To Run

Returning the Wounded

Hhelooo

Why's getting words down so hard

Oh yeah, it's 'cause stress and life is constantly beating me with a stick

Listened to the above music on loop a lot, good writing soop

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RECAP

     "...please, find my boy and bring him home again."

     The words, uttered so quietly, so emotionally, were almost lost in the winds. I barely caught them, and my heart again wrenched within me.

     His first creation...practically a son to him. And his life was in our hands...

     "I will, Lord Notch...I will do everything I can."

     Notch only gave me a small smile, nodding in thanks as I mounted up, urging the horse to face where the compass pointed.

     And then, we were galloping, speeding away from the ruins, into a white world.

     Notch's soft voice still rang in my ears as the horse's hooves thudded below me, wind whipping past my face, creating a soft roar.

     Find my boy...and bring him home again...

END RECAP

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Returning the Wounded

LYDIA'S POV

     Cold now gripped the forest.

     It was nothing unexpected, winter had been nearly upon us when Damon left with his little group to finish what he... what I had started. He'd been gone for nearly three weeks at this point, maybe longer.

     ...hopefully he was still alive.

     I still shuddered to think of what I'd brought upon us that night... ripping apart everything my rescuer had built, all of it had collapsed from one foolish decision...

     But, despite everything, these Notch-blessed people did not treat me harshly at all. We were all still healing slowly, trudging on from day to day to survive... we built shelters, stoked the fire, and huddled close for warmth.

     On this day, snow had not ceased falling, gently coating the ground and the dead branches of trees in its frost. Gad expected it to snow through the night and surmised a little, nearby creek might freeze over. We'd have to break the ice to fish a bit but... at least it wasn't too bad.

     At the moment, I was leaning against Mason, both of us too tired to try and make light conversation. We'd just gotten done gathering dry firewood... hopefully, it would be enough to last a few more days. Mason's arm was wrapped around my back, offering me a little more warmth with the fire before us.

     He'd been... really kind these past few weeks. Always making sure I had enough to eat and plenty of warmth, always ensuring my injuries were freshly wrapped and soothed with balms. Even with his own wounds making it hard for him to even feed himself, he still quietly kept me feeling rested and safe.

     Not that everyone else didn't already go above and beyond for each other, it was just...

     ...it felt special.