Chapter 11
The sun began to rise, bringing light and warmth into the valley. Caitlyn was the first to wake, slowly opening her eyes, confused for a moment where she was, and who's arms were wrapped tightly around her.
She looked up to see Vi still sleeping with her head resting back against the wall. Caitlyn went to get up, but realized some how in the night she had found herself tucked in-between Vi's legs while leaning back into her chest, with Vi's arms snuggly wrapped tight around her waist.
Caitlyn laid her head back against Vi's chest, hoping to freeze time just for a moment. She knew she would eventually have to get up, disturbing this moment of bliss, but for now she was going to savor it, even if it only lasted a few more seconds. She sat listening to Vi's heart beat, as the sun rose higher in the sky. Before Caitlyn was able to fully lose herself in a dream, a few birds began to chirp, causing Vi to come out of her slumber. Caitlyn laid motionless pretending to be asleep. Vi fully awake now looked down at Caitlyn laying on her chest. She lifted one arm and used it to brush a few strands of hair out of Caitlyn's face. She then bent forward kissing the young women on her head. Vi then sat back realizing what lay ahead.
"Hey cup, I mean Caitlyn, it's morning". Vi said as she softly nudged Caitlyn awake.
Caitlyn slowly sat up looking at Vi like she had just woken up. "morning already", she smiled.
"Yup, and from the looks of it this cliff, it didn't get any smaller over night". She said as she was looking up examining just exactly how they were going to do this.
Caitlyn began packing her things back inside her bag. "I need to send a quick message back to my Sgt, others wise they are going to be worried when I don't show up at the docks". Caitlyn said as she grabbed a small hextech device out of her bag, and began pushing buttons.
"Uh Technology" Vi said as she shook her head. "You got anything to eat inside that bag", as her stomach began to make funny rumbling noises.
Caitlyn rolled her eyes at Vi while reaching into her bag, and throwing a bar of food at her. "didn't you pack anything useful"?
"Uh guess not", Vi smiled "I guess it's a good thing I have you".
"you don't have me" Caitlyn said sounding somewhat annoyed.
"you know what I mean".
Caitlyn just shook her head at Vi, more annoyed at herself than Vi. Wondering how she could go from wanting to lay in this beautiful women's arms to being annoyed at her simple comments.
"Well we really should start trying to climb this thing". Vi said while trying to examine the best route.
"Well I guess here goes nothing", Caitlyn said as she threw her rifle over her shoulder and began to climb.
"That's it, your doing great, I'll stay below you just in case".
"I hardly think that's necessary, I'm a". But Caitlyn's words were cut short as one of her hands slipped. She was quickly able to reach back to the wall, but was now frozen by fear.
"Your ok cupcake, I won't let you fall I promise".
"Oh like you could stop me from falling, and I told you stop calling me cupcake". Caitlyn yelling the last words as she pushed herself closer to the wall, still afraid to move.
"Your right, I'm sorry, but you're going to have to start moving soon, we can't sit like this forever".
Just then a large shadow covered both Vi and Caitlyn. Vi looked back while trying to hug the wall best she could, trying to find the object blocking the sun. Just as she looked up she saw large wings filling the sky.
"Caitlyn you need to start climbing now".
"Why, what is it"?
"Just climb now".
Caitlyn began grabbing the small ledges above her continuing to pull herself up quicker and quicker. Just then she heard the large raptor shriek, sounding like it was right behind them. Caitlyn turned her head around to see the large beast moving in close to them, as she felt the gust of wind from its wings push her against the cliff.
The Raptor tried to reach them with its large talons, but couldn't get close enough to the cliff to grab them.
"Caitlyn you need to keep moving please".
Caitlyn could barely hear Vi over the loud shrieking creature. "I can't Vi, I'm to scared". Tears began filling her eyes as she was frozen to the side of the cliff.
Vi began climbing faster without thinking about her own safety. She pulled up next to Caitlyn, reaching an arm over and placing her hand on Caitlyn's back. "I won't let you fall, we're almost there, let's do this together".
Caitlyn looked deep into Vi's eyes. "You promise"?
"I promise".
With that, they both began climbing again. Vi reached the top looking down waiting for her partner.
"See not so bad".
Caitlyn reached the top of the cliff ready to pull herself up, just as her foot hold gave out, causing her to fall.
Vi without hesitation threw her arm down grabbing Caitlyn by the wrist at the last second. "I promised I wouldn't let you fall". Vi said as she lifted Caitlyn up onto the top of the cliff.
"Well I'm glad you finally decided to keep a promise". Caitlyn said as she fell to the ground.
Vi went to speak, to say some sarcastic comment, but decided Caitlyn probably deserved this one.
"Where did that damn Raptor go"?
"I'm not sure, but I think we best stick to the trees". Caitlyn said as she pulled the rifle from her shoulder not wanting to be caught off guard again.
They both began moving forward, deeper into the forest.
"Any sign of Jinx"?
"Unfortunately I'm not seeing much of anything, you don't happen to know where we might be going do you"?
"Actually my lady it just so happens that I have a map". Vi began rummaging through the small pack she had tied around her waist. "See I'm not completely useless". She said as she pulled the crumpled paper from her bag.
Caitlyn rolled her eyes at Vi while grabbing and examining the map. "Alright if we keep moving this way, we should hit the town of Fossbarrow soon. We can ask if anyone has seen someone who looks like Jinx".
"Ok good, good". Vi said nervously.
"Hey were going to find your sister, and trust me, I pity any fool who thinks about crossing her". Caitlyn said as she put a comforting hand on Vi.
They both began walking, staying vigilant as they didn't want anymore more surprises.
Time seemed like it was moving slower than usual as it felt like they had been walking for a while now. Or maybe it was just the awkward silence that seemed to slow time Vi thought.
Vi now kept looking over to Caitlyn wanting to break the silence with anything, but she didn't know what to say.
This didn't go unnoticed by Caitlyn either, as she saw the awkward nervous glances that kept falling upon her. "Vi if your going to say something then just say it already".
"I just wanted to say thank you for coming and helping me, that's all".
"Well I guess it's a good thing I didn't know what I was getting myself into, or I probably wouldn't have come".
Vi chucked a little. "Ya that was pretty scary there for a minute".
Minutes went on with more silence before Caitlyn stopped walking to turn and look at Vi. After taking a deep breath she decided to get answers for something that had been weighing on her for a while now. "Did any part of you regret leaving me"?
Vi stopped walking looking at Caitlyn, slightly puzzled by this question.
Caitlyn stared back continuing before she could get an answer. "I mean did you not feel anything for me? I know we hadn't spent that much time together, but there was something special between us right, I know I felt it, or was I just fooling myself into believing it because I wanted it to be true"?
Vi looked at Caitlyn feeling the pain of leaving her all over again. "I know you have no reason to trust me, but I meant everything I said in that letter".
"What letter"?
"The letter I left in your closet, where you kept my gauntlets".
Caitlyn now feeling shame over come her. "oh right that letter, look we should probably get moving if we're to catch up to Jinx". And without further hesitation Caitlyn turned forward and began walking at a quick pace.
"You didn't read my letter did you"? She yelled looking at Caitlyn who was walking away. Vi ran after her grabbing her by the wrist. "You're a coward"?
Caitlyn turned slapping Vi across the face. Tears now running down her cheeks. "I'm the coward, why because I didn't read your letter after you jumped out my window with a bag full of trinkets you stole from my dead mother"? Caitlyn's face now turning red, as she moved closer to Vi pushing her finger into her chest. "Was I just supposed to forgive you again, letting your words fix everything? Maybe I didn't want to read another excuse from you. Maybe I wanted to let myself forget about you. I'm not the coward. I NEVER LEFT YOU". Caitlyn screamed as she fell to her knees and started sobbing into her hands.
Vi didn't know what to do. She didn't know how to fix this, or if it were even fixable. All she wanted to do was go back in time and change everything. She knew what choosing Jinx meant, but she never thought it would destroy Caitlyn like this.
Vi bent down putting her hand on Caitlyn's back. "I'm sor". But Caitlyn wasn't going to let her finish that sentence, she sat up and pushed Vi back, nocking her to the ground. "I don't want any more of your sorry's".
Caitlyn began wiping her tears "After we find Jinx, I really don't want to see you again".
Vi stayed on the ground, hurt by Caitlyn's words but also in actual pain.
Caitlyn turned to leave, but noticed Vi wasn't getting up. "Are you coming or what"?
"I think somethings wrong", Vi said as she reached her hand behind her back, and then brought it forward to see it stained in bright red liquid.
"Oh shit, what happened". Caitlyn said while running over to Vi. She fell to her knees slowly leaning Vi forward to see a large knife sticking into Vi's back. "Fuck, you must of fallen on your knife when you fell back".
"Fell"? Vi said as she winced in pain.
"What do I do"? Caitlyn began to panic, letting fear over take her.
Vi reached for Caitlyn's hand holding it tight. "Hey come back to me". She said as she continued to hold her hand. "I don't think it's to bad. Probably just a flesh wound, but I need you to look and see how deep the knife is".
Caitlyn began slowing her breathing while opening her eyes back up. "OK I can do this". She let go of Vi's hand to pull her back forward to look at how deep the knife was lodged. "Alright, it didn't go all the way in, maybe only an inch or so".
"Alright that's good. We are just going to need a way to stop the bleeding after you pull the knife out".
"After I what"?
"Well I can't exactly reach around and do it myself now can I, do you happen to have any matches or a lighter in that fancy bag of yours"?
"Um ya I have a lighter". Caitlyn began digging through her bag, pulling the lighter out".
"Alright great, now what about a small knife".
Caitlyn looked at Vi a little confused, but pulled a small pocket knife from her bag
"Great, hand them to me".
Vi took the lighter and small pocket knife. She then lit the lighter and began heating up the small pocket knife until it began glowing orange. "Alright Cait, you're going to pull the knife straight out, and once it's out your going to lift my shirt, pinch the cut together, then place this hot knife against it, to sear it shut. No matter how much I scream you need to keep the knife against my skin for at least 5 seconds. Can you do that for me"?
Caitlyn's face now filled with shock and fear at the thought of having to burn her friend's skin. All she could do was give a slight head nod. Caitlyn bent down ready to pull the knife.
"Wait, give me your belt".
"My belt", Caitlyn said confused as she began removing her belt and handing it to Vi.
Vi grabbed the belt, putting it into her mouth for something to bite down on. "Alright Cait, nice and easy, but quickly got it", she said through biting on the belt.
Caitlyn nodded, unable to speak. Her heart began to race as she reached down grabbing the large butt of the knife and pulling it out. Vi only wincing, trying to remain still for Caitlyn, as she pulled up her shirt and readied the small red hot blade for.
Caitlyn reached her hands forward on to Vi's back trying to pinch the cut closed. "Vi I don't think I can do this, there's so much blood".
"That's why you have too".
Vi held the small blade out for Caitlyn to grab. She reached forward being careful not to burn herself. She could feel Vi's heart beating faster, as her breathing became panicked. She knew she needed to be quick. Squeezing the deep open wound together with her left hand, she took the small knife with her right, and pressed down with the flat side of the blade onto the wound.
"aaaaagggghhhhh, Fuuuuuck".
But Caitlyn continued to hold the knife down searing the skin closed. After holding it for what felt like a lifetime, Caitlyn finally lifted the hot blade from Vi's skin, and fell back.
Vi who was hunched over, fell onto her stomach, letting herself muscles release there tight grip.
"See cupcake not so bad".
Caitlyn went to correct her, not wanting to be called cupcake anymore but stopped as she looked at her hands covered in Vi's blood.
"Please don't ever make me do something like that again".
"I'm sorry that was so hard for you". Vi said sarcastically, as she chuckled a little.
"We really need to clean ourselves up, the streams just back behind us a little, think your ok to stand up"?
"Not even a stab to the back can keep me down". Vi began pulling herself up slowly trying not to show Caitlyn how much pain she was in.
Caitlyn noticed how pale Vi's face had become. "We should get you some water and food after we clean up".
"Sounds great".
They both walked back the few minutes to the small cold stream. Caitlyn first bent down and began scrubbing her hands clean, trying to wash away the memory of torture she just inflicted on Vi.
"Come here, sit down, and take your shirt off".
"Well damn, at least buy me dinner first".
"Do you ever know when to stop talking"?
"Easy Cait, just trying to lighten the mood".
Vi sat down slowly removing her shirt that was now soaked in her blood, and set it aside. Caitlyn grabbed the shirt and began soaking in the stream ringing out most of the blood.
"I don't have anything to wipe your back, so I'm going to have to use your shirt".
Caitlyn then dip her shirt back in the water and began cleaning the blood from Vi's back being careful not to directly touch the new fresh wound. Caitlyn felt terrible, the more she wiped, the worse the wound looked. Her first thought being how bad this was going to scar, just as she wiped more blood from Vi's back reviling multiple larger scars that already existed. Moving purely on instinct, she rubbed her fingers down one particular large one. She instantly became filled with anger and hate for the guards at Stillwater that she knew did this to Vi.
"How's is looking back there".
"Uh fine, almost cleaned up". Caitlyn said as she wiped the tear that was falling down her cheek hoping Vi didn't notice.
Caitlyn then began going through her pack again pulling out a small medical kit.
"Damn you really do have everything in there don't you".
"It's called being prepared, you should try it sometime".
Caitlyn then began squeezing ointment onto the wound before applying gauze, and taping it all down. "Alright that should be good until we can get you better attention".
Vi laughed "better attention, that's a good one Piltie".
"And what's that supposed to mean"?
"It means people like me don't get better attention; now can I have my shirt back"?
"You can't put this thing back on. It's filled with blood and dirt, and not to mention we can't risk your wound getting wet and infected".
"Well last time I checked I'm not walking around the forest top less, no matter how much you would enjoy the view". Vi gave Caitlyn a wink "so unless you have an extra shirt in that bag I don't see any other option".
"ugh, your infuriating, you know that". Caitlyn said as she began unbuttoning her shirt".
"Whoa what are you doing, not that I'm complaining, I certainly don't mind the view".
"Would you shut up already". Caitlyn then pulled off her shirt revealing a small white tank top, that she also began to remove. Finally reviling Caitlyn in a very elegant black lacey bra.
Vi knew she shouldn't be staring, but couldn't help herself.
Caitlyn then threw the tank top to Vi while she began putting her other shirt back on.
"Well I guess I found out how to keep you quiet". Caitlyn said while finishing up the buttons on her shirt.
Vi grabbed the tank top Caitlyn gave her, secretly sneaking a smell of it before pulling it over her head.
"Well it's a little tight, but it will due".
Caitlyn stared at Vi admiring just how tight the top was on her blushing slightly as she was not upset at this view.
Caitlyn quickly shook herself out of her not so clean thoughts. "We really need to get going, try and make up time. I really don't want to be out here in the dark".
"You and me both".
Just then they saw smoke rising in the distance from a small chimney. They both ran as they came upon a small cabin hidden back in the forest.
"We need to be quiet, until we find out who's inside". Just then they heard a small scream coming from inside the cabin.
"That's Jinx".