"He slowed down, not wanting to jostle Anna in the back of the truck." Define the word "jostle"; Why didn't Dennis want to jostle Anna?

Describe the meaning of this sentence: "Anxiety gnawed at his stomach."

Why didn't Mac and Dennis want Jeremiah and Anna to know they were worried about the gash in her leg?

"...her voice was ragged and breathless." Define "ragged" as used in this sentence.

Define the word "companion".

"She [Anna] winced as the clear gel made contact with the wound..." Demonstrate "wince".

"The woods were sparse enough that he had managed to inch the truck through." Define the word "sparse".

"They used old blankets and tarps from the truck to create improvised beds." Define the word "improvised" as it's used in this sentence. In what other context could you use this word?

"Anna stood up, still shaky, and clambered out from the back of the truck." Define the word "clambered".

How do Dennis and Mac feel about the gash in Anna's leg? Site evidence from the story

What does the following sentence mean?..."The wound on her leg stood out angrily against her pale skin."

"...the gash seemed to be intensifying in color. It had deepened into an unnatural shade of purple that almost glowed in the fading daylight." Define the word "intensifying"/What word in the 2nd sentence might be a synonym?

"He hastily covered the cut with the friendlier hues of the bandages." Define the words "hastily" and "hues".