A Mirage Of Milk And Honey

Chapter 17 - Willing To Take A Risk?

When Honey and Chip returned to the parlour where the camp had been set up, there were two things which took them by surprise, washing away the haunted feeling that had stalked the both of them through the palace ever since they'd come upon Yvette's old room.

The first thing, simply confusing but not all that alarming, was that Zemira was alone, and Aedis was nowhere to be seen. The second thing, however, had the two of them rushing over in worry.

Zemira's movements were slow and painful, and the bruise beginning to bloom on her face did little to explain it.

"Zemira! Are you alright?" Honey exclaimed, rushing over in alarm.

Zemira let out a hiss of pain as she turned to face the two, "Where have you two been?" She asked nonchalantly, before pointing an accusing finger at the dying embers lying in the pit, "The fires gone out."

"We got lost– What happened?" Honey asked, examining the other girl's face.

"We give you one job. Fetch supplies and keep the fire going, and what do I come home to see after a hard day's work? The fire's dead and you're both empty handed."

"Zemira." Chip scolded, "Firstly, that's two jobs. Secondly, answer the question."

Zemira sighed in defeat, before muttering something unintelligible.

"What?" Honey asked, only to receive the same reply.

"Stop being difficult." Chip tutted, "Tell us what happened."

Groaning, Zemira threw her head back only to wince at the ache in her neck.

"Fine! I got hit by an Edge Cutter's tail." She confessed.

Both Honey and Chip stared at her with wide eyes.

"And thrown off a cliff by said Edge Cutter."

"Zemira..." Honey whispered in horror.

"And then I slammed into the cliff-face when one of the ropes broke."

Chip let out a curse, starting to go for his potions bag, before Zemira spoke again.

"And then a different Edge Cutter slammed into me when it fell off the cliff."

"Oh my–"

"And then I fell off the cliff."

Both Honey and Chip stared at her for a beat, and she opened her eyes, lifting her head up to look at them. "All things considered, I'm feeling rather dandy." She stated, shrugging her shoulders.

Funnily enough, Honey believed Zemira.

For someone who'd been knocked off a cliff by a giant bird, slammed into said cliff, and been hit by a different bird before she herself fell off the cliff, she seemed to be in pretty high spirits.

But Honey wasn't going to be fooled.

She suspected Zemira was deflecting.

Either way, she needed a medical boost, and so Chip rushed over to his potions bag, sifting through its contents as Honey helped Zemira to take a seat.

"I've only got a rejuvenation booster, but nothing to help with the pain." Chip said, holding up a small vial with a brownish liquid in it. It was one of the vials he usually kept in his bandolier for easy access—a small dose.

The problem was, provoking Cell Rejuvenation at an unnatural speed was a painful process that would take a toll on the body if given without a remedy for pain.

Despite this, Zemira smirked. "Honey, be a dear and grab that little satchel there." She said, kicking her right leg forwards for emphasis.

Honey's brows furrowed, but she nevertheless did as instructed, reaching across Zemira to untie the bag.