The Warrior- Laila Nomon

16. Wounded

Laila turned around to see Erika, out of breath with a big gash on her left shoulder, leaning against the staircase railings right before she fell down unconscious. Laila rushed to her side without thinking twice and caught her before she could hit the floor. 'You could've called me by my right name at least when you were asking for help, you know. It's easier than spouting random names when you're hurt,' Laila muttered to Erika's unconscious frame as she lifted her up, and, after hesitating a little in front of the door, entered her room code and took her inside her room. 'It'll save you a little brain power and make you realize a 12-year-old can be tough, too.'

She laid her on the sofa and went to get the first aid from her backpack which she hadn't had the time to unpack yet. She unbuttoned Erika's shirt and quickly cleaned the cut with water. She bandaged it after applying some healing mortal medicine since she didn't know how or if she should have stitched the cut. Laila went to her bag and got Erika a shirt. After making her wear it gingerly, she placed the grapes from earlier on the table along with an energy bar from her bag so Erika could eat them when she woke up and covered her with a thick coat that Rosalie had packed for her.

She noticed her clothes had gotten bloody too and changed into her PJs then went to the bookshelf and picked out a book, 'How to Control and Identify Powers- For Rookies.' Unused to reading, she soon fell asleep at the table after a chapter about the calamities of the war.

Laila woke up at dawn, roused by her alarm, murmuring something about how Mortals made the most useful yet annoying objects one couldn't live without. She lay there for a minute, lazy to get out of bed, as the former day's flashbacks flooded her mind. She immediately kicked the sheets off her, rolled over and, in the process, falling off the bed, got up and turned off the alarm, not wanting to wake up the unexpected wounded companion for yesternight. Her struggle had apparently been of no use- Erika was already lying awake on the sofa, staring at the ceiling, awaken by the loud sound Laila had caused when she had fallen off the bed- if she wasn't already awake because of the alarm that shrieked like a wounded goat in battle.

'Who knew you wake up to goats,' Erika remarked as she sat up, wincing.

'I didn't either, but here you are.' Laila retorted, rubbing her face, as she suppressed a yawn.

When Erika didn't respond, she went to freshen up, letting her hair down and trying to tame it. She was sitting the same way when Laila came back, hair in a ponytail as she dried her face. 'What? Want breakfast-in-bed, now, do you?' Laila asked, setting the towel aside and standing in front of her supposed-nemesis, hands on her hips.

'Shut your trap, please, Lai- Lisbon.' Erika said as she took a look at her bandaged shoulder.

'Here, let's see it now. You don't want an infection, so you'll need to dress the cut anew.' Laila said as she stepped forward and slowly unfurled the bandage; which the more she unrolled, the more it was laced with a maroonish, sticky liquid. Eyes widening, she unrolled quicker now. The gash had stopped bleeding overnight, though it threatened to bleed at the slightest movement and was swollen around the edges.

'I tried, okay? But I think you need to get stiches or-' Laila started, scrutinizing Erika's face, looking for an eye roll or something of the like; bracing herself for the criticism that was sure to follow.

'Thank you.' Erika cut her off with a barely audible voice, eyes on the wound.

'What?' Laila had heard, but it wasn't like it was everyday you had Erika express gratitude,

'I said, thanks.' She repeated through her teeth, a little louder.

'Nope, didn't hear ya.' Laila called as she shook her head mockingly and went to grab some medicine and a cloth to clean the wound and bandage it again for until when Erika went to the medic.

'Rancid cheese. Are you a grandma?' Erika muttered in her normal voice, grabbing the energy bar from the table, and unwrapping it.

'Nah, quite the playfull grandchild, actually.' Laila answered, walking back with the supplies.

'You duffer! You did hear me!' Erika sputtered and exclaimed, flabbergasted.

'Nuh-uh, Erika, we haven't reached that stage where you can call me stuff yet. This changes nothing between us. I helped you once, don't make me regret it.' Erika stared at her as she crouched down in front of her and set the medical supplies down. Laila looked up at her as she put some alcohol on cotton and dabbed on the cut delicately, 'You want to tell me how you lost your jacket the night before last?'

'I was wal-' Erika realised and turned her head around. 'Wait. How- what- How'd you know?'

'I just pulled a Sherlock Homes. Your shoe soles were wet when you collapsed; meaning you were out in the snow recently which explains why you weren't around yesterday. Plus, you paled when Helena told you we'd found a jacket and were looking for the owner. I just took a chance, stated an assumption and it turned out right. I honestly wasn't expecting to be correct.' Laila stated as she finished up on the temporary sling.

'There, you're done. Don't move around too much; it'll sting. You should be grateful that someone here paid attention to the emergency help programs at school.'

Laila paused halfway between turning around and after a pause, looked back and asked, 'You want to talk it over some brekkie? It's early, you know. I don't think many people will be at the dining hall soon. Plus, you could use something to sustain your energy- you look like a wounded banshee.'

'I look fine, Lisa. But I don't want to talk about it. 'Least not with you.' Erika replied. She slowly stood up, but staggered. Laila noticed and put her left arm over her shoulder and held her from the side, 'Easy, now. You can put up your emo-act later.'

Going slightly pink, Erika muttered something about cheeses but gave in, leaning on Laila.

'Where are you taking me?' Erika started as Laila turned her toward the restroom.

'Don't you want to freshen up?' Laila craned her neck back so she could look at her face clearly. Erika sighed, scrunched up her nose, and nodded as she let herself be guided.

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