Growing Flower

Chapter 14

I limp through the undergrowth, Sirvantize following behind. We are try to find my campsite. It's getting really dark and I stop to catch my breath.

Sirvantize glances around. "Do you know where your going?"

I look up at him. Actually, I didn't, but I didn't want to admit it. "Maybe." I say.

"You don't, do you?" He says gently.

I take a deep breath and let the air gush out through my mouth and nose. I ignore him and let my eyes flicker around. "Hmm."

I glance at the darkening sky. "Usually when I'm not back by sundown, my brother lights a fire."

"That's a great way to get killed. And besides you never know if it's another tribute." Sirvantize points out.

I shrug. "My brother's not stupid." I continue to look around. We must be too far from camp. I look up. "I'm gonna see if I can spot it from up there." I point to the tallest tree and limp towards it.

"Jasmine," Sirvantize hesitates. "You just suffered a severe injury." He pauses. He noticed that I was already attempting a climb. "Do you think climbing is the smartest thing to do right now, considering your state?"

I continue trying to climb, as I tried blocking him out. It didn't work. I manage to pull my body up the trunk to the lowest branch, which hangs about 10 feet off the ground, not high enough.

I painfully reach up for the next branch and pull myself up. By the next time I take a short rest is when I'm about 50 feet off the ground. Still not high enough. I continue to climb. At about 65 feet up, I catch a faint, red, glowing light out of the corner of my eyes. I hold on to trunk and stand on the recent branch. It was wide enough for me to turn and look in the direction of the light.

It was a fire. I squint my eyes. "I see a fire." I call down.

Sirvantize looks up. "Where?"

I point out to the small but noticeable fire. He squints his eyes. "I see it, barely though. How much farther do we have to go?"

"Not sure. I need a better view." I reach for the branch above me. Embarrassingly enough, it was too high and I was too short. "Come on!" I curse under my breath. I stretch and my side screams in pain.

"Your gonna kill yourself!" Sirvantize calls up to me.

"I know what I'm doing." I say through gritted teeth. I reach again, but it was no use.

"Jasmine, your too short and your were just injured."

Thanks Captain Obvious.

"There has to be some other way to see the campsite. "

"This is the only way. "

I glance down to see him roll his eyes. "Jasmine, what if you can't reach it and you end up falling?"

"I won't!" I say. I'm persistent and stubborn. Mostly stubborn. I reach again and my muscles strain. I am too short.

"You not going to reach it. " Sirvantize says.

I grit my teeth. I wish he'd be quiet so I could concentrate. I pause to think. Why is he so concerned? I shrug and attempt to grab the branch for the fifth time.

"Jasmine. Do you really think you can reach it?"

"Yes. " I say through gritted teeth. "Now stop talking so I can concentrate."

Sirvantize laughs. "Sorry. I can't."

I roll my eyes and bite my lip. I can do this. I crouch slowly and reach, half stretch, half jump. My hand grasps the branch and I make sure I've got a good grip. I reach my other hand up and manage to grab the branch. Then I pull myself up. It was difficult and painful. But I did it.