Cameron smirked after Justin had woken her up and executed his plan for escaping. She was lucky to have found someone with the will to live and carry on, because hers was feigning, and with the wrong influence, she would have probably been dead by now. Or worse.
 
It took one or two throws for her to successfully get the rope up to Justin, and as he braced him, she flexed her hands a few times before grabbing onto it. After a silent struggle, minus a few curses, Cameron had made her way to the edge of the pit, wrapped her arms in Justin, and was lifted out. There was no time for a break, as it was uncertain how long they would be alone on the ground, so she nodded to him, and they both crouched down and ran out silently to the edge of the settlement that was lined by a thick wall of trees that danced slowly in the breeze. It was dark, albeit a small amount of light cast by the full moon above them.

Once they got into the dense forest, they had to move slowly: 1) to avoid making too much noise, and 2) because using a torch or light would give away their location. Any time they heard the noise of rustling leaves or a twig snap, they would freeze for a minute, but those minutes felt like hours in the dark silence that engulfed them. The fact was that with every hang up that they faced on their trip, they were losing precious time, time before they were caught by someone who had move evil intentions for them than the primitive group they had just escaped from.

Based on the moon’s position in the sky, they had been walking north for almost two hours. Cameron tugged on Justin’s shirt to signal him to stop, and after checking the floor of leaves and dirt below her, she plopped down and took a deep breath. Her stamina was increasing with her latest “adventures,” but she still had her limits, which she had just reached. Between deep breaths, she whispered quietly to Justin. 

“So,” she smiled briefly as she spoke. “I have no idea where we are. Or where we were.”

A few breaths.

“But, we’ve got to get to Portland before anyone else does.”

A few more.

“Unless they have already.” Cameron’s eyes scanned their surroundings but ultimately landed on the man in front of her. “Thank you for getting us out of there. I, uh, lately I’ve been a bit hopeless. I’m glad I haven’t brought you down.” She smiled faintly and stretched a hand out so that he could help her stand, and once she was vertical, she swept the dirt off her lower half, dug around for the fabric she used in her hair, and quickly maneuvered the black mane up into a knot on her head. She was sweaty. Tired. Blood spattered. But that didn’t matter right now. 

“Are you okay to continue? You haven’t gotten much sleep since we’ve crossed paths.” She stepped closer to him to observe his face, or at least what she could see. “You look pretty beat, no offense,” she laughed as she stepped back again and looked around them, a habit she had picked up since her long walk. A paranoid habit. “I’m good to keep moving or good to rest. Your call.”   

In all honesty, Cameron was exhausted, but Justin had done so much for her at this point that she was willing to do what he asked. He deserved it. But she also had a feeling that he may push himself to his limits before he took care of himself. A redeeming quality, sure, but in a time like this where split second decisions need to be made, it may have been for the best if he got to rest.