"Can you walk?" The Village Head was on his back as he looked at her still slumped onto the ground.
"…I can" she groaned as she stood up," I think I just need to stretch a bit " She craned her neck and flexed her fingers.
After a while, she felt her muscles loosen up. "There. I can move now, though it still hurts quite a bit"
He stared at her his face like a blank canvas for a bit before he said," Let's go"
As they walked, she kept her eyes trained on his back or rather the Village Head's back.
Earlier, when Nicholas had found them, both he and the Village Head looked shocked. He didn't think Riley would go against his orders and bring another person along for the ride.
'Why am I always paired with bothersome ones?' He had sighed exasperated.
Nicholas explained to the Village Head that he was Riley's friend whom she had gotten separated from as they were heading to the capital. He didn't expand more on that point as he figured the Village Head would be able to draw good enough conclusions to support their cover.
"So that's why she looked so hesitant?"
"She has always been unable to go long distances without me," he smiled. She rolled her eyes and continued to move forward.
"So we are going back to Hilda?"
"No point in going head first into the mouth of that monster you encountered"
"I guess but aren't we just going back to square one?"
"We are. It's unfortunate but due to some changes in the plan, we cant go to the bunker using the route you took"
"So…?"
"We will have to wait it out in the grove where the lake is"
"But Hilda…"
"Don't worry about that. We will cross that bridge when we get there" The Village Head spoke up for the first time in a while.
"He is right. We should pick up the pace. Can't keep Miss Hilda waiting, can we?"
She agreed and they started to move faster. The mist cleared the further they went. A faint smell wafted through- the smell of water hitting the ground. Her strained ears picked up on the low hum of water waddling through its banks.
Within minutes, the mist had cleared up completely as they head reached the entrance to the grove. They both removed their gas masks.
Sunlight hit her face as grass crunched under her feet with every stride she took. It seemed to spill in through the gaps of the veil of leaves that were strewn across the sky. Climbers coiled around trees, their leaves almost straining to dip their tips in the flowing sunlight. Plants and flowers swayed to the slow music of the wind that gently drummed against every petal and or leaf.
"This place is unreal." Riley admired the tranquillity of the area: it wasn't completely quiet but it gave a sense of calmness due to the absence of human noise.
"She is at the foot of that willow tree." Riley overtook them with hurried steps and was soon at the tree.
There she was. Her face is pale and her lips dry. She had various wounds on her body that Nicholas had wrapped but Riley could still spot some of the blood dying the makeshift bandages.
"Don't worry, Hilda. We are now here. You don't have to suffer anymore, " she said, caressing her hair.
Nicholas came and gently set the Village Head next to Hilda.
"Nicholas, where did you get these bandages? Your clothes are still intact so…?"
"I tore a piece of her clothing "
"Why?"
He inched closer, his mouth almost brushing against her ear."I can't tell you that right now. Too many prying ears"
She threw a glance at the Village Head.
'So it has something to do with him being a Narrator…or a mouse.'
"How did you administer treatment for her?"
"I bandaged and gave her willow water."
"That should have relieved the pain. No wonder I don't see her squirming in her sleep. Can you please prepare some for him?"
"On it." Nicholas went and collected some of the twigs of the tree. He scraped the bark off, soaked it in water and gently heated it using a fire place he had opened earlier before she had arrived.
A pale yellow slowly drifted into the mixture. When it was done, he allowed it time to cool and went back to Riley.
"Miss Riley, I have brought the water."
"Great! Please come here with it." Riley was beside the Village Head, wrapping bandages around his torso. The Village Head's pants had become shorter and were now spotting a sleeveless look.
"Here." He handed her the tin of water. Cupping it, she brought it close to his lips and helped him drink it. Within seconds, the tin was empty.
"How do you feel?"
"Everything still hurts but it's a bit better now"
She smiled. "Good. I am done with your bandaging. It's time for you to rest now."
"Will do." In seconds he had already fallen to sleep.
She stood up, walked and sat by a nearby stream. She scooped up some of the water and allowed it to trickle down her scrapes and bruises. As the water trickled, she winced and gritted her teeth as beads of years bordered her eyelids.
"What are you doing?" A voice asked behind her. It was Nicholas.
"Take a guess."
" You must be licking your wounds."
"I prefer the term removing chances of infection."
"Either way, it wouldn't have happened if you had just stayed in the bunker."
"Yeah, I didn't stay. So what? You are a Narrator. You should know to not always dwell on the past and move onwards with the story."
He sighed.
"You are right. It's pointless to dwell on what has already happened but my issue lies with you not following orders."
"Your orders didn't make any sense!" she rebutted, her gaze directed at him and her movements paused.
"They might have not told you but I had a plan and you were supposed to comply. I am your guide so I know what's best between the two of us"
"You were going to leave Hilda alone!" She shouted, her voice pregnant with frustration.
"She would have been fine."
"How—"
"Remember, I said she was in trouble not because of the Act but because of her wounds. I just needed some medication for her and I couldn't risk moving with her as it would have been too cumbersome."
"I get that but that doesn't explain why you were so ready to leave her alone. You spoke of this place, possibly blocking the effects of the Act. Why did you put so much trust in a possibility?"
" I don't know. Answer me. If you haven't noticed, you also put immense trust in this place when you removed your gas mask"
"I…It looked safe enough so I took it off."
"My answer exactly."
She sighed.
"Sorry for misunderstanding your intentions and thank you for looking after Hilda—I hardly had to do much."
"I will always have your best intentions at heart." He handed her a tin," Just like now. Drink up"
"Thank you." The warmth of the water seeped into her hands making her feel comfortable as she drank it. He sat next to her, his feet cross-legged and his gaze directed at the waves.
Riley couldn't help but stare at him. Just when she thought she could get used to him being a mouse, he had turned back into a human—how boring!
"Is there something on my face?" His voice interrupted her thoughts.
"No. I am just thinking "
"I am guessing about me?"
"Yeah…Why are you human?"
"Can't answer that."
"Where did you go?"
"Cant answer that."
"Why did you take so long to get back?"
"Can't answer that."
"Then what can you answer?" She raised a brow.
"Nothing."
"…"
She sighed."You are so exhausted, you know that"
"Don't fret. I feel the same way about you"
"Let's change the topic—!" She forced a smile.
She parted her mouth to speak but noticed his gaze elsewhere. It was directed behind her.
She whipped her head around.
"She is awake." She heard him say.
It was Hilda, approaching them at a snail's lace with a limp in her step.