Swishing the water in her mouth, Christi spat back into the stream. Only minutes after she had left the cabin, it felt like the entire world had turned on its head. Literally. She didn't know what way was up or down, and within seconds she had tripped over her own feet. It took several more minutes before she could do more than lie there and vomit, Jack licking at her fingers and whimpering in concern. When whatever... [b]it[/b] was had passed, seeking to put as much distance between herself and her former home. While her brother wasn't as good a tracker as her, he preferred to spend his time in town, he was good enough, and she had no doubt that he would get some of his "friends". 

The thought nearly made her retch again, and she brushed the tears out of her eyes. He had been one of them, one of the boys who had hurt Tillie. She could hardly believe it. He had [b]killed[/b] the only other friend she had had in the world. She'd been nice to her, and they'd...

She shook her head, driving the thoughts from her head. She couldn't go there, not yet. What she needed was to keep moving, and she knew at least one place where she could get some proper rest. 

Rising, she winced, pressing her hand to her side, her shirt damp beneath her fingers. In her haste to escape, she'd forgotten that she'd still been holding her knife, and when her balance went out she'd nearly impaled herself. As it was, she was lucky that the cut hadn't been deeper. Normally she would take the time to clean and dress it, but as it was she didn't trust that Daniel wasn't right behind her. So, she whistled for Jack and kept moving. 

The sun had just crossed its peak and started its descent towards the mountains when she passed the pair of crossed pines that indicated that she was getting close, and Jack suddenly stopped. Christi did the same, crouching into the undergrowth and peering in the direction the dog's nose was aimed. If there was one thing she could trust at least, it was the fact that his senses were sharper than hers. Somebody was nearby. 

Placing her hand on the dog's collar, she pushed him down. "Lay down. Quiet. Good boy." Slowly, she started creeping forward, leaving behind her backpack and drawing one of her bolts. Her steps were noiseless as she slipped through the undergrowth, settling behind a large bush. Gently, she pushed aside one branch, and instantly sucked in a breath.

Sitting not far from the mine shaft that was her destination was a rough looking man in work clothes, a pistol holstered at his hip. She recognized him from the couple times that Daniel had let her come into to town with him, though she don't think that she had ever gotten his name. Daniel hadn't liked it when she had talked to people. Christi bit her lip. If he was here, and armed, then it probably meant that he was looking for her. Daniel must have gone into town and told the police. She groaned. Now she really [b]was[/b] going to be strung up like Tillie. They hadn't done anything for her. 

[i]But...[/i] as small voice in her head whispered. But, she did know that the man in front of her didn't work for the Sherriff. In fact, he had been one of the few people in town who hadn't paid her any attention at all, as opposed to all the whispers that she knew went on behind her back. Which meant that there was a chance that he didn't outright hate her. And she really did need to take care of her cut. If there was a chance that she could convince him to leave her be...

Two sides warred in her brain, and she groaned. She couldn't just go up to him, it was too risky. What if he was with the police, and they were waiting to ambush her? Another option was needed. An idea came to her, and she turned around and crept back to where she had left Jack and her backpack. Pulling out her journal, she tore out a page and scribbled on it, then crept back to her bush and pushed it onto a branch, where it would be visible for someone who looked. Then she let out a low whistle, an up-down note that was just loud enough to hear, and retreated back to a safe distance, out of sight but close enough that she could watch.

[@AcerRo]