With the beast slain, the trio wasted no ti getting to work.
Braun began prying the creature's massive claws free, intending to repurpose them as spearheads, while also dragging the carcass far from their hideout to avoid attracting other predators with the sll.
Seraphine ventured to the nearby river, using a bowl-shaped rock to fetch water. She returned and lit a makeshift campfire, borrowing a lighter from Ashen.
The water was heated in preparation for cleaning wounds and providing so semblance of hygiene in their harsh environnt.
By the ti the night descended fully, they retreated into their new hideout. Ashen settled onto the hard ground, exhaustion pulling at him.
His body ached, but sothing was different this ti—a deep heat burned through him, his cheeks flushed, and his head swam in dizzying waves.
Seraphine noticed his unnatural stillness and the way his breaths ca shallow and uneven.
She knelt beside him, her voice soft but edged with worry. "Ash… are you okay?"
He wanted to wave her off, to crack a joke and pretend everything was fine, but a sudden wave of dizziness hit him like a tidal wave.
His knees buckled, and he swayed dangerously.
"Ash!" Seraphine darted forward, catching him before he could collapse.
She slid her shoulder under his arm, his weight pressing heavily against her.
Her hand brushed his forehead, and she flinched at the heat radiating from his skin.
"You're burning up!" she exclaid, her voice rising in alarm. "Braun! Get over here—Ash has a fever!"
Braun, startled by her frantic tone, dropped what he was doing and rushed over.
His gaze shifted to Ashen's wound, and his expression darkened. "It's the wound," he muttered grimly. "We didn't disinfect it properly, and who knows what kind of bacteria was on that thing's claws."
"Is there sothing we can do to help him…?" Seraphine asked in a downcast tone.
"All we can do now is clean it thoroughly and hope his body can fight this off." Braun said after taking a mont to think of any viable solution.
Seraphine imdiately sprang into action.
She fetched the heated water and carefully began cleaning Ashen's chest, her movents deliberate and precise.
She used clean tissues, ensuring no single spot was left untouched, her face taut with concentration.
Ashen could hear everything—her worried murmurs, Braun's grim diagnosis—but his body felt like lead, and even opening his mouth was an insurmountable task.
Summoning all his strength, he forced his lips to move, his voice barely a whisper.
"I'm okay… I just need to rest…"
His words trailed off as sleep claid him, leaving Seraphine and Braun exchanging anxious glances in the dim firelight.
The fight with the beast might have been over, but now, a different battle had begun.
**
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As the night deepened, Ashen's fever spiraled out of control, dragging him into a whirlpool of vivid, maddening hallucinations.
Sotis, hyena-like beasts tore into him, their snarls echoing in his ears as they devoured him alive.
Other tis, swarms of tarantula-like insects crawled over his skin, their venomous bites searing into his flesh like molten needles.
But most often, it was the sloth-like monster that haunted him—its claws gutting him, its jaws snapping his neck, its glowing eyes filled with malice as it ended him in countless grotesque ways.
The only reprieve ca with each breath he took.
The invigorating air that filled his lungs, once a mystery, beca his lifeline. He no longer questioned its origin; he was simply grateful for it.
By the ti the sun rose, the hallucinations began to fade, leaving him utterly drained. Ashen had endured what was likely the worst night of his life.
Seraphine noticed his stirring and rushed to his side, her voice soft but urgent. "Ash, don't fall asleep again. You need to eat sothing. Without energy, your body won't recover."
Ashen forced his heavy eyelids open, his voice hoarse and barely audible. "Water…"
Seraphine quickly brought a large leaf filled with water to his lips. He drank greedily, the cool liquid soothing his parched throat and cracked lips.
Gulp. Gulp.
"Slow down," she chided gently. "There's plenty. Here, try this." She held out a branch of berries, feeding him one at a ti.
He accepted her care without protest, his mind still foggy.
His gaze drifted to the makeshift bed of grass beneath him, and he frowned. "I didn't see these berries yesterday… or this grass. I rember sleeping on the ground. When did you get all this?"
"Yesterday," Seraphine replied, a hint of pride in her tone. "Braun and I took turns gathering supplies. We couldn't afford to stay idle, especially with you in this state. We needed to make sure you had what you needed to recover."
Ashen nodded weakly. "Uh-huh…" He paused, confusion dawning on his face. "Wait… yesterday?"
Seraphine hesitated before explaining, "Ashen, you've been out for two whole days. It's been three days since we were dropped here."
His eyes widened. "Two days…?"
"You had nightmares the whole first night," she said softly. "Sotis you woke up shaking, and once, you even had a seizure. You really scared …"
Ashen frowned, trying to piece it all together. But the gaps in his mory made it difficult.
Then, a thought struck him. "Did I… say anything?" He rembered sotis talking in his sleep when he was drunk and hoped he'd kept his mouth shut this ti.
Seraphine's fidgeting told him otherwise.
She hesitated, then nodded. "Yes. It was mostly jumbled, but you kept saying one thing clearly—'Mother.' Over and over. You kept apologizing to her."
Ashen's breath hitched, and he stared at the ground, his chest tightening.
"I see…" His voice was barely a whisper.
After a long mont, he looked up at Seraphine, his expression earnest. "Thank you for taking care of . I won't forget your kindness. I'll repay you soday."
Seraphine blinked, flustered by his serious tone. She waved her hands dismissively. "N-no need for that! With all we've been through, I already consider you a friend, Ash. And this is what friends do, right?"
Ashen managed a faint smile. "You're right. Then, as your friend, I'll make sure to return the favor when the ti cos."
Seraphine grinned, her confidence returning. "I'll hold you to that, partner!"
But then she rembered the night he princess-carried her out of a swarm of monsters, and she glared. "Wait… didn't you save my life already? What repaynt are you talking about?"
"Don't sweat the details…" Ashen casually waved his hand.
Seraphine didn't get to retort as Braun entered the cave at that mont, his expression lighting up when he saw Ashen awake and talking.
He chuckled. "Well, well, well. Our sleeping beauty decided to grace us with her presence."
"Shaddap," Ashen retorted, feigning annoyance.
Braun gave him a hearty pat on the shoulder. "Glad to have you back, brother."
Ashen nodded, a faint but genuine smile on his face. "Yeah… I'm back."
As they settled down, Ashen asked, "Was there any danger while I was out?"
Braun shook his head. "Nothing too serious. I ran into a group of carnivorous rabbits while scavenging, but they were manageable."
He held up a makeshift spear, the clawed tip gleaming faintly in the dim light. "Especially with this."
Ash raised an eyebrow, impressed. "That's incredible work. You're getting good at this survival stuff."
Braun grinned, clearly pleased with the complint. "Here," he said, handing him the spear.
"I made one for you, too. Figured you'd want sothing better than a stick next ti."
Ash took it, testing its weight and balance. The claw at the end gave it a savage edge that looked both deadly and practical. "Thanks, Braun. I'll put this to good use."
Seraphine joined them with a soft smile, carrying a bundle of freshly gathered berries. "If you two are done admiring your new toys, we should eat. The day's almost over."
They shared a modest al, savoring the small sense of normalcy amidst their grim reality.
After the small al, Braun kept watch as Seraphine explained their plan for the next day: fortify their shelter and scout nearby for more food.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the forest in eerie shadows, Ashen leaned against the cave wall, staring at the spear in his hands.
It wasn't much, but it was a step toward survival—and survival was all that mattered right now.
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