Chương 23: B1 Chapter 22

My father was by my side before I had crawled about three body lengths into the village. I knew he was worried not just from the look on his face but the fact that he'd left his broken spear and carried no weapon now. He knelt down beside me. I watched as his eyes looked over me, widening as he took in my injuries.

"E'ru, look at me," he said softly yet his voice was steady.

"Tell me what I need to try to fix first." I wanted to laugh, able to see the wounds on his body and yet he was more worried about me.

"I'm looking at you father. I'm not sure where to start." He nodded once, reaching out with his hand toward my shoulder. Ignoring the pain I caught his wrist and stopped him.

"Don't touch the wrapping yet," I warned him.

"It's not doing much but I don't want to stop the little it's doing." He looked down and I watched his lips press together. The cloth I'd wrapped around my shoulder and chest was covered in mud and blood. It looked dark, like a different kind of wound completely. Pieces of hardened and cracked dragon's blood clung to the edges while blood flowed out.

"What happened to your shoulder?"

"A spear went through it," I replied, watching others in the village behind him. Some were busy chatting, waving hands and looking around.

"Through?" he asked, snapping his fingers and drawing my attention back.

"Yes. From the front and through the back." He nodded and moved along the ground, checking the wound on the other side of my shoulder. I could feel his fingers gently touching around the edges of the tattered bandage. As he did I spotted Makua limping toward us. Blood covered most of one of his sides but I suspected much of it wasn't his. A cut along his upper arm sent blood down to the soil and his swollen face made his usual grin look crooked and funny. He stopped beside my father and looked at me.

"I knew you were hurt when you disappeared," Makua said, slowly lowering himself.

"I saw what you were doing with the blowgun. Every time one of those bastards suddenly forgot how to hold a spear or stand on a leg, you were hiding somewhere nearby."

"I was helping you all. It looked like you needed it," I replied. He snorted and nodded.

"You were irritating them."

"I'm just glad I could help. I—" Pain took the words from my lips as my Father pressed his fingers closer to the hole in my shoulder.

"Foolish boy," he muttered.

"Crawling through the jungle with this kind of wound. The dragon's blood looks to have buried itself into your shoulder."

"I didn't have a choice. It was use it and ignore the pain or watch everyone I love die." My words silenced them both. For a moment I thought the bright lights I saw when my father touched my injury were fading and that's when I realized there were words again before. Why must you test me? I'm not going to give in. The pulsed brightly, casting a purple hue to Makua's face. He saw the look I was giving.

"You see them too? The words?"

"I do," I replied.

"But I will not read them. We know we are not meant for them." My father suddenly stiffened beside me. I watched as his eyes moved toward something in front of him before he turned his head away. I realized the gods had placed words before him as well.

"Not now," he grunted. For a moment I wasn't sure if he was talking to Makua or me. Then he waved a hand at the empty space before him as if he was swatting a fly.

"You okay Father?" I asked.

"I'm fine. You're bleeding and the gods can wait while I take care of you. Now, we'll need to find someone to help. Stay here. I'll be back with someone." As he left, I watched him limping, his own body fighting against the pain and injuries he'd sustained.

"You were like the flies that like to bite," Makua said suddenly.

"Yet you saved me and the others. Thank you." Blinking I looked at my friend and saw a strange expression on his face. Respect maybe or the realization that had I not fought how I did, he and the others would probably be dead.

"I am a hunter and you are my people. No matter what I'll always protect my tribe." He smiled and nodded.

"Even if it stings like the wasps and flies."

"Even then," I replied. As I spoke the lights before me brightened and I averted my gaze, keeping my sight fixed upon my village which was making sure the bonejaws were dead and helping those who were hurt.

[COMBAT ASSESSMENT COMPLETE] [Experience thesholds exceeded] [Pending Advancement: 5 Levels] [Manual Attribute Allocation Available] [Skill Selection Available] [Level Restoration Available upon Advancement] [CURRENT STATUS] Bleeding Blood Loss Packed Herbs in Wounds Improvised Wound Treatment Detected [Time Remaining: 00: 10: 00] I could see people staring up at the sky or around them. It was mostly the warriors who had been fighting I realized. Are you only testing them?

Part of me wanted to call out for them to avert their eyes but that wasn't my place. Each person I knew must decide if they would obey the teachings we learned as a child. I wasn't sure what the gods might do to those who ignored them.

"You see them as well?" Makua asked.

"And you're not reading them."

"Words are not meant for us," I replied. He grunted and stood.

"I need to go help some of the others. You think you can lay here and not die? I'd rather your father not get mad at me if you did."

"I'll try not to. Besides if I did, who would annoy you like the flies." He chuckled and turned, moving to help some of the others who were injured. As Makua left I watched what was happening around me. The pain I felt was a reminder that my life would be over soon if Father didn't return with help, but I could easily die, knowing I had protected my people. So instead I focused upon the words of people around me. If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

"… they came when the last bonejaw fell…"

"… Are you reading them? Mine say I can chose a totem…"

"… Don't look! You know the teachings…" Conversations drifted in and out as people spoke, some louder than others. It appeared that some were choosing to read while others were trying not to.

"… I can gain strength. It says I gained four points. What do the points do?" More words came, things that sounded silly to me. They spoke of skills and other things like dexterity and resolve. I understood what they meant, but people spoke about those words like they were something else. Some shouted and pushed at each other, telling them to read or not to read. I wondered where Eyowon was. This was her domain and she should be giving instructions about how they should be responding.

Then a sick feeling washed over me and I was worried for a moment that she might have been hurt in this attack. But the people of my village began to part. I watched as a shape appeared, a wooden staff carved like a serpant in their hands. Eyowon's cane helped her through our village, and I saw her kneel down near Joa and help with an injured hunter. Even from here I could see there was blood on her hands. Relief replaced the fear I had felt, knowing she was alive helped more than I had expected.

Once again the light came, the gods not wanting to give me a break.

[Time Remaining: 00: 05: 00] A dozen heartbeats later, Makua returned. I watched him move toward me and realized that he seemed steadier. His gait was smoother and his body looked stronger. He saw my gaze and nodded.

"You are looking at me like a stork studying the water where its meal is hiding," he said.

"You look different. What happened? Did you…" The words stopped coming as I realized what he must done. Part of me wanted to say something but this was not my role nor my business. Each man had to chose what path they would walk and if they would obey the teachings. He must have saw the way my face reacted.

"I did what I felt needed to be done for our people. We need strength and they offered me strength so I took it" Makua's cheeks were tight and I knew from a lifetime with him that he'd made up his mind. I nodded once and let it go. He would walk his path and I would walk mine.

"I am sure the gods offered you what we need," I replied.

"Besides, I need someone strong enough to carry me around." He chuckled and wiped his hand along his forearm. I watched as his fingers cleaned off the blood that had been oozing from the wound. It was closed now, puffed slightly, but no more blood came from it.

"That would be bad if the gods made me stronger so I could tote you on my back like a child. Still, I would do it. Just think of the honor I would get for carrying you like a mother." We both grinned and I heard the voice of my Father calling out for someone to hurry up over the din of the village.

"I think he's upset," Makua said.

"Do I need to carry you now?"

"No. I think it's better to wait. Moving me would make more blood try to get free from my body." He nodded and stood, his eyes scanning the jungle behind me. As he stood there like a guardian, I tried to imagine what the gods had offered him. Before me the words continued to pulse.

[Time Remaining: 00: 01: 00] [Final Manual Advancement Reminder] Why must you tempt me? Did you promise Makua something so that he would be a shiny object that I reach for? I was frustrated. I'd done what I was supposed to. I risked my life and kept my people as safe as I could. Yet the gods wouldn't heed my desire. Without thinking I slammed my fist into the packed dirt. That action was one I regretted immediately as the force made my injured shoulder remind me how badly damaged it was. Is this who I will be?

The hunter who is crippled even more? That thought scared me.

I had learned to be who and what I was with legs that didn't work. The thought that I would be injured and possibly far worse was not one I wanted to think about. Lost in my thoughts, I winced as the light brightened, almost as if it wanted to lure me toward a fire, just like the moths.

[Manual Advancement Period Expired] [Entity E'ru has declined manual allocation] [Five Level Advancements available] [Evaluating recent activity…] Direct Kill Credit Recognized Multiple Combat Assists Recognized Environmental Kill Credit Recognized Protection Actions Recognized Stealth Combat Recognized Improvised Battlefield Control Recognized Totem-Aligned Hunting Behavior Recognized [Totem Synergy Increased] [Totem of the Sloth: Growth Confirmed] I stiffened as for a moment I wondered if someone had snuck up behind me and jabbed their fingers into my shoulder. Heat and cold erupted under my skin and my whole body tightened.

Clenching my teeth, I saw Makua bend down, his eyes on me.

"You okay?"

"Something… is happening." He nodded,"Endure whatever it is E'ru. I am here." I wanted to reply but I couldn't. It took effort to not cry out and I wouldn't do that if I could help it. The pain in my shoulder quieted for a moment and I started to take a breath. Then it came back, harder, and like someone had shoved a hot coal from a fire into the wound. I screamed, ignoring my desire to not do so. Makua caught me as I fell sideways. Something inside my shoulder was grinding and moving.

It felt as if something was alive and worming around inside. It took a few seconds for me to realize what was happening. My muscles were pulling together, not in soft and smooth ways but in violent contractions. My arm jerked, intensifying the pain of this moment. It continued to spasm, and I fought to breathe. Suddenly the wrapping around my shoulder felt overly tight.

"Cut it… please," I got out through gritted teeth.

"What?" Makua asked.

"The wrap. Cut it loose." He nodded once and drew his knife, putting the blade near the cloth.

"Don't move," he said. I coughed and then steadied myself.

"I'll try not to." As I spoke another spasm came and my body arched off the ground. When it settled, I felt the edge of his blade sawing at the wrap. Pressure began to release as the layers came apart. There were dried pieces of dragon's blood in several place. When Makua lifted one section, hardened sap pulled against my skin. With my good hand I grabbed his wrist.

"Slow!"

"I am going slow you fool. Now stop."

"It doesn't feel like it," I grunted but let go, trying to hold still. He continued to remove the blood soaked cloth on my chest. Something warm pushed from the hole in my shoulder like it was trying to escape. At first I thought it was blood. Then Makua made a disgusted sound and pinched it between his fingers.

"What did you put inside yourself?" I turned my head enough to see the dark wad of crushed leaves in his hand.

"Herbs," I grunted, trying to endure the pain.

"You packed these into the wound?"

"I was bleeding. It was do that or die."

"Still… you filled yourself with plants."

"Fuck… You…" I got out as more pieces erupted from my shoulder when another spasm came. They were mixed with old blood and pieces of dark sap, the crushed leaves almost black now. Some slid free on their own while others remained caught inside while the wound tried to close around them.

"It's like the gods are pushing them out," Makua stated.

"Then help them, please." He grabbed an exposed end and pulled. I immediately regretting asking for help. The herb came free with a wet tearing sensation, followed by blood that began to slow as the flesh tightened again. Makua grunted as he tossed the pieces to the ground. I could feel him pulling pieces of the sap as well off my skin, the pain that came as my body did whatever it was doing. One chunk he was grabbing at wasn't coming loose.

"This one's going to hurt," he stated.

"It's also inside the wound."

"Do it," I grunted. He put his other hand on my shoulder and then the tugging intensified. Whatever had been taking place felt like he was undoing it. Skin, muscle and more felt like it was wrapped around the chunk of dragon's blood.

"On three," he said. I nodded as the pressure decreased.

"One…" I screamed again as I heard the ripping sound and felt skin and flesh tearing. Warmth came over my shoulder as wetness flowed. Then whatever had happened before all this came again and the pain of the healing started over.

"I need to do your back, roll over," Makua said. His words made sense and yet my body was on fire. My leg was throbbing and I could feel the flesh pulling together there as well. All over it was if thousand of ants were crawling on my skin, bitting and chewing my flesh. Before I knew it I was on my stomach, breathing in dirt as Makua began undoing the wrap on my back shoulder. The smell of bitter herbs, dragon's blood and blood was thrust into my face. Makua cursed under his breath.

"They came all the way through." I could feel pressure building around the opening in my back. A thick, wet glob ran along my skin.

"The gods seem determined to remove everything you were stupid enough to put inside yourself," Makua stated.

"And yet it kept me alive enough to help save you." He grunted at me.

"How?" he asked.

"How did you do anything with this?" All I could think was hurry the fuck up. I didn't say that. Even as much as it hurt, I felt like telling my friend who was helping me that would have been wrong in this moment. Instead, I did what I always did.

"I guess it just proves I'm better than you." He grunted, but it was his laughing grunt. Then Makua got his revenge.

"This is going to hurt. Hold still." He pressed his hand against my back, forcing my face into the packed dirt. Then he began to tear free the remaining chunks of dragon's blood and herbs that were inside my skin.

"Fuck!' was all I could get out. I'm certain I said it about a dozen times as he pulled. And then he stopped. Pain still came, a fire still ravaged my body. Laying there, panting, breathing in dirt, I was tired and yet I wasn't. My thigh, side, shoulder, everything hurt. And then, it all faded.

[ADVANCEMENT COMPLETE] Level 1 to Level 6 [Automatic Attribute Allocation Complete] Strength: 11 Perception: 28 Inguinity: 29 Dexterity: 20 Endurance: 26 Resolve: 32 [Permanent Conditions remain active] [Acute Injury Restoration: 68%] Major bleeding controlled. Torn tissue partially restored. Further natural recovery required.

The pain lessened each second as the lights flickered. I breathed through my nose.

[Skill Capacity Increased] 3 to 6 Existing Skills: Trapmaking I Stealth I Grappling I [Observed competency thresholds exceeded] Insect Handling I acquired Blowgun I acquired Knife I acquired [Existing Skill Growth] Stealth I to Stealth II Grappling I to Grappling II Slowly, I recovered my breath and rolled over. After a few seconds I sat up.

"What are you doing?" Makua asked.

"Standing."

"You just finished screaming like a child as your body healed itself. Are you sure you should do that?"

"I want to stand," I replied, staring at my legs. They were still weak, not strong like his. Whatever the gods had done to save my life it appeared they hadn't fixed them. Perhaps that would be too much for the gods to do. Then what would happen? I would be the leader of this jungle. I smiled, unable to help myself at that thought. A hand appeared before me.

"Here," Makua said.

"Get up. Let's go find your Father before he comes here thinking I was killing you." I chuckled and took his hand.

"Please, we both know I'm too strong for that."