"Gia, are you okay?" called Vonn softly, once the noises of Luan's cries faded.
"I'm still alive, if that's what you mean," she responded, unable to open her eyes.
What was wrong with her? It was her mom who was afraid of heights, not her! She took a breath and opened them, only to find a giant leaf blocking her view of the chasm below her. A rush of relief flowed through her. Glancing up, she could see the edge of the path only about six feet above her.
"Gia, you need to reach up and start climbing, I can't get around you," said Vonn.
"I don't think I can," she said, staring up at the next branch. Her hands were holding on so tight, she was starting to lose feeling in the tips of her fingers.
"Dear, you can't stay there forever, and I can't carry you. You can do this," he said, his voice gentle and calm. "I'll help you, okay?"
"Okay," she whispered. If her hands went numb, she would fall. She had to climb. She could do this.
"Let go with your left hand and reach up," he coaxed.
She lessened her grip just as her left foot slipped a little. With a high-pitched yelp, she tightened her grip again and held on for dear life with her eyes squeezed shut as tight as she could.
"I can't do this!" she whimpered.
"Gia, you have to. If you fall, I will fall after you. Then there won't be anyone to help your mom and dad get home. Your little brother will have no one to teach him how to cut down trees or hunt in the woods," he said, trying to distract her.
"I know that," she whispered, peeking up at the next branch with one eye. It was right there, not very far at all.
Swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat, she lunged for the branch just above her left hand. The quick movement almost dislodged her completely, and she felt the whole vine shake. Vonn had reached up and pushed her foot higher on the branch where she was standing, and was helping to hold her still.
"Good girl, but let's move a little more gently next time, okay?"
She nodded, not daring to look down at him.
"All right, now I'm going to guide your left foot up to the next foothold, alright?"
She could feel his hand holding onto her ankle. "Alright."
Moving painstakingly slow, she moved her foot, with him guiding her. Once she felt his hand leave her ankle, she looked for the next branch to grab with her right hand. It was too high!
"Gia, calm down, you're breathing too fast. I don't need you to pass out. Slow breaths, okay? In and out," he said, helping her to slow her breathing.
"I can't reach the next branch," she said shakily.
"Yes, you can. You just need to push with your left foot and reach. Your right foot is going to come off its branch and I will guide it while you go," he said, placing his hand on her right ankle.
"It's too far, Vonn," she whimpered, looking up at the branch.
"Gia, you can do this. Stop thinking you can't. It only looks far because of the angle. Go on," he said, his voice smooth and deep.
Swallowing again, she took a breath and loosening her right hand, raising it as far as it would go. There were still a few inches between the branch and her fingertips! Grabbing the branch she had before, she shook her head.
"I can't reach it!" she sobbed.
"Gia," he said, soothingly. "You need to straighten your left leg while you reach. You can do it. I have your other foot, so I can guide it to the next branch."
Looking back up at the branch, she nodded and reached again, her left leg quivering as she tried to straighten it. She could feel his hand guiding her right foot as the panic of only being supported by her left hand and left foot beat against her chest. Grabbing the branch with her right hand as he firmly seated her foot onto its next foothold, she clung to the vine and fought to catch her breath.
"Good girl," he said softly. "You did a great job! Only a little further to go now."
There was something about his voice that caught her attention.
"Vonn, are you alright?" she asked, fighting against the urge to glance down at him.
"I'll be fine once we reach the ledge," he assured her. "Let's go for the next branch, shall we? It's right above your left hand, see it?"
She looked up and saw the branch he was talking about. "I see it," she said.
Thinking about him made her forget how scared she was. She didn't think he was fine at all! Licking her lips, she shifted her body weight slightly and reached for the next branch with her left hand. The edge of the path was almost within reach! Not waiting for him to coach her, she looked for the next branch and reached for it with her right hand, lifting her right foot and feeling for a foothold. Finding one, she found herself at the edge of the path.
Looking around, there wasn't really anything more to grab ahold of. Hearing a faint grunt of pain from below her, she scrambled up the vine anyway, and rolled onto her back, staring at the sky. She had made it!
With a wide grin, she rolled around and stuck her head over the ledge to see where Vonn was. He was far below her, resting his head against the vine, and holding on for dear life. She could see where a branch had impaled him when he fell against the vine, and a trail of blood was streaming down the vine!
"Vonn!" she burst out. "You're hurt!"
"I know, dear," he said with a pained smiled. "But you made it! Good job!"
"Get your butt up here!" she cried, as tears gathered in her eyes and an even larger lump formed in her throat. "I need you!"
"I'm trying, dear. I don't seem to have the strength, though. I'm awfully tired." His voice was weak and faint.
"Vonn, there's a branch right above your left hand," she said softly, trying to do what he had done. "You can reach it; I know you can!"
He looked up at her and smiled. It was a peaceful smile that brought a sob to her chest. "Don't you dare give up! I didn't give up!"
"I know, but… I don't think I can grab that next branch. It's too far away, and my hands are slippery," he sighed.
Gia scrambled back from the edge and looked around frantically. What she needed was rope, but it was in Vonn's backpack, back with her family. If she took the time to try and get it, she was afraid he would fall. Spying a strand of vine that was about the right size, she grabbed it.
"I'm sorry, but I can't let him die!" she muttered to the vine and pulled.
Surprisingly, the little vine came loose in her hands. Not bothering to question her luck, she jerked on it a couple of times to make sure it was strong enough, then she tied a large loop on one end. Praying it would hold, she started lowering the end towards him.
"Vonn, I need you to loop this around your waist, and make it as tight as you can!" she ordered. Watching as it drew closer and closer to him.
He turned his head and looked at the makeshift rope for a moment before he reached out and grabbed it.
"That's it," she coaxed. "Over your head, now grab ahold of the branch again and put your other hand through. That's it. Good job. Now tighten it as best you can."
Gia watched as he tried to pull it tight, but as he jerked, his foot slipped. Acting quickly, she wrapped the other end of the vine around herself and threw herself at the vines, squeezing herself between them tightly. When the rope went taut, she was still almost jerked over the edge. Crying in pain as the rope tightened around her middle, she struggled to breath. Looking around, she realized there was nothing else but to try and pull him up.
Grabbing the taut rope, she pulled, but it didn't move. The vine next to her suddenly shifted, and she could see enough space underneath it to slide under it. Pulling with all her strength, she was able to get through the gap. Using the vine, she was able to pull him inch by inch, back up to her. By the time he was on the ledge, her legs were ready to buckle and her hands were bloody.
"Vonn!" she cried, grabbing him under the arms and trying to drag him further up on the ledge, but all of her strength was gone.
"Please!" she sobbed.
"Is something wrong?" asked a voice.