(Sorry this took so long; had something to deal with and was busy; hope you enjoy anyways!)
Alaska skidded to a halt at the edge of the ridge she had been running across, sliding slightly on a small patch of moss growing from the wall, her scout chestplate rising and falling with her heavy breath. She watched pebbles skip off the huge gap in front of her. She turned around at the sound of Ohio's quickened footfalls
He came forward quickly, faltering to a stop beside her. His chest, too going up and down, a bit slower than Alaska's. His helmet swiveled from her, to the large gap,and the ledge that was across from them.
Alaska took six steps backwards, gesturing for Ohio to move. He complied instantly, knowing what she was about to do. She bent down, preparing to start sprinting.
She stayed in the position for a second longer, then lunged forward with the most force she could muster from her back leg, giving her a small boost in her speed.
She bounded off the ledge, slightly falling short and grabbed hold of the other ridge. She grunted, pulling herself up by her arms and lifted one of her dangling legs onto it and then the other. She stared across at Ohio, panting slightly from the effort of lifting herself up. She nodded for him to do the same.
He turned around, prepared for the worst and started off in the opposite direction, taking ten large paces, casting what Alaska knew was a skeptic look at her.
He bent over briefly, then bolted towards the end of the ledge she had previously been on.
A brief shout escaped from him as he jumped off somewhat ungracefully, barely being able to clutch the ridge. He looked down over his shoulder at his dangling limbs and the distant ground.
Alaska knelt down, offering him her hand. He looked up and raised his other arm, accepting her help. She pulled on his hand, grasping it with both of hers, her arms straining to lift him up onto the ledge in his heavy armor. She heard Ohio scrambling up, his arms appearing over the edge with his Recon helmet, then his chestplate. His now available arm rose onto the ledge, starting to help himself up.
He pushed himself over the ridge, Alaska removing her hand from his after he lurched onto it. She turned to face the rest of the ledge, looking for the plant-covered, shadowy area that was tucked farther back into the canyon than the rest of the walls. and half-concealed by vegetation.
"Alright. just need to scale about five more yards across, then make our way up," she said as she glanced at Ohio.
Ohio stared back at her with his arms crossed over his chest.
"Alaska-" he started tentavely. He paused, seeming not to know how to put his next words. He uncrossed his arms, saying, "nevermind. Let's get going."
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes under her helmet; she hated it when people didn't finish their statements. "Go on, Ohio. What?"
"Hm? Nothing," he said, striding past her. She glared after him as he started to scale the thin crevice, his gray armor half-blending with the shadowy walls.
He made it slyly to the thicker end of the cravice and slipped behind a boulder.
Alaska gave a sharp gasp as loud waves of static started to engulf her ears from her helmet's radio. She clasped her head with her hands and fell to her knees as the sound filled her head, reverbrating in her ears. She made a noise that resembled a growl as the noise of static swept over her. She caught a glimpse of Ohio, who was stumbling around behind the boulder, his hands over the place his ears were under his helmet.
"Reinforcements inbound!" 4-3-7's voice said, draining out the static. "Alaska, Ohio, please get back to the entry point of the mission."
For a moment, all she heard was herself growling as she lowered her hands from her head. A quick look at Ohio told her that he was also recovering, likely from the same incident she had experienced. She got up, staring at the sky for signs of the help 4-3-7 had radioed in about.
She looked ahead once more, and ran across the thin piece of rock less-than-cautiously. Ohio was already going up. "I think I found a quicker way over," he called over his shoulder, quickly looking down at Alaska.
"I'll continue this way," she replied, sprinting across the crevice, which was slowly starting to look more vegetated.
"Careful!" she heard him yell after her speeding form.
She bent forward farther to carry herself faster without a backwards glance at him. She would be able to move faster now that she was by herself.
I could even do a bit of scouting, she thought, starting to reach for her sniper rifle. Then she shook her head, lowering her hand; she had her orders- to get to the reinforcements. A small groan burst from her mouth- she was starting to sound like West.
She continued to dart across the rocky surface, her breath starting to become heavier. She would glance up at her targeted area, which was quickly becoming nearer and nearer.
Alaska came across another raggedy, slightly smaller gap in the way, but ran on at it without stopping. She bounded over it with a small grunt and sprinted onward, keeping what a now constant eye on the rocky platform, which she could now see slight movement on. Her breath was slowly becoming more ragged as she bolted on.
She pushed her way through clumps of taller-growing grass on some rough dirt of the ledge, tripping, her quickness combined with low, thick roots.
Her armor caused her to slide a few inches forward, kicking up dust in front of her. She slowly put up her arm to push herself up when she heard a voice above her say, " Found you."
