To Live Again

Chapter 5

Sarania POV

My arms are curled around Jericho, his lips at my ear, my lips on his cheek. We had fallen asleep at around twelve o'clock, but had gotten to bed at ten. The lamp still felt warm, so I knew we couldn't have been asleep more than five hours. It wasn't surprising, we had both had a good thirty eight hour sleep before then because of the many weeks with hour long sleeps. I shake Jericho awake, because we need to go hunting today. After almost two whole days asleep and a few days with no hunting, we are running seriously low on food and energy. The last bit of food needs to be eaten fast, because otherwise it will spoil later today. That's the thing about sleeping for a long time, food spoils. Especially in this heat, which now I concentrate on it, is sweltering. Jericho only wakes up properly once I rip the duvet off and leave it on the floor. That was better.

"Jeric. I'm going to have a quick shower, get the hunting equipment ready and prepare the food. I'll be done in twenty minutes, okay?" I say, leaping down and then unlacing my pendant. I walk into the shower room and strip off. I'm left with my pale skin and red hair floating around my breasts. Bright flames that turn into a coal colour when washed. I slip into the gap and switch on the fresh water. I wash myself down and rub some lavender scented foam into my hair. I scrub myself down with berry scented soap, and then wash away the shampoo. I stand in the warm rain for a moment, thinking. Narumato never sleeps in our bedroom, and I heard her crawl in the front around three. No problem there. What did confuse me about this was that she always checked on me. I stop thinking and rub conditioner into my scalp. If anything happened, Jericho would tell me. Instantly. Even if I was in a shower. Three minutes later, I wash out the conditioner. I go to reach for my towel, and then swear. Loudly. No towel. Not only have I no towel, but getting one would include running around naked. Either that, or I had to ask Jericho to get one. Thereby, seeing me naked. Either way, I know Jericho will be ogling me. My hair may be long, but it isn't long enough, nor thick enough to completely cover my naked body. Although he has seen it before, I am not in the mood to face his eyes. I feel too lousy. I scream for him anyway, and he rushes in.

"Jeric... can you get me a towel?" I murmur. I know what his answer will be, even before he says it. Because I am a terrible person and he is the envisioned perfection every woman awaits.

"Of course, Sara." And he runs out and less than a minute later, a towel is slotted between the bricks. I cringe as his eyes lick up my image, the smile creasing his pale lips. Too pale. Much too pale. His face is grey, and I can tell he is ill. No, forget ill. He looks inches away from death. And his health is only deteriorating.

"Are you okay?" I murmur, as I completely forget the towel and rush towards him. He smiles, but even this makes his face paler. His eyes show a kind of pain his voice never could. Then I feel the agony. Crippling me. I groan and kneel on the floor. And blood runs between my fingers as it clasps my chest. Right where my heart would be. 

Jericho POV

Her naked body is gorgeous, the waves of red fire rippling along her curvaceous body. I smile softly,  knowing her question. Her eyes plead. This breaks me.

"Are you okay?" Her voice is soft and silky, but not without the knowing grasp that she can use so well. A pain lashes at me. I can't tell her Narumato is dying. And I do not have enough experience to know whether she would be dying too. But the answer comes not from my lips, but from hers. I watch her groan and collapse. She clutches her chest. And I see blood trickle from between her fingers. My sweet Sarania has less than minutes to live.

____This may shock you. Seeing this early on would. But I must say that Narumato has her speech. She is about to become one of our main characters___

Narumato POV

My life flashes and shudders, and I manage to claw my nails deep into the floor. And then my heart disintegrates. My soul. My very being lies almost dead in the next room. I must make it towards her. I crawl and crawl, further than expected with this dagger in my chest. I crawl and crawl. Further and further. My Sarania lies on the floor. But she will not die before me. Oh no. She will die seconds after.  I make a soft warning call. Telling her that if she saves me, she herself will be saved. My Jericho, or hers, or both of ours, turns. He smiles, but walks over immediately. He makes Sarania release the vial of snagvine juice, that which will not save me. I make a hooting sound.

"Cra." Sarania manages to whisper, although her eyes show damage. Tears leak form them. I lie down too, revealing the blood. Jericho seems to realise at least simple terms. 'Cra' means no. He rolls the snagvine away, clutching something else. My Sarania smiles softly. She nods. Yes. Jericho has made the correct choice. He smears the bloothery bloodvine on my wound, and I feel the heart beginning. Not just in me, but in Sarania. He grabs the snagvine and rubs it over the wound. It heals quickly. He runs towards his lover, me in a Lastary warrior form. And I can feel the flutter in her stomach as he looks at her.

Sarania POV

Those amazing eyes bore into mine. And my heart begins to work overtime. Despite being naked, I feel less embarassed than Narumato does. His head ducks to meet mine and I respond willingly. Today has to be a hunting day. There is no more waiting, and I stand up and walk towards our bedroom. I comb my wet hair and throw on my chain mail, as well as my Lastary warrior costume. I rope my hair back and Jericho plaits it for me, the way he loves it. We eat until we are fit to burst, and then leave Narumato to rest. We tie back the vines, to keep Narumato safe. Then we go hunting. I shoot my finger electricity into many animals, and then we gather many fruits. I gather a few mint leaves and basil. And then we return to our cave for a night of hanging around and eating.