I waited for the smell of smoke to drift toward me, but the scent of evergreen stayed prominent. No gray clouds wafted from above the raging fire. I slowly climbed down the tree, placing my hands cautiously, as to avoid getting scrapes. I weaved my way around the trees until they started to melt into one another and confusion made my head spin. Eventually, I couldn't identify where the sky was. I lowered myself to the ground, hoping it would help to clear the strange storm that was my head. I put my face in my hands, but even the darkness puzzled me.
"What is...." I held my palms out in front of me, turning them over in a daze. My hands were stained deep scarlet, that was crawling it's way up my arms. My attempt to wipe the red liquid away failed, as the scarlet smeared everywhere. It now stained my clothes and my cheeks. The red was thick and wet on my skin, it left drops of whatever it was all around me until I was surrounded. I was struck with a wave it sickness, a splash of dizziness. I steadied myself on the ground, but the sickness came in increments. I would be hit by it, then the horrible feeling would subside, but it would eventually come crawling back only to smack my progress back down.
Birds started crowing in the distance. The sound pierced my ears, making them ring. I winced, searching for the birds that were producing the sound. The crowing never once ceased since it had begun.
"Please...stop." I leaned my head back onto the uneven bark of the tree, it's gnarled roots twisting around the grass at my feet. The roots spilled together in one large mass and started to run like water. The ground around it disappeared into a precipice that the liquefied roots began to race over. The grass followed the same routine the tree roots had, next the tree itself, finally pulling me with it.
I lurched forward, almost bumping heads with the person right in front of me. Who is that? My eyes wouldn't focus, there was something in them.
"Who...who's that?"
"It's just me." Brittney's voice.
"Oh. I'm sorry...about earlier."
"I'm not mad anymore."
"Okay."
"And I'm also sorry."
"It's alright. What happened anyway? Why can't I see?"
"I'm guessing you climbed a tree?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Looks like you fell out of it." Oh. I wipe my eyes, which gave my vision a slightly sharper image than what was there before. I was able to see that my hands were stained red.
"Blood...?"
"Must've fallen pretty hard." Brittney murmured. There was a rustling by my ear.
"What is that?"
"I'm wrapping your forehead. You have a pretty deep gash."
"No," I groaned. "Don't do that."
"And why not?"
"I'll look stupid." I received no indication that Brittney even heard my remark beside a quiet laugh.
A moment later she said, "You already look stupid, so you'll live."
I wiped my eyes again, resulting in a clear field of view.
"Huh. I can see again."
"Mmhmm. Great." Brittney obviously had something else on her mind, but I didn't want to bring it up, whatever it was, it sounded serious.
"So..."
"Shut up, and let me help you back to camp."
"Don't take me back."
"What do you mean?"
"What do you think I mean? I don't want to go back there."
"Starr, you have to."
"Why?"
"It'd be selfish not to."
"Fine." Brittney started to help me, but I shrugged her off. "I don't want help, I'm fine."
"Starr."
"What?"
"Why are you being so stubborn?"
"Sorry, I've just...got a lot on my mind." And with that the conversation was over and we followed the never-ending routine of walking back to camp.
