Wildflower

10

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"Liza?"

Liza blinked, squinting at the tip of the arrow, then focused her attention on its holder. "Vezo?"

He dropped his weapon, eyes widening as he took her in. Liza fell forward into his arms, trying and failing not to submit to unconsciousness. "I heard the explosions," he said, his voice sounding garbled. Liza nodded into his chest.

"I was there." Liza coughed. The smoke was starting to get to her lungs. "The kids were, too. Everyone but Grace." She tried not to think about the new students, how they must have been affected-- if she was this hurt, how would they be faring? Hopefully René got them out in time. Vezo stroked her hair, then gently lowered them to the ground. He laid her head on his lap, faceup so he could monitor her.

"Oh, Liza, I'm so sorry." He wiped some of the blood from her face. Liza's eyes fluttered shut. "No no no, please don't fall asleep. Stay with me. What hurts?"

"My ankle. I think I broke it." Vezo slowly moved Liza's head off of his lap and onto the floor, then slid his hands down her legs until he was cupping her right calf.

"Other ankle," Liza tried to laugh, but it came out as more of a wheeze. She gasped as Vezo picked up the other one, hissing air through his teeth.

"Shit. I think you shattered it." He put it down. "Don't get up. Or fall asleep. I'll be right back."

"Okay," Liza murmured. She watched through half-closed eyes as Vezo exited the cave, noticing the smoke that still suffocated the land. She almost called out for him to come back, that it wasn't safe, but now that she was laying on the ground, she didn't want to do much else. Her eyes closed, just for a second. Just to rest. She wasn't going to fall asleep, she just needed a second. Or two.

🌀🌀🌀

Liza woke up to the sound of scrubbing near her ears. She jolted. "Shhh, shhh. Try not to move." Instantly relaxing at the sound of Vezo's voice, she leaned into his hand and submitted to the cleaning. Her face felt fresh, and by the sounds of it, her hearing had returned to normal.

"I'm sorry for falling asleep." She said regretfully, eyes still closed.

"You don't have to be sorry for anything. In fact, it made my job easier." His fingers tentatively brushed her cheek, wicking some of the moisture onto the earthy floor. "How are you feeling?"

"Better." It was true. Her ankle, though still aching, no longer felt as if it were on fire. She snuck a glance down at it-- Vezo had wrapped it for her, in leaves that must have come from a nearby palm. All the cuts she'd received while running had ceased their stinging, and her head felt much clearer. "What did you do?"

"Living in the woods for so many years, you learn a few things." Vezo slid his arm underneath Liza's shoulders and pulled her up to sitting, situating her back on the wall. He collapsed next to her, then slowly aligned his pinky with hers.

Liza tentatively grabbed his hand. "What... Will you tell me what happened? Why do you live out here?"

Vezo did not flinch. He only sighed, as if he had known it was coming. "You might not like me very much."

"Why not?"

"For the same reason Tsu'tey doesn't like me very much."

At the name, Liza's pulse jumped. "So you do know him?"