Savanna

Chapter 23

A short scream escaped my lips. 

Jake bent his knees as we landed, softening the impact. As he stood up straight again, he looked at me, smirking.

"Please, if you're going to do that again, warn me first," I laughed, unable to be angry with him even though I wanted to. He had just jumped down from the second floor! With me on his arms!

"I'll try to keep that in mind," he said, already walking away from the house, towards nothing but forest.

"You'd better do so," I mumbled in response. Then asked, "Where are you taking me?"

"Just some place."

"Well, that gives away a lot."

He only grinned.

Sighing, I decided I can't get against him. I asked, "Can you at least tell me if it's far? I could walk by myself." He didn't seem to be thinking of putting me down.

"Your leg's in a cast," he pointed out boldly.

"And so? I can still walk," I argued back, but clearly I wasn't getting anywhere with it. Jake was planning something and all I could do was to let him take me away.

"But not as fast," he retorted as we made it through the front line of trees. A few more steps and Jake's house was beginning to disappear from our view.

"You're not exactly a speedy one either, you know. I'm heavy. Sooner or later you're on your knees." Although I highly doubted it, honestly. At the same time, even if I preferred walking on my own two legs... a part of me enjoyed it. I liked to feel his strong arms around me, carrying me as if I'm weightless. Being this close to him, I could smell his familiar scent of fresh rain, earth and hay.

He shook his head slightly, revealing his perfect white teeth as he smiled at me. "But I can go faster. Thought you'd never mention it." He tightened his grip on me. "You'd better hold on tight."

I had a bad feeling about this. Doing as he'd said, I pressed myself into him as hard as I could, ready for whatever he was about to do. Through Jake's shirt, I felt his muscles tense - only seconds before he took off into the depths of the forest. My eyes fought with the cold air whipping my face, but as they slowly got watery, I had to bury them in Jake's shirt. For someone carrying a girl on their arms, Jake was in great shape. Aside from the fear he might trip, resulting in lots of pain - for me at least -, I was amazed by his capability to run like a top athlete on a track field. Jake dodged trees and branches, roots sticking out from the ground as if it's something he does every morning. Even a huge fallen tree couldn't stop him; not slowing down, he easily jumped almost two metres and over the old trunk with graceful catlike moves. A glimpse at his face told me exactly how much he enjoyed it.

Just as I was about to ask how much further will we go, he came to a stop. He looked up, as if looking for something.

I turned my head to see around us. "Are we there? Here are only trees and... more trees."

"Almost." For a moment he eyed me, measuring me. He said, "Put your arms around my neck. I need a free hand."

"Uh, okay." I let go of his torso and did as he'd said. Jake made a couple more steps, freeing one of his hands that had been holding me. I was a little worried about what he might have in mind, but I couldn't prepare myself for what happened next. He broke into a short run, bent his knees and jumped what seemed more than two metres this time. He clang to an old big tree. Without pausing, he poised himself even higher. With one free hand only and while holding me, he was still climbing faster than I ever could.

Only when we reached it did I notice the small wooden cabin built on wide and strong branches, high from the ground. With no complications he pulled both of us through the open doorway that took half of the cabin's wall. Only slightly panting, Jake sat down on the floor and smiled at me as I took seat across from him. The room was so small that our legs touched.