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Day 14 - A New Plan

I finish the last bite of my apple and eye Cyo who is still eating some bread. Luckily, he was able to eat regular stuff again today. He tells me the pills work and I really hope he isn't lying, but he genuinely looks better - so I guess, it's okay.

I know that his dressing should be replaced, but we're out of compresses. We'll need those big leaves that heal wounds, the one from the yellow flowers. What is it called? ... Right! Calendula, that's it.

I look at Cyo's stomach briefly, then I say, "Is it okay if I go and look for some calendula leaves? We need to change your dressing."

Cyo hesitates. He knows, however, that it's necessary to remove the old dressing and nods. "Okay. But don't go too far away, Val. Promise me."

I smile. It's cute how he is worried about me, but he's right. We shouldn't risk that now. I lean forward and gently kiss him before standing up. "I promise. I will be back very soon."

And with that, I leave our little hideout. First, I really want to know what those fucking holes are so I walk over to the nearest one and kneel down. This one is not that deep. Some of them I saw two days ago were just black, looking like they were leading into the abyss.

Here, however, I can see solid ground down there. Carefully I lean in and look around - it's a tunnel! This must be the same sort of cave-system as the one above ground, but this one at least has some light from above and a way to escape.

Quickly I pull myself up again and start walking away from the hole. I really have to be careful around now - there could be one of those holes behind every corner and under every bush.

Now I need to find the calendula, I need to go back soon or Cyo will worry and I don't want to put him through that. I try to really remember exactly how the plant looks, I can't risk bringing anything else that might be poisonous.

There are hardly any plants growing on the ground anyway, so I really hope there is at least some of it around.

Soon I reach a clearing where the ground is almost completely open. With a sigh, I start walking around the hole and pass a few trees. Then I freeze on the spot. Did I just hear something?

There it is again! It's someone cursing under their breath, a light voice, female - Ayla. My hand immediately reaches for my knives on my belt but finds... nothing. Shit! They must have fallen off before I left.

I stay close to the tree and try to hide behind it when I see Ayla about two trees over. She's tying a rope to the tree, building a trap. I consider my options.

Maybe I could surprise her and fight her without a weapon. It's hard to strangle someone until they're dead but maybe I could do it. But then I see the obvious problem - Ayla does have a weapon, more than one in fact.

A knife is attached to her belt, always there if she needs it and there's also an ax leaning against the trunk of the tree, in arms reach.

No way of winning against her I'll have to stay quiet and hidden until she goes a bit further away, and then leave.

Where did she even get that ax? From the Cornucopia? No... there was nothing left after the flood. I also didn't see any weapons during the feast. It must be a sponsor gift! Kind of impressive to receive something so expensive.

Abruptly Ayla turns and starts walking in my direction. Out of reflex I hold my breath and press my body tighter to the tree. She can't see me!

I hear her footsteps close in on me and suddenly, they stop. There's a rattle, leaves being moved up and down. She's cutting down smaller branches from the other side of this tree. God, please don't make her come over.

My heartbeat seems way too loud. It echoes in my ears and makes my arteries tingle. I know she can't hear it, but maybe she can sense it.

For minutes I barely dare to breathe, until finally, thankfully Ayla moves away again. She holds the branches she has cut close and walks back over to the trap - likely to cover it. Now is my chance! Now she isn't looking...

I risk making a sound and start running away, taking cover behind a tree further away. She likely didn't notice because I don't hear her coming after me. Still, I wait for a bit. Then I run again, run away in the direction I came from.

As soon as I can be sure I'm far enough away I stop and lean on a tree. That was close... I should have checked for the knives! I should have been more careful in general! Stupid!

But I made it, with my dumb luck I still made it. I look around to see that I have run almost all the way to the mountain. I still need the calendula... I didn't pay too much attention after my encounter with Ayla, but I can't remember seeing anything on my way here.

I sigh and walk over the few feet until I reach the steep rock wall. Only grass is growing here, nothing we could use at all.

I know the wound could heal without anything from now but it would take days. If only we had more of the cream... it would be completely healed by tomorrow.

Another sigh escapes my mouth as I realize it's probably pointless to look around - the herbs are gone from this arena, just like the fish. I'll need to return to Cyo without anything.

Quickly I look at the sky once before turning, but there is something I didn't expect. A silver parachute is dangling from the wall - 45, maybe 50 feet above the ground. I bite down on my bottom lip. Great! This is just great!

Climbing up there is not easy in the first place, but the possibility of being seen while doing it makes it even worse. But Cyo needs this - maybe it's even some cream and compresses!

I nod once and then make my way back to our hideout. I'll need a rope to climb down once I have reached the gift.

I maneuver through the trees and duck under a few branches until I'm face to face with Cyo again. Before he can say anything I sit down in front of him and start to explain, "Listen... what I'm about to say sounds really dumb and like a stupid idea, but it's what I'll need to do. First, I saw Ayla in the woods."

Cyo stares at me. "You saw Ayla? Did she also see you?"

I shake my head. "No... I wanted to use that advantage and kill her, but I didn't bring my knives. Must have fallen off my belt here. So I just hid and she didn't see me. But now I know the area where she is."

Hesitantly he nods, "Yeah, we could take the weapons and now go find her."

"No... not now," I interrupt him right then and there, "You are not ready for a fight. You need to heal properly. And that's what brings me to, second: I couldn't find any calendula - or anything at all. But there is a sponsor gift for us. Unfortunately, it got stuck on the mountain. I'll need to climb up and get it."

Cyo takes my hand in his, shaking his head. "No way! Don't risk that, I'll be fine without it."

I smile lightly, "That's right. You'll be fine without it - in a week. But we don't have a week, we might not even have another full day. And with the gift hopefully being more medicine it will be healed in no time."

His eyes dart to the ground, avoiding me. "Val... You can't do that for me."

I squeeze his hand and say, "I can. And I will. I know how to climb, I'm good at it - I promise."

Now he looks up to meet my eyes again, his clearly filled with worry. There's a silence between us. Then he whispers, "Let me come too... in case Ayla or Rex see you and come for you."

I shake my head. "No. I told you, you are not ready for a fight. They'll kill you, Cyo."

He squeezes his eyes shut and takes a deep breath. Then he pulls me close, kissing me. I can't help but kiss him back, give him every bit of reassurance that I can do this. When we part he just looks at me and nods. "Okay... do it. But if you don't come back soon I'll come to look!"

I nod. "Good... that's a deal."

Reluctantly I let go of his hand and pick up the rope that had been used for a trap previously, about 50 feet long, long enough for this. I look around and find my knives sitting on the ground neatly. I pick them up and tie them to my belt again, a little tighter this time. I'm just about to leave when I hear Cyo's voice again and turn. "I... I wanted to tell you... Stay safe."

I smile gently and say, "Of course... you too."

Then I leave the hideout quickly. I'm sure he was about to say something else, something impactful and I know exactly what it was supposed to be. I'm glad he didn't say it - or it would have been even harder to leave now.

Soon I reach the mountain again. It almost looks like a cliff, but there is no top. Nothing to reach. It just looks endless.

I swallow my fear as best as I can and tie the rope around my shoulders so it won't fall off while I climb. Carefully I test it but it stays so I reach up and hold onto the first stones with my hands.

Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of texture in those rocks but still enough to find a place to hold onto.

The parachute is coming closer and closer as I make it further up the wall. My fingers cramp and hurt from holding onto those tiny finger pockets and edges. Oh, how I wish I had brought one of the pickaxes after the flood.

I am almost there, can almost reach it, but there is nothing to hold onto anymore. This part of the rock is smooth and there are no irregularities. I can't continue up.

I curse under my breath but look for a route to take. The smooth patch of rock stretches a few feet under the parachute but doesn't stretch across the whole side. I'll have to climb around it.

As carefully as possible I start sideward. One step at a time. To find a halt I twist my feet, moving one at a time.

Crack

My eyes widen as I hear it. Then I feel it. The small platform that has supported my feet starts to crumble. Before I can even react, I feel it break away.

In a desperate attempt to save myself I cling to the finger pockets with both my hands. This is not good at all! I need to find new support...

Trying not to panic, I test the rock with my feet for something - anything to carry my weight. With all the strength I can matter I pull myself up, dangling, about to fall soon. Then there is a saving grace - an uneven edge that's big enough to hold my toes.

Experimentally I reach up with one hand - now that one of my feet has found footing again. I soon find a place to grab and manage to pull my body up a bit, making it easier to hold on.

For a while I just stay there, catching my breath. But I need to go on. I'm almost there.

I grit my teeth and start climbing again, my legs are wobbly and I hate every second I have to continue this. But I need that gift.

Finally, I reach the end of the smooth patch and start back in the direction I came from - this time above it.

With my whole body shaking, I reach the parachute. I grab the little package attached to it with one hand and pull, making it come off. When I look at the wrapped gift closely, there's blood smeared on it. My hand is bleeding like Rex's hands did when he almost fell. Oh, how I wish I had killed him right then and there in the cave.

But that's not the right time to think about it. I shove the package in the pocket of my jacket and try to untie the rope around my shoulders. Taking a deep breath, it finally breaks free.

I'm so done, I'm exhausted from climbing up, but I need to focus on getting back down now. I can still fall and break my neck, just because I didn't pay attention for a moment.

With uncertainty I test the piece of rock sticking out from the surface where the parachute is still hanging. It seems stable enough, if I'm quick it'll do.

I wrap the rope around it with one hand. I hesitate, but eventually, I let go of the finger pocket with my second hand and do a knot I've been doing about a thousand times in my life - the one that secures the rope before rappelling.

Holding my breath I sharply pull on the rope once, it stays in place, the rock doesn't break off.

I look over my shoulder once to look down. Shit... it's high, it's damn high... but I need to go back and change Cyo's dressing. In my head, I count down from five...

5... I hold onto the rope with both hands...

4... I swallow hard, a weak attempt to swallow the fear of this thing collapsing and me falling.

3... I feel heavy, I'm too heavy for this...

2... My hands are bloody and bruised already, so it won't matter if the rope cuts into my palms.

1... Now!

And with that I push myself off the rock with my feet, holding onto the rope with my hands and going down fast - as fast as I can. There is that burning sensation in my hands. The feeling you get when there's friction, the same feeling you get from a blister. There's probably more blood, but I refuse to look. I need to focus on not falling.

I wait for the ground, for solid ground under my feet. It can't be far! Then there's a new sensation. The rope that has been taut and steady suddenly isn't at all. I'm falling!

I can't help but let a small scream escape my mouth and brace myself for the impact. Luckily that's not necessary - it comes right away. I almost made it all the way down.

I'm about to sit up again when I hear a familiar voice, "Val! What happened?"

Of course, he had to follow me. I grunt and push myself up into a sitting position, finding myself looking at a very worried Cyo. This makes me grin. "Fuck my life... This is embarrassing."

He instantly seems to worry less and grins too. "Mhm... pretty bad for a career. You should really live in shame now."

I roll my eyes and now get up from the ground, still grinning. "Shut up and help me collect the stupid rope! Why are you even here? I told you to stay put..."

He sighs and starts picking up the rope. "I know... but I was worried and... why is it red? Show me your hands!"

I hesitate but then hold them out to him, palms facing up. For the first time, I get a proper look at them too. There are cuts and an awful lot of blood, but I braced myself for that. Cyo shakes his head. "Does it hurt?"

I shake my head. "No, not really. It just... tingles. I don't know."

Collecting the rest of the rope and carrying it, Cyo shakes his head. "At least now we have the gift. We can use some for your hands too."

I'm about to protest, but then I realize I'll have to use my hands to treat his wound anyway. There's not really a way around that. With that in mind, I nod and quickly check if the package is still in my pocket - it is.

"Come on... let's go back and change the dressing," I say.

We start walking back together. I side-eye him every now and then. Walking already works pretty well. With the new medicine which is hopefully in the package, he should be all good by tomorrow.

When we reach the camp Cyo first grabs our canteen. I look at him puzzled and he says, "To wash the blood off your hands first. Let me help you."

I reluctantly nod and sit down next to him, holding my palms out again. When the water hits my hands I flinch, although I try not to. Fuck! That thing burns!

Cyo gives me an apologetic look but continues until the cuts are cleaner and not a red mess anymore.

When he stops I inspect them and manage to say, "Good... they are not too deep."

He nods. "You're right... now we need new stuff. Can you give it to me?"

I reach into my pocket and fish out the package, holding it out to him. He takes it from me and carefully starts untying it. The piece of fabric, with both the numbers 2 and 12 on it, opens up and reveals one compress, sealed with plastic, and a box. It's the cream that treats wounds.

I suddenly have an idea and reach for the piece of fabric that was used as a wrapping. "I could use that as a towel..." Cyo grants it to me and carefully I dab it on my hands. It hurts, but I manage to hide it.

Then I look at Cyo's stomach. "I think it works best if you sit."

He nods and mumbles a 'Yeah' while taking off his jacket. The remainder of his shirt has been taken off already, so it leaves him topless (which excites me a little too much).

Quickly I start removing the gauze bandage to get my mind off of things that are not appropriate now. Soon I reach the last layer and my shirt falls into his lap.

Cyo picks it up curiously, then looks at me. "Is this... your shirt?"

I feel my ears get hot and nod. "Yeah... I... I needed something to stop the bleeding."

Now he has that silly grin on his face again and I try not to blush even more. Immediately I open the zipper of my jacket up all the way and say, "I still got this jogging bra thing... so don't get all too excited!"

He responds with a laugh and says, "Oh, I don't know... I'm already too excited."

Grinning I pick up the shirt from his lap and throw it in his face. "Stop! I still need to change the dressing..."

Cyo's grin doesn't die down but at least he stops laughing. "Okay, okay... go on."

I try to focus again and carefully pull at the first compress. This scares the grin off of his face and I can't help but mumble a 'Sorry'. He quietly says, "No... 's alright."

I debate over how to handle this shortly but then I decide on just jerking it. Cyo reacts by holding back a scream, instead, he draws a shaky breath through the nose. Quickly I put the compress aside and look at the wound. It's still open in the center but has healed a lot all over. Luckily it's also not inflamed.

Then I look at Cyo's face. He has calmed down again. "There's one more... would you like to hold onto my arm?"

He hesitates but then nods and lightly takes one of my wrists in his hand. With my other hand, I hold onto one corner of the compress and pull again, removing it quickly. Cyo tightens his grip but not as much. It doesn't hurt.

I smile and put some water on the piece of fabric I have used as a towel. "You did great... now let's clean it and redo the dressing."

He smiles softly at me as I start dabbing around the wound. "Thanks, Val... really."

I shake my head and look up to meet his eye again when I'm done with the cleaning. "No... you would have done the same for me."

He nods. "Of course... but most likely I wouldn't have made it all the way up to that parachute."

I smile and open the box with the cream. "You never know... maybe you're a natural."

"I don't think so..." He grins as I apply the cream. Good! That doesn't seem to hurt. "I tried to climb up to a platform higher up in the mines once. Wasn't too successful, I should have better stayed on the ground."

That makes me chuckle. I can imagine how that went. "Okay... maybe you're not a natural then."

When I'm done with the cream there is almost none left. Quickly I apply the fresh compress and wrap around the old gauze bandage again. Yes... that should do.

Cyo gestures at the box with the cream after it's done. "Now rub the rest on your hands."

I hesitate. It feels wrong to use it up. "I don't know... maybe we should safe it for emergencies..."

He shakes his head. "No. It's not enough for serious emergencies and you can't fight with your hands hurting. Take it."

I sigh. Unfortunately, he's right about everything he said so I pick up the box again and apply the cream, that is left, to my cuts.

Cyo seems to be satisfied with that and puts on his jacket again.

Soon it's getting dark and we pick something to eat. The sky stays empty while the anthem plays, it almost hadn't been. I pull the blanket out of the backpack to prepare to settle down when Cyo interrupts me, "Hey... you know the sleeping bag is technically yours. So you should have it back."

I smile and shake my head lightly. "Oh, it's okay. You can use it."

He smirks as he proposes something else, "Or... we could use both things. Just to make sure, we won't be cold, of course..."

I can't help but grin. What a smooth way to share a 'bed' or that's what he's thinking anyway. "Still thinking about what's under that jogging bra, huh?"

That statement makes him chuckle. When he chuckles it just makes me feel a million times better. "Kind of hard not to, you know?"

I move over to sit next to him. "Alright, Romeo... get into the sleeping bag."

He happily complies with my request and I join him right after he has settled. Quickly I roll up the blanket so we can use it as a pillow.

For a while we just stay like that, close to each other, listening to each other's heartbeats. Being so close to him brings up all sorts of feelings for me. I don't know exactly what to do, how to just enjoy this and stop my mind from racing.

Cyo's voice stops my train of thought. "So... what are we going to do about Ayla?"

I think this through briefly before saying, "Okay... so here's what I'm thinking."