Pain in her back...

Pain in her back brought her wide awake.
“Sorry...” The voice was barely more than a whisper, so quiet she thought she might have imagined it. She was lying on the ground, a man crouching low beside her, his features shadowed in the darkness of the night. Panicked, she scrambled to get away, fear bringing sharpness to senses dulled by sleep. A tree at her back stopped her frantic retreat. The man seemed not to have noticed, his focus lay elsewhere, eyes looking deep into the forest. She watched him warily as he carefully rubbed the ache from his shoulders. He turned and gave her a quick smile, barely visible in the pale light of the moon. No doubt meant to be soothing. It put her on edge. She didn't trust men who smiled.
“You're heavier than you look.” He still spoke in that same whispering voice, head turned toward the forest, eyes distant. The attempt at levity barely registered with her. She was too busy trying to bring her fear under control, to silence her impulse to run. It left an awkward silence between them and she let it grow, preferring the quiet. He glanced at her, face shadowed, but said nothing, perhaps sensing her reluctance to engage. She tried to sit up, but suddenly he was there, a hand on her shoulder forcing her to stay down.
“Careful.” He whispered, face uncomfortably close. She stiffened at his touch, wanting to pull away but having nowhere to go. Her head spun. Even the smallest of movements making her dizzy. She nodded and tried again, carefully brushing away his hand and taking it slow, managing through much effort to settle into a sitting position, her legs folded before her, back against the tree, head in her hands trying to stop the world from moving. Something was terribly wrong with her. Had she been hit that hard? Nausea, headaches, dizziness. At least her thoughts came clear and sharp. She would have to take it easy for a while, there was nothing else to do. The stranger watched her as she sat up but didn't try to stop her this time, his attention quickly returning to the forest. Darkness veiled his face preventing her from seeing his expression.
Why is he looking out into the night like that? Is someone there?
She felt a chill that had nothing to do with the cold of the night. Were they after her? If she had killed that man, would they want revenge? Would they want her dead? She shuddered as she again felt iron fingers upon her arms, as she heard the screams of her friends. She wondered what had happened to them, if any had survived like she had. She could ask. Maybe he knew... maybe he had seen. But what did it matter? Her friends were either dead or alive, and maybe they were close but to her they might as well be halfway across the world. She couldn't turn back. Couldn't help them.
I can't even help myself.
She clenched her teeth tight in an effort to push back the pain of her headache. Unsuccessfully. Fleeing the memories she forced herself to speak. She didn't want to be alone with her thoughts anymore.
“Thank you.” The words had needed to be said but her jaw hurt terribly and her voice was uncomfortably hoarse. And loud. Louder than she had intended it to be in the stillness of the night. Startled, he turned toward her. Startled? Or angry? The blush creeping up her cheeks was equal parts shame and fear. She searched the darkness, trying to see through the shadows, listening for any signs of people out there.
“You're... welcome.” He said in a murmur, still looking out into the night. “Can you walk?”
Amelia shook her head, regretting it instantly as the world lurched. “I don't think so.” She whispered through clenched teeth. The nausea was not getting any better either. He glanced at her briefly, but made no comment.
“We don't have much choice. We can't stay here through the night.” She agreed. Hunted or not, she could already feel the cold through her thin layer of clothes. He looked at her and she nodded her head. What else could she do? She wouldn't survive on her own, not as she was. She would have to trust him. There was no other choice.
“Where are we going?” He shrugged.
“We can't go back, we don't know what's waiting there.” He pointed into the forest. “Whitetree lies not far from here. It's a trading post, nothing big, but we could seek shelter there and find a way home for you.” Home. She nodded.
“Take it slow, alright?” And he smiled, his teeth flashing white in the soft light of the moon. Rising to his feet he offered her a hand.
“Follow me.” She ignored the hand, but rose to follow nonetheless. His smile widened.