#{prancing through the queue}

The sun sparkling over her body had her walking up. The same hopes to be tucked away safely with her boyfriend flooded her mind. And for a second, Caroline really believed it was where she was. Till he moved her foot the wrong way and the pain slit through her leg. Looking up, Caroline could really take in just how far she had fallen off the path. Tucked away under the trees… she was nearly invisible to anyone that could have already walked the trail. Letting her head fall back against the tree she covered her mouth as she cried.  The girl knew she needed to stop. Caroline wasn’t even sure when someone would find her- If someone would - did anyone even know she was missing?. She’d of course read about always just staying put - but what was the point if she wasn’t seen from the trail that was much higher than the floor she rested upon. Looking down at her leg she knew if she didn’t get help fast infection would be the biggest threat with the puncture to her thigh. 

Beside her lay two sticks, long enough for some sort of splint she could put around her ankle to give some stabilization. Reaching out for them, she felt the sharp pain and blows to her ribs - the fall that beat every inch of her body was rippling it’s effects. Taking in a breath she steadied herself, trying to not cry out all the water in bring on dehydration effects quicker. Leaning over a soft whimper left but Caroline pushed through the pain enough to grab the two sticks.

Pulling back to sit against the tree she shut her eyes. The pain and been keeping her in and out, and she needed to stay away. Clenching her jaw as she felt the wave nearly take her under again. Caroling reached for her sleeve to set between her teeth again. Biting down she pulled her foot up and lined the sticks together on either side of her ankle. Already just that small movement was enough to make her scream out into the muffled cup up sleeve. With one deep breath she pressed the wood against her ankle. Holding them there with one hand the other pulled the cut  sleeve she had in her mouth out to wrap around the sticks to hold them in place. 

Shutting her eyes tightly Caroline let her head fall back against the tree. The pain was coming to take her under again, but she fought it off the best she could. Opening her eyes , so it wouldn’t be easier to slip away. But she wished she did with what had come next. The pain was so intense her smaller body rolled over enough for her stomach to to it’s self inside out. “Fuck..” She groaned knowing she would have to move spots now. Caroline needed to keep dry, and away from something that would just make her more sick.  The biggest mistake of this all was not mapping out the new area. Caroline didn’t even know what direction would get her to other people. “You can do this… you can do this… get up.” She said to herself. Though going nearly 30 hours without food or water, Caroline was starting to feel the effects on how weak her body was becoming. Each minute her eye lids great heavier. But she had to move.  Pushing her body up she hissed, and cursed till she was standing up against the tree, spots filling her vision with complete light head feeling that almost pulled her back to the ground. Humming to herself she shook her head before pushing off the tree. Caroline did her best to not put any weight on her broken ankle. Each tree that was large enough to keep her up she found and leaned against. And each time she looked up it was just more miles of trees with no hint to where she would get out. 

Caroline groaned, her eye lids feeling heavier than her own body as she forced herself to open them. The girl had no idea how long she was passed out on the forrest floor, but there was hardly any day light to truly figure much out.Part of her had hoped it was all just a really bad dream. That she would wake up tucked away beside Tito with a movie playing in the background just as she had panned her evening. Though, instead her body was throbbing. The dried blood upon her face and arms from the cuts itched, and her leg felt like it was on fire. As she came too, so did all her senses in alarming her that she was in bad shape. 

Caroline pushed herself to sit up. Crying out anytime her foot would move just a little. Looking down she tightened the sleeve above the puncture of the twin, biting so harshly down on her lip she re split the cut. “Fuck.” She let it slip out without much care as the pain swirled in her head. Looking around she knew being this injured and crying to get out wasn’t going to do her any good. Caroline would most likely just end up far worse than this. Though fifteen feet away from her she found a pretty soild tree with a decent cover in case the weather got bad out here. 

“Get up, Caroline..” She demanded to herself. Knowing full well the pain was about to knock her out again after she got to the tree. The more uncoordinated, and ungraceful woman pulled herself to one foot. Screaming out in pain as she forced her body to stand and balance on one foot. Just the switch in position made her nearly faint with the small blood flow to her foot now. Each step came with a second to collect herself. Reaching out she let her body collapse against the tree. Her hands holding her up the best she could. Though it wasn’t enough strength to keep standing with the sob the ripped through her body. 

All she had to do was survive through the night. Someone had to come out looking by tomorrow, or at least another hiker that she could call out towards from down here , right? Which was why Caroline avoided moving from the falling grounds. Someone had to come...  or so she hoped.