Misadventures

Reunited

I look toward the tall pine tree. Holding my bag with my teeth, I leave the tissue boxes and decide to move barefoot. Carefully I step on the branches, lightly moving my feet and using most of my upper body to hold my weight against the tree trunks. I continue this motion as carefully as I could but I did manage to drop some leaves.

I am now really close to the pine tree, I look down and don't see anyone coming. Pairs of two or three wal by four in between long increments.

I wait a while after a group of three passed by and used that time to climb down the tree and hide in some bushes. After a few moments no one walked passed, it was eerily quiet, I'm not sure if they've noticed my movements or if something is just off. I stay in the bushes a while longer, I don't want to risk anything.

The horn blows again, the same one from yesterday. I hid my bag and myself well between the bushes even more. Alot of men walked by me, they all looked the same with bear skin and leather tan faces. But to my surprise none of them noticed me, I honestly needed that miraculous luck.

After I was sure everyone left and were not by ear shot range, I bolted to the pine tree with my bag in hand. I dont know how long the meeting will take today but this is my chance to get out of here while they're all busy.

I'll use my giant leaf to- my sprint is stopped when I see my old friend before me. I may have wanted to see him yesterday but I know Arthur still has to deal with me.

Trey's eyes widen and he spreads his arms wide open, "You're alive! You're here!" He pounces me.

I respond by ducking away and not wanting to touch him like he was poison. I stared at him wide eyed, "I saw you dead."

His face looked hurt, "I am not dead now am I?"

"I have to go-" he interrupts me when he takes a step forward.

"No don't go! Stay with me. It gets boring here after a while."

I look at him like he's grown another head, "I'm not staying here! You're not even yourself." I take a step back.

He puts his arms down and slumps his shoulders, "I do look different, but if you leave now they'll kill you." He points behind him signaling the men at the meeting.

"That's been the story the whole time I was here so I think I can survive." I take another step back, I can't trust him, he is suppose to be dead. Whatever they did to him is just, wrong. It doesn't make any sense!

"Why are you being so mean?" He asks.

"Because you're not Trey!" I scream at him with so much anger and hurt I can't control it.

I cry so hard I surprise myself just as much as Trey. I'm tired of surviving, finding new areas that I can't explore in peace, having a target on my back or nearly dying every second and having everyone I care about be away from me. I can't take it anymore.

He takes a step, "Let me comfort you," he doesnt move forward but he spreads open his arms.

I don't run to him, I dont want to. I dont beleive he needs to comfort me but it is nice to see his face no matter how different it is. But I'm really not sure how to approach him anymore.

He speaks again, "C'mon, don't leave me hanging..."

I don't think about it, so I run and I hold on to him. Needing someone to keep me safe instead of having to take care of myself. Wanting to reunite with my friend if I'm given the chance because really who can say their loved one is still alive? And most importantly, I'm still a little girl, I shouldn't be going through all this. I'm getting really tired, his body is warm and soothing. He strokes my back in a comforting manner while I sniff the boogers running down my nose.

I feel my hair strands move ever so slightly. I lift my head to look at him in question, "Wha- AHHHHH!" it happened so suddenly.

I watched Trey griping the medical tool, he slammed it down into my eye. If I hadn't looked up it pretty would've killed me. I didnt get the chance to nurse my new wound, Trey pulled it out of my eye and gripped my neck, pushed me up against the pone tree and now I wish I climbed it rather than talk to him.

"YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE BACK TO THE WOODS!" He yelled in my face, "Now you have to die because of it." He pulled back his arm ready to smash a punch into my face.

I took both of my hands and put them against his arm aligned with the front part of his whole limb. At the same time, I used my feet to push the front of his elbows simultaneously pushing with my hands to right and sharply moving my head to the left.

I got out of his choke hold and kicked him between the legs with my good foot. He became crippled, and grabbed his privates. I grab the largest rock I could lift and smash it on his head. Three times. He stopped moving.

I quickly grab my big leaf from my bag, placing it around the pine tree. I grip the two separate ends of the leaf tightly and hold the other end through the hole. I climb up the pine tree uncomfortably but progressively. It's similar to the montage Mulan has when she was climbing the pole with a cloth.

I feared the leaf would break but I'm sure all the folds I gave it made it stronger. I reach the first branch when the men found a dead Trey. I looked down at them and they started climbing the trees with fast fury.

I climbed up the tree with more urgency, I didn't want them to catch me. I'm so close to the end now I can't get caught.

I break a few thin branches and throw it to those who are alredy standing on the branches. The tree begins to shake and I grip it with my life. I look down again and see that they're cutting it down!

I climb higher and higher, not letting the shaking stop me. I had to  rotate a few times and it even got some men to fall from the high branches. But many were climbing the other trees and shooting arrows.

I just need three more branches before I reach the top. I climb up the third to last one, an arrow pierced my arm. I held to the trunk of the tree and screamed in pain. I had to take a second to breath.

I climbed the second to last branch and the tree shakes violently. I'm knocked down back to the fourth to last branch and I see a bear man one branch away. The pain in my arm seemed to lessen and I get up so quick I almost fall.

I climb up higher and faster I'm starting to jump, as incredibly risky a it is it got me to the last branch. I grip the edge of the cave feeling the freedom I've been longing for. I lift myself-

A strong hand grips my broken foot and pulls me down. I'm still holding the edge of the cave but my fingers are burning. I scream in agony and kick the bear man's face. His bear skin falls off and he tries to catch it, my grip on the cave is slipping.

I kick him again and he looses his grip for wanting room catch his bear skin. His sudden release dragged me down too and I'm briefly off  the edge of the cave. The empty feeling in my hand made me grip the edge so hard I feel my fingers break the hard surface. I lift myself up and out of the cave.

I'm free!