When Given a Lemon

Part 34

Denyel is laid out on a bed of heather, body as swollen as mine feels; I’m helped down next to him. Someone is pulling at our overly constricting uniforms to smear something sticky onto the swollen spots of our skin - which is most of the surface space on my body. I’m too uncomfortable to look up at who is smothering me in this, but I know that it is Merryl. I feel both thankful and gross slathered in this stinking gunk.

“This stuff is so disgusting,” I try to say but words don't pass my throat. Mixed together with the mud and nest walls, I now smell like a rotten tree root! I stick my tongue out only to get a taste of it when it comes in contact with my dirty lips. I hold back from trying to say that it can’t get much worse than this because I have a feeling that it can.

Head turned sideways I can see someone standing over Denyel pull out a knife and Merryl turns my head away.

“Close your eyes a bit, you've got a bite right above your eyelid,” he says and I feel the stinking goo gloop all over my face. I feel a little bit like I'm drowning. They wipe the excess away so that I can still open my eyes and I roll my head to the side to see Cayeol removing layer after layer of clothing and handing the jackets and pants off to the others. It's only then that I realize that everyone else is down to their long underwear. That explains why Cayeol had been able to climb down into the swarm and get me without getting bothered too much. He was wearing everyone’s clothing!

It takes a while before the swelling goes down enough for us to be able to sit up or shift about, not that my torso is very forgiving of how I have treated it today, so Denyel is soon a lot more mobile than I am. Whatever this horrid goo is, it sure works!

Merryl pays us no mind while he surveys the area, stopping to put marks on a limp piece of fabric with a charcoal pen before turning back to nod at all of us as if a big decision has been made up in his mind.

“We’d best think about heading out then. We’ll make sure to add this spot to the map back in the captain’s tent.” He stuffs his supplies back into his pockets before noticing that he has yet to redon his pants. “I have a feeling even with starting now, Wilo’s team will overtake us on our way back.” He shuffles a bit, trying to balance on one leg at a time as he redresses. I should give him more privacy but turning away is uncomfortable to do and right now I care more about my physical comfort than pretending I can’t see him trying to tuck his long underwear into his pants without them rolling up.

We waited a little longer before turning back, mostly for my sake. I had to force myself to stretch out and make the necessary strides back up to the small path, my limbs were already protesting each step. The trek back did indeed take some time, and Denyel and I were very sore through it, but we made sure that we made it back before Wilo’s team had a chance to catch up to us. I have a feeling that had more to do with our stubbornness than anything. Denyel and I were forced to go to the medic tent, again, I should have my.own room by now, to get a second dose of sticky yuck slathered on us before we were sent on our merry way. During then Merryl took his little markings to the captain’s tent with Kipol in tow. They weren’t in there for long, but it’s an area of the camp that I have never been welcomed into so I am a little curious.

I’d love to know what else they have marked up in there. It would be great if we could have a glimpse of the map of the surrounding area with all the spots that they have found any traces of anything, be it human, animal, buzzball, bug, or gigantic demons. Maybe I can talk Lemon into going in there to sneak a peak for me while I wait for this slime to soak in a bit more. Already, most of the swelling has gone down. I’m sitting closer to the fire than usual, hoping it helps it soak in faster.

Leaning my arm on the bench, waiting for an opportunity to pull Lemon to the side, I come to notice Kipol’s sour looks that she has trained onto Denyel and me as we sit here not causing any problems.