Yvette studied his movements. It was his shoulder, the right one, the one holding up her useless legs. Florian’s steps were beginning to stagger as they reached the camp.
Gareth met them at the outskirts, his wide frame silhouetted by the fire.
“She’s hurt,” Florian explained breathlessly. “She can’t walk.”
Gareth only nodded and reached out to take her.
Florian passed her gently. Once Gareth had her, holding her as though she weighed nothing at all, Florian’s shoulders sagged, favoring his right side. Garteh had to hunch down to fit inside the tent before settling her in her bed.
“Do the others need help?” Gareth asked, turning to Florian as he entered the tent behind them.
“They seemed to have it well in hand,” Florian said, “but I need Knox.”
Gareth nodded in one short, definitive motion. “I’ll send him right to you.”
Then Gareth left.
Florian was at Yvette’s side again. Her entire leg up to the left side of her lower back was entirely numb, as was her right hand. She tried not to look at either of them in an effort to stay calm. It was temporary, right? It had to be.
“Knox will be back soon. He’ll know what to do,” Florian said.
“Get them off,” Yvette begged, panic coloring her voice until it was almost unrecogniseable.
Florian hesitated a moment before he nodded. “Right. Hold as still as you can.”
Yvette nodded as he took her arm. She clenched her eyes shut. It was better that way. She felt nothing but a vague tugging movement.
“Did that hurt?” Worry was coloring his voice.
Yvette shook her head. It hadn’t hurt, but it most certainly should have. She was bleeding from her wrist where the vine had attached itself. It was hard to tell through the blood, but it looked like dozens of tiny punctures.
Even Florian’s warm skin was looking pale at the sight.
“We need Knox,” he said, glancing outside anxiously. “He’ll help you, I promise.”
“You’re hurt too.”
He looked down at her as if she were being ridiculous.
“Let me see it,” she insisted.
Florian hesitated for another moment before he turned. Yvette stifled a gasp.
“It’s that bad, huh?” he asked.
There was a large black thorn sticking out of his back, through his clothes.
“No,” Yvette said, the lie in her voice so obvious that Florian actually laughed.
“I can’t feel it,” he said more soberly as he turned back so she could not see it anymore.
A cool dread came over her as she wondered how much pain she would be feeling if she weren’t numb as well. Suddenly, the idea of regaining her sensation was less appealing.
Knox joined them with no prelude whatsoever. His silver eyes took them both in wordlessly before turning to poke his head back outside.
“Gareth, I need hot water and salt. Quick as you can.” Then he moved to the other side of the tent, digging through one of his bags. “We need to remove the vines before the venom wears off,” he said without looking at them.
“Or what?” Yvette asked, dreading the answer.
