D&D Way to Sword Coast

Chapter 6: Health

Lightening sliced across the sky. For an instant, it overwhelmed what little sunshine remained. Each flash was punctuated by the cracking of thunder that shook the very ground. Torrents of rain lashed themselves against the treetops, drenching everything in their assault.

Far below the Dragonborn and his minuscule ward bore the brunt of the storm's wrath. As predicted the noonday sun was eclipsed by the clouds until the forest felt more like late afternoon. The thunder heralded the tribulations that were to come. Next arrived the rain, steady at first but quickly evolving into sheets. Even beneath the shade of the trees, it felt like they were walking beneath a waterfall.

At first, the cloak managed to shed the worst of the weather. Alidorim had dawned it the moment he felt the first drops, but soon even its treated surface succumbed to the downpour. He could feel Yulia shivering despite being pressed up against his back. Dragonborn had exceptionally high body temperatures, and he'd hoped that between that and wool the child would remain warm. Such had not been the case.

Night approached much more quickly and Alidorim attempted to make camp. Yulia would need a fire to dry off and to stave off the chill. Unfortunately, the weather would not allow any rest. Gusts of wind toppled any makeshift shelter and the rain doused all hopes for a fire.

"Alidorim," Yulia said weakly. She was curled up in the Dragonborn's lap as they sat beneath the boughs of a thick maple. The mighty tree offered some respite from the weather, but not much. He looked down doing his best to shield her with the folds of the cloak and his own body.

"Yes, Yulia," he responded, noting how she flinched with each rumble of thunder.

Even though her tiny body was enveloped by the blanket, she shuddered. The only benefit to come from the rain was that it cleansed some of the dirt off her face. The result was her hair and eyes contrasted all the more with her skin. Was it him or was she looking paler than usual?

The Tiefling angled her head and looked up him. "Storm, bad," she murmured.

Alidorim nodded in agreement. "Yes, Yulia. The storm is bad."

She shuddered again before adding in a gruff disapproving tone, "Gods damn storm."

The sudden curse startled a wry chuckle out of the warrior. He'd used the same phrase more than once as they were soaked by waves of rain. He hadn't expected her to get his meaning so quickly. "Yes, Yulia. It is a Gods be damned storm." The Dragonborn would have to start watching what he said if the girl was going to parrot every swearword he spoke. He'd learned more than his fair share in his travels, and not all of them in Common.

Lightning flashed again and they both winced as an explosion rocked the forest. Somewhere in the distance an age-old tree had stood up to the force of the storm and suffered for it. As much as he didn't enjoy the thought of being struck by lightning, neither did he want to get Yulia any colder than she was. He could only hope and pray the weather improved by dawn.

No such luck. While the thunder and lightning had moved off eastward, the rain continued to drown the forest. Resting beneath the cloak Yulia had no screaming fits at least, but Alidorim still didn't sleep well again. When he finally woke up he was alarmed to find Yulia was shaking and coughing uncontrollably. Her skin was indeed paler and clammy to the touch. Pressing two fingers to her brow he cursed.

"A fever," Alidorim groaned. When another bout of coughing wracked her tiny body something in his chest twisted. Just like with her night terrors, he just wanted them to stop, but he was unsure how. He thought about his options, but neither fire nor shelter would do much good. His Healing kit was full of herbs but those were more for tending minor injuries. If the girl was sick, she needed a healer and medicine.