Hatake

41

I feel warm.

I try to figure out where I am from  just touch.

My fingers touch the ground underneath me. Dirt.

I open my eyes and all I see is black. I shift slightly then I feel something else.

I turn my head and see several rabbits huddled around me.

I sit up and feel a strong pain in my head.

I gently scoop a rabbit off of my pack.

I find my stash of herbs and place two leaves in my mouth. The bitter and spicy taste is not good.

I crawl out from the small shelter and stand.

My legs feel okay.

I try to see if I can see any smoke or signs of people.

Nothing.

This forest is full of animals that jump around the trees and rattle the small ground plants.

My left eye feels swollen. I touch it with my fingers and it feels puffy.

I keep chewing on the leaves. The pain slowly shrinking.

I'm completely lost. I open my compass and it's cracked and not spinning.

I wipe the sweat off of my forehead.

Where do I even go?

I try to backtrack to where we were before.

After climbing up the small hill I have to take my jacket off.

I keep walking and I'm pretty sure I just went in a big circle.

I brush my wet hair off of my face and scrape the sweat off the back of my neck.

Alright so maybe I'll try going straight one direction.

...

The sun has started to set again. I've ran out of water.

I thought of just using my powers, but then remembered that there could be others trying to track us.

I place another one of my leaves in my mouth the bitter taste is almost enjoyable now.

I finally find a foot print.

It's pointed towards the somehow more dense trees.

I follow it and cry when I find the remnants of an old fire.

I keep walking into the night.

I finally see a small light in the distance.

My walking turns into a jog.

I return back to a walk to not scare them.

As I approach I set my hand on my kunai but don't pull it out from my belt.

As I clear a few more trees I see Cala laying next to the fire.

I rush to her and check for a pulse. It's steady. Her knee looks better? More like different.

"Akari?" I hear next to me.

"Tiger!" I say and smile.

"You look terrible." He says.

I wipe the sweat off of my upper lip and frown.

"Hey." I say and set my bag down.

"Akari I'm being serious why are you so sweaty?" He asks sitting next to me.

"It's hot that's why." I say.

I then look at Tiger closer and see he's wearing his jacket zipped up to his neck. So does Cala.

Tiger hands me some water. I chug it down.

"I did touch that wire, but I'm not sure it would affect me." I say.

Tiger touches the side of my head and looks at my eye.

"How's Cala?" I ask.

He ignores me and presses his hand on my face.

"You have a fever." He says.

"I'm fine. I've been having these." I say pulling the vial out of my pocket.

"Akari a side effect of these is drowsiness. You've just been chewing them while walking here? What if you were attacked?" He says his voice still a whisper but raised.

"We have to try to use the radio tomorrow. We'll have to go up the mountain to be in range." Tiger says to me while he ransacks my bag.

"What about her?" I ask.

"She's been asleep for three days now." He says.

"And the other team?" I ask.

"I'm not sure." He says.

I reach to grab another leaf to chew on.

Tiger swats my hand.
"You've had too much." He says.

"Can you wait until tomorrow morning? I'd like to have someone else who can help me." He asks.

"Fine." I say.

I watch Tiger while he sleeps. He lays on his side using his arm as a pillow.

I wring my hands and flex my fingers. I pull my glove down and look at the silver band on my finger.