To The End

Respite

It took some time and persistence with their injuries slowing them down, but they eventually made it. Together they set up camp to the best of their ability. That was also slow going and they didn't finish until well into the night, working by firelight and lanterns. Jade refused the use of the flashlight. It was too bright and could attract unwanted attention. After Victoria's leg was cleaned and bandaged, she prepared food.

After much coddling and insisting, Jade allowed Victoria to tend to her wounds. She sat silently and watched her work, wondering why the human cared so much for her. With that done, Victoria started eating and Jade vigilantly kept watch. Victoria then started to offer her food, which she declined. She just couldn't stop worrying about her. Especially when she noticed that most of her injuries hadn't fully healed yet.

At least the gouges on her neck were mostly gone though. They hadn't been as bad with Jade's hands taking most of the damage. They were heavily bandaged and held clenched at her sides. On top of that, she wouldn't sit down, and it made Victoria anxious. She was tired just watching her. She had to rest and so did Jade. She sighed. But how was she going to get her to relax?

"Jade, please come sit with me," she requested. Jade's stance softened a touch but she remained unmoved.

"Go to sleep. I need to keep watch until the morning. There are too many predators out there that would gladly take advantage," she replied, stoic.

"You need rest too," Victoria argued.

"I'll manage," Jade countered.

"If you don't get over here and rest then I won't either. I can be a stubborn mule too, you know," the young woman retorted, crossing her arms. Jade's brows furrowed then quirked when she turned around to face the petulant girl.

"Why are you being difficult?" Jade questioned, terse.

"Why are you?" Victoria repeated back to her. There was a glint in Jade's eyes that made Victoria squirm. They stayed silent, staring each other down. Jade finally sighed heavily and closed her eyes. Her body sagged and she looked defeated.

"If I come lay down will you go to sleep?" she muttered, opening her tired eyes to rest on the determined human before her. She smiled wide and nodded. Jade grumbled under her breath and moved to sit down on the rolled out mat next to her.

"Okay, I'm here. Now go to sleep," Jade ordered. Victoria only crossed her arms tighter and leveled a glare at Jade. She growled but complied, laying down. Victoria made sure she wouldn't get up before laying down too, getting comfortable under the quilt draped over her. They had cleared away a large patch of snow when they built the fire, so she was sufficiently warm. Her leg was still throbbing, but she was too fatigued to let it keep her from sleep. She was just too tired. Her eyes started to close when Jade spoke.

"Why are you even out here alone?"

Victoria opened her eyes to see Jade's concerned frown.

"I was traveling to the city. To visit Trina. She wanted me to visit. My father couldn't come. He's busy. My mother is busy tending to the sick. There's usually a rise during the winter months. Trina couldn't wait so I went on my own to stop her from bugging," Victoria explained, voice heavy with sleep. Her eyes started to flutter shut. Jade hummed thoughtfully.

"Your sister sounds like a nuisance," Jade commented. It earned a small smile from the human.

"Yeah," she sighed knowingly.

"You're going into the city as fast as I can get you there. You're going to a hospital as soon as you get there," Jade told her firmly. Victoria nodded and her eyes were closed now. Soon her breathing was heavy and even. She was asleep. Jade reached out and took her warm hand in her own. She squeezed lightly, idly listening to Victoria's softly beating heart.