X-Men Evolution: Rogue Evolution

The Mountain 6.4

"We'll be fine as long as we hug the left wall."

"That right? Is that your expert opinion there, Scotty?"

"Of course. It makes perfect sense. Just think about it, as long as you hug the left wall - even if you're led to a dead end - you'll still find the exit due to the simple fact there can only be so much wall."

Anna, walking at Scott's shoulder, pointed her flashlight forward where it bounced off the cave's many puddles and slicker features of it misshaped walls. "Sure, that makes sense if we were in some sort of maze. A cave has too many 'Z' levels."

"A 'Z' level? What does that mean?"

Anna shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, really. It's something Kurt and Evan say a lot when they play old 3D games. I think it has something to do with vertical levels or whatever."

"Well, that's helpful. Glad you're bringing video game logic into the real world."

"God, whatever Scott. You're the one talking about maze tactics that would only ever be useful for a freaking county fair." Scott reached out his arm across her, blocking her mid-stride. "Fucking - excuse you!"

"You're light, shine it down." Anna followed the command and her light illuminated a slight decline in the path. "I don't like it. I should go first."

"Don't like what? So it's a little steep. Considering what we've been through already, I think it'll be fine."

While Anna spoke, Scott was already halfway through slipping off her backpack and dropping it on the ground. "That's what I thought earlier, then I dropped a few dozen feet and lost my pack." He got low to the ground and made a show of easing himself down the slick craggy ramp till he was at the bottom. "Alright!" He shouted a little too loudly up at her. "Like before, slide the pack down to me, then follow." She rolled her eyes, aimed her foot, then gave her backpack a glancing blow. The heavy thing skited slid, and gently came to a stop at Scott's feet. "Okay, now -"

Before he even had a chance to speak, Anna was already most of the way down the incline, walking on her own two legs. When she reached the bottom safely, she looked at the boy and crossed her arms.

"Well, that was needlessly reckless. Feel like you made some sort of point with that?"

"Will you just stop with the overprotective action hero - shtick? I'm not some sort of shrieking damsel and you're not Brucie Willis. So take a break and stop being so damn extra, would you?"

"Well, excuse me for trying to make sure we both get out of here alive." He bent over, clearly favoring his right leg. When he turned back around, she could see why.

"Damn it, Scott, your leg. It's bleeding!"

"I know. It's from the fall."

"Well... we need to do something about it! That could get infected - or you'll bleed out or something!"

"The cut clotted up. I'll be fine."

"No, it won't, mother fucker. Look!"

She watched as Scott looked down at his leg and the way his shoulders stiffened. "Oh."

The pant leg on his left calf was near torn to ribbons and caked with dirt and spots of blood. The real horror show was his calf which was exposed to the elements. His skin, black with soot and dirt, was starting to run red with fresh rivers of crimson. His face went white and his footing was suddenly a whole lot less stable.

She rushed to his side and grabbed him by the arm. "Sit." He did as ordered, placing his back, and by proxy the backpack, against the wall and slid down till he was on his rear. She pulled his arms free of the straps of the pack and undid the fastenings till she retrieved her canteen.