It was already dusk. The forest had become eerily calm.

The remainder of 11-D’s search party paced about anxiously.

They were still in the same spot where the encounter with 11-B had taken place.

Soraya glanced in the direction of the tree where Yesu laid.

Still unconscious.

Finch was squatting right in front of her.

Earlier, when Yesu’s head injury had first been discovered, Finch had refused anyone’s help.

"I’ll handle it." He had said, sounding grave although obviously not panic stricken like the rest of them.

Then he had taken off his jacket and gently placed it at the back of Yesu’s head to stop the bleeding.

The squad had stepped back, not bothering to intrude. Since he seemed like he knew exactly what he was doing.

And they didn’t.

Finch had remained by Yesu’s side since then, holding up the jacket to her head.

Farida stopped pacing, and went to stand next to Soraya. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

She winced on seeing Yesu, looking lifeless.

"Do you think she’s dead?" She asked, voice shaky.

Soraya didn’t pause to think on it.

"If she was, I believe he would’ve told us by now."

Reggie walked over to them.

"Did you finally manage to get a hold on Grover?"

Soraya raised up her walkie talkie that had been on standby.

"No." She said, letting her worry show. "I can’t get hold of the others who ran either."

"What about Isaiah and the other party?" Farida asked hopefully.

Soraya sighed and shook her head.

Farida crashed to the floor in dismay.

Reggie and Soraya were momentarily taken aback, then they remembered who they were with.

"We should’ve just let them take the Scales." Farida said quietly, but she was audible enough. "Now we’re all separated."

"Hey!" Carrots shouted from the far end where she had been sitting.

She marched to them, stopping in front of Farida.

"Do you have to be so dramatic all the time? It’s getting on my nerves." She looked redder than normal.

Farida sniffed, teary.

"I’m sorry."

Carrots paused, visibly weakened. This was definitely not what she had expected.

"Calm down." Came Soraya. "We can’t afford to be fighting."

Reggie sat on the floor next to Farida.

"I think Farida has a point." He said tiredly. "It’s way past seventeen hundred and half the squad hasn’t clocked out for the day. Not to mention we’ve all completely lost each other."

He sighed, eyes darting to the tree.

"And our map recall might die any minute. We don’t even have first aid."

Soraya set herself down without a word.

"Seems like we lost before we even got to begin." Carrots remarked, also sitting.

Soraya stared at the ground, her jaw set tight.

A cool breeze blew.

She shivered a little.

Farida noticed. "I’ll make a fire." She declared, rising to her feet.

***

Under the tree, Finch kept his jacket directly on the bleeding spot at the back of Yesu’s head, pressing firmly and steadily.

The bleeding had long ceased but he held on anyway.

Yesu’s fingers twitched.

Finch reacted almost instantly like he had been waiting for it.

He placed his hand over hers.

"Not again." He said under his breath.

Her eyes were already fluttering.

"Hold on." He whispered, concentrating. "It’s not time to wake up yet."

He stole a glance at the others, then adjusted till he was blocking Yesu from their view completely.

"Wait some more." He whispered again, concentrating harder.

Yesu’s body relaxed, gradually sinking back into unconsciousness.

"What are you doing?"

A voice came from behind.

Finch paused for a few seconds before looking back.

Soraya stood directly behind. She was studying him, her expression a bit puzzled.

A bit suspicious.

Finch managed a small laugh, somehow integrating worry into it.

"Looking after my girlfriend."

Soraya snorted in disbelief.

Although she said nothing for a moment or two.

"Farida’s making a fire. You should bring her over. It’s getting chilly."

Finch hummed softly.

"It might be possible she could also have a spine injury. I can’t move her until I know for sure."

Their gaze remained locked for a while.

Then Soraya sighed.

"Let us know if you need help. We can’t have her die."

Finch nodded and watched as she headed back to the others.

Farida already had the fire going.

"He seems really worried about her." She said in observation as Soraya sat down.

"Hm." Was all Soraya could reply.

"Of course he’s worried." Carrots shot at Farida. "The girl’s dying."

"Hey," yelled Reggie. "Stop saying things like that." He shifted uncomfortably. "She’s our classmate, you know."

Carrots almost laughed. "Classmate? You tried running her over barely two weeks ago. Unbelievable."

Reggie jerked his head to Farida.

She faced the sky, faking oblivion.

"Besides," Carrots went on. "We all know you’re just worried we won’t find our way to base."

No one spoke.

Farida was looking in the direction of the tree again, thoughtfully.

"Do you think they might be... dating?" She asked suddenly.

Carrots was pleasantly surprised.

"Why? Do you like him?"

Farida jolted.

"No!" She shouted. "Of course I don’t."

Her cheeks were blush pink in betrayal.

Reggie brought a hand to his head.

Carrots was even more pleased.

"Are you sure?" She asked slowly in deliberate teasing.

Farida was already red in embarrassment.

"I don’t."

"Guys." Reggie groaned in annoyance. "We are literally in the middle of nowhere. Could you please come back to reality?"

Carrots gave a knowing smile.

"Why are you being so edgy?" She glanced between him and Farida, her smile turning to mischief. "Is this what I think it is?"

Farida blinked. "What?"

Reggie almost lunged at Carrots.

"Shut up, would you?" He half yelled.

Carrots raised both hands up in surrender, grinning.

"Okay, Mr Resistance."

Farida had mellowed in the confusion. Her eyes went to the tree, seemingly sad.

"I just asked a simple question." She said almost in a whisper.

"They’re not dating."

Soraya, who had been silent since she returned, finally spoke.

Her attention was also on the tree.

On Finch.

On the way he seemed to be blocking Yesu from sight.

"Strange..." She muttered. Something wasn’t right but she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was.

Then suddenly, something broke the calmness.

A screech.

All eyes darted to Soraya’s walkie talkie.

A voice came through.

"Surbodinate to squad leader..."

Another screech.

Everyone held their breaths.

"Surbodinate to squad leader. Over."