Accepted

Ingenuity, The key to survival

As dawn begins to break over the distant horizon, I can feel the steadily growing strength of the suns warming tentacles that reach out for me. They seek to vanquish to coldness that dwells within my bones. After letting it work its magic, I feel as though I have enough energy to prop myself up and inspect my knee. 

Gingerly removing the blood encrusted skirt fabric from my wound, I gaze down at my swollen limb in horror. Dark purple bruising stretches from half way up my thigh, to a quarter of the way down my shin. It's oozing out a greeney, yellowish substance and is caked with dryed blood. 

Staring at it is starting to make me feel nauseous, so I decide to tear off my poncho and bind my knee with it. I instantly feel the temperature difference, but decide that it is still the best use for it. Looking up through the trees, I can tell that it is around nine o' clock. With this new disability I know that I must now make even better use of the daylight hours. 

Shuffling over to the edge of the small clearing I find a 'Y' shaped branch on the ground that must have broken off its tree in a recent storm. Grabbing it with both hands, I manage to clamber upright and use it as a walking stick. Looking around the immediate area, I soon find another suitable branch that looks like it will support my weight. Using my two sticks as make-do crutches I manage to slowly but surely hobble onward. 

I can't help but think about what would happen if whatever was following me yesterday found me again. This time I wouldn't be able to run. I would be utterly defenceless.