I Am Alone

Chapter 18: Aaron's Promise

"Ronny......" A weak, soft voice broke through my restless sleep, Aphmau holds my hand as she's drifting in and out of vivid hallucinations.

"Yeah?" I open my eyes, dawn is just breaking, the sun barely peering over the edge of the horizon, and I know I have to leave soon.

"I'm scared.......I don't want to die." A tear drips from her face, I can't blame her, she's terrified.

"I won't let that happen, I promise I won't let you die." I wrap her in the sleeping bag and lay a cool cloth on her head, Fang lifts his massive head.

"Come on bud, let's get this flower." I pat his grey head and he makes a chuffing sound, and rubs his head on Aphmau's cheek before licking my face with his scratchy tongue.

He knocks Crimson out of her sleep, and she stretches and yawns before looking up at me, I sigh.

"Stay here and watch Aphmau, if anything happens, come find me and Fang." I command, and Crimson scoots closer to Aphmau as a confirmation.

I climb on Fang and try to remember where I saw that flower.

It's housed on a cliff edge, they only grew in hard to reach places, but they had wonderful calming and healing juices. At least that's what I read.

I remember seeing one close by on a alcove in a sheer cliff, so I go north a bit, after taking one last glance at Aphmau. I start riding.

Fang seems to be running faster than he ever had before, he cared deeply for our little ramshackle family, and I know he cares about Aphmau and me the most.

We got there in three hours, I was starting to worry, the book said it took a week, but Aphmau was small, and It would take even less time for her to feel the worse affects.

I see the cliffside, I am lucky my memory served me right, there, halfway up the front,  a light blue bud of the Gorgon flower hung down off a curve red stem.

Fans try's to climb it himself, but he is much too heavy to get further than a few inches off the ground.

I slip off my gloves for a better grip and start making my way up the sheer cliff face, it is definitely dangerous to rock climb without a cord or and hand protection, but I need to get this bud as fast as possible, who knows how long the meds would take to kick in.

I'm almost halfway there when I slip of cut my hands in the rocks as I catch myself, Fang barking at my recklessness.

"I'm Okay bud!" I yell down at him, even though there is blood oozing out of my hands and I make my way back up. It stings as I climb but I refuse to leave until I have what I need.

I climb to where the small alcove was and gently pick off the bud and stick it in my pocket, by this time it had taken several hours and I was getting really nervous.

I jump off the cliffside and Fang catches my hood in his mouth. Probably saving me from a broken leg, or spine, or broken everything.

"Thanks, let's get this bud back to Aphmau, I hope she's okay." I wrap some cloth around my bleeding hands and pull my gloves back on, I jump onto Fang and we start making our way back to camp.

It's around noon, maybe one or two, but it would be late in the evening when we got back, I nervously play with Fangs fur, which he does seem to enjoy, I pray to God she's not dead when I get back.

1 hour.

2 hours.

3 hours.

We finally arrive at camp, and the sight is anything but good, Crimson is making almost a crying sound and looks depressed and sad.

"Oh, No." I jump off Fang and sprint to Aphmau, and feel her pulse.....

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...
...
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I feel a very weak pulse and sigh, but It's so weak I don't have much time. I combine all of my ingredients into a small metal pot and re-light the fire, it has to boil for twenty minutes, but she may not even last that long.

"Stay with me, okay, your gonna be fine." My voice cracks from panic and fear, I can not let her die, I need her with me.

"A-ron?" She tries to speak, I tip some water into her mouth and she shudders, oh God please let this work.

I try to keep her stable while the medication was cooking, but she's starting to slip, murmuring things about the past and smiling like her life was playing in front of her eyes.

I tip some meds, after it's done, into a flask with ice around it, so I could give it to her immediately.

I tip it into her mouth and she winces, before shuddering still, I feel her pulse, there is none, I feel tears welling up into my eyes, I'm to late, I wasn't fast enough to save her.

This was my fault, I should have never brought her here, we should have just stayed home, I should have never wanted that stupid grappling bolt.

And Now, She's dead, all because you wanted to impress her.

Tears fall from my face as I hold Aphmau's still warm hand, and gently place my head on hers, Caress the side of her face and kiss her before pulling away.

"I'm sorry.....I'm so sorry...... I-I love you Aph, please come back to me. Please....." I get no response, I start crying harder, Fang and even Crimson rubbing their heads on my back.

The weather turns to a drizzle, reflecting my emotions perfectly, it conceals my tears.

I Am Alone, Again.

"Mmmm......." Aphmau makes a small sound and I jump up,  grabbing her hands and shaking and smiling like an idiot.

"Aphmau!? Aphmau! Can you hear me love?" I don't care what I say anymore, if this life gives me nothing else, please just let her be alive.

"R-Ronny?" Her voice is weak, and the virus still in her system, but now we have a way to combat it, and she is alive!

"Aphmau! Oh thank god, I thought I lost you!" I hug her with so much joy and mirth on my veins that I cry tears of joy.

"What happened.....? Why are you crying...?" She asks weakly, but I put my finger over her mouth and shake my head.

"Don't worry about it. I'm so happy your okay."