Chapter 11 #3
"We'll need a proper fire," Ryu growled, his irritation finding purpose.
With a sharp gesture, dragon fire erupted from his palm, igniting the significant pile of kindling he'd gathered.
The flames flickered with supernatural amber light before settling into a normal campfire glow.
Desmond nodded in thanks, positioning his pot of herbs over the dancing flames.
Within moments, fragrant steam began to curl upward, carrying the earthen scent of his healing brew.
By the time the tent stood ready and Desmond's tea was steeping, the sun’s descent neared the horizon. Shadows lengthened across our camp as Ryu finished arranging the cooking area.
"The corruption left traces," Desmond continued, his honey-colored eyes studying the purple lines that still marked my arms. "This should help your body process what remains."
Aeolus came to sit beside me, his concern palpable. I tried to ignore how his proximity made my skin buzz with awareness.
"Here." Desmond pressed a steaming cup into my hands. "Small sips. Let your system adjust."
The tea tasted wild and green, with an underlying sweetness that reminded me of honey. Warmth spread through my chest as I drank, easing some of the bone-deep exhaustion.
"The hunter," I said, nodding toward the man who sat at the edge of our camp, eyeing us all with wary respect. "His wounds. They look similar to these marks." I gestured to the purple lines on my arms. "Would your tea help him too?"
Desmond's expression softened. "Yes. I've prepared enough for both of you. The herbs will work for him too, though his healing may take longer, being human."
"If that infection keeps spreading, it might consume him entirely," Ryu muttered, pacing the edge of our small camp. Dragon fire still flickered around his clenched fists, betraying his agitation.
"The corruption doesn't just twist bodies," Aeolus said quietly. "It warps minds too. Makes things... cruel."
"Which is why we need to help him," I said firmly, gesturing for the hunter to join us. "I won't sit by while someone suffers if I can do something about it."
The hunter approached cautiously, clearly both afraid and hopeful.
"Never seen anything like what you folks did back there," the hunter said, his eyes wide with amazement as he accepted a cup of Desmond's tea.
"Been hunting these woods thirty years, and I've never seen corrupted beasts return to normal.
" He sipped the tea, wincing slightly at the unfamiliar taste.
"Figured those otters were lost for good. "
"The corruption can be cleansed," Desmond explained gently. "It doesn't have to destroy everything it touches."
The hunter nodded, a spark of hope lighting his weathered face. "Maybe there's hope for these hills yet."
Another wave of dizziness hit, and I couldn't quite suppress a shiver.
"After you eat, you need to rest." Desmond's tone left no room for argument. "Your body needs time to process both the corruption and the cleansing. Push too hard now, and you risk a longer recovery."
The sun dipped toward the horizon, painting the clearing in deep gold and shadow. The scent of cooking meat soon joined the herbal fragrance of Desmond's tea as Ryu prepared a simple meal of dried venison and foraged mushrooms. Despite my exhaustion, my stomach growled appreciatively.
We ate in relative silence, the tension still humming through our group.
The knowledge of what lay ahead—more corrupted creatures, more sacred sites to cleanse, more battles—weighed heavy in the growing darkness.
The hunter shared his simple trail rations with us, listening intently as Desmond explained more about the corruption's nature.
"You need proper rest," Aeolus said finally, his voice soft but firm, as he held out his hand, pulling me to my feet.
His fingers lingered against mine a moment longer than necessary.
"I'll stay with you." The way his eyes lingered on mine made it clear he wanted to discuss what had happened between us, but not with our current audience.
Ryu's nostrils flared, a curl of smoke escaping. "What if I don't trust you with her?"
"Last I checked, I don't need anyone's permission about who keeps me company," I snapped, though without much heat behind it. My exhaustion was winning. I turned to Desmond, trying to defuse the growing tension. "Would you mind staying in the tent with us? I'd feel safer with both of you nearby."
The bear shifter nodded, understanding in his gentle eyes. "Of course."
"The tent's not that big," Aeolus pointed out, though his tone remained carefully neutral. "Three will be tight quarters."
"We'll make it work," I replied.
Ryu stood abruptly, dragon fire flickering briefly around his clenched fists.
Something flashed in his amber eyes. Not just jealousy, but genuine hurt.
He'd risked himself to help us and now felt excluded from whatever connection was forming.
But the tent truly wasn't big enough for all of us, and although I hated to admit it, Ryu's gruff personality had me keeping him at arm's length.
"I prefer the stars anyway," he growled, moving to settle against a tree at the edge of our camp. "Someone needs to keep proper watch, especially if there are other corrupted beasts still out there."
I pretended not to notice the way his amber gaze followed me as Desmond walked with me to the tent. Exhaustion had settled deep in my bones, making even that simple movement an effort.
"Wake us if anything moves," Aeolus called softly to Ryu as we ducked into the silvery tent. The fabric caught the last rays of sunset, casting everything in ethereal light. Settling between Aeolus and Desmond should have felt vulnerable, but Desmond's steady presence made fear impossible.
And Aeolus... I fought the urge to lean into him, to chase that electric pull I still didn't understand. My body seemed to have other ideas, gravitating toward his warmth despite my rational mind's warnings.
Through the tent's silvery walls, I could hear the soft clink of a bottle being passed between Ryu and the hunter, their low voices carrying on the night breeze as they shared stories over firebrand rum.
The hunter's gruff laugh mixed with the occasional crackle of dragon fire as Ryu maintained his vigilant patrol of our perimeter, celebrating their small victory over corruption while keeping watch.
The peaceful sounds began lulling me toward sleep, but just as my eyes grew heavy, I felt Aeolus shift closer in the darkness, his breath ghosting warm against my ear.
"We need to talk about what happened at the spring," he whispered, barely audible above the night sounds. His fingers found mine in the darkness.