A/N:

Thanks for the reviews.

Chapter 4

Caught between fangs and a sister

The stifling heat was causing their clothing to stick to them in very uncomfortable ways as they walked forward hoping they were still going straight. Land was a welcome change but also came with unwelcome dangers. Snakes that hide out of site could be frightened enough to attack or the recluse spider that could land on them from a web they accidentally walked into. Prue stopped and walked over to a tree that had disturbing markings. There were definite claw prints gashed into the softwood and she put her hand to it.

"What the hell is that?" Piper asks.

"Black bear," Prue replied as it was twice the size of her hand.

"I didn't know there were bears in the Everglades," Phoebe said while she looked it over.

"It's okay as long as we stay out of its way, it should stay out of ours. We should make some noise as we walk so we don't startle one," Prue said and sat down on a log to rest for a moment.

"You ok?" Piper asks and sat down next to her.

"Just a little dehydrated, at least the water kept us cool," Prue replied.

Phoebe and Paige sat across from them and checked their canteens for water. "Here Prue I'm sure we will find more," Phoebe said and handed her what was left.

"Are you sure?" Prue asks before taking a drink.

"Yeah," Phoebe replied.

"How long do you think we've been walking?" Paige asks.

"Don't know but I have to say the elders keep us in shape," Piper replied.

"God I am so hungry," Paige said while rubbing her stomach.

"Why don't you guys set up camp, Paige and I will go hunting," Prue said and stood up, feeling slightly better after getting some needed water into her system. "Come on baby sister, let's go and get all Neanderthal on this places ass," she said and smiled.

"I like being evolved thank you," Paige said and stood up to follow her oldest sister.

"Don't get lost, I don't have the energy to come find you," Piper said.

"That's okay I don't have the energy to get lost," Paige said as they disappeared into the trees.

Piper and Phoebe began to set up camp a process that they have grown weary of.

"You know right now not that far from us, people are on rides and drinking overpriced pizza and eating cups of fruit," Phoebe said as Piper was making a place for a fire.

"Leo wanted to take the kids to Disney World next year," Piper said.

"It would be fun for them."

"I can tell you this for sure I am not walking around everywhere," Piper said and found some rocks to put in a circle.

"Oh honey you going to ride one of those scooters around?" Phoebe asks while cutting some branches down.

"You bet," Piper replied and they both laughed a little. Piper used the back of her hand to wipe her brow as sweat was getting into her eyes.

"Do you think Melinda is old enough?"

"She's only two but the boys are and they should remember, we can always go back," Piper replied and started to look around.

"What?"

"We're going to need a lot of firewood, so I will start getting it, if you want to figure out a way we can get off the ground," Piper replied and walked over where she saw some branches on the ground.

Phoebe contemplated her sister's request by looking any trees they could use to build on. She was taken out of her thought process when she heard the sound of a lot of twigs breaking and then a thud. She ran into the direction it came from and stopped at the edge of a hole. "Piper are you ok?"

"Yes," she replied through her teeth as she stood up and wiped her self off. She cringed slightly as she looked at her right hand finger that had a cut.

"Why did you fall into a hole?" she asks and Piper said nothing as she looked up at her sister," Well how the hell I am going to you out?"

"Phoebe are you going to scold me or help me?"

"You're not hurt right?"

"No why?"

"Then I am going to scold you," Phoebe replied as she put her hands on her hips.

"Phoebe," Piper said while tossing her hands in the air.

"Fine but I'm going to need a rope, and it's not like I can go to the local hardware store and pick one up," Phoebe said and started to look around for something she could use as vine.

"Hurry it up I don't want to hear from Prue and Paige when they get back," Piper said and tried to look for a way out. "This place sucks," she whispered and lowered her head as there seemed to be no way to ascend.

Phoebe found a tree that the bark pulled off easily and began to tie it into a rope.

Paige and Prue were moving slowly and quietly as they approached a opossum that was feeding on some plants. Prue pulled out her machete as Paige made some distance between her and her sister in case it ran off, she might be able to trap it. Prue had to make a decision to either rush it or toss her machete at it. Either way was a risk and she decided to test her aim. She tossed the machete at the unknowing opossum but it missed but thankfully ran in the direction that Paige was standing. It tried to turn but she managed to plunge her machete right down its back.

"Nice," Prue said as Paige wrinkled her nose.

"Are these any good to eat?" Paige asks while pulling out her weapon.

"Don't know, but if anyone can make it halfway decent, its Piper," Prue said and found a long branch. "Here we need to tie it to this because I really don't want to carry it."

Back at camp Phoebe was finishing up the makeshift rope as Piper was becoming more impatient and started to pace the small space in a circle. "Phoebe!" she yelled.

"I'm coming, just give me a minute!" Phoebe yelled back as she took the rope and wrapped it around her forearm in a loop. She looked for something to tie it to and found a tree not that far from the hole. Piper could see some roots coming out of the loose soil and decided to attempt the climb. She put her hands on the root and cringed as her sore finger clashed with dirt. She looked down at her feet and realized she was standing on more roots that were beginning to crack under her weight. She grabbed hold of the roots tighter as the floor beneath her gave way to a much deeper hole. She was now hanging on for dear life. "Phoebe I need the rope now!"

Phoebe ran over to her and looked down. "Piper what the hell happened?" she asks seeing the floor gave way to darkness.

"Does it really matter," Piper replied as her fingers stung.

Phoebe did not reply and took the makeshift rope over to the tree she was going to use earlier. She tossed it around the trunk and tied one end to the other. She was just about to take the other end to Piper when she heard the sound she has only heard in movies or the Discovery Channel. She looked to her right and there was a rattlesnake staring back at her. Any movement would cause it to strike.

"Phoebe I am losing my grip!" Piper yelled from the hole and Phoebe gripped the rope tightly as she had to make a split decision. If she moved the snake would bite but if she did not then Piper would fall. She still had a heal remaining and decided to save her sister. She turned quickly on her heels and felt fangs bite into her lower Calf. It was a quick sharp pain and took her breath away but the poison would take time to work through her system. She crawl on all fours and got to the hole." Here take it!" she yelled and Piper grabbed the vine rope. The sap made it slippery and she tried to use her feet to help the process but the loose soil was just giving way. "Piper I really need you to climb," Phoebe said while trying to pull her up. Her adrenaline was flowing rapidly and she could feel the effects of the snakes poisoned on her body.

"What the hell do you think I am doing, Pull up," Piper yelled back and did not know what transpired above her. Phoebe's heart was pounding and she was starting to get dizzy. She planted the heels of her shoes into the dirt and pulled with all her might as the snake was slithering past her. She had to remain still as it just sat there looking at her, not sure what to make of this.

"Piper please I can't hold this much longer," Phoebe pleaded as her stomach was about to empty. Piper decided to wrap the rope around her and under her arms. She held on with one hand to the roots and used the other one to tie it into a not using her teeth. The sap was bitter and she had to spit out what got into her mouth.

"Ok I am secure now," she said and began to use the roots and anything else protruding to clime. Phoebe no longer cared about the snake that she was already bitten and was not sure what to do as she stood up but did not make it very far. Her legs gave out and her breathing was becoming very rapid as she collapsed onto the dirt ground. She could no longer control her body and she began to convulse. Piper's hand pierced out of the whole and she grabbed the upper part of the rope. Her head emerged only to be faced with a venomous snake. She could feel her grip loosened as the vine was slipping in the palm of her hands and even causing cuts. "Phoebe there is a snake in my way," Piper said almost in a whisper, but she did not get a reply. "Fuck." she said as she lost her grip slightly and the sudden movement caused the snake to react. Piper could see its fangs extend and it seemed like everything slowed down as something metal came into her vision. Paige used her machete to cut off its head before it had a chance to strike.

"Thank you now could someone help me up?" Piper asks as Paige assisted her. Prue ran over to Phoebe who was still convulsing and even choking.

"Oh god," she said and put Phoebe's head on her lap. "Heal now!" she yelled as a elder orbed in. He bent down and healed her. Prue calmed herself down as her other two sisters joined her. Piper was exhausted and still was unclear of what occurred.

"Is she ok?" Piper asks.

"She got bit I think," Prue replied as Phoebe began to sit up and looked at Piper.

"Oh you're out of the hole," she said nonchalantly.

"Did you get bit while trying to save me?" Piper asks.

"Yeah luckily I still had a heal left," she replied and looked at the opossum that was tied to a stick. "Really couldn't find anything better?"

"Phoebe I don't know how to thank you," Piper said and hugged her.

"How about you find some fruit," Phoebe said and hugged her back while laughing a little.

"Piper your hand," Prue said noticing the small amount of blood.

"Its fine I just need to clean them off, oh and just a mental note, look out for sink holes," Piper said and leaned up against a tree to let her ligaments rest from the strain. She removed the remaining rope from under her arms and the need for water was more than ever.

"We have dinner but we do need water," Prue said and stood up.

"You and Phoebe rest, we will go get some and Piper when you are better, could you gut that thing?" Paige asks.

"Sure," Piper replied as Prue and Paige headed back out.

Paige and Prue came across a stagnant pool of water and filled their canteens as Piper got the opossum ready to eat. They boiled the water and finished up their shelter for the night as they all forced down the opossum. Piper used some of the water to clean her hands and used some of her shirt to wrap her finger.

It was going to be a long night again but at least their stomachs were full and they were all still alive. Piper hated the fact that Phoebe used her heal in order to save her but what was done was done.

To be continued...