Wow, forgot to add some comments for this chapter! Sorry for the long break between chapters! It's been a tough year. I finally have some time to type more up. I moved a while ago and lost the end of this story so pray with me that I find it somewhere! Thanks for sticking around and I hope you enjoy this latest chapter!
When I looked up the eagle's talons were no longer grasping the roof of the car. I should have figured the eagles wouldn't be dropping this hunk of a thing on that rock cliff. I really wasn't expecting them to just drop us from treetop heights either. My stomach flew to my throat as we fell. I was too shocked to scream but the wind seemed to compensate for me. The first thing we hit was a full, bushy pine tree. My seatbelt hadn't been fastened in close to enough time and the impact threw me straight from my seat. I cried out as twigs and branches whipped out and dragged me from the open windshield. I continued falling through the broken twigs until a giant branch stopped me in my tracks. I landed directly on my chest and though this stopped my falling I could feel myself slipping from the tree's sturdy hold. My shirt began to tighten around my neck and I realized it was tangled in a net of the trees splinters. I wrapped my arms around the branch and tried to flip my leg over but my body cried out in pain and I was only able to get my ankle up.
I struggled to keep my arms tight around the branch and my ankle hooked in place. My torso was aching with the effort. I worried at how long I'd be able to keep the position. I glanced down in worry. I shouldn't have. I screamed and almost immediately began hyperventilating. "Fili!" I cried out in terror. My cries sent sharp pains through my ribs causing my grip to loosen which sent a fresh shot of panic through my veins. The pine tree I clung to was splintered completely down one side and the trunk was slanting over the ground. I tried not to think about how high up I was.
"Sharae!" Fili called from the base of the tree. I glanced down long enough to see Nori staring up and me and Fili shedding gear to begin his climb.
"You alright, Lass?" Nori shouted up at me. I shivered, groaning at the pain it caused me.
"I don't think so," I called back feebly. Nori kept quiet but Fili shouted back to me.
"I'm coming! Hold on!" He had jumped onto the first arm of the tree and was swinging himself onto the next. Fili had already proven he could climb trees in the previous orc attack and he made his way quickly across the branches. He made it up to me in a short amount of time, which was good because my body was becoming to heavy to hold up. "I'm here!" He said from the trunk of the tree. I nodded to acknowledge I'd heard him. He noticed how stuck I was and how I was barely keeping myself from being choked by my own shirt. Fili darted across the branch and I gasped, fearing for his safety.
"Please be careful," I almost begged. That's when he noticed the pure terror in my eyes.
"A bit afraid of heights, are we?" He smiled, trying to calm me down. I was on the edge mentally and physically. He wanted to make sure I'd make it back to the ground in one piece. "It's alright, I'm not about to fall. I've done this many times. Don't worry." I closed my eyes and nodded, waiting for him to get to me. He tapped on my hand when he reached me.
"Is this the only place you're stuck?" He motioned to the collar of my shirt. I nodded slowly.
"Please don't let me fall," I whispered helplessly. Fili smiled in encouragement.
"I've got you," He reassured. He reached down and gripped my shirt firmly while pulling out his hunting knife. "Grab onto my arm, don't be frightened when the tree lets you free." It was almost impossible for me to transfer my grip to his arm but I managed to exchange my hand in a quick and panicked motion. Fili sawed away at the fabric until my weight broke the rest of the splinters free. There was a jolt before my weight was caught by Fili. I gasped as he lifted me up. When my legs reached the branch I sat and grasped it trying to get a decent lungful of air; I lifted my free hand to my ribs. Each breath came as a sharp, painful, gasp.
Fili kept a hand on my shoulder to keep me from falling. "What is it?"
"I landed on my ribs so it's really hard to breathe right now." I tried not to think about how high up we were as I stood. Fili looked at me with concern but took my hand and led me slowly to the trunk of the tree. I had always been terrified of heights. My injuries weren't helping me scrounge up the courage to climb down. "I don't think I can make it down the tree, Fili." I breathed. He'd been watching the entire time and understood my predicament.
"Well, you can't stay up here forever. Can you climb onto my back?" he asked. I looked at him incredulously.
"You're going to carry me down the tree?" I questioned with doubt. He looked back at me without batting an eye.
"Well, that's why I asked," he motioned for me to climb onto his back. I hesitated for a second.
"Are you sure you can carry me down. I'm quite heavy and…" I trailed off at his unamused expression, "Okay, okay. Just please don't get us killed," I said while gently, painfully positioning myself on his back. He grabbed my legs and crossed them at his front and positioned my arms so I wasn't choking him. I winced at all the movement and tried to keep tears from forming in my eyes. He started his descent instantly and I gasped in fear. I decided that closing my eyes would be best. The descent wasn't as painful as it would have been if I'd tried to get down myself and Fili made quick work of it. When we reached the ground he told me it was safe but I couldn't loosen my grip on him. My muscles were locked and I was still recovering from the terrors of earlier today.
Nori began peeling my arms from Fili's neck while Fili worked on unhooking my legs from his waist. When I was finally loose they laid me on the ground and looked down at me in wonder.
"How much trouble can one human get into in a day?" Nori said staring at my stiff figure on the ground in wonder. "I suppose we're not getting anywhere soon Fili, I'll set up a fire and hope she snaps out of it." Fili nodded as he zipped my jacket over my torn and cut shirt. I was trying to catch my bearings but my pulse wouldn't slow. My breathing was erratic, each intake sending pain through my chest. I tried slowing my breaths, eyes searching for something to focus on. Nori's fire burned in the corner of my vision and I turned my head to see Nori and Fili jesting with each other in its light. The sight calmed me, allowing my muscles relax, and after a minute I was able to fall into a deep, exhausted sleep.