Finding Honour: Day 13

Word Count: 79,334

Summary of Events:
Chapter 25:
Borden, Honour, and Eira started walking early, walking in the Omineca River so as to not leave a scent, but then they heard pursuers and so as to run better got out of the river. Then they were getting shot at and Eira and Honour had to run ahead. Borden managed to escape uninjured as well. Ryan and Christine's church began a prayer vigil for Honour and Mrs. Pavelick, in her prayer, asked for Borden's safety as he went to find Honour, which got Ryan into a terrified panic.
Chapter 26:
Reaching the turn in the Omineca River, Borden led Honour and Eira over a mountain to the headwaters of the Osilinka River. The boss of their pursuers then found out that his troupe of followers had only had one radio, so he couldn't get reports from all five groups now that they'd split up. Borden started to worry about his possibly failing.

Excerpt of the Day:
"Looking toward the Omineca, Borden saw it. The turn. Stopping, Borden put Honour down and dug his rope out of the backpack. He slid the rope through Honour's belt loops so that both ends were coming out to her left. Borden tied them in an overhand knot close to her waist and ran one end of the excess to come out the front and one to the back.
Taking the back one, Borden ran it through Eira's belt loops, tying it in a firm knot at the front. The front one he ran through his own belt loops and tied it in a firm knot at the back of his waist.
"Use the trees to pull yourself along as much as possible," Borden said.
Eira and Honour nodded.
Borden turned back to the mountains and looked up. He could almost imagine the void of his general ringing in his ears — as if he was wearing his microphone and his general was actually giving him commands — telling him that his next objective was to reach the headwaters of the Osilinka River, and commanding him to make it snappy.
"Yes sir," Borden whispered under his breath, and started forward. He felt the rope jerk around his waist, but it loosened after a bit as Honour and Eira caught up to his stride.
Reaching out, Borden grabbed trees almost as if they were ski poles or something and climbed up the slope. Rocks gritted under his feet. Fiercely climbing upward, Borden double checked every tree before he grabbed onto it — lest he select a weak tree and rip it out at its roots — and then started moving toward the next tree.
Due to the slope of the mountain Borden's calves were screaming. They didn't like climbing at this angle. Still fierce and determined, Borden continued onward. This wasn't a time to worry about whether his legs liked the angle or not. He would be able to appease them on the downhill slope. Until then, they were just going to have to deal with it.
He was not going to fail them. He was not going to fail them. He was not going to fail them. Borden repeated it over and over in his head as he pulled himself up the side of the mountain.
As he worked he could feel his shirt beginning to cling to his shoulders. Sweat was running down his face, slinking down his spine, saturating his hair and clothes. His hands swung forward, grabbing tree after tree, pulling himself upwards.
Rocks still gritted under his feet. Footing seemed to be getting slipperier. Loose rocks were everywhere, and sliding down the mountainside after he dislodged them. Borden just worked on moving upward and forward.
Suddenly he lost his footing on the rocks and went down. His left hand slipped off the rough bark of the spruce tree. He tarted blood in his mouth when he landed and felt the grip of his right hand slipping."