We ran, jumping over rocks and fallen branches. It seemed that the gamemakers were trying to get one of us killed - which of course, they were -
as the path increased in difficulty as we continue on. I jump over a large, fallen branch, but Cole doesn't wuite make it, and he falls to the ground.
I skid to a halt, and see the snake recoil, ready to pounce.
"No!" i shriek, running back to him as fast as I can, but the leaves keep getting in my way.
As the snake lunges, I shut my eyes tight. I don't want to witness his death. But after a few minutes, I feel arms around me. Arms that shouldn't be there, but are.
"Are you okay, are you alright? Delly, are you okay?" Cole asks me, his eyes searching for some kind of wound on my body, but there isn't one.
"I'm fine." I gasp, clinging to him. "I'm fine. How are you- How aren't you-"
I see something twitch in the grass over his shoulder. A boy. A small-ish one. Peobably about 13 or 14 years old. I let go of Cole, who releases me immediately, and I sit next to him. I take his hand.
"If you see, if you see Mare, tell her, tell her-" The boy splutters, and for the first time I notice the huge, red gash on his leg, that was starting to turn green. "Tell her I didn't die for their entertainment. I saved him."
"I will." I say, nodding. "I will, I promise. Thank you." I blink away tears and try not to let my voice crack. "Thank you so muhc for saving him. You are AMAZING."
He smiles slightly, and then he coughs violently, shakes, and goes limp. His blue eyes stare at the canopy, and I close them, closing my own eyes and taking a deep breath.
"Did you kill it?" I ask.
Cole nods at the snake in the leaves. It has been cut in half, with it's bottom half still twitching amongst the branches, it's top half seeping green goo. We get up, but decide to leave our lost weapons behind. Cole goes to take a step, and immediately falls to the ground in pain. He clutches at his left ankle, and groans in pain.
"Let me see." I murmur, but he ignores me. "Let me SEE."
Slowly, he relaxes, and I look at his ankle. It had been cut open slightly, and I had a feeling it was broken. "Here. Lean on me." I say, helping him up. He nods, and I hold my arm around him, holding him up. He's heavy, but I know we have to move. We're too exposed.
"Just leave me." He grunts after a few yards. "I'm slowing you down."
"I don't care." I say. "I've already left you once, I'm not doing it again."
He grunts again, something I can't make out, and so I dsimiss it, carrying him on through the jungle.