I ran all night. Ran until I saw the morning sun rise on the horizon, its rays greeting my face with warmth. I felt the sun's warmth hit my face and closed my eyes, smiling, as I slowed to a stop.

The sun played peek-a-boo with the forest floor with help from the trees. I was tired and hungry, but I knew I had to stay aware of my surroundings. Plus, I still couldn't figure out what was wrong with me.

I leaned on the trunk of a birch for a short break and that's when I heard it. "I will find you child..." Hissed a gruff voice, nothing more than a whisper drifting on the crisp, morning breeze.

I didn't care if it was just a whisper. I was getting out of there. I jumped up and dashed through the trees, still on edge from the incident the night before. There was no way I was going to get captured by Morro only to carry out his bidding for his hideous schemes or refuse and be tortured for resisting him.

I was in such a hurry that I didn't pay much attention to where I was placing my feet. I glanced over my shoulder, still running. I pushed off of my left foot as I stretched out my right foot expecting to feel the jolt of my foot impacting with the ground. Rather, my foot ceased to find solid ground, finding empty air in its place.

Yelping in surprise, I looked forward again only to find myself helplessly tumbling down a steep, dirt slope. Rocks and protruding tree roots smote my body as I somersaulted downward. I clenched my already closed eyes shut tighter. As I did I felt a searing pain, a tree root ripping into the tender flesh of my left side, causing me to loose a blood curdling scream.

I tumbled the remaining distance to the bottom and found myself sprawled on the ground, the wind knocked out of me.

I heaved myself up, with much difficulty, to see five young men, one young woman, and one older gentleman with a white beard. My legs were weak and jellylike and I was struggling to catch my breath as I rose to my feet.

Noticing me, I saw one in green and gold run towards me, the others trailing him at a distance. I glanced down as I pressed my left hand to my side only to see crimson blood gushing from my wounded side and blood leaking through my fingers. I looked ahead to see the green and gold guy almost upon me.

Suddenly, a wave of pain, nausea, and dizziness hit. "Miss? Miss?!" I heard the green and gold guy yell.

My mind went blank. I could feel something dripping down my face (blood no doubt) and I didn't feel so well. He slowed and walked up to me, deep concern for my wellbeing emanating from his vivid blue eyes.

My head was swimming and dark spots began to obscure my vision. "Help...me........please..." I groaned before the world went black and I collapsed into his arms.

The last thing I heard was the green and gold guy shout, "hurry or she'll bleed to death," as I felt him pick me up bridal style and start running.

After that, my remaining senses succumbed to the void of darkness. Everything just faded away.

The guys and I were training in a small clearing when all of a sudden I heard a shrill scream of pain echo across the clearing. We all looked in the direction of the scream only to see someone somersault down the steep, dirt slope near the clearing.

I watched her for a second, in disbelief, as she shakily propped herself up on her elbows. She then uncertainly rose to her feet on feeble and shaky legs. I ran in her direction to see if she was alright. I saw a red stain spreading across the left side of her shirt as she pressed a hand on it, grimacing. She also had thick drops of blood dripping down her face from a gash on her forehead.

"Miss? Miss?!" I yelled. 'What is she doing out here anyway?' I thought to myself.

I slowed to a walk and walked to her as I got close. She hadn't answered me. She looked young...ten or so...definitely too young to be alone out here, she should have an adult with her. She was wearing a plain yellow t-shirt, black and white skater shoes, and jeans. She had waist length, chocolate brown hair and vivid green eyes. She looked young, but her eyes were deeper than you would expect a ten-year-old's eyes to be. Her hair was in a scrunchy and was a mess, some strands even hanging at the sides of her face. Her clothes were torn and tattered. She was dirty and tired looking...she even had dark circles under her eyes.

I looked in her eyes. They were glazed over and a look of desperation pulsed from those bright green jewels.

She stared at me for a moment with wide eyes, dazed. Her green, soulful, pools of eyes locked on mine. "Help...me........please..." She managed to moan in pain. As soon as "please" left her lips, her legs crumpled weakly under her weight and she passed out, collapsing into my arms.

I eased her to the ground as I yelled to the others, "hurry or she'll bleed to death!!!" I picked her up bridal style and began running to the Bounty, which was anchored in the sky not far from the clearing. The others followed me to the Bounty.

Looking down into her cut and bloodied face as I ran, I whispered, "please don't die on me..."

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