||The Legend of Taavi ||

|intertwined|

            The world was coming in and out of focus. Taavi staggered through the brush, clutching her bleeding arm and chest, praying to someone, somewhere, that she would make it to the camp alive. She had never seen so much blood in her life, especially coming out of her own body. Her arm had lost all feeling, but the deep wounds in her legs and abdomen were becoming increasingly painful. She wished she would just lose consciousness, but knew she wouldn't make it if she passed out. Her legs moved subconsciously, taking her closer and closer to her destination.

Soon she felt sunlight on her eyelids, and found herself in the middle of the camp, on her knees and barely breathing. She heard a distant call of her name, but she was too weak to care. All she wanted to do was lay down, and never wake up. The pain throbbed through her entire body, going against the flow of her frantic heartbeat. The call became a bit louder, but still muddled, like a scream underwater. She felt arms around her, and then was weightless, floating through the air, another heartbeat against her own chest. The world became muffled, like she was seeing and hearing everything through thick cotton. For a moment, black and red spots clouded her vision, and she felt an intense burning on her wounds, like someone was pouring acid on her. She screamed, but she couldn't hear the sound that came out.

Then, she felt lips pressed up to her head, a quiet "It's going to be okay. Stay with me, stay with me!"...

And then she felt nothing.

When Taavi came to, the sun was shining through the top of the tent, warming her skin. She felt something by her side, breathing perhaps. Then she heard faint, desperate pleadings.

"Just wake up. Please wake up."

Her natural instinct told her to rise up, but she felt as though she was tied to the soft cot she was lying on. Pain shot through her spine, and flared under her skin. Before she could stop herself, she cried out. She felt movement to her right, but she found that she couldn't move her neck, either. James's face came into vision, lined with worry and concern, and little sleep.

"You're awake," he said quietly, brushing her hair back with a smile.

All she could do was mumble a confirmation. Suddenly, her eyes felt heavy, and she couldn't keep them open.

"Yes, sleep," he told her.

But she didn't feel like sleeping. She wanted to keep talking to James, but her entire body felt as though it was sinking through the cot and into the ground. So, right before she lost consciousness, she took hold of James's hand and intertwined their fingers.

"Happy," she whispered, and then everything went silent.