Cult of the Lamb : The Man in the Forest

Chapter 16: The Epidemic

The sound of retching ripped Merida from her comfortable sleep. She sat up, and saw Lydie leaning outside the window, hands braced on the sill while she vomited. Luckily, she didn't have a weak stomach. She was only frustrated to be awoken earlier than she would have liked. That aside, she climbed out of her bed and crossed to the window where she reached over to pull Lydie's wool away from her face.

"Just my luck to come back when you're sick. Is this why you were so quiet yesterday?" She asked when Lydie's retching died down. Her sister huffed softly and wiped her mouth.

"Part of it..." She grumbled and sat back. "I think I caught the flu, it's been going around the Cult for a few weeks."

"It is the season for it..." Merida sighed, "Just don't get me sick."

"Yeah, I'll do my best..." Lydie wiped her mouth and leaned her head back.

"I'll get you some water." Merida said as she left the bedroom. When she entered the kitchen, Aym was standing at the stove making breakfast. Presumably, Mir̃alai was in the temple for her morning sermon.

"Good morning." Aym greeted pleasantly, glancing back at Merida.

"Morning." She reciprocated while filling a glass with water from the pump. "Lydie's sick. She was just throwing up."

"Damn..." Her dad sighed, flipping the omelet he was cooking with a flick of his wrist. "I had hoped we could have avoided that. It's been going around."

"Yeah, that's what she said too. But she's working with Aurelia, so I'm not surprised."

"I'm not either... I'll send her to the medical tent after breakfast."

"Good idea. Probably stick with bread though, I doubt she can handle eggs."

"Tell her she can come eat whenever she's ready."

"Alright." Merida nodded and left for the bedroom, water in hand. She opened the door to see Lydie sitting on the bed with her back against the wall and a displeased expression on her face. "Here." She said as she handed the glass off to her.

"Thanks..." Lydie muttered and took a few large drinks.

"Dad said you need to go to the medical tent after you eat something."

"I'll be fine..." Lydie insisted after draining two-thirds of the glass.

"Don't be selfish. You might get one of us sick if you stick around here. I have to get back to training, and Dad is busy with all sorts of shit." Merida reasoned, crossing her arms. Lydie rolled her eyes.

"Fine, I'll let Aurelia treat me. Okay?"

"Thank you." Merida nodded. "Dad said you can come eat whenever you're ready."

"I don't think I can eat anything right now... It'd be pointless."

"Just offering." Merida shrugged. "I'm going to go eat, I'll walk you to the tent after, alright?" She said and left the room to return to the kitchen where Aym was setting breakfast out on the table. She took it upon herself to set out the cutlery, and looked up as her mother entered the room.

"Good morning, Merida." The Lamb smiled and placed a kiss on Aym's cheek as thanks for his efforts on breakfast.

"Morning." Merida returned the greeting as she sat down.

"Lydie's sick." Aym informed Mir̃alai as he pulled out her chair for her to sit.

"Oh? It was a matter of time, she's been around the sick Followers through this whole epidemic."

"My thoughts exactly." He sat down and took a drink of his water.

"I'll take her to the medical tent after we eat." Merida spoke up as she started to eat.