Chapter six:
They continue walking as they keep alert for any signs of the Griffin and or Manticore.
"This seems to be going on forever." Matt whimpers.
"We did go into the forest quite a ways so it will take us a little bit to get out." Near assures Matt without turning to look at the other two.
"Yeah we'll be out soon. No sign of the Manticore or Griffin and maybe they flew off leaving us alone." Mello says with a glance to what he can see of the sky above through the trees as they walk.
The Griffin's screech contradicts what Mello just said.
The three had paused to see if they can find out where it came from.
"You spoke too soon Mello." Matt tells his friend getting a kind of hard punch to the shoulder. "Ow! Hey!" He rubs his shoulder but quickly moves to catch up to Mello and Near seeing as the two had started moving again.
"Get over it." Mello snorts and rustling makes them turn to the side to see if they can see anything.
"Pick up the pace now." Near says letting the other two go ahead of himself then follows as they jog in the direction they believe the exit is.
They skid to a stop when a tree falls down in front of them with Manticore claw marks on it.
The Manticore jumps out in front of them landing on top of the tree with a growl that's almost a roar.
"RUN!" Matt takes off running to the left of where he was standing.
"Shit!" Mello curses chasing after Matt with Near about to follow only to have the Manticore jump out in front of him making him have to dodge a slash from the beast.
Mello and Matt keep running not yet noticing they had lost Near.
"Matt! Wait up!" Mello calls to his terrified friend who slows a little upon hearing Mello's words.
Matt glances back not seeing anything following them. "Where's Near?" He asks panicking.
Mello glances back as they slow to a stop looking to see if Near had just fallen a little behind them but nothing or no one appears. "Fuck! Where did that little shit go!?" He growls.
The Manticore's roar echoes throughout the forest followed by the Griffin's screech.
Mello thinks about leaving but he can't knowing that Near had saved his life before so if he doesn't want to stay in debt to Near about it he should find the boy. He looks to Matt. "Matt." He says getting the red heads attention. "You need to get out of here. You're hurt as is right now. Get out of here and go find help especially if me and Near don't come out a half hour to an hour after you get out." He tells his friend.
"But Mello." Matt tries to remind his friend that it'd mean that Mello will be alone in this dangerous forest but Mello interrupts him before he can say another word.
"Matt go!" Mello commands. "Don't forget you are hurt. I am only helping Near because I hate owing him something like for saving me and I don't want to have to worry about you. Go! Get out of here! The exit shouldn't be too far and you should get out of here soon if you head in this direction." He points in the direction of where the believed to be exit is. "Get going." He turns away retracing his steps to try to find the pale boy.
Matt hesitates but Mello glances back giving Matt a slight glare that makes Matt do as commanded heading to where the exit should be.
Mello meanwhile continues to search for Near. "Near?" He calls out into the darkness not getting a response. He keeps looking and steps into something wet when he arrives where they had ran into the Manticore just before they lost Near. He looks down with his camera finding a puddle of blood making him look around some more but doesn't see anything else except for a small trail of blood which he follows. "Near!" He tries calling out again.
The forest remains silent except for the noises he is making as he continues to look for the pale boy following the trail of blood.
The Manticore and Griffin are nowhere to be seen or heard plus the dawn will be coming soon or so Mello guesses by the moons position.
Near is also nowhere to be seen or heard.
"Hey Near come on out and let's get going!" He calls through the forest still following the trail of blood. He spots the Manticore looking around up ahead so he quickly moves behind a tree glancing around it using his camera that's still recording and in night vision to track the beast's movements.
The Manticore seems to be trying to find something but doesn't seem to have any luck. It growls spreading its wings and flying into the air after slashing the top part of a small dark space that's like a den.
Mello waits a few seconds almost waiting a minute to make sure it's gone then he moves out of hiding being cautious. "Near?" He calls quietly as to try to not get the Manticore's attention since it just flew off.
"Mello?" Near's voice comes from the den making Mello go inside using his camera as his sight since the den is so dark finding Near in there sitting with his back leaning against the rocky wall.
"There you are. Now let's get going and I only came to find you because I hate owing you something." Mello says grabbing Near's arm about to drag Near out only for Near to pull away. He looks to the almost albino boy. "Near let's go." He says in almost a growl then notices Near has a hand pressed against his side as if he's injured.
"Yeah Mello I'm coming." Near responds moving only to visibly flinch obviously in a lot of pain.
"Hold on we need to check your wound." Mello says putting a hand on Near's shoulder a little gently pushing him back to a sitting position.
"I'm fine Mello." Near tries to assure the blonde haired genius but his clenched teeth tell a different story.
"Obviously not." Mello states in a stern way. "Even when I hurt you I've never seen you react this way. Now let me see." He tries to get Near's hand to move so he can see the youngers wound.
Near a little hesitantly let's Mello not wanting to make Mello worry but Mello is right.
Mello finds a badly bleeding gash on Near's side that could kill him or even just make him pass out if left untreated or even attempted to stop the bleeding. "It looks bad." Mello almost mummers feeling a little scared that he isn't going to be able to save Near thus unable to repay his debt…. That's what his mind thinks but his heart is saying that he's scared of losing Near because he doesn't want to lose the other. He shakes his head to push the thoughts on that away so he can concentrate. "Is there something we can use as a temporarily bandage?" He is about to look around when Near replies a little weakly.
"You can us my shirt. Just rip it." He tells Mello.
Mello rips off the sleeves on Near's shirt then ties one of the ends together only to use that to cover the wound tying the other two ends together after wrapping it around Near keeping it in position.
Near takes a small quick inhale of air when the fabric touches his wound but he relaxes himself the best he can as Mello finishes.
"That'll have to do for now." He tells Near who nods. "Can you stand? We shouldn't stay here especially with a wound like that since we don't know how long rescuers will come searching."
"I think so." Near tries to stand up but starts to fall backwards only for Mello to catch him.
Mello pulls Near close making Near put an arm around his shoulders making sure to be cautious of the wound on Near's side. He wraps an arm around Near's waist still being careful of the other's wound and keeps it there while using his other hand to hold his camera to use the night vision to see still not caring that it's still recording.
Near also uses his camera as his sight in the dark with his free hand since his other arm is still around Mello's shoulders to help keep himself standing.
They begin walking out of the den pausing to make sure they don't see anything out there before leaving the safety of the den.
They begin walking to where the exit of the forest retracing the steps Mello took to get there so they can get out of here.
Near starts to lean a little more on Mello making the blonde look to the other seeing him look tired along with a little weaker.
Mello looks forward again as they continue but can't hide his worry as he let's Near lean on him more.