A Forest of Secrets

Chapter 17

Jo opened her eyes to discover Laurentius and Alaric sitting by her side. Her leg was throbbing. She tried to get up, but Wyn came running to stop her.

"Shit! Don't move! you'll interrupt the healing!" Wyn scolded her. Jo focused on her wounded leg, going past the pain to see if she could feel anything else, had they put a cast on it? It didn't feel particularly stiff, immobile, yes, but not constrained. Then she felt the tingling. Magic.

"We should keep moving," Jo complained. "We can still make it to the forest today."

"You're joking, right?" Alaric chuckled, feeling her forehead with his hand. He removed it, apparently satisfied with her temperature. "I took a hit to the head, yet you're the one speaking nonsense?" he chuckled, "... are you sure you didn't crush your skull after killing the thing? They told me it was epic-- I wouldn't know, I was taking an involuntary nap over there."

"I... no, I don't think I did. But I fainted before getting to the ground, so maybe?" Jo closed her eyes; she could feel the pain on her leg in all its glory then. She tried to suppress a grunt.

"I managed to catch you, with magic," Laurentius said. "Now, less talking, more lying still please?"

"We can go after I'm healed, then- it's probably..." she groaned. She needed a shot of alcohol, something to numb the pain. But having a clear head was more important. She'd have to toughen up and endure the pain. It would soon be over, anyway-- she'd have to take it just a little longer.

"It's night outside, Jo- dark as ... I can't imagine anything as dark, to be honest. Except for those rocks inside the cave, maybe, but-- never mind. The thing is, it's too dark to go out." Alaric interrupted, tripping over his own words. " It probably got dark well before we got to the monster's hideout," he chuckled. Maybe he was right, they'd walked for what seemed like hours. "There's an exit that way, we checked," he pointed to the back of the cave."We're stuck here for the night, like it or not."

"Who knows what else roams outside, particularly in that darkness," Laurentius said dramatically. "We're better off here for the night,the forest isn't going anywhere. Now , please, lay still? I mean it. You don't want to walk around with a limp for the rest of your life, do you? Not very aesthetical, if you ask me-- and very uncomfortable, I'd wager," Jo nodded. She still had questions, but she decided a crooked leg wasn't worth it.

"Alaric, now that you've confirmed she's fine, like I told you ad nausea," Laurentius said, without stopping his healing. Jo could see Alaric blushing slightly, from the corner of her eye "Do you mind taking care of the gutting and dismembering?" Jo opened her eyes wide: what was that dismembering thing again? "We're spreading the beast's bowels in the entrance, to stop other predators from getting in," he explained. Still, it was slightly disturbing. A great idea, but disgusting.

"I can't wait. The smell will be absolutely delightful, it'll really add to the rotten egg stench," Alaric inhaled deeply "Ah! this old damp cave will feel just like home, so comfy," Jo snorted a silent laugh. "It was Wyn's idea, by the way," Alaric added. "The kid has great survival skills," he continued, then he got closer to Jo's ear: "I'm kind of scared of her sometimes," he whispered, chuckling. "Don't tell her that, or I'll end up with my pants on fire or something," Jo nodded, smiling. She felt like a burden seeing as everyone was up to something, helping-- yet there she was, limp on the floor with a broken leg. She had killed the beast, she had to remind herself. She'd earned to rest a little. Nonetheless, that feeling of restlessness was difficult to shake.

Laurentius managed to get her into walking conditions in no time, only if you asked her she'd say it'd felt like an eternity. Jo still felt a slight tingling in her leg, but at least her bones were tucked back into place.