Come Home

Roxee

 The sun had already risen above the trees when the young boy awoke. He didn't like the idea of climbing another tree to sleep in, but I didn't care to be mauled by creeps wandering the forest during the night. Admittedly, I didn't get much sleep as I doubted the boy would be able to resist rolling over and out of the tree.

He slowly raised his head off my stomach and looked around. The disorientation slowly drifted off his face as he turned to look at me.

"Are you ready to get going?" I ask.

He didn't respond but gave me a dead eyed stare.

"Okay, I'll give you a few moments to wake up. But we should start towards my home as soon as possible."

"I thought we were going to my house?" he almost cried.

"We will. We just need to go to mine first so that there will be more people with us when we go into the woods again," I assure him.

"Okay," he relented whilst whipping a few tears away.

"Are you ready to get down? We might have to do it like last time," I state while eyeing the forest floor several feet below. "Unless you feel comfortable holding onto my back as I climb down?"

"Uh huh," he nodded.

"Okay, scoot back on the branch a bit so I can flip around." He obediently followed my instructions and climbed on my back when I turned around. "Hold on tight but try to be gentle on my neck."

I moved slowly down the tree, only pausing to find the next branch and adjust the child.

Snap, my hands flail wildly as I attempt to grasp another branch. My hand snapped up and caught a small one that immediately began to give. I quickly swing my legs to the left and land them on another branch that I push us onto. Once we're secured on the new stable branch, I swing the boy off and set him in front of me.

"Are you okay? Anything hurt?"

His head slightly nods before his large eyes land on the hands grasping him. I don't feel any pain until I see the scratches that have begun bleeding. They are many sizes and depths and run from my inner forearms to the palm of my hands.

"I'm okay, but we need to get the rest of the way down and quickly get to the house." He nods and climbs back on before I finish our descent. "Alright, ready?"
"Do you have any food? I'm so hungry," he groans while holding his stomach.

"I don't but when we get to my house, we can have lots and lots of food. Do you need to use the bathroom?"

He nods before running behind the tree. I let out a sigh and began analyzing the path I thought we needed to take. We weren't in an area I was familiar with and I was biting my lip contemplating what would happen if we didn't make it back before nightfall.

"You shouldn't let those bleed like that. It will lead to some nasty company," Jethro says from behind me.

I jump out of my skin whipping around to face the voice. My stance changes into a combative crouch as I slowly back to put myself between the boy and the man.

"Here, I didn't think you'd find each other but that makes this way easier." He tossed two packaged cinnamon rolls towards me. I caught the first one while the second went to the eager boy who appeared beside me.

"Are you going to help us get home?" the boy asked.

"I sure am. I brought you some hot chocolate if you want it," Jethro said, addressing the child who began approaching him before my arm caught him.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

"Offering the boy a warm sugary drink."

"No, why are you out here buttering us up and acting like a savior?"