In the Blade's Hilt |A tale from Triterra|

Chapter 40 - Fever

Ty was badly sick.  His skin was pale and clammy.  He softly groaned as a violent shudder racked his body.  His eyes were shut.  There were two gaping wounds in his left shin.  Dark blood oozed from the torn skin.  He was sitting on a thick branch, his back leaning against the tree's trunk.  Jenna was perched in front of him, padding his forehead with a leaf.  Blue hauled himself onto an adjacent branch.

"What's wrong with him?" he asked worriedly.

"I think he's having a fever" replied Jenna, "Can you heal him?"

"I'll try"

He held his hands out and attempted to cast  the same healing spell he used on Ty all those weeks ago.  But nothing more than a wisp of golden vapour escaped his hands.

"Now is not a good time!" he cried angrily.

"What's wrong?  Has something happened?"

"I'm out of mana, and I drank the last potion I had"

"So you can't cast spells?"

"Yeah"

He placed his hand on Ty's forehead.  It was hot to the touch.  He was definitely feverish.

"We should take him back to camp" said Blue, "Do you know the way back?"

"Yes, actually.  Just follow me"

Jenna hopped of the branch and silently climbed down the trunk.

"Can you at least help me get him down?" he called.  His question was met with silence.  He sighed and looked over at Ty.  This was going to take a while.

After a particularly lengthy climb down the tree, Blue lay his unconscious friend on the grass.  Climbing down a tree with one hand was hard enough, but while trying to balance another person over your shoulder while doing it?  It was a wonder he didn't break his neck.  

"You took your time" remarked Jenna.  She was leaning nonchalantly against the trunk. 

"Oh ha-ha.  Maybe that might actually be funny if you actually helped!" replied Blue angrily.

"I would have.  But that's no kind of work for a lady, you know?"

"Oh for- can we just get him back to camp?"

"Sure thing.  Just follow me.  Come this way"

Blue did as she said.  They walked through the forest in silence.  How Jenna managed to remember the was beyond Blue, but right then he just wanted to get to sleep.  At last they arrived at the camp.  Blue placed Ty into his bedroll and went to say goodnight to Jenna.  She was sitting up in her bedroll.

"G'night, Jenna" he said, turning to leave the tent.

"Wait, Blue.  I need to tell you something" she called after him.

"What is it?"

"I, well, I wanted to thank you"

"Okay, for what?" he asked confusedly.

"For giving me purpose.  For letting me join you on your journey" She gave him a small smile.

"Uh, your welcome?"

"Heh.  Well anyway, goodnight" She lay down and closed her eyes.

  Blue left Jenna's tent and returned to his own.  He had better catch a few hours sleep.  Tomorrow was going to be a long day...