proof..