Looping Hearts

Chapter 10 - When help is needed

 Jimin frowned and walked to the bed before kneeling next to the man lying there. Now well accustomed to the darkness of his hut, Jimin stretched out his arm and put his hand on his new friend's forehead. The latter was burning hot and soaked.

« - I'm so cold... » Taehyung moaned, shivering at the touch of his hand.

« - You're sick Taehyung! » Jimin exclaimed, not hiding the panic in his voice as he sprung to his feet at the same time. « Let me lit the fire, just a second. »

The members of the clans rarely fell ill, or at least almost never when they were not very young. Their bodies hardened and gradually became accustomed to the world and the various dangers that surrounded them. In the end, that allowed them to enjoy a rather substantial immunity. According to the elders, old-age diseases were also common, but here, no one had yet to deal with this type of case. No one had succumbed to old age or even felt the first warning signs. As a result, everyone paid special attention to the health of children.

For Jimin, Taehyung was undoubtly very young or very old, which he highly doubted at the same time given the behavior, physique and personality he had been able to observed. That or Taehyung had passed his risky years and was therefore really ill right now. What was certain was that no matter how old you fell ill at, the risk of death was still very high. The known medicinal herbs as well as the knowledge and healing techniques were low in the clan. Many relied on the higher recovery rate of children or young people because of their faster and more responsive metabolism. Jimin therefore hoped that Taehyung, regardless of his true age, was still part of these young metabolisms.

Lost in his thoughts and his growing panic, Jimin had a hard time bringing his fire back to life to lit the modest home and warm Taehyung. Once done, however, when he finally stopped pinching his fingers between two flints of silex, Jimin did not waste another second before sitting down with Taehyung and removing the piece of cloth that had been used as their cover during the night. If he had attentively listened to the teachings of the elders concerning the treatment of external wounds, Jimin was far from knowing a lot about internal pain and wounds. The only thing he knew for sure right now was that Taehyung had a lot of fever. He clenched his teeth and closed his eyes with annoyance at his obvious lack of knowledge, especially during such a critical moment, then furiously rubbed his hair.

« - I don't know what to do. » He quickly confessed. « Don't move, I'm going to get someone okay?! » He said, moving a few strands of wet hair from his forehead.

« - Where do you want me to go...? » Taehyung asked with a very weak smile.

Jimin opened his mouth to answer but closed it almost immediately, unable to argue. He showed a little smile that seemed somewhat forced in Taehyung's eyes, then got up before leaving his home again and head towards the elders' room. In his hurry, Jimin did not even bother knocking on the door to announce his arrival. He rushed straight inside to shout: « Taehyung is sick! », interupting Ji Chang Wook and Yoo Seung Ho in a discussion that did not seem very animated. They turned their head in his direction as he stopped his run when he reached the table and rested his sweaty palms on his lap while bowing slightly to catch his breath.

« - Taehyung is sick... » He repeated.

« - He what? » Instantly roared Yo Seung Ho while jumping out of his stone seat, making him jump as well as the man sitting next to him. « You brought someone sick here? »

Jimin understood what he implied and looked up immediately, almost panicked.

« - No, no, of course not! » He hastened to say. « He was still fine last night but he has a high fever now. And you know, I found him in the water and... and with our long walk... and with the rain too... I think his body had had a hard time. He doesn't look very strong physically... Anyway, I'd like Han Ye Seul to come look at him, I don't know what to do... »