Chapter Twenty One:
(Hearth)
I knelt silently next to the ground, holding my spears at ready.
"We are on defensive," muttered Laurel. "I don't like attacking and being on offensive."
"But they'll kill us!" I hissed.
She gave me a sideways glare, and finally, I gave in. I muttered, "Liana is dead."
That had an effect. A grimace fell across everyone's faces. I wish I hadn't pulled that line; it caused grief to hit Danton hard. It hit Laurel too, a look of grief passed her face before the determination.
"Come on," Laurel growled. "Let's move camp."
I gathered Liana's items and carried them as well as mine. We walked in a line form, on each other's heels practically. Laurel was in front, Kiele behind her, Danton, then me.
"So, if it's just us," I started to talk, not really paying attention to my surroundings - a nearly fatal mistake, I assure you.
"Look out!" Kiele screamed suddenly.
Danton tackled me to the ground, and Laurel tackled Kiele. This idea seemed good at first, but later, it was stupid. A tree came alive above us, its limbs swiping at us viciously. A tree - what they had been attacked by earlier.
I stared up at it in horror. How were you supposed to fight something bigger, faster, stronger than you? I scrambled away, struggling to avoid crashing tree branches. Something hit my back hard, and I hit the ground, unable to move for a moment. Pain made it nearly impossible to move, and I gasped for breath. Kiele and Laurel...
Where was everybody? Wham! Whistling air...Something hit my shoulder, and I was vaguely aware of the tree again. The second day. I was going to die on the second day.
A branch hung over me threateningly, blocking the beauty of the sky. I had a feeling this could be the last thing I ever saw. I narrowed my eyes in to a determined glare. I felt an urge to die fighting.
Then, light stung my eyes. I'm not sure if I was hit or not, but I didn't ache. Maybe it hit the part of my brain that registers pain. Maybe not. A lithe figure stood over me, a shimmering axe in its hands.
I was saved. Danton knelt next to me and pulled me away from the thrashing tree. "Hey, Hearth," said his warm voice. "Please stay alive."
"I'm alright," I tried to say, but I'm not sure what came out.
The next person I saw was Laurel, standing over me. Concern was in her eyes, an axe in her hands. She looked normal, finally. In fact, if it weren't for Danton and Kiele at her shoulders, I'd believe I was in the back forest at home.
"Hearth," Laurel growled, her voice tight with pain and anxiety.
"I'm fine," I managed to say, and I must've said something right.
They relaxed just a little. Kiele knelt next to me, slipping her hand in to mine. "You're hurt," she whispered.
"Just a little," I groaned, wincing. My shoulders hurt, and I had difficulty breathing. "Kiele..."
"Shh, I'm here, it's okay," whispered the girl.
Laurel stood up, looking at the sky. "Cedric," she said under her breath, eyes blurring slightly with tears. "Cedric, please something to help my...my friend's brother." Her teary eyes narrowed in to a glare, changing from grief to reckless courage. "Please, Ced...I need something."
A flapping sound, and large white parachute. Laurel knelt next to it, pulling out a blanket and splints.
"This will go around your chest and back," ordered Kiele, pulling out a plastic chest splint. "Take off your shirt."
"Just can't wait to pull off my shirt, can you?" I coughed.
She rolled her eyes, helping me. Her eyes were slightly teary with worry. "Hold still." Laurel lifted me gently, carefully, and Kiele wrapped the splint around me and velcroed it. I gave a soft sigh, almost feeling better already. They pulled my shirt over it and Laurel laid me down against a blanket.
"To prevent shock," Laurel told me. "Stay here, rest. We'll build camp around you. Drink some water."
"I...I..." I groaned. "I hurt."
"I know," Laurel touched my forehead, giving me a worried smile. "It will be okay, little guy."
I smiled back weakly. Kiele knelt next to me, one hand on my chest and the other on my shoulder, leaning over me. "You'll be alright, Hearth."
"Drink some water," Laurel said roughly. "Stay alive, got it?"
I managed a soft smile, sipping the water. Kiele knelt next to me, holding my hand and smiling a worried smile.