"I don't like this." Simmons whimpered as a dog howled. They had followed the arrows for around ten minutes through dense woodland.
They had stumbled over tree roots and had cut their faces on branches that snapped back into them. Fitz and Simmons were terrified of the upcoming challenges and were clinging to each other for dear life, Skye was staying quiet. She didn't want anyone to know just how scared she was. Coulson wished that that the 'gamemaster' hadn't taken their weapons, he was thinking it would help him with the dogs.
May and Ward were showing no outward signs that they were bothered by any of it, but in truth, their senses were heightened. Every sound made them twitch, every breath of wind made them shiver.
Ward pulled ahead of the group, pushing a branch out of his way.
"Ouch!" he heard Skye scream from behind him.
He turned to see blood pouring from her cheek. The branch he had pushed out of his way had snapped back and opened up a particularly nasty looking gash to her cheek. Routing through his pockets to see what he had been left with Ward found a tissue, pulled it out of his pocket, made sure it was clean and pressed it to Skye's cheek.
"You ok?" He asked her tenderly.
"Yeah. I'll be fine." She replied, pressing the tissue onto her cheek, allowing Ward to let go.
He could see she was shaking and decided to walk with her, hoping his presence would calm her nerves.
He saw May stop in front and look out over what appeared to be another clearing. One by one the team joined her, on what appeared to be a ledge.
A ledge that overlooked a river.
"Well I guess we have to go down to it then." Coulson said, trying to lighten the mood.
"I hate rock climbing and my hands are cold!" Skye complained.
"It's ok. There's a way down." Ward told her, pointing at the path that led down to two ropes spanning the river.
As there was only room for one on the path they scrambled down it in single file. May went first, followed by Ward, Skye, Simmons, Fitz and Coulson. Fitz and Simmons were still clinging to each other and were in danger of falling over. Skye, who was wearing, what could be deemed, the least sensible footwear for the situation they were in kept sliding and slipping on the loose chippings and was threatening to take Ward out. It got to a point where he took her hand and helped her climb down.
When they reached the bottom they congregated around the rope. One was clearly to hold onto and the other was to walk across.
"I think we should do this one at a time." Ward suggested, testing the rope with his weight.
Fitz looked at the water and shrunk back from it. He had hated water since he was a child.
May, noticing this placed her hand on his shoulder.
"You and me can go last." She told him reassuringly.
"I don't want to go." Fitz said.
"We'll go together." May suggested, realising he needed the moral support to cross the river.
Fitz watched as Ward crossed the rope to the other side. He also watched as Simmons set off, while Skye tried to warm her hands up enough to hold onto the rope.
The process of crossing went far too slowly for the teams liking. By the time Fitz had collapsed onto the banking the sun was just starting to set.
"Right. I guess we have hit the first challenge." Skye said.
"What makes you think that?" Simmons asked, hauling a still shaking Fitz to his feet.
"Oh... That!" Skye said pointing to a platform, cage and pulley wheel system floating out on the water.
Five heads turned to face it.