The Hunted

GEMMA

"If you fall, I'll catch you, Gemma." said Wren. Yeah because that was likely, I had a one in a million shot at her catching me. But I still to try to grab hold of Saphire's stick.

"Gemma, don't worry. Grab on to the stick, I will pull you up. It's safe. Just try, please." pleaded Saph. I knew she was right.

Slowly I loosened my grip, and immediately tensed back up, I was going to fall and I knew it.

"Gemma!" yelled Wren, "Grab on! You will fall if you don't!" Both Wren and Saphire had said the same thing, and they were both right.

Again I loosened my grip, this time I slowly let go of the ledge with one hand and reached upwards. Somehow my hand found the stick. "Okay, Gemma, that's it. Now grab on with the other hand so I can pull you up." said Saphire.

"I can't let go, I will fall. Even I know Wren can't catch me." I cried.

"Gemma," exclaimed Saphire, "I will not let you fall. I promise."

I trusted her, I really did. It was my own body I didn't trust, I knew I wasn't strong enough to pull it off. I was going to fall either way, but I knew I had to try. In one quick motion I let go of the ledge with my other hand and grabbed Saphire's stick. I held on for dear life.

~Annie May~

I saw Wren running, and I decided to fallow. I saw Gemma dangling from a cliff, Wren climbing out to get her, and Saphire holding a stick out for Gemma. I wanted to help, but I knew I must let them do things on their own, so I decided to simply watch. I climbed in the tree, feeling like a monkey for how many times I climbed the trees, and how easily I did. I watched as Wren edged out to Gemma, wrapping one arm around her waist, then pushing her up towards the top. She grabbed the stick, and pulled herself up the rest of the way. Now, Wren was the one dangling. But she knew what to do. She climbed up with the help of Saphire's hand to pull her past the pointed edge. I noticed Gemma's leg was bleeding.

I knew simply watching was wrong, but what more could I do? I wouldn't always be there to hold their hands and tell them what to do, so I had to let them figure it out on their own.

I turned to climb out of the tree, and saw Dimi standing below me on the ground, watching me with hard eyes. I climbed down from the tree, dusting myself off, ignoring the look he was still giving me. Finally, I met his eyes. They seemed hard and cold, but turned soft, as a smile lit his face. How confusing it was for me. I didn't understand their reactions to things at all.

>Annie May sort of likes Dimitri, but I don't care if he doesn't like her<

GEMMA

Saphire was struggling, trying to pull me up. I wasn't a large girl but she certainly wasn't overly muscular either. Wren quickly scrambled up the slope and onto the ledge below mine. Her arms were around my waist and she was pushing me upwards. Between her pushing me and Saphire pulling me they managed to get me high enough that I could pull myself up over the edge. Now Wren was the one stuck, but unlike me, she knew what to do. Soon enough she was down on the ground and then up to Saph and me.

"Gemma!" exclaimed Wren, "Your knee! It's bleeding." I looked down and sure enough my pant leg was torn and covered in blood. I could see the gash on my knee cap through the tear. Seeing the injury brought back the pain. It was a dull ache pulsing through my leg.

Saph gasped at my wound, "Not you too, soon we will just be a bunch of cripples trying to survive out here."

I laughed, "Relax guys I can walk." I took a step, pain shot through my leg and I wobbled. "Okay, so not yet, but I'll be fine."

~Annie May~

Just to get away from Dimitri's glare, I forced myself to look like I cared about the others by the cliff. I walked past the trees and around the bushes, jogging to get away faster. As I came upon them, they all looked up.

"Is everything OK?" I asked. Gemma seemed to be the only one who was happy to see me. I had been rude the first time I met them. But saving their asses wasn't very rude. Saphire nodded, looking away from me. What was her problem? I nodded too. "Good." I looked at Gemma's knee. That had to hurt.

"Do you need any help?" I asked, not really meaning for just her, but for all of them. She shook her head, but I doubted that. I simply shrugged, turning, and heading back for the trees. I jumped into the limbs, swinging like a monkey. I didn't feel their eyes on me, but I could hear them talking about me. I didn't mind that so much. I was used to it.

DOMINIQUE

I had been hanging around tarrion for the past couple days. I felt safer around him lately. But i felt bad for dimitri. We were all going to kill ourselves. We would all commit suicide. No, we would all keep strong, gemma, wren and saph were the strongest of us all, well at least mentally and emotionally. Dimitri and tarrion were pretty strong.

I still kept my distance, don't get me wrong. I was utterly scared of the guys. Where had ollie gone off to? He seemed the most mellow of the guys. tarrion and dimitri had been so tense and frustrated the past few days.

~Annie May~

That night, I was glad to be back someplace I was used to. The trees. I noticed a snake next to me. It was only my pet. He was bright yellow, as all banana snakes are. I held him in my hands, watching as he slithered around my fingers. It was merely a baby.

I heard someone walking below me, and I rolled, putting my snake on one of the limbs. I looked down, trying to see in the dim light of the moon. I only saw a figure. It didn't seem too threatening, so I sat and watched them.

I went back to camp, throwing bandages, and other healing herbs to Saph, she nodded approval and I went to go chop wood. Pinko was tickling my shoulders as he walked around on them. I cut for about ten minutes, and was interrupted by a sudden thought. I really need some one to fall back on when I need it. I need that some one who will listen and comfort me, and for me to be able to do the same. I walked back into camp, beaming. I knew that I had to change. To become the guy you could always talk to. But I already had that gift, they just thought I was different, because of first impressions. Sitting by the fire in the night sky, I felt good. For once I felt good. If only I could share my feelings with someone. This is going to change, and for the better.

~Annie May~

I rolled over in the tree. The small space didn't allow for much room when sleeping. I rolled off, but caught myself before I hit the ground, by grabbing a limb. I dangled there, maybe seven feet between my feet and the forest floor. I swung myself, grabbing another limb with my legs. I let go of the first limb, swinging upside down, then unwrapping my legs from the second limb. I swung, and landed on my feet, squatted. Ashes, my snake, slithered to my feet, and I picked him up, placing him on my shoulders.

GEMMA

I gave my knee a few minutes and I was able to walk, painfully of course. Saph, Wren, and I walked back to camp, the walked slowly so that I was able to keep up. When we arrived back at camp Dimitri tossed Saphire some bandages and medicinal herbs. I allowed Wren to bandage my knee but I refused the herbs. I didn't know if I would have any allergies and I didn't want to risk an allergic reaction. Especially not out here.

I noticed Dimitri sitting on his lonesome by the fire. Sure, I had developed an almost fear of him, as was expected with the behaviour I have seen. I realized I had never really talked to the guy. I decided to take advantage of the moment and talk to him now. Alone, but still people around. "Hey, I'm Gemma." I said extending my hand.

He shook my hand and laughed, "I know who you are. I'm Dimitri."

I smiled, "I know who you are."

I shook her hand and laughed, "I know who you are. I'm Dimitri."

She smiled, "I know who you are."
I figured this could be a great opportunity. With out thinking I automatically looked at her wound "Wow, that looks painful, is there anything you would like me to do?" She replied "No thanks, I just need to let it rest." I really wanted to make a good impression, but I didn't want to push it. So I merely asked, "At least let me wash it." She said automatically "Sure, but be gentle." I walked away grabbing a clean rag, and some bandages. I soaked the rag in soapy water, and squeezed it until it was just damp. I dabbed at it carefully trying not to hurt her. She winced despite my efforts. I dabbed lighter now, and I dabbed for about five good minutes. I took some of the bandages I had brought, and patched her up very carefully. Then I took some cloth, wrapped it around her leg, and fastened the cloth. I had been barely aware of her smiling down at me, due to the fact that I was being overly careful not to hurt her. "Thank you very much, that was very kind", she said sweetly. I smiled and replied, "Just trying to help, did I do okay?" "Excellent", she replied. I just now noticed that everyone was sitting around the campfire watching me. I looked around, and not a single eye was somewhere other than me. I gulped and said, "Eh Eh, Ah just trying to help I guess." No one replied, but no one looked sourly at me. Maybe this was the start of something new. Just maybe I could actually make a difference.

~Annie May~

I walked in the direction of the other's camp. I wouldn't go into the camp, but I would watch them. As I approached, I heard Dimitri talking. Everyone was looking at him. I smiled, knowing that him being in the spotlight was best for him. I climbed up the tree and waited to see what would happen next.

Wren

Maybe Dimitri wasn't all bad. He had definately made up for it, some.

I didn't grin at him, but I didn't look at him angrily either. It was sort of a lopsided smile that said, What you did sucked but I think you've made up for it.

~Annie May~

I watched as Dimitri slowly became part of their family. I wanted to be there, but at the same time, I was glad I was an outsider. I sat in the tree for another hour, watching them talk and enjoy the beautiful weather. I wished it would rain. I loved to see the rain. It was so gorgeous. I laid my head back, looking up at the clouds and imagining shapes. I found myself drifting away before long.

[I'm going to California for a while. Although they have wi-fi, obviously I'm not going to go on here every day. ^^ Just so you know.]

Okay, so I'm back! I tried to make sense of everything, but if I screw up somebody shoot me a PM!


TARRION

I sighed and watched the others open up to Dimitri again. I still wasn't particularly fond of him in any aspect whatsoever, but I would give him a chance. So long as he didn't steal the heart of every girl here. I remembered the other that was with us... there had been two more. A boy and a girl. Where had they gotten off to? "Guys..." I started, clearing my throat.

They all turned towards me. "What?" Gemma asked, her expression automatically curious.

"There were two other with us I think...a boy and a girl. Where are they?" I was growing concerned. I had no idea who they were, but it was obvious that we needed to find them. "They were in our plane... I have no clue where they got to or how they managed to disapear, but we have to find them again. You know, make sure they're alright."