Rue felt her fingers sliding off the branch like it was lubricated with oil. The bark was coarse but her fingers were glossy with perspiration and couldn't hold any friction. Screaming soundlessly, she felt the ground plummet towards her. Her spine connected with solid ground and audibly cracked. The centaurs surrounded her and several of the aggressive males kicked her. But all aggression dwindled like the day as the Herd noticed that Rue was not responding.