PRP: Sickness falls - Otter and Cub (Indians)

[WishMage]

Dancing Otter moved carefully through the woods, a bit more laden down with weapons then he originally intended. He had been tracking the buck through the woods for over two hours when it hit a stream-bed. Normally he would have stayed for a while, knowing that he'd be able to pick up a wounded animal that large again fairly easily, but his thoughts returned to Fighting Cub, laying in the teepee, wounded and alone. He sighed and leaned down to wash his face and refill his canteen with fresh water. It would take him at least forty minutes to return to the teepee from where he was and he would have had to first strip some meat from the buck to take back, it wasn't worth leaving his wounded Cub alone until after nightfall.

Standing, he looked up at the sky and held his hands out, saying a prayer to the gods of nature that the buck would live so that they might one day cross paths again, and so that the herd he followed would not fall prey to the wolves and cats of the wild that surrounded them. He then moved quickly through the woods and back to the teepee. He'd underestimated how long it would take him to get there, he thought as he pushed back the teepee flap and looked inside. Good, he thought, Cub seemed to be sleeping.

He went about his business for a few moments, stoking up the fire and considering what wanted to cook. The stew was still simmering, which was good, because it would still be alright to eat. He'd cut some apples for the side and heat some dried venison strips to go along with it. He glanced again at Cub and then went back to the fire when something struck him as odd. He frowned and rose, then moved over to him and looked down at him... why hadn't he noticed how flushed Cub looked?

Kneeling beside the furs he reached out and touched the boys forehead. A soft curse left his mouth and he turned to the spice cabinet, pulling out various herbs he'd gotten from a woman he'd met not long ago who had taught him some more advanced healing methods. He started boiling some crushed leaves immediately and made a paste out of another to rub onto the boys tongue. He waited for a few moments for it to take effect an then shook him slightly. "Cub? Cub, wake up, please."  

[Tanakako]

It had taken a while for him to settle down. The teepee felt strangely empty with Otter gone.. as if the man had filled the space with his presence. Cuddling down under furs he shivered, eyes closing as sleep slowly stole over him. It was chilly.. even under the fur. Where was Otter... he'd build the fire, wouldn't he....?

Violent shaking rattled his bones, forcing the comforting oblivion of sleep away from him. Moaning softly he wished it would go away.. he was so cold...

Cub whimpered softly, brows knitting as he shifted, fingers tugging the fur up higher though his movements lacked strength. Eventually hazy amber eyes opened, staring up at Otter blindly for a few moments before slowly the youth realised Otter was there. A small smile touched his lips. "Hey.... you’re back.." His voice was soft, distant some how. Letting his eyes again he shifted lower in the furs, still cold. Wrinkling his nose he frowned, licking his lips.  

[WishMage]

Otter closed his eyes in relief when Cub opened his eyes... if he couldn't wake him, that would mean the fever was probably life-threatening... now he stood a chance, he'd just have to look at the wounds again and try to get the fever down.

"Here.." He helped him sit up and then held his canteen to the boys lips. After he drank he lowered him back down and wet a cloth, placing it against his forehead. "I'm back, don't worry..." He whispered, watching him with a worried expression. "How do you feel?"  

[Tanakako]

Fighting Cub was passive as he was lifted, though tried to help in pushing himself up. The water was cool and sweet, easing his parched throat. he drank the whole thing before settling back down. Eyes closing as Otter draped the cool cloth over his brow.

He was shivering but his skin was getting hot, like it was on fire. "Mmm... " He barely replied, shifting towards Otter. Snaking a hand out he caught hold of the corner of the brave's breach cloth, curling up on his side as close to the guy as he could get. ".. hot.. and cold..." He answered, shivering as he shifted down in the fur, despite the beads of sweat forming on his skin.  

[WishMage]

"It's alright, you'll feel better soon. It's just a little fever." Otter said in a casual manner as to not worry Cub. Despite the fact that he's seen several people taken by fever he wasn't going to let Cub think that he thought it at all serious. He would have a better chance of healing if he could fight it as though it was nothing. "I've ot everything we need to get you up and out hunting again in no time." He smiled his normal cocky self-confident grin.

"Hold on a moment... let me get you something, alright?" He gently took Cubs hand away from his loincloth and set it beside him, placing a hand on his cheek reassuringly before turning back to the fire and taking from it the herbs he had boiled. He then strained the water through a cloth and added some honey to sweeten the mixture.

"Here..." He said softly as he turned back toward Cub and again lifted him "Be careful... it's hot." He shifted so that he was slightly behind him and could hold him up and blew on the mixture for a moment before holding it to Cub's lips.  

[Tanakako]

The youth murmured something in reply but it wasn't understandable. Rolling his head into the touch, he watched as Dancing Otter moved away, wiggling lower in the furs until they were bunched up round his ears. He was still cold. "Don't think... I can go hunting today..." He murmured softly from almost under the fur.

He lay quietly as Otter moved about preparing the draught. Though had once again closed his eyes and appeared to be sleeping when the older brave returned. He shifted as he was moved, curling into Otter's warmth without showing interest in the drink. Only when it was pressed to his lips did he sip at it. Wincing he drew back, turning his head into the other's chest, as if hiding, though Cub would never admit to that later.

"'tis hot... and tastes funny... " Shivering he pressed against the older male, closing his eyes as if he would go back to sleep.  

[WishMage]

"I know it's hot, but if you don't drink it while it's hot it loses effectiveness. Please Fighting Cub? Drink it... for me if not for yourself." He insisted, bringing it to his lips again and hoping he wasn't so feverish that he couldn't understand.

"Come on..." He urged again, pressing his chin against Cub's hair to get his head to turn forward again and then pressing his cheek against the soft damp golden hair.  

[Tanakako]

Fighting Cub made a soft noise, far more interested in cuddling up against Dancing Otter's warmth than the drink. He had slipped into that half-asleep state of the fever where he only responded to things, and would have curled up and slept if left on his own.

Blond hair clung in thin trendles to the youth's cheeks as he was moved, lashes lifting slightly though his gaze remained unfocused. However, he let Otter trickle the hot liquid past his lips, swallowing slowly until it was gone. As soon as he was released, he turned into Dancing Otter once more. Arms sliding to encircle the guy's waist, seeking the warmth of his body heat.  

[WishMage]

After Cub had downed the entire concoction Otter decided it was best to just let him sleep, and wrapped his arms protectively around the youth, tucking his head under his and closing his own eyes. Again he sang softly the song to bring spirits to aid in healing Fighting Cub until he was sure he was asleep. Once Cub had long since drifted into unconsciousness he got up and tended to the food, filling himself and shredding up the dried venison into very fine and soft strands to make it easier for cub to eat when he woke.

After that he played the waiting game, sitting awake with him all night and praying to the spirits that he would be able to fight the fever. Every hour he would look through the top of the teepee to the stars and change Cub's bandages. Every other time he changed them he would wake him to drink another potion, feeling bad for making him wake so often but knowing he needed it.  

[Tanakako]

The young brave curled up against Dancing Otter, evidently grateful to be allowed to do so with further resistance. Soon enough he had dropped into an almost drugged sleep, limp in the older youth's arms. His skin was hot, as if he was burning up from the inside, and yet he shivered weakly, pressing against Otter's warmth even in his sleep.

The first time Otter unwrapped the youth's side, the puncture wound from the buck's antler wept a thick greenish fluid. The source of the youth's sickness. Yet the very fact that it did so allowed Otter to treat it, and each time the bandages were changed, the fluid that seeped from the boy's fevered body was a little less thick, a little less putrid. Until at last it was clear and scentless.

The youth barely woke long enough to drink each potion, remaining limp and passive in Dancing Otter's arms. Yet by the time the stars started to fade, his breathing was a little less restricted, his skin had cooled and he had stopped shaking. Resting easier, he had caught a grip on Otter's clothing when ever the man was close enough.  

[WishMage]

Thought his prayers to the spirit were being answered, Dancing Otter didn't slacken his care of Fighting Cub. He continued to change his bandages each hour long after the wounds no longer seeped, and continued wake him every couple hours to drink the potion until noon. He then let Cub sleep for another couple hours before he tried to rouse him again... this time to check and see if he was lucid.

"Fighting Cub?" He called as he tried to wake him.  

[Tanakako]

Once the wounds had purified, the youth's condition improved yet further. Eventually, when Dancing Otter had deemed it safe to let him rest, the youth slept soundly. Curled on his side facing the brave.

The soft calls were greeted, at length, with a sleepy mumble. Amber eyes fluttered open, hazy with exhaustion, but aware once their vision cleared. Lifting the youth blinked up at Otter, expression lost, unsure of what had happened to him. Lifting a hand he caught hold of the beads that adorned Otter's throat where they had dangled close to him, the older male leaning over in his attempted to rouse the youth.

"Mmmmerr....?" He mumbled sleepily, cuddling down into the furs. Making a face he released the beads, pushing weakly yet determinedly at the still damp covering. "Eww.... "  

[WishMage]

With a soft laugh, Dancing Otter stripped the covers from him and lifted him, kicking the top layer of furs aside before setting him down on the cleaner furs below them.

"You could probably use a bath." He said with a smile. "How are you feeling?" What he didn't let show was his immense relief that Cub was responding at all. He'd thought at several points through the night that Cub wasn't going to survive, or that perhaps he would wake up addled, but there was an alert light in his eyes that wasn't in the eyes of those few who's brains had been addled by high fever or birth-sickness. Otter was elated.  

[Tanakako]

Bemused by Dancing Otter's laughter the youth peered up at him in puzzlement, squeaking as he was suddenly plucked from the slightly damp fur yet instantly curling up against Otter's solid chest.

Once settled back down he snaked a hand up, catching hold of those beads again. Somehow, he didn't want the go too far from him just yet.. he felt strange, weak and slightly dizzy. It made him nervous.

"Mmm.. ok?" He paused then admitted softly. ".. nasty.. my head hurts..." He let his eyes close, unable to find a reason to keep them open when he didn’t have to. He kept his grip on Otter's beads, almost as if needing the comfort of touch.  

[WishMage]

"I'm sorry..." Otter said softly, stroking his hair and leaning to kiss his forehead "I think perhaps I should take you to bathe... you would heal better clean." He lifted Cub gently, along with the fur around him. He held him closely against his chest making sure the fur was wrapped firmly around him and took him out of the teepee, grabbing his spear and attaching it to his back on the way out.

When they reached the peak of the stream, the part in which he bathed and drew the freshest water he looked down at Cub. 'We are lucky that the day is warm..." He set him down for a few moments, stripped Cub and himself and then picked him up again, waling into the chilly waters with hardly a shiver. This would surely wake him, he thought, smirking.