As the Crow Flies

Chapter 3: Company

Alina heard movement around her. She wanted to move, to raise her head, to have a look, to fend off whatever had come for her now, but she was terribly weary. If she could just open her eyes... Something touched her, and her body was set on fire. Vaguely she remembered being poisoned or wounded or... A snakebite, that was it. It was fiery venom that made her feel as though she were burning from the inside out. There was a crash, and Alina's body jerked involuntarily. Her eyes flew open briefly, and she saw the flash of flame, a figure standing near her, and vicious eyes glowing in front of the figure. If only she had put some of the loose stones from the former roof of the building in front of the doorway before all of this had happened to her. Maybe she would have fended at least the non-human threats off. She tried to push herself up and feel for her knife. Her eyes still wouldn't stay open long enough for her to look for it.

"Don't try to move," someone said. "I'll take care of the beasties, and then we can figure out what to do for you. You're burning up with fever..." There was another crashing sound, and the voice stopped speaking. Alina managed to flutter her eyes open again, and the figure that had been standing above her was now at the doorway in some sort of skirmish with a set of the glowing eyes. There was still a small fire going, throwing orange light on the back of the man in the doorway. "Get out," he said, shoving at something that snarled and pushed back at him. "I mean it, get out!" The glowing eyes faded into the shadows beyond the doorway. The man came back to Alina and kneeled down close to her. "Drink some water," he said, putting something metallic up to her mouth. It must have been a type of canteen because she felt wetness touch her lips. She managed to swallow some of the water, though a large portion of it ran down her face and into her hair. She didn't like to lie in the wetness, but it felt cool against her feverish skin. "Your skin is burning up," the man said. "I don't know what to do for you..."

Alina turned her head and tried to look down at her lower leg where the pants leg was still raised, the bandana still in place. She couldn't lift herself up enough to see it, but it must still be there. "Snakeroot," she mumbled.

"What's that you're saying?" the man asked. "Did you say snake? Is that what's happened to you? That would explain it..."

"Snakeroot," Alina repeated. "A plant... helps..."

"Snakeroot..." the man repeated the word in a questioning tone. Alina's eyes had closed again, and this forced him to look around and puzzle over it on his own. After a while, he was prodding Alina again. "I found something," he said. "I'm not sure if it's snakeroot, but it matches a little leaf that was on the ground here near you." He supported Alina's head and gently helped her look at what he held.

"Yes," Alina gasped, still struggling to speak. She opened her mouth and waited while the man descided to put some of the leaves onto her tongue. She chewed and then spoke around the leaves, "Open my wound."

"What, this handkerchief on your leg?" the man asked. He moved to her feet and unbound the bandana around her ankle.

"Here," Alina said. She spit some of the snakeroot out onto her palm. "Bleed the bite, and put this paste on it." She propped herself up on one elbow to watch the man as he worked on her leg.

The man took a knife from his belt and passed it back and forth twice through the fire to sterilize it. He let it cool for a moment, and then he cut a fresh opening on Alina's leg. She winced with the pain, but she made no sound. The man let the wound seep for a bit, until it stopped dripping clear liquid, and red blood flowed. Then he used the blunt side of his knife to scrape the mashed snakeroot off Alina's palm and paint it onto her leg. He tied the bandana back on tightly, just as she'd had it before.

Alina held out her hand, opening and closing and opening it, indicating that she wanted more snakeroot.

"Was that not enough?" the man asked, even as he put more leaves and roots into Alina's fingers.

In response, Alina put the plant parts into her mouth, and this time, after it was all mashed, she swallowed it. "For the fever," she said.

"I see," the man said. He looked around and picked up Alina's blanket that was on the ground in a wad where she had gotten up that morning but had never gotten it packed. He covered her carefully, making sure not to bump her leg or disturb her. Her eyes were closed again, and he tucked the blanket up around her chin and let her rest.

~~~

Alina went to that place again, but she still couldn't see the bird. She whistled for it, but it didn't respond. She tried again. The only answer was another howl. It wasn't so loud or unfriendly this time, but whatever it was must still have the bird spooked. This would be a long and dreary unconsciousness without her bird. HER bird. It was the first time Alina had thought of the bird as something that belonged to anyone because it didn't. Yet, it wasn't exactly possession that she felt, but more connection, friendliness, habit. She had grown attached to the bird, and without it, she wasn't sure what to do with her subconsciousness. Just then, there was a huffing, or maybe a panting, very closeby. A gray and ruffled canine came out of the shadows and trotted up to Alina. It looked her right in the eye and sniffed near her face. She couldn't move, paralyzed in its gaze. Suddenly, the bird swooped down, snatching at the wolf's ears with its claws. The wolf ducked its head just in time, and the bird missed its mark. 'You're back!' Alina spoke in the subconscious world for the first time. There was the bird, and she was overjoyed to see it. 'I knew you wouldn't leave me for good.' The bird circled over Alina's head. She put out her arm, and the bird landed on it, the first time they had come into real contact. 'I missed you,' Alina said to the bird. 'Was it this wolf that upset you before.'

'Yes,' said the bird. It was chirping, but Alina could understand it. 'I don't know the wolf, and so I don't trust it. I have always tried to protect you. I have been a good friend to you, haven't I?'

'Of course you have,' Alina said. 'Have you always been able to talk to me?'

'Certainly,' said the bird. 'You just haven't always been motivated enough to listen closely.'

'Can I talk with this wolf, too?' Alina asked. She turned to the wolf who still stood near her, but watched the bird. 'Can you and I communicate, wolf?' she spoke to it directly.

The wolf continued to watch the bird and said nothing to Alina.

'Nevermind this wolf,' the bird said. 'You should probably wake up now. There are real wolves at the door.'