Some trouble. Chapter 3.

Aiel slowly started waking up, she opened one eye and then the next yawning. She say up with her eyes closed once again. Then a moment of terror. Aiel instantly opened her eyes looking around for the source of her terror, she soon noticed a bear. A big, black, bear. Aiel slowly leaned over to where the basket was and grabbed the basket. She soon noticed that Nel had made the basket so it can be carried on their back. She quickly and quietly put it on and soon placed her hands under Nel's body. She was still sleeping, as much as Aiel wanted to admire her she had to quickly hurry or they would end up becoming lunch. Aiel carried Nel bride style, slowly and somewhat crouching to stay out of the bears view. She kept following the trail Nel had left behind so they could return. Then it happened. She tripped on a rock. Not trying to get Nel hurt she forced her arms to lift up Nel while her face faced the ground in pain. Then she heard rustling behind them as Nel started waking up from the small impact she received.

"Nel hurry up and wake up! Get ready to run!"

Aiel said full of distress quickly picking herself up and pulling Nel off the floor. Aiel started booking it while keeping up with the markings.

The arrow! Where is the arrow!

Aiel started visibly sweating once she heard a rawr in the distance behind them. She soon saw the arrow and quickly started getting on track to where they're supposed to go. Nel sweating and panting trying to keep up with Aiel. With no weapons to defend themselves they kept running in fear and panic.

"Hey Nel you see that tree in front of us? You'll climb it to the highest point and Ill quickly give you a lift and run to the next tree to climb, okay?" Nel had no time to think, before she could answer she felt herself being thrown up at the tree and soon she started climbing. Sje climbed to the opposite side she had just been on of the tree and watch Aiel run. The bear had tried grabbing and looking for Nel but quickly lost interest and chased Aiel. With the bear being distracted for a couple of minutes Aiel ran to a tree farther from Nel so the bear wouldn't catch interest in her again. She quickly started climbing the tree noticing the bear coming quickly.

Hurry, hurry, HURRY!

Aiel pouring all her strength in climbing soon noticed the bear climbing too. At this point she was so overwhelmed she looked at the trees next to her and jumped for a branch to hang onto. She didn't care about the fruits anymore, she rather lose them all than become shredded meat for a bear. She jumped from tree to tree pouring her strength in lifting her up on the branch. After jumping four trees she clenched onto a tree and stayed silent, trying to steady her breathing and clearing her thoughts. The bear kept looking for Aiel. Nel had watched every second of Aiel's and the bear's actions. Silently hoping Aiel would survive from some miracle. Soon the bear gave up looking for both girls and retreated. Soon Nel got off the tree and looked for where Aiel was, she spotted her and soon Aiel noticed she was there. She slowly climbed down and started walking on the path they originally were going on, near the lake.

Silent.

The girls remained silent throughout the trip. They were now walking in a meadow. After a couple hours Aiel noticed Nel bleeding, from her lower region.

Did her leg get scratched by the tree when I threw her up? Or while she was climbing? When getting down? Did the bear claw her?

"Nel are you okay? You're bleeding", both girls stopped walking.

"Huh?" Nel looked confused and examined her body. Indeed she was bleeding, she looked closer.

"Um..i-it's monthly...." Nel's face was now beet red. "Oh, we should clean you up. Lets find some cotton while we're at it." Aiel looked around for cotton while Nel washed herself off at the shallow area of the river. Soon Aiel found some cotton and started separating it from the plant. Though there was many randomly she quickly starting cleaning it. Making sure it was pure cotton. Nel soon came over and cleared some too. In the end they formed a pile and cleaned it at the river. While Aiel cleaned them Nel made a mini basket to store the ones they got for later. They both soon finished and Aiel put it the cotton in the basket waiting for it to dry. Nel went back to wash herself off, Aiel places the small basket with the fruit she carried. Though there wasn't as much fruit as before it's still something. Nel came back and Aiel carried the basket again. They began walking once again, after a while Aiel stopped.

"Nel grab some cotton.. and yeah.."

Nel nodded and did as she was told. While she did that Aiel sat down looking at the opposite side of the direction of Nel. Remembering what happened earlier. Aiel soon started sobbing, knowing that could've been her very last day. Nel looked over once she was finished, she sat right next to Aiel and hugged her while also sobbing. One of them could've died today.

"Im so sorry... Im sorry.."

Nel sobbed while repeating her sentence. She felt useless, she couldn't help Aiel while they were at deaths door. Aiel saved her, she thought of her.

Without you I'd be dead...Im sorry..

A silent sobbing session had begun between the two of them.

Soon enough they stopped crying, it didn't mean they didn't whimper. They begun walking again, just because of some bear they wouldn't stop going to their destination. They were going to keep going, no matter how long it took.