The fire crackled softly between us, its warm glow casting flickering shadows on the surrounding trees. The forest had grown quiet as night settled, and the air was cool against my skin. The man across from me was still and watchful, his eyes darting occasionally toward the darkened woods, as if expecting danger at any moment.
"I don't think I've properly thanked you," he said, breaking the silence. His voice was gravelly, and there was a hint of weariness in his tone.
"You don't have to," I replied, trying to keep the mood light. "But if you really want to show your gratitude, there's something you could do for me."
He raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "And what would that be?"
I glanced down at my blood-soaked clothes and grimaced. "I need to wash up. If you could keep guard while I do, it would make me feel a lot safer. I know you're injured, but if you stay close enough to alert me if anything approaches, I'd really appreciate it."
His eyes narrowed, and I could see the pride in him bristle at the suggestion. "You want me to stand guard while you wash up?"
I nodded, meeting his gaze with a steady look. "Yes. It's not ideal, I know, but after I'm done, you'll need to wash up too. It's not safe to stay covered in blood, and it'll be easier to clean up if we're not constantly worried about getting attacked."
He looked at me, his expression a mixture of reluctance and begrudging acceptance. "Fine. But this doesn't mean I'm helpless," he said, a note of defiance in his voice.
I nodded, understanding his need to maintain some semblance of control. "I know. And I'm not underestimating you."
With that agreed, I stood and made my way to a nearby stream I had spotted earlier. The water was cool and refreshing, a welcome relief from the oppressive heat of the blood-soaked clothes. I quickly stripped off the worst of the blood and grime, using the water to rinse away the worst of the mess.
The process was quick and efficient; I didn't have time to linger. Every splash of water was accompanied by an occasional glance back toward where the man sat, his eyes scanning the surrounding darkness. Despite the discomfort, I felt a little more at ease knowing he was on watch.
When I finished, I used some spare cloth to dry myself off and re-dressed in the cleanest of the clothes I had. I moved back to where he was waiting and began applying the herbal medicine I had prepared for him earlier. He watched me with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism as I worked.
"Where did you learn to do that?" he asked, his tone incredulous. "Only herbalists usually make and sell medicines like these."
I looked up at him, surprised by his question. "I read about it in a book. I had a lot of time to kill back in my world, and it seemed useful. I've used what I learned to help people when I could."
His eyes widened slightly, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of genuine surprise in his gaze. "You don't look like the type who would know about herbal remedies."
I shrugged, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Maybe not. But I've had my share of experiences."
He studied me for a moment longer, then nodded, seemingly satisfied with my answer. "Well, it's good to know you're not completely useless."
I didn't take offense. In this world, it was survival of the fittest, and we both needed to be on our toes. His gratitude, though begrudging, was enough for now.
After finishing with his wounds, I handed him a small pouch of the remaining herbs. "You should keep this with you. It might come in handy."
He took it with a nod, tucking it away. "Thanks."
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Twisted Fates Threads
General FictionRena gets transported into another world unexpectedly with other people who are from a high-school however she's the only one she isn't a high-school student but a twenty year old who never got the chance to graduate do to her declined health. Once...
