I decided to look around the camp while the guys were setting up my tent and found a cliff that over looked layers of pine trees. I sat down my knees tucked into my chest and my arms around them. My mind started wondering to my parents and Kida. I wonder how they are doing? I wonder what they are doing?
Those thoughts soon cleared my mind. I was now hanging onto the edge of the cliff. I had no clue what happened? I didn't know who did it and it doesn't matter right now. I yell for help. No one comes. I could feel my fingers slipping. I scream at the top my my lungs. I try to pull myself up but I fail miserably. My fingers are about to give and I know it. I close my eyes and take a breath ready for it. Just as my hands slip completely I feel another hand around my wrist ,and I grip onto it.
My eyes fly open and see the Hispanic guy from earlier. He pulls me up and I try to help by getting footing but I couldn't seem to get any. Once I'm all the way up we both land on our backs next to each other and breath heavily. Within seconds people are rushing around us. From the crowd emerges Dean.
"What the hell is going on?" he yells and runs to my side helping me up. I'm finally to my feet and he looks at the Hispanic guy, at the cliff, then back at me, then back to the guy
"Jess what the hell happened?" Dean said coldly
"I have no idea honestly," Jess says throwing his hands up as if he was surrendering, "I heard someone yelling and I saw her hanging over the cliff so I helped her back up." he finishes which makes Dean looks back at me and asks "Did you fall?"
"I don't know." I say
"How do you not know?" He ask I can hear the erritation in his voice.
"I don't know. I was just sitting there and I think some may have pushed me over. I don't know. It happened so fast."
"Who pushed you?"
"I didn't see. I was a little busy trying to hold onto the cliff," I snapped.
"Look I'm just trying to help!" He says angrily. I suddenly wished I could take it back. I felt bad for snapping at him. It wasn't his fault.
"I know. I'm sorry." I say sheepishly. Dean looks at the crowd that has formed around the three of us.
"Everyone get to bed. Now," as quickly as it formed the crowd dispersed.
"You," he says pointing at me "come with me and well get you checked out. Jess are you alright?"
"Yeah man I'm fine. I'm gonna head to bed too." He says getting to his feet and walking back towards the camp. Dean grabs my hands and helps me up. I liked the feel of his hands. They were strong and rough.
"I'm fine." I say hiding my hands behind my back. They had cuts on them from the rocks I was hanging onto. I didn't need him taking care of me. I didn't want to seem weak. Especially after what I said earlier not needing to stay here.
"No you're not. Let's go," He places his hand on the small of my back and walks me toward a large tent towards the front of the village. Once we are in there I stand awkwardly as he zips the door shut. He walks over by a cot and starts going threw some drawers. I try to peer over his shoulder to see what was in the drawer. Before i can see anything he looks back at me and tells me to sit and motions to the cot.
I silently make my way to the cot and sit. He pulls out a cloth from a bucket of water and rings it out. He pulls up a stool and sits in front of me. He turns my hands over so my palms are up. He takes the cloth and places it on the cuts. I wince in pain and he shoots me an apologetic look. Then continues to clean the cuts.
"Your tent is ready for you when I get done. Its the red one farthest from the rest." he says
"Why is it away from the rest?" I ask
"We're not a big fan of newcomers." After moments of silence I ask "When were you Outlanded?"
"When I was sixteen."
"How old are you now?"
"18." He rings the cloth into the bucket. I watched silently as the bloodly water drains out of the cloth. The water reminded me of how thirty I was.
"Hey, do you have any water I haven't had anything to drink since yesterday morning." I explain
"Sure." He gets up from the stool and grabs a canteen from the corner of the tent. He hands it to me and sits back down. My throat was so dry. I gulped down nearly the entire thing.
"Thanks." I say wipping my lips and handing it back to him.
"No problem." He grabs some bandages and wraps my hands up slowly.
"Its amazing."
"What is?" He looks up at me curiously.
"The way they listen to you." I say with a small smile. He looks up at me and a thin smile plays on his lips and, says "What can I say. I have way with people." We both let out a little laugh.
"Are you like there leader or something?"
"Yeah something like that." He finishes wrapping up my hands and scoots the stool back slightly.
"Well this was fun. I'm tired im just going to go to my tent. I'm sorry for causing all this trouble." I say feeling guilty about taking up his time. As i'm get up and walking out of the tent the sound of his voice stops me.
"Are you sure your ok?" I stop and turn my head to him.
I smile and nod and say "Thanks."
I got to my tent and inside I find a lantern. A couple sleeping bags, a pillow, and a few changes of clothes. I unzip one sleeping bag and lay it flat on the ground. I turn off the lamp ,and cover up with the second sleeping bag. As soon as my head hits the pillow I'm gone.
