Balancing Act

Prologue

Hiro quickly stopped before an empty road, leaning against a large tree whose branches twisted and stretched out as if reaching out to the other trees in the forest, creating a tangled mess of branches and leaves. Perfect place to rest in, the red-head thought to himself as his calloused hands gripped tiredly onto the branches and pulled himself into a small notch to rest in, heart pounding and thick, sticky fluid running down his right cheek.
He knew better than to think he was out of danger. The scientists were most likely out and searching for him with their disgusting, genetically-engineered dogs. Hiro sighed, feeling faint from running as he looked up towards the night sky, the moonlight trickling down through the small spaces between the leaves.
Almost tripping over a large rock, Kazuki dashed through a a thick forest of trees. His heart hammering in his chest, blood boiling as he wheezed. He could hear them behind him- the "Doctors". They wouldn't let him go without a fight. Even though he knew this, he couldn't't force himself to run any faster. He had reached his limit
Hiro perked up in his spot, in the darkness his other senses were heightened. He picked up on the sounds of running footsteps and the rhythmic crackling of branches, as he shifted quietly from his spot to peek through some leaves, spotting a younger male wearing a matching hospital gown much like his. Hiro's motions were swift once he saw the familiar white gown as he clumsily, hopped to the lower branches and held out a hand as the boy got closer to the low hanging branch. "Hey! Up here," he whispered loudly, hoping the other male would hear him.
Kazuki found himself ready to collapse from exhaustion. Just as his legs were about to give out, a hand swooped down from the tree in front of him. He gasped audibly, ready to zig-zag out the way when he heard the person speak to him. He immediately assessed the situation and after a very short moment of thought, he decided it was best to trust the boy who looked to come from the same place as him then get himself captured. He nodded, grabbing the boys hand as firmly as he could with his current lack of strength.
Hiro grunted slightly as he pulled the male up and quickly climbed higher, wincing with each movement and looking back to make sure that the younger looking male was doing the same. "You're almost there," he breathed as he leaned against the main trunk of the tree.
Kazuki was definitely struggling, his shaking fingers and blurry vision making it difficult to see what he was doing, let alone get a firm grip on a branch. Slowly, he made progress, but not fast enough. Pounding foots steps sounded from not too far away, his eyes meeting Hiro's in horror.
Hiro placed a finger on his lips, signalling that they should be quiet. He hoped that the doctors would miss them, remembering his previous attempts at escape always have led to his capture due to his body's above-average temperature. He silently prayed that the boy wouldn't be in trouble because of him.
Kazuki froze, clinging to the base of the tree from where he was. He watched the boy above him press his fingers to his lips and nodded in understanding. Strangly though, he felt this overwhelming heat wafting off of the boy. The thought crossed his mind that he had obviously come from where he had.
Hiro held his breath as the footsteps ran around the area of the tree, the sounds of the temperature trackers clashing against the once peaceful silence of the woods. They brought them out for him...Shit, Hiro panicked, clenching his jaw and ignoring the male below him. If they were caught now, the punishments would be most likely the end of them.