“Jesus, S.” It was deep, his flesh seemed torn, like the elk had completely ripped his antler through his side, and it was oozing puss, the skin around it red and irritated.
“How did it get so had so quickly? It’s only been…what? Two, three days?” Theo said anxiously.
Much like my own experience and probably for the same reason. I scoffed “antlers aren’t exactlyclean.I’m guessing a load of gunk got in when it happened and now…”
Even Stryker had paled at the sight of it.
“Yeah, okay. We’ll take him to Octavia?”
I gave a small nod.
Theo
Stryker had crashed on the bed in the healers’ room, where Octavia’s tutor had checked him out good and proper, tutting the whole time.
Matthew had had to go and warn Johnathan about the situation whilst I stayed with the patient.
When he awoke, he was sweating. His breath was rattling in his chest, his curls were sticking to his forehead, cold sweat was running from the nape of his neck to the small of his back. He tried to move, tried to push himself up, but with a sharp sound somewhere between a gasp and a yelp his arms gave out and he fell back onto the bed.
“Stryker.” I croaked, jumping to my feet from the uncomfortable wooden chair I’d been perched on. “You… feeling alright?”
“I’m good” he muttered, wincing as he attempted to sit up a second time. He succeeded, blinking furiously before focusing on me again.
“We’re taking you home” I said once he had, pointing a stern finger at his face when he opened his mouth to protest “and don’t you dare argue with me. Nikolas has gone to get the horses”
“The…horses?”
“Yeah. We’re borrowing them. You won’t make it far, not at this rate.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, I’ve had way worse and- and we’re not that far from my house . Come on, Theo, I’ll be alright, you don’t need to worry Dad-“
“Yes, we do. The doc checked you out, said that you look like you’ve developed sepsis.Thathas a high mortality rate, and youknowit.”
“Octavia doesn’t know that. She’s barely older than us, she’s in training, she doesn’t-“
“Well, she knows better than you and she knows better than me and honestly, whilst I love disagreeing with her medical diagnoses, mainly because it annoys her but also because it seems like she’salwaystrying to get me on bed rest, I think I’ll take her word on this one, which was backed up by the head doc, by the way.”
It was true. Since we were kids, Octavia had always insisted on checking me up every time I injured myself before I could actually go to the healers’ base, and was almost always right as well.
“Now, when you feel up to it, get up and we’ll go meet Nikolas outside. Johnathan’s already grabbed your stuff. You’ll probably be staying home for a while.”
“Theo-“
“Save your breath” I folded my arms, jaw clenching, trying to make myself look stern.
Stryker glared up at me, then huffedand,achinglyslowly, stood. After a moment he took three staggering steps, and the next thing I knew his legs had given out without warning and he was on his way down to the floor. I lunged forward and grabbed his arms, sitting him on the edge of the bed again, eyes narrowed in concern. Once he’d gathered his bearings he made a futile attempt to get free of my hold. I just raised an eyebrow at him.
“I’m not…I don’t need-“
“Save your breath. And- JesusChristyou’re hot, Stryker, what the hell-“
“Thanks” Stryker interrupted. “You’re not so bad yourself”
“Hah hah. You ready? Or are we gonna have a repeat performance?”I asked flatly, amusement dwindling by the minute.
Stryker just scowled, standing with the aid of my arms to hold onto.
“Have you started looking for the kids?”
