Working Through It

JP with Omni, Lucian, Bandorchu, Lorem and Zeeke

Finally finished with the leg, he bit the string after tying it, took a few good breaths and rested his hands.

The arm wasn’t as serious. A few stitches and good bandages should heal it fine. Being reminded of bandages, he spoke to the wind once more as he prepared to start again.

“Need good cloth to wrap his leg and plenty to clean it after. We should camp here or nearby to watch him.”

Any peace his face had displayed this morning was gone, it seemed when one good thing happened, something else had to go wrong.

Gonyaul had moved behind some nearby rubble. He failed to keep the gag reflex in check and had ended up hurling what little was in his stomach in private. Some ancient historical pieces of rock got vandalized with newly created vomit.

The screams of Wim had drowned out the embarrassing sounds. He sat there with his head down looking disappointed in himself and dejected from their current predicament. For starters, losing nutrients when trying to survive in the wilderness was not a bold strategy. Secondly, it was a reminder that out of the group he was behind in competency and the least prepared for these type of rigors. Thirdly, a friend was seriously hurt and another he feared deceased.

It was a sobering reminder that this adventurer lifestyle made it even more necessary to take advantage of each moment given, because you never know when it might be your last. Gonyaul stood, took a deep breath, and slowly walked back to the others. He was just going to have to keep persisting through his failures, learn from them and try his best. He didn’t know it yet, but these types of trials and tribulations were toughing him up little by little.

Alexis looked up again towards the direction where the three riders had vanished.

“Not glad to suggest, but maybe we should use the ruins to stay out of sight. If those guys were scouts, there is bound to be a larger group out there. And I’m not counting on their good intentions.”

Looking at Wim, she closed her eyes for a moment.
Boyce… could this have been avoided if they had taken a different approach? If they hadn’t split up? But then, she knew, they would not have found Tarmen and Voah. And they might have met their end at the hands of the Naylmo, after all they had suffered through.

When Wim was back to his senses some more, they would ask him what happened to Boyce. And if the worst had come to pass, there would be another life lost that she would carry with her.

‘Islana, Hunter… please be safe.’

Alexis began to set up camp while the others kept on caring for their wounded friend.

Gonyaul wasn’t helping anyone watching them care for Wim. He noticed Alexis setting up camp and silently went to help.

Voah heard the whispers in her mind, though they truly felt as if they were right behind her ears. ~This is your fault. You don’t need these people and now look what you’ve done… They will only use you anyway…~

“No.” she said aloud shaking it away. She looked at Tarmen, realizing she actually spoke.

~You can’t save him… you are a failure…~

With the stitches starting on his arm he squeezed Voah’s hand and continued to breath short, fast, and hard breaths. He was ready to make a deal with any of the gods that would stop the pain.

“Boy, the answer is in your vest pocket,” the voice in his head said. It was his last vial of Felfar. He could not move his arm due to stitches being made and he did not want to let go of Voah’s hand.

“Vest pocket,” he panted to Voah. That bloody vial that he swore he would never ever use.

“Half,” he got out.

His hands slowed at Voah’s voice, needing a moment to remove his mind from the work and process her tone.

He gave her a curious stare, already thinking this was the mold at work.

“Everythin’ ok Arbit- Voah?”

She knew that he knew, and the same was probably happening to him still.

She nodded, "I'll get it under control."

Wim broke the tension with his delirious muttering, though Tarmen couldn’t catch it. He looked to Voah for an answer to it.

“Is he awake? Or is he lost in his mind?”

"I... think he said vest pocket." Voah replied and gently reached inside. Her hand came out with a familiar vial. Felfar.

"You can't be serious." she looked at Wim.