The Rat in The Signal

Chapter 7

Enjoy my attempt at drawing Bandage chin resting on Six, which I just realized could be used for weird shipping art

Not in this house-

(Note: Ayo, past De, do research next time)

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    The wind howled loudly that night, a small boy, barely as tall as the top of some of the tree roots, ran through the foliage, panting heavily.

He stayed away for far too long, she could have been hurt, or been found by a badger or snake or wolf or by an adult or some monster!

He stayed out too long to look for food, he shouldn't have stayed out this long, night was falling which meant animals come out and-

The small boy didn't see where he was going, too caught up his swirling stream of thoughts to pay much attention to his surroundings. With a quick squeak, he let out a pain filled groan as he was suddenly tripped over by something.

The sound of something snapping made him look up with fear. Adrenaline pumped through his veins as he watched a log fall down to the ground.

All of a suddenly, the leaves he fell on snapped up, and for a moment, he thought it was a very delayed bear trap finally going off, but was more horrified as he found himself being carried up by a net.

The twine rubbed against him, his movements harder to make as it contoured to keep him inside it. He was too big to slip through the holes, and even if he could, he'd fall a good ways down.

With a weak voice, his throat sore and scratchy from previous nights of crying due to a starved belly and aching limbs, he tried to call out for help.

"Help! Rain! Somebody! Anybody!" He could barely get his voice to sound louder than a crackling whisper. His throat was raw and swollen, every noise he made made him feel as though he would start bleeding.

He coughed, hand covering his mouth. He flinched as more pain ripped through his throat, eyes growing wide as he saw speckles of blood peppered across his hand. Great, a new thing to worry about-- he actually was bleeding.

Scared at his two new problems, he sank down, arms wrapped around him a self hug, the wind beating down once again. He gave a sniffle, feeling a tear roll down his cheek.

He was only four! How did they expect him and his sister to survive if he could barely scavenge the forest or leaving it to him to play life or death with mystery berries or-

Snap

He let out a small gasp, hearing a twig break. The young boy heard a soft voice from below him, quiet and cautious, yet curious as he spoke.

"Hello?"

He tried to turn around in the net he was caught it, pushing and shoving leaves out of the way to see under him. Fighting back the pain in his raw, scratchy throat, he tried desperately to call out to whoever was there.

"Up he-" his voice gave out, the last few syllables caught in his throat.

From under him, a boy in an oversized brown shirt could be seen, a mop of brownish black hair on his head, pale skin contrasting it. He looked up, letting out a small gasp, before looking around. The young boy in the net watched as the other grabbed a sharp rock, turning to the tree the net was connected to, beginning to scale up it, digging his fingers into small groves in the bark as he went farther and farther up.