Precious Gems

5

Sang's POV

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

Oh God!  My head hurts.  It feels like someone is on the inside of my skull, pounding on my right temple to get out.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

The steady pounding incessantly continues.  I think I'm going to be sick.  With all my strength, I heave myself from my back onto my left side and expel the fluids from my stomach.  But barely anything came out.

I rubbed my head lightly to try and figure out what happened.  I peeked my eyes open to find myself inside what appeared to be a cave.  There was light at my back and darkness up ahead.

As I shifted my arm to heft myself up, I felt something soft underneath me. What in the world?  The events from this morning rushed through my mind. I went to take a bath in the stream, the water was freezing cold, my legs gave out as I climbed out of the water, then... nothing.

I sat up to assess myself for damage and froze.  I have a very large t-shirt on and a soft pair of track pants.  Where am I?  Who dressed me?  And why am I lying on a mattress?

"Explain."  A stern voice demand in the distance, the voice ricocheting off the cave walls as the sound bounced all around me.  I whirled around frantically, looking left and right to find the voice, which you really shouldn't do when your head throbs the way mine does.  I braced my hands on the mattress as my head spun and a wave of nausea rolled through my stomach... again.

"She was hurt down by the stream.  I couldn't just leave here there."  Another male responded.  His voice was kind and held a hint of humor.

The first voice cut in with authority, "That may well be, but we do not take in every stray we find.  Do you think your actions were prudent at this juncture of our mission?"

I don't want to even wait around to thank the one who saved me.  I bolted toward the cave entrance, running as fast as my feet can take me.

A stray? Like a dog?  Well, if that's how that stranger sees me, without even spending time to get to know me, I say good riddance.

I just ran and ran, without knowing where I was going or which way would even take me back to my camp site.  I wonder if Jay even cares that I am not around?  Does he even notice?  Doubtful.

The sun wasn't doing me any favors.  I had to stop and brace my hands on my knees while I tried to lose my dinner from last night, again.  Still, nothing came up, but stomach acids.

Do you know how rancid your mouth feels and tastes when you puke stomach acids and don't have water to rinse with?  Ugh!  Water.  I need water.  The stream!  If I can just find my way back to the stream, I know I could get back to my site.

I straightened up, wiping the back of my hand across my mouth with my right hand while I shielded my eyes from the headache inducing light of the sun with my left.  If I continue towards the left, the ground slopes down.  The stream has to be that way.  My body was tingling all over.  I must have induced my fight or flight response and flight won out.  As it should when you are five foot two and a hundred pounds.  I'm not sure I could even hurt a flea, without applying all my strength behind it.

Tap, tap, tap.  "Excuse me, Miss." A male voice spoke gently and quietly from behind my right ear.

"Aaaahhhhhh!" I shrieked like a banshee as I whirled to face who I can only assume was my abductor.