Gifted Pelt

Chapter 40

When Astrila stirs in the morning, something still feels off. But what could it be? She shifts in her bed and has to bite back a scream. Her skin feels painfully cold, so cold that it burns her flesh down to the bone. She stills at once, maybe the movement is causing it? The lack of movement does seem to decrease the pain, but the initial movement woke it up. She can still feel the pain. She can feel a tear slip down her face at the shock of it all. Astrila's ears prick up when she hears Kōri shift in his bed.

He rolls out of bed and stands. She can hear some rustling before he steps over to her. Kōri bends over her and frowns when he sees her face.

"What's wrong, Astrila? You look worried about something."

Her voice is quiet. "Pain flares up when I move."

His face sets itself into a stony detached expression, his attempt at the healer's expression. But worry still flickers in his eyes. "Do you know what might be causing it?"

"I'm not entirely sure, maybe it's the venom?"

He gives her a sharp nod. "Then I'll see if an ice coat helps. I'll be back in a moment."

She calls after him as she hears him hurry towards the door. "But the distance!"

Kōri lets out a small laugh, but it's tinted with the beginning of the pain he feels whenever he gets too far from her. "You think I'm going to let that stop me when you're hurt?"

Astrila's mouth twitches up into a smile when she hears that. Beyond her mother, no one has ever cared about her enough to let themselves get hurt to help her. It's strange and new, but sweet as well. She pales when she hears his cry of pain and his slower steps, like each one is a painful struggle. Tears slip down her cheeks. She doesn't want to hurt him. It hurts her more for him to be hurt than how much the pain of her movements hurts her. She shifts in the bed, trying to move towards Kōri. Her body screams in agony, and she does get the feeling that the source of it is from the wounds, but she doesn't stop moving towards Kōri. The closer she is to him, the easier it will be for him to move. So she has to help him. She makes it about a meter before he comes back inside. His eyes widen when he sees her and he almost drops his handful of snow.

"Astrila, what are you doing?!"

"Getting closer to you."

He shakes his head. "Why? You said it hurt to move."

A tear slides down her cheek at both the pain and the worried anger drenching Kōri's voice. "It hurt more to hear your pain, so I tried to help."

Some light shines in his eyes before it winks out again and he hurries towards her. He doesn't make a sound until he has covered all her wounds with a coat of snow. She hisses slightly at the cold, but it quickly makes the pain fade away. So it must have been caused by the venom, otherwise the snow wouldn't do this. Kōri leans back on his heels and sighs, running his hand along his face.

"We're a mess, aren't we."

Astrila frowns. "What do you mean?"

"We're both hurting ourselves to help the other, then we dance around during the day like nothing is happening."

Her frown deepens. Is he trying to say something? "I don't understand, Kōri."

His eyes snap to hers and his brow wrinkles in confusion. "You don't?"

She shakes her head. "No, I don't. What were you trying to say?"

He opens her mouth to say one thing, but he hesitates and changes his mind. "Nothing."

"Kōri . . ."

"It's nothing, Astrila. It doesn't matter what I meant."

"Why?"

His voice raises slightly. "Because it doesn't matter!"

Astrila shrinks back from his burst of emotion. "Okay."

Kōri slumps. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get angry at you."

She stretches out a hand towards him to rest it upon his shoulder. "It's okay to get upset about things, Kōri. You're not the earth slumbering beneath our feet. You're allowed to feel things and react to them."

He smiles at her. "That was surprisingly wise. You don't normally say things like that."

"That's so when I do say those things, you will actually pay attention to them."

He laughs and looks at the wound on her face, snow pressed against her cheek with her free hand. "How are you feeling?"

"The snow is helping."

"Good. Would you like me to bring over the basket of food? We can eat while you treat your wounds."

Her stomach growls, causing Astrila to blush. "Please."

He steps away for a moment, returning with the uncovered basket of food. Astrila reaches her hand in and pulls out a strip of meat. She frowns.

"Is this . . ."

"Oh yes, they distributed some meat from Nanuq to everyone in the village."

"Who got the pelt?"

"They felt the injured hunter should have it for the ceremonial first night, but I don't know who will ultimately get it."

Astrila nods and chews on the meat. It's rare that they get to eat Nanuq, he is strong and hard to hunt. So it happens once or twice a year. She'll savor it, the different flavor that stands out amongst the seal, fish, and caribou they so often eat.
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What do you think Kōri was trying to say? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~Goddess of Fate, signing out.