Winter's End [winter soldier//Bucky Barnes AU]

Chapter Ten

Two days later

*Sarah's POV*

Once Bucky was back to normal and everyone was, for the most part, healed, we left. We needed to find somewhere safe and secluded, where neither Loki nor Hydra could find us. Then we could figure out exactly what we needed to do and where we needed to go.

The only problem with that was that we had quite a large group, and it wasn't easy to sneak a group of nine powerful Avengers wearing sparkly costumes out of the town.

And with Peter and Clint still in pain, Bucky's body not ready for long treks, and Cara acting strange, the Avengers were definitely not ready to hike for miles to find a safe location.

We struggled along for an hour or two, once we finally escaped. We were hiking through the woods that surrounded the town in an attempt to reach a place where S.H.I.E.L.D. still had allies, or where we could at least get our hands on a safe location, as well as technology, supplies and maybe even some backup. But we hadn't come across civilization since leaving the town.

Another thing that worried me was that Fury and Hill had never returned from searching the ruins from the blast. I knew they could handle themselves, but usually they would have come back within a day.

I brought this issue up with the others, but only Steve, Peter and Bruce seemed concerned.

So now here we are, wandering the stupid endless woods in search of something that probably doesn't exist for us.

Have I mentioned how much I effing hate nature?!

Throughout this trip so far, I'm nearly positive that every word I have uttered has been a curse word, that I've eaten at least ten unidentified and terrifyingly large insects, and punched at least seven trees.

I think the rest of the team is now scared of me.

I honestly can't believe I'm the only one going nuts, though. Have we been walking aimlessly without a map? Yes. Is anyone else even vaguely concerned that we are lost? No.

Do you see my problem?!

No one knows where the hell we are going and no one will help me, so it's only fitting that the next thing I do is fall in a hole.

Or at least, almost fall in a hole, because Bucky shot his hand out and grabbed my arm at the last second. My heart skipped a beat and for a moment I was too stunned to even curse; but that moment didn't last long.

"SHIT!" I yelled, as Bucky hauled me back into my feet, chuckling at my colorful language.

I scowled and avoided eye contact with the team, who were also laughing.

"Sarah, chill." Tony told me, looking at me as if deciding whether or not I had lost it.

"I will not chill, Stark! We don't know where we are going and if we keep wandering around, either Loki or Hydra is going to find us!" I exclaimed, and Tony just sighed, as Steve stepped forward. He placed a comforting hand on my back.

"Sarah, I get it, but there's no need to go insane. We'll figure it out like we always do." Steve said. I gave him and Bucky a weak smile, and glanced down at the hole I had almost fell into.

Upon further inspection, it looked like a cave. The hole turned horizontally about ten feet down.

"Hey guys, there's a tunnel down there. Do you think it leads anywhere?" I asked, pointing to the dark shaft. Everyone came to look.

"I don't know. It could be a trap." Natasha said uneasily, and a few others nodded. I shrugged.

"It could also be a good place to rest for the night, where no one would find us."