31. Chapter Thirty-One #3
Spotting the spindly branches full of the heart-shaped, flat leaves I’m looking for, I grab my secateurs and start clipping enough to make a big batch of the tincture we’ll need for such a big wound.
It surprises me to realize Felix is wrong; despite all the difficulties of being out here, I’m not missing home at all, though I suspect I would be if Bri was there.
I’ve almost filled the bag Felix holds open for me when he gently grabs my wrist. “There’s actually something I want to talk to you about while we have a minute.”
He doesn’t seem to notice my body go rigid.
The feeling of his hand gripping mine is all I can focus on, and I have to press my lips together to prevent a panicked scream from escaping.
Fuck, why am I being so stupid? It’s Felix, he’s my friend, and I’m in a wide open forest, not a cramped, dusty storeroom.
“Aly, did you hear me?”
Forcing myself to meet his gaze, I stumble over my reply, tugging my hand free. “I need to cut some of those stinging nettles and get back to camp to help Hendrix. Can we talk about it later?”
Shaking off his obvious disappointment, Felix pulls the drawstrings of the bag closed and nods. “Of course. We’ll talk later.”
Our patient is awake and propped up against the trunk of a tall tree when we get back. It’s a huge relief to see him alert and talking to Lira, now clean skin still much paler than usual. She heads in the direction of the stream, where most of the squad have also gone to wash up, and I take over.
I waste no time finding a cast iron pot and setting it over the low flame already crackling in the center of our new camp.
It takes minimal time for the water to boil, and I add a handful of the crushed verdant leaves for a tea to help prevent inflammation.
The grimace on Hendrix’s face when he takes the first sip suggests he might rather suffer the consequences of an infection.
"This is truly disgusting. Are you trying to kill me, woman? "
I shake my head, feigning annoyance that doesn’t hide my smile.
"Hey, if you want to risk that wound festering, who am I to stop you?
Although, it is mighty close to what I'm assuming is your favorite body part.
It would be a shame to have it rendered useless because you couldn't handle a bitter tea.
" His eyes go wide, and I laugh when he drains the liquid before it cools.
"Ouch, too hot. Some healer you are." He scowls. "First, you abandon me when I'm at death's door, and now, you're torturing me with this nasty shit and laughing when I end up burned."
Rolling my eyes, I refill his mug and sit beside him cross-legged on the sweet-smelling pine needle carpet. "You were not dying. It's hardly more than a scratch. How is the pain, though?"
His head falls back against the tree, and he closes his eyes.
"Nice try, but you wouldn't be so concerned if it was just a scratch.
Don't worry, I won't be depriving you of my excellent company.
It'll take more than that to wipe me out.
" His flippant humor doesn't disguise the exhaustion in his voice, so I hold the cooling mug up for him, knowing the added valerian root powder will send him into a deep restorative sleep.
Thanks to Lira’s potent power, the jagged edges of the wound will already slowly be knitting back together. Regardless, there's no way he's walking anywhere for at least a few days with a gash that deep.
She returns to camp, meeting my gaze with a questioning look, checking I'm ok with him for now. I give her a reassuring nod. She saved him; the least I can do is keep watch so she can rest and replenish her magic. The healer nods and ducks inside her tent just as the canvas flap swings open on the one next to it. Given it’s the one Willa said was ours, I’m confused when Zenn steps out, tying the door open to let fresh air in while we're not using it.
Seeing the liveliest member of our group in a puddle of his own blood has been jarring for everyone, and the mood around the fire is somber as people return from the stream to sit mostly in silence.
Eventually, we heat up yesterday's leftover stew to have with coal-roasted potatoes.
Hendrix wakes long enough for us to check his wound and change the dressing, and we get him into a slightly more comfortable position reclining by the fire.
It's essential he stays warm, so he’ll be sleeping out here, with Lira and I taking shifts to keep an eye on him.
Something tells me a certain Commander won't be getting much sleep either, although he's going to be exhausted tomorrow if he keeps pacing back and forth like he has been for the past few hours.
Lira's on first watch, so I crawl into bed across from an already-sleeping Willa.
She's been quiet and withdrawn since the incident, and, even in the dim light, when I brush her hair back out of her face, I can tell her eyes are red-rimmed.
When I collapse into bed, I don't know if it's the exhaustion or because of the softer terrain, but my bedroll feels plush and much more comfortable than it ever has.
Even with dried mud still streaking my hair, all I can smell as I fall into sleep is the delicious, comforting scent of sweet woodsmoke.