A Greater Lesson

Chapter 6: It's Complicated

I sighed and opened my eyes.  The cool river bath had worked; I was calmed now and decided to go back.  I pulled myself out of the water.  I inspected my wrinkled hands and determined that I had been in the water for, an hour maybe?  I wrung my hair over the creek and let the water return to its rightful place before replacing my clothes. 

As I fastened my rope belts, I heard a scream and Roux’s distinct roar. 

“Roux, what are you up to now?” I sighed to myself and hurried back to the Great tree.  As I neared, Roux growls became audible until I came to the doorway and they stopped altogether.  He leapt up the stairs and greeted me excitedly.  I looked at the blood on his paws and stared him in the face. 

“Roux, what did you do?” He sensed my fear and anger and hung his head.  I swallowed hard before entering the dark living space.  I dropped the beads behind me and let my eyes adjust before searching for the victim.  As soon as I could see anything in the room, I made out the figure of a man lying on the floor.  My heart sank as I imagined who it might be.  I flew down the steps and fell at his side.  My inspection of his face and dagger strapped to his waist confirmed my fears. My stomach tightened into a knot; it was definitely Zorxik.

The room continued to lighten as my eyes got used to the dimness.  I leaned over towards him and supported myself with my hand placed near his head.  I felt wetness under my palm and retreated to investigate it.  Blood!  I looked back at him as tears struck my eyes.  I knew I couldn’t deny it any longer.  I may not like this guy, but he was a part of my life now.  If he died, yes, I would cry.

I patted his cheek and turned his head to face me.  “C’mon Zorxik!  You’re still here!  I know it!”  Tears flooded my vision and my heart pounded in my ears.  I took a deep breath and searched for the source of the blood.  I found it a few moments later on the back of his head.  I was relieved to find that it was small.  Head wounds bled a lot (I found that out when I encountered Roux’s mother) but I don’t think he had lost enough blood yet to do any serious damage.  Still, I had to stop it.  I grabbed his dagger and ripped a soft tousle off of his sleeve and folded it into a pad to place on his wound.  I then turned to the blanket atop my bed behind me and ripped a long section of cloth to tie the pad on with.

I repositioned him into a more comfortable pose and elevated his head with Roux’s sleeping mat.  I stood up and laid my blanket on top of him before lighting the lamp in the corner.  I brought it to his side and inspected him for any other wounds.  Most were just scratches, but there was one on his right arm that I thought I should tend to.  I stood to get a washrag out of the bucket of water I brought in every morning.  I cleaned his face and arms and fetched my sewing kit I used to make and repair my clothes.  Before starting, I looked at his face.  I sighed at his strong jaw as he innocently slept.  I had to wonder why he was here in the first place.  As I admired him, I admitted only to myself that he was rather handsome, even if I couldn’t see his eyes.

I refocused my attention to his arm and began my repairs.

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I opened my eyes and immediately felt the throbbing in my head making me shut them tight again.  I tried to reach for the source of my pain only to find my arm trapped under a blanket with the rest of me.  I looked around and noticed a crackling fire being tended to by what I assumed was an angel.  I groaned and began to gain my thoughts back.  She was wearing a jaguar skirt.  It was Rivka.  I was still in her little hut, only it was nighttime now.  How long had I been here?  Was this even real?  Would I wake up tomorrow in my home with no pain and realize I hadn’t even been here?