31. Chapter Thirty-One #2
Digging deep, I force my aching muscles to drag me through the sticky muck as fast as I can manage, until I'm wedged in next to Jeska, close enough to take the light stick from her shaky hands and tap the crystal conduit to activate it.
Shining it into the gaping pit where the makeshift path once was, I lean over the edge and see Hendrix curled on his side, maybe eight feet below.
He’s filthy and pale against the forest floor, something sharp protruding from his bloody thigh, just visible in the watery light filtering in. I call out, and seconds that feel like hours tick by before he manages to groan in response.
"Hold on, we're coming," I say to him, then shout back to the group who still can't get near us.
"Get Lira here as quickly as possible. He's hurt.
" My words unlock Jeska, and she swings her legs over the side of the pit, aiming for the clearest patch of ground we can see.
What look like wooden spikes stick up among the ferns, rocks, and gnarled tree roots revealed by the swinging light, only apparent now because of the flattened patch where Hendrix landed.
It's a miracle he only impaled himself on one of them, and from what I can tell from up here, it seems to have missed all major organs and arteries, thank the Goddess.
But he's lying so still, and his pained groans have turned to shallow gasps and whimpers, we need to get down there as soon as possible.
I hold my breath until Jeska lands safely and rushes to kneel at Hendrix's side.
Willa and Xaavi follow her down, and then, it's my turn.
I can’t hold up the others by lingering, so I practically fling myself over the edge, wincing at the sharp pain in my knees when I land clumsily on the hard rock.
Stumbling to Hendrix, I rip my jacket off and fold it for a pillow.
Tears trickle from his closed eyes, the ragged breathing tells me he's conscious and fighting the pain.
Wiping muddy hands on my pinned up braid, I lean down to check his pulse, barely aware of the others dropping from the disintegrating path above, too concerned with slowing my own heart enough to feel the faint, rapid flutter of his against my fingers.
"We have to get that out," Lira states, motioning to the sharp spear several inches above the torn flesh of his leg.
I didn't even notice her land, in what I thought was a pit but is actually a tunnel of sorts, with one side opening into a forest. "You'll have to hold him down.
It will do more damage if he thrashes." Nav and Xaavi nod grimly, positioning themselves by each of Hendrix's feet, Zenn and Felix at his shoulders.
Hendrix lets out a pained moan when they put gentle pressure on his left side to get him onto his back, holding him steady.
"I need towels too, the cleanest ones we have.
As soon as that stake comes out, we have to apply immediate pressure and stop the blood flow until I can get my magic in there or…
" Lira doesn't need to finish the sentence.
We know he'll bleed out in minutes if we don't. Willa and I rummage through bags, trying not to get mud everywhere while Drea collects water canteens, handing them to me where I'm kneeling at Lira's side, ready to help in any way.
Clutching Hendrix's trembling hand in mine, I slip a strap of folded fabric between his teeth and brush back the sweat-soaked hair from his forehead, hints of the buttery yellow streak peeking through.
"You're going to be ok," I soothe, wishing I could do more to ease his pain and obvious fear of what's about to happen.
Lira looks at each of us, signaling with wide eyes that she's ready to start.
Hendrix jolts in pain at the first tug, and Willa lets out a muffled sob, turning away to face the forest, her shoulders crumpling as she tries to compose herself.
"Breathe, brother. You're alright," Zenn murmurs, knuckles white where he pins his friend to the ground.
"You probably could've found an easier way to get everyone fawning over you, ideally without all the dramatics.
" The worry on his face contrasts the false bravado in his tone, and I know he needs the distraction as much as Hendrix.
There's another pained jerk as the stick slides out a few more inches, and I quickly press the red-stained towel to the wound.
He spits out the fabric without opening his eyes to rasp, "I don't know, Commander. It seems to be working out alright for me." He twitches the hand gripped in mine, the one I hadn't realized was pressed against my chest. "Mind-melting pain aside, I'm quite enjoying the fuss."
Scoffing softly at his ridiculous attempt at humor, I murmur, "Sorry, I think I have to side with Zenn on this one.
It seems a little excessive if you were just craving physical touch.
" Hendrix tries to muster his usual grin, but a tiny smile is all he can manage.
Lira taps my arm, telling me to get ready, then she pulls the spike free of Hendrix's flesh.
He screams, and I catch a flash of exposed bone, stark against the filth and bright crimson blood, before covering the wound with a towel that used to be white.
I drop his hand to my lap so I can apply more pressure while I wait for a fresh towel, leaving the healer’s hands free to hover over his leg.
Vibrant green magic streams from her palms and fingertips, pouring straight into the gaping hole.
Almost immediately, the blood stops gushing, slowing to a stream, then a trickle, before stopping almost entirely.
"I want to do a little more before we clean and wrap it," Lira says to me in a hushed voice.
"The wound is too high up for us to elevate his leg, so sustained pressure and speeding up the initial healing is critical.
We need supplies for a pain tonic and I'm low on Muka paste.
Why don't you let someone else take over so you can go forage, since you know what to look for?
Hopefully, you won't have to go far." I nod, making room for Nav to sit beside his partner and assist in my place.
"Is he going to be ok?" Zenn demands, finally letting go of Hendrix, who fell into unconsciousness when the spear of wood was removed.
"He should be fine as long as we're careful to mitigate the risk of infection," Lira replies, taking a sip of water from the canteen Nav holds to her mouth.
"You should stay with him, though. I doubt he'll be out for long.
" Zenn dips his head in acknowledgment, letting out a heavy breath and asking Jeska to get the campsite set up as close to where we are as possible, even if it isn't as flat as he’d like.
I grab a cloth bag from the side pocket of my pack, more than a little jittery now the immediate stress has subsided.
The plants I'm looking for thrive in the damp, fertile soil near rivers and streams, so I head toward the sound of flowing water, forcing myself to draw a deep breath through my nose when Felix falls into step with me.
"I'll come with you," he says brightly, nudging my arm with his.
"I'm really not going far," I try to deter, not having the heart to tell him I need a moment alone.
"That's ok. I'll still tag along." He must have heard the shakiness in my voice, because he reaches down and takes my muddy, red splattered hand. "Are you doing ok, Aly? That was a lot."
"The last few weeks have been a lot," I laugh dryly, hit with a wave of exhaustion as the adrenaline fades.
"That's an understatement," he replies, and we walk in silence for a few minutes until we get to a small, bubbling stream. The water is icy but refreshing, and I scrub my hands, needing to wash all traces of the blood from my skin, wishing I had time to bathe properly.
“What about you? How are you doing? Missing the cozy confines of your workshop yet?”
Felix dries his hands and passes me the small towel to do the same.
“I am. As beautiful as it is, I’m not cut out for a life of climbing mountains, sleeping on the ground, and only eating what we can carry or hunt.
Let's be real: we're creatures of comfort, you and me. I bet you can’t wait to get back to the city by now too.”