Of the Earth

4

"I can set up a line right here and it'll be easy. We'll make it across, no problem."

"Harry, no. It's too dangerous. If you go down there's no way I'm gonna be able to pull you out."

Their arguing began almost as soon as they woke up and found it was still raining, the river even higher than yesterday. Suddenly there was a sense of urgency, a need to get off the goddamn island before the entire place flooded.

Louis had began with a soft, careful disagreement of Harry's insistence to leave the island sooner rather than later, a gentle "Harry... I don't think that's a good idea."

His tone had since turned sharper, the soft "Harry..."'s replaced with more adamant, staccato, " Harry. " every time he made a point.

"I've drawn lines before. There's a clear path right here with lots of rocks. It'll be fine."

Louis shifted his weight from foot to foot with unease despite his poor ankle. He eyed the proposed path, calculating the maneuvers they would need to make to get everyone off the island safely, along with their gear.

Harry could tell he was about to give in.

"I don't feel good about you carrying Cliff," he argued weakly.

"It'll be okay. The line will be up for me to hold onto. I won't let him fall." Harry was more worried about Louis crossing by himself, with his bad ankle and lack of balance.

Louis covered his face in his hands, groaning loudly. "Ugh, fine. I swear to god though, if you die, I'll kill you."

Harry just shook his head, laughing to ease the tension and wrapping the end of the rope around his hand. He had already tied it to the sturdiest, thickest branch of the tree right by the place where they planned to cross. He waited until Louis assumed his position further downstream to spot him in case he slipped in. Then, he gripped the rope tightly and took his first step into the white water.

The river reached up to mid-thigh, the current incredibly powerful and threatening to sweep him away. If it was any higher it would steal him without a doubt, and he knew they were taking a risk with this. The risk would be greater if they waited too long, he reasoned, trying to calm himself. The current was worse than he thought but he didn't let it show on his face, sending a confident smile over to where Louis was waiting downstream, his lips pressed into a thin line, arms crossed defensively.

Each step was calculated and precise, testing out the slipperiness and stability of the big rocks beneath the water. He slipped once but caught himself, cursing under his breath and righting himself before Louis could worry too much. About halfway across, there was a dip where the water deepened.

Harry could probably risk it but Louis was shorter than him and he knew he would be able to stand his ground if he stepped there. It was a big reach for the next rock and Harry bit his lip. He would just have to tell Louis, and make sure he did it. The line would be there for him to hold.

The rocks were even more precarious near the other bank but the water was slightly more shallow. Harry heaved himself up on the bank and secured the rope to a sturdy branch, pulling it taught and tying it tight enough that it would be able to support the weight of a human body if one were to cling to it to resist the force of the current. Only then did he turn around and smile, giving Louis a thumbs up.

Crossing back was easier with the line to stabilize him. Louis was quiet when he got back onto the island and lifted Clifford into his arms. The labradoodle was gangly and heavy and it would be easy at all, but they head to try. Louis went back to his post downstream, fidgeting nervously, looking pale and worried. Harry knew if he or Cliff went down, there would be a small chance of rescuing them.

Clifford struggled as soon as Harry approached the river, desperate to get back to land. Harry did his best to calm him and then stepped down, using his right arm to hang on to the dog and his left to cling to the line. His arm ached only ten seconds in and he was so afraid of his muscles giving out from fatigue.

"C'mon, Harry! You've got this!"

The fear motivated him to move quicker, his arm burning and tingling with strain. The crossing happened in a calculated blur, and before he knew it, he was lifting Cliff up to the bank and clambering onto it himself.

Returning to the island seemed a lot easier after that. Carrying the pack on his back felt easier as well, and soon he was on the mainland nervously waiting for Louis to cross.

There was a look of determination on his face as he stepped into the raging river, one hand clutching the line. He moved slowly, each motion planned beforehand. Harry talked him through it, calling out directions, describing which rocks to step on. Louis swayed with the river current but didn't complain, even though his ankle must've been killing him.

When he got to the big gap in the center of the river, Harry lost his breath and watched intently, as if that would help Louis cross in some way. There was no way for him to make it but to jump, which was dangerous and stupid and unlikely to end well.

Harry watched him close his eyes for a brief second, as if gathering courage, and opened them again. He focused in on his target, which was impossible to see due to the white water. Then, he jumped.

In a flash, he was landing on the other side of the dip and he was slipping and an involuntary cry of fear left Harry's throat. But Louis caught himself on the line, tight fist gripping it and yanking it down, pulling it taught and making the tree branches waver. He pulled himself up and shuffled forward quickly, making his own path as Harry was too stunned to direct him to which rocks to step on and which to avoid.

He was almost to the shore, fingers running loosely along the line which now sagged from being yanked. Louis stepped his left foot on a rock and slipped again in a flash, crying out.

Before Harry could even think about it, he grabbed Louis' reaching hand, grasping him with all his strength to keep the river from stealing him away. In a rush of adrenaline he lifted Louis up and heaved him onto the bank, pulling him up with two hands tight on his ribcage when he could get a good grip there.

They collapsed on the bank, bodies tangled together, their chests heaving.

In a moment, Louis rolled off Harry and flopped onto his back, staring up at the covering of tree leaves. He turned to face Harry and their eyes met and they just stared at each other.

"Thank you."

"No problem."