(awesome, thanks :)
River's strong arms held the metal sheet with little difficulty for the first few minutes, but she soon found them getting tired. Her head throbbed, thoughts plagued by her sisters' twin screams, and then the pain she'd felt as she'd leaped out of the escape exit, holding on to her Alice's hand, who was golding onto Willow's. When she'd looked back, however, still in free fall, the last thing she'd seen before blacking out was the small, severed arm she was holding, and her sister's terrified face, mouth open mid-scream as the plane had plunged into the raging rapids, minus one arm. River shuddered, trying desperately to banish both the haunting memory and her bitter tears. "Almost there.", she called back to the teacher, shivering a bit in her gray-blue sweater, a gift from Roanne. It matches your eyes!, was what her girlfriend had initially told her, plonking a kiss on her nose.
Alex exhaled a strained breath, "Yeah." He murmured, keeping his icy eyes downwards.
Cassie couldn't believe that she had just had another nightmare. She felt really embarrassed that she had scared Pine. But, what could she do? She'd been having them ever since her parents had died.
Callie was tired, especially after what happened today. People searching, supply finding, hill climbing, and bear running was more activity than normal. She never really got invested in sports. Archery maybe, but that didn’t require much movement. Just arm strength. She contemplated this, thoughts drifting away as she fell asleep with her notebook in hand.
Pine remained distant the rest of the night but never went to sleep, instead pacing the nearby woods and muttering softly to himself.
Cassie couldn't sleep. She watched Pine carefully to make sure that he couldn't see her, then she pulled herself up and tested her leg. It hurt a little, but the swelling had already stopped and she could stand. So she pulled herself up into the higher branches of the tree, looking out at the silent forest below her.
(What’s with people climbing trees?)
(We love climbing trees. It's wonderful.)
(I’m acrophobic, I can’t relate)
(aww you poor soul ;-; climbing trees is fun~)
(Hmm. I used to be afraid of heights too.)
(Once I challenged my little sister to see who could get to the top of this really high tree. Loser had to eat a bitter fruit. She lost. XD)
River acknowledged his wishes to remain silent as the approached the dripping wet plane. It had crashed straight into the river, but has washed up an hour later, laden with the bodies of River's family, bloated with water. "Where d'you want to set it down?", she asked, limping slightly on the ankle she'd sprained after jumping out of the plane.
"Somewhere for a temporary shelter," he answered.
River helped him set it down in between two rocks that they rolled close to each other, as a sort of roof. "We can bring one of my humidifiers in here.", she said, brushing off her hands, her curiosity slowly getting the better of her. "How did you guys arrive here? Was this supposed to be some sort of field trip?", she asked, spotting the mother bear with her cub a little farther into the woods.
It's so peaceful here. Cassie leaned her head on the trunk of the tree. I wonder when we'll make it home. Cassie thought about her grandfather, and how he made the best chili. She thought about her three-month old sister, who couldn't even talk yet. She thought about her and her grandfather's search and rescue center for animals, land and marine alike. She thought about the kids that she babysat, those little pip squeaks that always asked for more stories and songs. She laughed softly. Don't let go of good times…….and let the bad ones know you feel fine……..wear your heart on on your sleeve. 'Cause love is all you need………………Feel with all your senses……………and be sure to let down you defenses…………She sang softly, letting the words comfort her.
Kirsten woke to gentle humming. She blinked sleepily and looked around. No one was there except her. "Cassie? Callie?" she called.
"Yes.." Mr. Nikolas exhaled, demeanor weighing with sadness. "We were on our way to Alaska," he answered River, scratching his nose.
Pine had had enough of pacing. What was the point? There was nothing he could do to fix the situation that they were in, and there was no point wasting time pondering over such fantasies. He made his way slowly back to the rest of the group and lay down sullenly between Matthew and Kirsten, unable to sleep.
They finished fixing the mini-shelter. "Same with my family. My grandpa lives there, he's an Atawapiskat First Nation.", she replied, almost daring him to be racist.
"What's that?" Mr. Nikolas asked, taking a seat on the ground.
