Hey Guys! Yes I know this is the end of the Christmas season, but I had this enormous project and presentation due for Biology. So as of yesterday, that was the only free time I had to write! So here's the next chapter!
Sid turned the ATV down the slope toward the way Finn had gone. As they headed down the slope, they scanned left and right for any sign of Finn. When the reached the halfway point of the hill Holley cried out, "Look!" Sid stopped the ATV and Holley jumped off. Running over to several pine trees, she looked at several branches. "The snow isn't heavy enough to break theses off yet! It looks like that wind gust pushed Finn into the trees!" Running back to Sid, Holley told him to head for the area behind the trees. Driving under the lower branches, Sid headed toward the far left reaches of the slope. When he reached the bottom of the slope, they scanned the area, looking for any sign of Finn, or even some kind of a shelter. When they found no trace of him, Holley ran to the edge of the drop off. Scanning the snow she was unable to find an imprint in the snow that anyone had been in the area. "Maybe he walked up the other side of the slope where it's more sheltered!" Siddeley yelled over the wind. Nodding, Holley turned back toward the ATV when she stepped on something that popped out of the snow. Bending down, she picked up the item crying out, "Sid! It's Finn's ski pole! He must have gone over the edge!"
Sid ran to the back of the ATV and pulled a long rope out of a utility bin. Unwinding it, he tied one edge to a tree and threw the other over the edge. Grabbing the rope, Holley and Sid lowered themselves down the small cliff. When the reached the bottom, they began to look for the missing agent, yelling his name as they went.
"Finn?" Holley yelled. Straining her ears for some kind of reply.
"Over here!" a faint voice answered. Holley screamed for Sid and they raced toward the sound and soon came upon the hapless agent. Holley knelt by his side.
"My foot," he gasped, he teeth chattering. Pulling a knife out of her pocket, Holley flicked the blade open and began scraping at the rotten wood while Sid hacked at it with a stone he had found. In a minute Finn's foot was free and they helped him to his feet. But when he put pressure on his foot it gave way and he would've fallen had not Sid grabbed his shoulders. Putting an arm over his each of his friends' shoulders, Finn allowed himself to be helped to where the roped was dangling. Sid tied the end of the rope into a loop before pulling himself up, Holley following suit. When they reached the top, they instructed Finn to place the loop over his head and to tuck it under his arms. Using their combined strength, Holley and Sid pulled Finn to the top and helped him to the ATV. Taking out the blanket and the first aid kit, Holley tended to the cut on her partner's face before filing several hot water bottles with hot water and stuffing them down his coat. As Sid stared the ATV, Holley got on behind Finn so that he was between the two of them. As they started back up the hill, Holley got so cold her teeth started chattering. Looking at Finn, she couldn't imagine how cold he must be feeling.
When the reached the house. Finn allowed himself to be helped inside, where Holley and Sid peeled his snow gear off of him. Helping him to the living room, Sid instructed Finn to lie down on the couch while he hurried to get his mother. Soon Mrs. Taylor was fussing over him as the six children were seated on floor, watching silently. After examining his ankle and declaring it only severely twisted, Mrs. Taylor began checking his fingers and toes for frostbite as Holley tucked several more hot water bottles around him and covered him with a blanket. As he stopped shaking and began to grown warmer, Finn became drowsy and soon dosed off.
When he awoke, he was greeting by six pairs of eyes still watching him. Finn smiled, "I'm not going to die, you don't have to worry!" Relief was evident on their faces as they peppered him with questions about his ordeal. After repeating his story for the fourth time, Holley, Sid and Mr. and Mrs. Taylor entered the room, and Finn told them his story for the fifth time. When he finished, Mr. Taylor said, "It's a good thing you tucked your hands in your coat or you might have gotten very severe frostbite!"
"Yeah," Finn agreed, "For once I'm glad the academy made us take that survival class."
After being fed some warm soup, Finn reluctantly let Holley wrap an Ace bandage around his ankle. Suddenly there was a loud ruckus as Sid came tearing into the room chasing his younger siblings. The chase ended with a giant dog pile on the floor as the kids pounced on Sid. "Hey Finn, Holley help!" Sid yelled.
"Sorry Sid, I'm incapacitated," Finn said with a grin, as he picked up a magazine.
"You've got a twisted ankle, it's not like your dying!" Sid exclaimed as Holley laughed. When Sid kept calling for help, Finn picked up several pillows and began throwing them at Sid's siblings. Screaming, the children took off.
"Thanks!" Sid said gratefully as he got to his feet.
"Oh, I wasn't trying to help you, I was just trying to get you to shut up!" Finn said with a smirk. Sid made a face as he walked into the kitchen to help prepare dinner.
After a hearty meal of vegetable stew, the Taylor kids were sent to bed excited, for tomorrow morning was Christmas. As it began to grow dark the Taylors decided to let Finn sleep on the couch instead of having to negotiate the stars with a bum ankle. After the other members of the household turned in for the night, Finn fell asleep looking at the bright lights of the Christmas tree, and listening to the howling of the wind.
Okay, this was a really short chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it. I'm planning on wrapping this up in one more chapter so hang tight! And also feedback is really appreciated!