Ok, maybe I shouldn't have run away. Heck, he even seemed willing to give me some answers - right before he delivered me over to his master overlord dude. He definitely could have caught up to me if he wanted...so yea, running was definitely pointless.

But well, it all makes sense looking back. At the time, I was scared and had to get Tria and I away.

-

Whatever. I was new to this whole thing, ok? You don't have to judge me...

******

Kel held Tria close as he passed through the trees. Her body was still weak and clammy to the touch, and she barely spoke.

Breathing heavily from fear, his tunnel vision let him see only what was in front. One step at a time, one more step...one more.

And so it went until he couldn't run any longer. He didn't know how long he ran exactly - it could have been a few minutes, or a few hours. All that mattered was it was now pitch dark - well into the night, and he couldn't see anymore.

The first crack of thunder let him know he needed to find a place for the two of them to stay the night.

Kel stopped, taking in great heaving gasps of air and looked around - the occasional flashes of lightning providing his only light. They were still surrounded by trees, their branches now rustling furiously in the wind. It was eerily calm on the forest floor though.

"Must be in a valley or something" Kel muttered.

A particularly loud crash of thunder split the night, and Kel glanced up in worry. One giant drop of rain right on Kel's face.

And then the downpour started.

Insane sheets of rain pouring through the canopy above - oblivious to the fact the leaves should slow its descent. The trees moaned and creaked painfully under the torment of the wind, seemingly trying to cry out their distress over the blasting thunder.

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Kel stumbled towards a tree; the lightning flashing enough to provide slideshow images of the world around him, the thunder a constant furious roar of some angered behemoth.

Kel slumped up against the tree, desperately trying to cover Tria with his body.

"-is one" he heard Tria calling out to him.

"What?" he called back, pushing his ear down towards her face.

"Not this one, that tree over there! He will help us" she cried, pointing off in another direction. The tree she pointed at wasn't too far, a giant thing with a smooth trunk extending up tens of feet. There was no way they could climb it, but it was on a very small hill - the ground beneath it not yet covered by the storm.

Kel grumbled and started slogging towards the tree, the water on the ground now swirling around his ankles and threatening to pull him down.

"I don't - why is there so much blasted water" he gasped in frustration as the water dragged him and Tria to the ground. They were in the middle of a small lake now - water covering the floor as far as he could see between the flashes of light.

Oh...this is very bad Kel's face drained of blood as he stood up, the water now reaching mid calf.

"We're in a valley, we need to climb" Kel screamed over the storm. Tria shook her head and pointed at the tree again.

"Tria -" Kel began again, before the current of the water knocked him off his feet again. He struggled up as quickly as he could - desperately trying to keep hold of Tria and keep her above water.

"The tree Kel!" she screamed.

The water was up to his knees now, the current strong enough he could barely keep his footing. The tree was close, but they would never make it. Another flash of lightning and Kel saw a wave of water littered with debris and fallen trees crashing down the valley. It would hit the tree, and then it would hit them.

How the hell is a tree supposed to help us he wondered frantically. But there was no time.

Kel gathered the last of his strength. "You better protect her!" he screamed at the tree.

And then he threw Tria towards the tree. The last flash of lightning showed him her horrified face as she pressed herself against the trunk and the wave broke around the tree, clawing towards him with unbridled fury.

The water hit him so hard it actually lifted him off the ground before crushing him back down, knocking all the air out of his lungs. It was pitch black under the water, the current pushing him wherever it wished. Kel knew if he hit a tree or any of the debris, it would be the end. He desperately tried to swim to the surface for air, but the water kept spinning and disorienting him.

Kel felt his body hit the ground again, and a root caught his foot. He struggled to break free, but was unable too. It wrapped around his leg and held him fast.

This...sucks was all he could think, before the root suddenly tightened and pulled.

Kel was ripped beneath the ground - but somehow remained unhurt - as if the earth was moving to let him pass. The root pulled him at an insane speed, his arms flailing against the dirt behind him. His lungs burned, desperately crying out for air - but still he continued to be pulled, an ever sifting grave.

The ground down here is dry he noticed in distracted surprise. The root must have pulled him quite deep. He was so disoriented now he had now clue which was up or down...before he once again crashed up out of the ground.

Taking huge gasps of air, the storm once again greeted him. He looked around in agitation, only to see Tria right next to him, still leaning against the trunk of the tree - staring at him with her huge, innocent eyes.

Several more roots exploded out of the ground and molded into a small platform beneath them - before lifting and carrying them several feet up the trunk of the tree...and away from the water. Branches quickly grew out of the trunk around them, circling around them in protection. Finally, leaves started to grow and the rain was blocked out.

And just like that, the storm around them continued to rage - but they were safe. The noise from before now oddly muffled, Kel suddenly felt a huge wave of exhaustion hit him as the adrenaline from the day wore off.

The air was moist but warm, the earthy smell of roots comforting and the rustling of the leaves calming. In the darkness, he felt Tria grab his hand before lying down next to him.

"I have so many questions" Kel mumbled to himself as sleep overtook him.

He was asleep before his head hit the ground.