Polar Opposites

9 - Reunited

Everyone, thank the song 'Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence' by Ryuichi Sakamoto for getting me out of my writing slump. Oh, and there's premarital touching in this one :)

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Well, Zokkik had managed to keep Elora alive. She was demented but alive. She had lost all sense at a scarily fast pace. She had so much to say, but none of it was coherent. Zokkik never knew what she was yapping about when he came to sit with her. However, he supposed he would rather her up and talking his ear off than passed out in the bed – those were the only two options. At least when she was up, he knew she was alive.

They were on the last stretch of their trip to the Sanctuary and couldn't get there fast enough. Elora was getting quieter by the minute. She would be awake for twenty minutes then doze off for thirty – and the gap was getting wider with her talking less and sleeping more. She hadn't fully slept the night before, doing the same awake/asleep thing all through the night. Her fever had broken, but Zokkik feared she was starting to have another one. She needed strong medicine now.

The atmosphere of the ship was tense as the news of Elora's condition spread throughout the days. Many of the men, who once felt hostile against the girl, now felt relief as they prepared their ship for land.

As the men joyfully got to their stations for land (they also had not been off the ship in more than two months and couldn't wait to get their feet on solid ground), a weak Elora was being roused from sleep. Zokkik inwardly cursed when her eyes locked on him. He was hoping she would sleep through the transfer, but it seemed like they would not be that lucky.

She mumbled a few slurred words, but Zokkik hushed her gently, "It's alright. We're getting off the ship now. You've got to work with me, now." He unwrapped her from her cocoon, showing off her fashionable pants. The healer had cut the right pant leg into shorts so he could easily access the wound while leaving the left pant leg as it was for warmth. Her injured leg was covered in a bandage, but it was becoming stained from the leaking gash. Zokkik tsked, "Ah girl, I just changed these. Do you always have to be so difficult?"

Of course, Zokkik truly wasn't feeling annoyed at the girl. He was hiding his fear by trying to banter with her, but Elora just blinked slowly at him. Zokkik gently brushed back her sweaty hair from her face, his face unable to hide his fear and worry.

There was a knock at the door. Loka called out his presence and entered the room as Zokkik covered Elora back up with thick furs normally used for frigid weather. "Chief says we're ready to head to shore. They just let the first tender out, and Chief figures you want her out as soon as possible." Zokkik felt a wave of relief wash over him at the news they were so close to proper medicine. He didn't know if she could be saved if they had to wait any longer.

Both men watched as Elora fidgeted and made protesting grunts as she tried to get the furs off of her. She was sweaty and hot (even though she had been shivering only minutes before) but couldn't verbally communicate her issues. Zokkik rushed over to her and tried to make her become still while also trying to uncover her. He was getting very good at understanding half-dead Elora. Loka cleared his throat, "Can I help somehow?" Zokkik spoke frustratedly as he finally got the furs off of her and she stopped thrashing, "No... I swear when she moves that harshly, it counteracts all the healing her body did. And here I thought women were easier to care for than men. She's just as difficult." Loka put a tender hand on the healer's shoulder. He knew Zokkik cared for the girl, and it must be difficult watching her deteriorate into this state, especially when he was the healer trying, and ultimately failing, to treat her. Zokkik had already lost so much, he didn't need to lose this strange girl as well.