Chapter Three

3

“Set up camp,” Shadow said, “Then…” he trailed off suggestively.
“He’s bossy,” Dee said in a stage whisper, making sure Shadow was listening. I nodded, exaggerating the movement. Shadow rolled his eyes. “Well, somebody’s got to get you organized,” he said jokingly, and steered us toward camp, his hands on our shoulders. I felt a cold shiver run down my spine that had nothing to do with the chilly evening. “Come on,”
I went over to the clearing, and began work on the tent. Dee helped me out, Jay went to collect firewood, and Karma started digging the fire pit. Once the tent was raised, my job was done, and we were just waiting for Jay to get back, I walked over to a tall tree. I kicked my combat boots off, and laid them next to the tree. I peeled off my socks, and wiggled my bare foot. I was ready. I looked up, and saw the first branch a couple feet above my head.
I crouched low, looking up, and my black hair blew around my head in a whirlwind, and then I sprung, snagging a hold on some of the bark. I let my body take over; let my mind loose, and began to climb. I climbed like a squirrel, fast and precisely.
I knew what I looked like from below; dark hair falling in rivulets down my back, bare toes curled around twigs on the tree’s surface, long fingers holding the tree with a death grip.
I felt a chunk of bark under my hand begin to peel away from the tree, so I let it loose fast, and pulled my self up using another chunk, which I tested my weight on first. I reached the first branch, feeling exhilarated, and looked to the next one. I growled low in my throat, and began the dangerous climb upward.
I liked doing this, sometimes. I liked finding new ways to test my strength, like running, or climbing a tree. Some were more challenging than others, but none were life threatening, unless I fell the wrong way.
I paused then, a few feet away from a branch, and let go with my feet, using only my arms to pull myself up higher and higher. I blew my hair away from my face for what seemed like the twentieth time, and got an arm around the next branch. I pulled myself all the way up onto that branch, and there I sat.
I pulled a decent sized twig from the branch I was resting on, and wound my long hair around it, using other small twigs to keep it in place. I shook my head vigorously, and not one hair came loose. Perfect, I thought to myself. Now I could climb without my hair irritating me and making my journey all the more treacherous. I climbed higher, pausing every now and then to adjust my bow, which I still had on my back. I seldom took it off: only when I was asleep did I lean it on the canvas wall of the tent. I looked down. Then I looked out towards the sun set. Jay was probably back by now. I started to turn, and then something caught my attention. I blinked. “What?” I asked softly. Then I turned and high tailed it down the tree. “Fire! Fire to the West!” I screamed, praying that my friends could hear me.
When I was a couple feet off the ground, I held on to a branch, swinging my body over the edge. I dropped purposefully out of the tree and onto my feet. I hit the ground with the sounds of leaves crunching underfoot barely registering. I stuffed my feet into my shoes again, then I began running in the direction of the tent we’d just set up. I slammed into somebody, but I couldn’t tell who it was. I was knocked off balance, then, catching myself, I looked up to see my friends’ startled faces. Jay was back, thank God.
“What-?” Shadow began.
“Fire!” I burst out. My face must have shown my terror. I could imagine my wide eyed fright all too well. They all looked at me for a second. Then the danger sunk in.
“Get the tent.” Shadow said over his shoulder. I turned to go with the others, but Shadow grabbed my arm. “How far away?” He asked intently.
“A mile. Two, tops.” I said confidently. I knew what I’d seen.
Shadow closed his eyes for a second. “We’ve got three minutes. Or less.”
“How big was it?” he asked, fixing his gaze on me once again. I thought for a second. “I don’t know. It was getting bigger though.” I said finally.
Shadow kept looking at me, curiosity evident in his dark eyes. I wondered what he was thinking catching us slightly off guard. But not for long. We all turned and started ripping the tent apart, stuffing it with less care than usual into our backpacks. I tied mine on immediately, wrapping the straps around my middle and over my arms, tying them tightly. I picked up my bow, slinging it over my back. I was ready to take on anything. I ran, my boots crushing leaves and twigs underfoot. I no longer cared how much noise I made.
“Head for the creek! The creek!” Shadow yelled, pointing east. How he knew it was there, I have no idea. We ran faster than we ever had, the heat of the forest fire at our backs. I glanced over at Dee. She ran like a gazelle, her long legs showing slightly under the gauzy, light-weight skirt she always wore. It was slitted down the sides, allowing her free movement. She was always ready to face danger. Had been for almost eight years. I’d been running from danger longer then she. But I still thought it might forget me for a while. I was very foolish to believe so.

We made it to the creek. We were standing in the deepest part, watching all the animals flee in our direction. Some of them made it before the fire did. Some didn’t. We watched the fire burn itself out on the bank, sparks flying. Dee had her skirt bunched in her fist, holding it above the water. I looked down at my own slitted skirt, flowing around my ankles. The current was tugging at me to play. I’d always loved running water, the sound, the sight of it, even the smell. I’d lived near a lake as a young child, and my fondest memories of that house were of the freshwater surrounding it. I watched a fish snake around my calf. It was no longer than my hand, yet it had no fear of me. That got me wondering if there was anything so lucky as to not be afraid. I pulled at the wet cloth sticking to my thigh and thought that I didn’t want to be afraid. But I didn’t quite like the idea of living without fear, either.
“Kay.” I jumped. I’d been lost in my thoughts again. I looked up at who ever had called my name. It was Shadow. “Yeah?” I answered.
“How did you know?” he asked me. The others were all looking at me, too. Dee was watching me, her eyes darker than usual, somehow, and penetrating.
“How did I know what?” I asked, honestly confused.
“About the fire.”
“I saw it. I was up in a tree, climbing, you know, for a challenge.” I said.
“Kay,” Dee said softly. Her eyes still felt like they were burning holes through me. “You weren’t. You were standing next to me the whole time.” She said, somehow managing to be soft, nice, and matter of fact all at the same time. I opened my mouth to say that was impossible. The texture of the tree bark under my bare feet had been real. The danger, the feeling of adrenaline pumping through my veins had been real. I couldn’t have imagined it all. But something stopped me. I felt all of my muscles relax simultaneously, my knees buckled, and I fell into the stream. I felt my head go under for a minute, I saw someone dive for me, reaching for my hand. I stretched for them. Our fingers barely brushed, and I was sinking. The figure was struggling for air, I could see. I didn’t want them to drown, too. “Go!” I tried to yell at them, but all I did was release a large silvery bubble from my throat. The current swirling my hair in front of my face, blinding me. I watched the bubbles rise from my lips and up to the surface. I felt something tug at my ankle, and glanced down to see a whirlwind of black hair under me. It was tugging me under, over to the deeper part of the water, where I could see nothing but blackness. I felt my last bit of air leave my lungs, and I sank into unconsciousness. I knew I was afraid. I still didn’t know if I wanted to be.

-DarkHawk09