AN: Just warning you now guys, this is not going to be a long one. I have it pretty mapped out already. If you have any suggestions or ideas, now is the time to let me know, and if it can fit or I haven't already planned to use it, I'll credit you. Anyway let the madness begin.

/…/…/…/

Chapter 2: Injuries

"This is all your fault!"

"My fault?" asked Matt indignantly. The blond ignored him and turned away. He was silent for a minute, slowly surveying the trees around them.

"Camp should be this way," he stated as he started to move forward quickly without waiting for Matt. The latter struggled to keep up as Mello leaped easily over fallen trees and small rocks.

"Mello! Slow down!"

Mello continued to ignore him as they approached a small cropping of rocks. He swiftly began to navigate around them, right foot finding purchase on the hill. When his left foot left the ground to get around the rock, his right foot slipped. Before he could realize what was happening, Mello had fallen on the ground hard. The hill was steep and he flipped backwards once before tumbling sidewise and continued to roll painfully down the hill. Branches tore at his arms and legs and scratched his face. He raised his arms to protect his head and moments later came to a stop at the bottom of the hill.

Mello distantly heard Matt calling for him. Hesitantly he began to flex various body parts, his arms, wrists and fingers, then legs, left ankle, right ankle-

Mello gasped as he finally became aware of the shooting pain coming from his right ankle. Wincing, he forced himself to bend it. It hurt terribly, but he could manage it. 'At least it's not broken,' he thought to himself.

"Mello!"

Mello looked up to see Matt hurrying down the hill, almost tripping and falling himself in his haste to reach the injured blond. Matt managed to keep his balance though, and soon he was beside Mello, panting and falling to his knees beside him. "Mello, are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," he lied, quickly moving to stand. Unfortunately his ankle was not compliant with his pride, because the sharp pain was enough to make him cry out and almost fall to the ground again, if it wasn't for Matt being there to help lower him carefully to the ground instead. "Don't touch me," he growled, pushing away Matt's helping hands. "I don't need help from someone who caused this in the first place."

Matt paused, looking hurt only for a moment before anger took over his features. "It's not my fault! This is your fault for moving so fast and falling. And it's not my fault we got lost."

"If you hadn't moved farther from camp to play your stupid game then we wouldn't have forgotten which way to go! Face it, it's your fault! We never would have run into that bear if you hadn't wanted to play your stupid game."

Matt looked away guiltily. "That doesn't only make it my fault," he said finally. "Obviously you weren't paying close enough attention either, ranting about Near not having to search for firewood. It's not totally my fault."

"Whatever," Mello grumbled. "Let's just go." He stood up, keeping the weight off his ankle so he wouldn't fall again.

"Can you even climb this?" Matt questioned. "It's steep; we'd have a hard time even if you weren't injured."

"I'm fine," Mello said, somehow making it to the base of the hill. It was not one of his most intelligent moments, trying to climb that hill. It was very obvious after the first step that he couldn't make it. He tried to stand straight, really he did, but the pain was too much for the thirteen year old and he was forced to lower himself to his knees, eyes closed and holding back another cry of pain.

"Mello you're going to make it worse. Face it, we can't climb that right now," Matt reasoned.

"Don't tell me what I can and can't do!" Mello shrieked, still on the ground. Matt slowly moved towards him and carefully touched his shoulder. When Mello didn't respond Matt lowered himself to his knees, gently taking Mello's arm and putting it around his shoulders. "I can do it! Leave me alone!"

"No Mello, you're hurt. Just let me help you."

"I don't want your help," Mello said, tearing himself from Matt's grasp and stumbling back to flat ground and sitting, eyes shut tightly against the pain. Matt just watched him a moment then sat down beside the blond.

Matt was used to Mello's bouts of rage. He was also used to his stubbornness when he was hurt. This was nothing new…well being lost in the woods was new, but he was trying to not think about that too much right now. Mello's pride was hurt, that was all. Once he got over that they could move on and find a way back to camp.

"Go back to camp Matt," said Mello, interrupting the redhead's thoughts.

"What?"

Mello wasn't looking at him. "You climb the hill and get back to camp. You can come back for me later."

"No!" Matt said indignantly. "I'm not leaving you here injured by yourself! Besides you know I don't have the best sense of direction. I don't know how to get back to camp. What if I got lost? At least this way we're together."

"Oh goody," Mello muttered sarcastically.

"Look," Matt said, "the best thing for us to do right now is get you off your foot for a few hours. If it's not bad we should be able to climb the hill fine. I think that we might…have to spend the night out here though." He shuddered at the thought. "If you think you can handle it though, we could walk back in the direction of camp for a little while."

Mello growled slightly. "Of course I can handle it." Matt helped him up, glancing around uncertainly. Luckily there weren't many trees down here, or plants. The ground was relatively clear, which would be a huge help for Mello. He slowly began guiding them, attempting to help Mello over fallen branches despite the blonds' protests.

Mello was limping badly, so the duo was moving very slowly across the ground. Mello's teeth were clenched tightly to stop himself from making any noise. He didn't want to appear weak. Hurting his ankle from falling down a hill was ridiculous.

Ignoring the fact that they were lost, it was rather peaceful. The birds were singing cheerfully from the trees, and they had yet to come across any other wild animals. The sun was shining brightly, keeping the woods well lighted so it was easy to see.

If they weren't lost in the wilderness maybe it would be a little better.

Matt tightened his grip on Mello as they approached a fallen tree, supporting most of his weight to help him get over it. Mello, frustrated with his weakness, snapped.

"I don't want your help or need it Matt! Just stay away from me!"

"And where should I go?" Matt asked.

"I don't care! Find your way back by yourself, just don't follow me anymore!" he snapped, managing several steps on his own away from Matt.

Although Matt didn't move yet to catch him, his voice was loud and firm right behind him. "There is no way I'm leaving you here alone Mello. Like it or not you could not take care of yourself like this."

"I don't care! Find your own way out!" Mello continued, making it several more feet slowly on his own before he noticed Matt really wasn't following. He paused, turning to look at the redhead who was still standing in the same place behind him.

"You'd really leave me here…lost in the woods, alone?" Matt asked softly.

Mello cringed. Matt was using that injured voice that somehow always made him feel guilty. Was he mad at Matt for getting them lost? Yes. But he was also mad at Near for not being the one lost, at L for making them gather firewood, and although he hated to admit it, he was mad at himself for being part of the reason they were lost, and for being hurt and keeping them stuck farther away from camp.

Yes he was mad, but obviously he wasn't going to really leave Matt alone in the woods. Just imagining him alone, trying to survive made him flinch.

"Of course not you idiot. You're so annoying. If you want to stay with me then hurry up!"

Matt complied, moving next to Mello. "Will you let me help you?" he pleaded as Mello struggled over a tree branch. Mello nodded reluctantly and allowed Matt to handle part of his weight.

"What supplies do you have in your bag?" Matt asked, hoping for something to help them, particularly food.

"A couple sandwiches, chocolate, two apples, clothes and a blanket…a canteen I think. We'd have more supplies if you had got your bag too."

Matt sighed, brushing off the comments. Mello was just crabby because they were lost and he was hurt.

It was a rather terrifying situation to be in. Both of them had lived in cities before ending up at Wammy house, and neither had any experience with the woods or camping. They didn't know what food would be safe to eat. They didn't know any of that.

They were completely out of their element.

They were out of their element and while they knew basic survival tactics, they didn't know a lot. Not for a situation like this.

It was mild out, and they were quickly getting thirsty. Neither had eaten since breakfast and were getting hungry. The worst part was that they had arrived in the afternoon, and here in the dense woods it was already starting to get darker, and they had no plan for the night, no protection.

No, this wasn't looking good at all.

/…/…/…/

AN: Short chapter is short. I am unhappy with it. But I needed to get it up since after I see Harry Potter at midnight the obsession will take over my life at least for several days.

Mello's being rather rude isn't he? Poor Matt, having to deal with that.

On an unrelated note, my friends and I recently finished editing some of our cosplay videos. If anyone is interested, we're under the name MarauderingWammys on youtube. I cosplay Matt, just in case anyone is bored enough to go and watch it xD. Anyway hope you enjoyed the chapter. Mello being injured is not going to bode well for them.