Slowly the world swam back into focus, and with a groan, Natasha lifted her tingling body off the ground. All around her lay the charred remained of her would-be killers, some still smoking from whatever had burned them. Amazingly, however, the rest of the area remained unharmed, green and full of life, as though nothing had occurred within the sheltering boughs of the trees. Natasha staggered away from the gruesome scene as a wave of nausea hit.
"This can't be happening." She whimpered, slumping against a tree once she was far enough away to not smell the stench. "Not again."
Shaking her head to clear it, she took in her surroundings. Miraculously, she'd managed to find a well-worn path, one that had been used in the last couple of hours, if the tracks were anything to go by. Thanking her father for all the times he'd taken her and her brother out hunting, she set out down the trail, hoping she'd chosen the right direction to get back to the Med-Station. Hopefully, if she was lucky, someone would be on the trail and be able to help her get back. After what seemed like forever, Natasha's feet stopped at the edge of a river. Confused, she looked around her, studying the trees. The closest river to the forest was nearly 15 miles away from the Med-station, but there was no way those creatures could have carried her that far in the short time they'd held her captive. So then, just where the hell was she? Reluctant to go back the way she'd come, Natasha gazed around her, hoping against hope to find something she found familiar, though of course, she'd never been into the forest before, so what she hoped to see she really couldn't tell.
"Right." She said to herself, tugging at her clothing in a nervous attempt to get more comfortable with the situation. "First things first, let's find out where I am. I need to get my bearings. Easiest way to do that would be to climb a tree. And damned if that's not my father talking me through this in my head."
She huffed a humorless laugh as she chose the most likely candidate to get her above the canopy and then began her climb, a little difficult at first, given the lowest branches were so high above her head, and that she hadn't climbed trees since she was a little girl. 'Tom boy.' Her mother had jokingly called her. But once she'd gotten above the lowest branches, it became easier as the branches were spaced nicely, though her muscles were screaming from misuse by the time she reached the top.
The light of the full moon glinted off the glossy leaves of the treetops, giving the impression of the crests on waves as the trees moved in the gentle breeze. The day's heat still hadn't dissipated and so the it was rather warm, even with the breeze, and not a single cloud blocked the stars above. And there were trees, trees as far as the eye could see, in every direction. An almost endless expanse of leaves and branches. Finding the North Star, Natasha followed her finger down to the horizon, and found a couple of mountain peaks just barely visible about the tree line. She very much doubted she wanted to go that way. To the South, a menacing shadow hovered over the tree, bathing them in a darkness no light could penetrate.
"Definitely not going there. Nope, nope, nope."
Both East and West seemed better options, the trees didn't seem to quite make it to the horizon. And just a bit north of east, a thin column of gray smoke curled into the night sky.
"Where's there's smoke, there's fire." Natasha's dad had always repeated the adage, adding: "Fire means people, and people means getting home."
"Just please don't let it be anymore of those things." Natasha added in prayer to whomever was in control of the universe.
Sighing, she slid more than climbed down the tree and headed for the smoke. With every step, her feet got heavier, the adrenaline from earlier wearing off and leaving in its place an exhaustion that was almost overwhelming. As she walked, fear began to wind its way around her heart. It felt like she wasn't making any progress, the trees all looking the same in the relative darkness of the forest.
"The least those things could have done is take me during the day. At least then I could see more than just shadows." She grumbled and swore as her foot connected with yet another root.
An odd noise from behind her made her stop. It sounded like someone, or something was following her. That is, if that someone had more than two legs…and was on stilts! As she turned towards the sound she couldn't help the scream that ripped its way out of her throat.
In front of her was the largest spider she had ever seen. Not a normal large spider, like one might find in their kitchen sink, but an enormous, size of her jeep spider, with dripping mandibles twitching in anticipation of a good meal. It was so large, an arachnophobe would have died straightaway from fear alone.
It launched itself at he and with barely a moment to spare, Natasha dove to the side and sprinted away…Only to come to a dead end.
"Bad choice of words there." She groaned and frantically searched for another escape route.
The spider was almost on top her and Natasha raised her arms in a hopeless attempt to protect herself, and a brilliant white light burst from her palms. Blinded, the spider shrieked in pain and scrambled backwards. Natasha had just enough time to dive for a hiding place before it regained its sight.
"What the hell are you doing?" she asked the universe incredulously. "Trying to make up for last time?"
Any answer that might have been forthcoming was interrupted as the spider began clawing at the entrance of her hiding place: a long narrow tunnel, just big enough for her to fit through.
"Come 'ere, dearie. Come 'ave dinner with us." the spider entreated, trying to wedge its head into the tunnel entrance.
Not daring to think of what it meant by 'us,' Natasha flattened herself against the branches that blocked the back of the tunnel, trying to get as far away from the ravenous creature as she could. A branch broke and she was suddenly toppling backwards, landing outside. Picking herself up, she ran with everything she had. Her absence, however, didn't remain unnoticed for long. There was a horrible scream of rage behind and the race was on. And the competition, it seemed, had multiplied.
"That's not good." she groaned.
Ahead, a gap in the trees sang its blissful song of reprieve. Putting on a burst of speed born of hope, Natasha burst through the trees, but only managed to slide to a halt at the edge of a cliff at the last second. A several hundred foot drop and the other side just that much too far to jump, and lined with trees to boot greeted her eyes. Despair washed over her and tears of frustration threatened to spill down her cheeks when another shriek made her spin around. A spider had gotten trapped between two trees and was trying to free itself while the other tried in vain to get over it.
Something whizzed by her ear and embedded itself into the one of the spiders many eyes, making it scream in agony, and struggle all the harder.
"Holy shit!" she cursed, reeling to the side.
The ground crumbled beneath her foot and she was falling. She had a moment of freefall, and an exposed root entered her vision and she grabbed for it desperately, curling around it and clinging for dear life. The screaming increase as more whizzing sounded through the air. On the opposite cliff, Natasha saw two men emerge from the trees, rapidly firing arrows into the spiders. As she watched, in awe of the speed and precision with which the weapons were handled, the only thing she could think was: "Who uses bows and arrows nowadays?"
It was only a matter of moments, though it seemed to stretch forever, as Natasha clung to the root and tried her best not to think of the long way down, before all was silent. Natasha watched as the two men came to the edge of the cliff, and while the dark one dug in his pack for something, his golden haired companion called out ina musical language Natasha had never heard before, reminding her of bells and nightingale song.
"Help!" she shouted, in answer.
"Are you hurt, my lady?" he called out again.
"No, but my arms are going to fall off anyway." She replied, hearing a chuff of laughter from the men.
"We're going to throw a rope over to you! Grab hold and we'll bring you across." The other called, not waiting for an answer before suiting actions to words.
"Got it! Nice shot!" she shouted in triumphant relief as she wrapped the rope around her wrists and hands.
"Swing across, we've got you." Called Blondie.
Natasha swung across, hitting the opposing wall with a dull thud. The two men pulled n the rope and slowly, ever so slowly, she inched towards safety. But about half way up, a jagged rock bit into her shoulder, tearing the flesh as a particularly strong pull moved her faster than the others. Gasping in pain, she hid her grimace as best she could while blood trickled down her back. Hauling her over the edge, they allowed her a moment to catch her breath.
"My lady, we must leave. It is too dangerous to stay here." Blondie's companion stated, and together with Blondie, grabbed her by the arm and led her back into the forest. Over unseen trails they led her, one in front and the other behind her, and Natasha tried her best not to trip over her own feet, but fatigue was taking its toll and she fell to her knees, gasping for breath. Blondie helped her to her feet and kept his hand on her upper arm as he helped her through the forest. His companion was nowhere in sight.
"Strider has gone ahead to ready the camp." He explained, when she grumbled that he should have waited.
Natasha merely nodded, more concerned with running in a straight line than anything else. As promised though, Blondie's companion, Strider was waiting for them beside a tall and ancient looking oak tree, a gaping hole at its foot. Inside, a couple of packs and blankets were neatly folded to one side and small fire burned in the centre of the floor.
"We'll camp here tonight." Said Strider, before bowing slightly to Natasha as he introduced himself. "I am called Strider. My friend here is Legolas Greenleaf. Mirkwood is his home."
Blondie bowed slightly, right hand over his heart, his golden hair pooling over his shoulders.
"Mirkwood?" Natasha thought in confusion. "Just where the hell am I anyway?"