Chapter 34
I managed all the way back to where my belongings were. There was enough, in there. Enough food, bandages just in case. However, I knew as long as I looked, I could never find me sanity…
I heard Cal's whispered pain through my bones. It was the only message he could bring me. Wherever he was, whatever he was doing, I would find him. I would make sure of that.
I grabbed my sac and hung it over my shoulder. It was light enough, at least lighter than the burden I felt within.
I tried to walk, there was only a hint of pain now and I knew, the closer I got to him, the closer I'd feel it.
I thought about looking for the tree I'd climbed up, but it wasn't worth it. I didn't even think I'd get past anything, because there were guards blocking it so no drunken dancer fell out of the tree.
I looked over the ledge I'd been leaning on before and gulped. It was a long way down.
'I can do this,' I thought to myself and I felt another twinge of pain as if urging me on.
I slowly climbed over the ledge, holding tight. It felt I had a good grip on the wood from here but I didn't know how it would be coming down. After all, I knew only one way so far of getting down: falling. There was no way I'd risk surviving that again.
I slid my hands slowly down, while looking down for my footing. My tree felt a firm branch. So far, so good.
I slid my hands slightly lower, and put my weight on the branch tentatively. Crouching down to hold on, I looked for my next target. I spotted a good branch near me and swung by my hands onto a branch a little higher than it, landing like a cat. The new leather shoes that were made for me had a surprisingly amazing grip. I was thankful I had them.
It was a long way down. I had to loop through branches, up and over them. Everything was smooth though and I was careful not to grip onto place before going for the next place. It felt like the whole time I was holding my breath. The fear of heights in my mind told me to slow down, be more sensible but the pain streaming through me told me that I better get there before something happened to Cal, before it's too late.
The last few branches were easy. I almost felt temped to jump, but I didn't want to risk it. My ankles weren't strong enough to take the fall. So I slid through the last through branches and found my footing coming in contact with the ground. I sighed in relief.
My body already ached. It had been a long way down and the pain from Cal had almost too much to bear already. I had just thought of something to take my mind of things the whole time. "Distract yourself, Raina," I remember Juniper saying that. She wasn't here with me now but I still had retained that much from her and I was thankful I had.