There was the sound of feet hitting the ground in rapid succession when Joedan burst through the gate, yelling " Come on, Amelia." They both took off running making their way to the forest. Joedan led her into the woods, hoping to lose the guards in the thick of it. In front of them stood a tree, Joedan hurried Amelia forward, pointing up to the lowest branch. Amelia looked over to Joedan, with her eyebrows raised. "How do you expect me to get up there?"
"I'll give ya a boost, just take a good running start and I'll push ya the rest of the way up."
Amelia huffed at him but turned around to put a little distance between her and the tree. Getting in her running stance she charged the tree, stepping up the bark of the tree. Joedan went to reach to push, but in her haste, she started to slip. Joedan doing whatever he could to keep her from falling off the tree reached up.
It was soft.
Amelia got purchase with her legs and kicked down. Joedan caught her foot on the side of his head. Amelia had made it to the branch. Joedan backed up and started to charge the tree himself. Giving it his all, he stepped up the tree and grabbed onto the branch.
Pulling himself up, he shuffled Amelia over and settled himself on the branch. "We need to climb a few more up, so they can't see us from the ground." Joedan said to her.
Amelia wouldn't look at him.
"Amelia, did ya hear me?"
She still wouldn't look at him. Her face was bright red. She turned away from him and started to climb. They both went up a couple more branches.
"This is good. We'll wait it out here and then once they're gone we can leave." Joedan said to her. She still wouldn't look at him.
"What?" Joedan asked her.
"You know what?" She fired back.
"I don't understand you at all…" Joedan said. "I'm starting to think you just like to find something to be upset about."
"I'll have you know, my mood is totally warranted, considering the situation." She said back to him. "You really have no idea what you did?"
"What? Was it the plan? Pretty genius, right?" He smiled cheekily at her.
"No, it wasn't the plan," she said," although you are a terrible actor. When we were climbing up the tree? Your hand?"
"My hand?" Joedan looked at his hand.
"Ughhh.." Amelia exclaimed. "I can't with you. Just forget it." She turned back away from him and settled down on her part of the branch. Joedan got comfortable on his section and kept his eyes out for the guards below, waiting for them to go back towards the town.
Joedan woke up with a crick in his neck. Note to self, a tree is not a good pillow. Stirring, Joedan looked over and Amelia was curled up around her pack. Watching her sleep was peaceful. Joedan rubbed his face to get the sleep from his eyes. Time to ruin the peace, I guess. Joedan used his foot to tap Amelia on her side. She started, looking around.
"It's morning. I think it's safe for us to get down."
Joedan twisted himself into a seated position and reached for the branch below. Lowering himself to the ground, he motioned for her to toss her pack down. He thought she threw it a little harder than she needed to, but he managed to hold onto it. Placing the pack on the ground, he reached his arms up to help lower her to the ground.
"No, thank you," she said.
Joedan stepped back. "Fine, have it your way."
He watched as she shimmied her way down the tree, finally settling her feet back on solid ground. She dusted off her shoulder and straightened out her clothes. Grabbing the pack from the ground she threw it over her shoulder.
Joedan followed after her as they made their way towards the edge of the forest. The town of Lincoln still a little ways off in the distance. Pulling two of the rations from the pack, they both broke into them. As they ate, Joedan handed her one of the canteens.
"Okay, so I think we should stick to the wood line as much as possible. We don't know if or when the other person might be following us. I don't think the wide open is safe for us to travel." Joedan motioned to her, pointing at the town and the road stretching out from it.
"We've still got about four days of traveling to get to Restin. I also think we should avoid any more towns until we get there."
Amelia continued to chew her rations. Not saying anything, she took another swig of her canteen, and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "Understood," she said.
They finished their food and then shouldered their packs and began their trek through the woodline. Joedan always loved the woods. Being around the trees and hearing the different animals gave him a small comfort in his humble life as a farmer. As they continued to walk through the woods, climbing over roots and sticking to the woodline, Joedan kept an eye on the road not too far out of his field of vision. Joedan started to whistle just to fill the quiet. Amelia kept walking but didn't say much.
"So what are you gonna do when you get back?" Joedan asked.
"I don't know. I have no idea what state everything is in, since I've been gone." Amelia said. "I don't know how my father has handled my kidnapping. I'm just looking forward to being back in my own home."
Hours came and went as the pair continued traveling. Evening approached and Joedan pointed to a spot under a giant oak tree for them to set up camp.
"This is as good a place as any to stay for the night." Joedan said to her.
"We'll have to take turns watching overnight. I'll take the first watch." Joedan settled the pack from his shoulder, pulling the tent out and working to assemble it.
"We'll have to go without a fire tonight."
Amelia nodded. Amelia set her pack inside the tent and settled in.
"I'll take the first watch, so you can get some shut eye." Joedan told her as he lifted the flap of the tent.
Letting the tent flap close, Joedan turned back around and plopped down on one of the roots near their tent. It was a cool night, the stars were out. Joedan looked up and wondered what would be at the end of their journey. This past week has been one thing after another. I wonder how ma and da are back at the farm. I hope they're not too worried. "God, if you're out there, I don't know what tomorrow holds for us, but help us to get where we're headed."