The Broken Light and the Broken Boy

I Learn to Climb a Tree

We lay there staring at the stars for what seems like forever before natures silence is broken by a yawn from the boy whose head was inches from mine as we lay in a long line head to head. I blink, my eyes watering slightly as I realise I've been staring at nothing in particular. 

"You ready to head back Solace?" I queried only just realising how late it was, or early I should say. I look over the trees and predict maybe 4 or 5 hours until the sun starts to rise, we'd been out here for a while, and time sure does go by when you're shown magical fields with dancing daemons. 

"No, why..." he yawned yet again, "Why would you think that?" He replied lethargically, sitting up to look me in the face. Under normal circumstances, you wouldn't see the bags under his eyes, but being the son of Hades, seeing in the dark is usually no problem. Luckily they weren't like the other day or I would've been tempted to shadow-travel us back before he starts coughing up blood again. It was pretty nasty. 

"You're not fooling anyone golden boy, besides I'm pretty exhausted too, I think it's time we head back," I suggest hoping that saying I was tired would convince him to come back as well. I sit up then stand and reach out my hand to Will. He grabs it with a look of concern on his face.

"You are? Why didn't you tell me?" His voice laced with worry and a twinge of annoyance, due to my lack of speaking up. I wasn't tired at all, but he didn't know that. I roll my eyes. This kid... He grabs my arm and leads me towards the forest, letting go of my arm he then starts to speed up and I follow suit. The walk is shorter than before and the harpies must've been busy because we make it back to the infirmary with no problems. We reach the window then I realise our problem. 

"How?... How are we supposed to get up to the window?" I laugh in disbelief, surely we aren't stupid? At least not that stupid. "Nice going Solace, now we're gonna get caught," I accuse him and huff at his lack of brains. He laughs but his eyes pierce me as if to say, watch it, kid. 

"Always so quick to judge aren't you death breath, I wouldn't drag you out with no way in," he retorts back as if I'm the one with no brains. I scoff and roll my eyes as he walks around to the tree the window is propped open on, he starts to climb. He wasn't great at it but he knew what he was doing and in no time he was walking on a branch a few metres below the one propping the window up and jumping through the window. Other than a slight yelp from Will, no sound was made. Ok, so maybe he isn't that stupid. He reappears from inside the window. "Ta-da! Now your turn," I must've looked confused, "Don't worry there are footholds everywhere and if you need help just ask." he smiled encouragingly. Easier said than done light for brains. 

"Yeah, yeah I know what I'm doing," I lied relying on my strength to help me get up. I make my way up the tree occasionally pausing to place my foot down and grab another branch or knot. Occasionally Will would whisper little thing like, 'left arm 45 degrees to the left for a safer hold' or 'move your foot one hold over otherwise you'll scrape your knee'. I resist rolling my eyes for the 5th time. For such a clumsy kid he was pretty cautious when guiding others, perks of a healer I guess. I make it up to the branch and go to move forward when Will signals for me to stop.

"Don't run, walk on the branch until you feel it bend underneath your weight, then take another 2 steps and jump across and dive through aiming up at about 35 degrees, don't jump up any higher, I've placed the emergency mat down to soften your landing so just dive and roll," his smile wasn't there and he was talking clearly, making sure I get every little detail for my safety. Heh like I care for my safety. I sigh at his doctor like attitude and nod showing I got the message. I take about 5 steps before the branch starts to bend under my weight. Ok, now for the next 2 steps. As I finish my second step I propel myself off my feet and through the window aiming slightly up as he said. I enter the window and curl up into a ball and roll to standing. I turn round and smirk at Will who was holding his arm looking slightly jealous. I stare at his arm, spotting a few drops of blood. So that's why he yelped. I shake my head.