He smiled then quickly changed the subject, "Why do people call you Birdie?"
I grinned while looking around. I spotted a nice boulder with a few tricky spots, but I thought it would be easy enough. "How about I show you?" I said walking that direction. Wally looked puzzled as I felt around for a hold. I started climbing fast and steady. I came to a ledge big enough to sit on. I turned around and dangled my feet over the edge. Wally's mouth hung open as I chuckled.
"I love to climb. I went with a group of people who had yet to get to know me.
We climbed for the day, then over dinner one of them said, 'Jane, you climb as though you have wings, as if you were a bird.' They called me Bird the rest of the trip and even after we got back. The name just kinda stuck."
He nodded then tilted his head, "Um, how are you going to get down now?"
"Same way I got up." I smiled and flipped around.
I was still near the ledge when I slipped. I lost my footing, and in the struggle to get it back, the piece I was hanging on to broke loose. I was falling. I couldn't stop myself. I heard Wally yell my name. Then I felt the earth below me. There was an intense pain and then nothing. No sounds, no smells, no light, just darkness.
I opened my eyes abruptly. I tried to move, but found it to painful. I looked around to find my surrounding so unfamiliar, yet calming. I wasn't in the woods, nor was I in my room. It was dimly lit with a few scented candles placed around the room. The bed I was in was directly across from the door. There wasn't much furniture. A dresser next to the door, a small table on the right side of the bed, and a chair in the corner next to the window. I felt a little better seeing my pack next to the chair. I wasn't in my clothes that I was wearing on the hike. Instead, I was in a long sleeping gown. Both my ankles were wrapped as well as my left wrist. My back ached as I struggled to move. I gave up and succumbed to my drowsiness.
I woke with the sun and the birds still wondering where I was. I heard someone outside the door and called out. The door opened and Michael peeked his head in.
"Good morning Jane." He smiled and stood in the doorway, "I was planning on inviting you into my home, but not quite like this." He chuckled.
I immediately felt at ease and smiled back, "How long have I been out?"
"Today would have been the second day."
My head felt like it was going to explode. I closed my eyes and sighed, "How'd I get here?"
"Wally came and got me. He was as white as a ghost. He took me to you and I carried you back. I had Doc Stevens check you over. Jean came over to clean you up. Are you hungry?"
I thought for a moment, "Yeah, a little bit. Where is Wally?"
"He's asleep on the couch. He's been here the whole time. He will be glad you're awake."
"Will you send him in when he wakes up?"
"Of course. Now, more importantly, what would you like for breakfast?"
"Waffles?"
He grinned, "Comin' right up."