Page 60 of Nixx
Lokk appears before my eyes and I begin to heal his many cuts, while Polly does the same with Zakk. Their wounds are superficial, I am glad. Lokk bandaged, I turn to Liamm. He is the most severely injured, his shoulder having been partially perforated by a tusk.
I sit him down and start cleaning him. He is taller than Nixx, probably a good two meters. His long silver hair is currently sticky with blood. His musculature is impressive and his gorgeous, tanned torso is adorned with white tattoos. It is striking.
Girl, get a grip and stop staring at that gorgeous specimen, you've already got one. Remember: professional!
With my shoulder clean, I notice that the supraspinatus muscle has been torn. I prepare my suture pen and start to stitch the tear. The colossus does not flinch. I am leaning over his wound, concentrated. In any case I try to remain so despite the proximity of his breathtaking body and his gaze which does not leave me.
A dull rumble startles me. Surprised, I raise my head and look for the source. I meet the angry gaze of my companion, while Liamm turns his head away and now looks at the ground. Oh, okay, I see.
I do not comment and resume my task. A thick silence surrounds us. Polly took care of Rymm's wounds.
Only Nixx is left and I am relieved to see that Polly leaves me the task of taking care of my companion myself. Liamm's wounds healed and are bandaged, I give him an antibiotic injection and look up at him.
“It will take a few weeks, probably three or four, before you can use your shoulder and therefore your arm. If you try to use it before then, chances are that what I just sewed up will tear again and the work will have to be redone. So, I'm advocating rest for that shoulder. I gave you an injection to avoid an infection. Nevertheless, it is better to redo your dressing by cleaning the area with clear water at least once a day and applying your antibacterial and healing balm. I don't think there are any other complications to be expected.”
He nods without a word. I add in a small voice:
“I am sorry for the loss of your father.”
“I thank you,” he replies in a gruff voice. “He died a warrior. And we thank you so much for taking care of Dall and for risking your life to help him. And I thank you for the care you just gave to all the wounded. We owe you a debt of gratitude.”
“Please, it's perfectly normal. There is no debt, I am just doing my job as a healer.”
“Nixx had praised your qualities, I understand exactly what he was referring to.”
With those cryptic words, an arm wraps around my waist and pulls me back and I find myself pressed up against a broad chest. It looks like Nixx's patience has run out.
With a sorry glance, I throw mute excuses to my interlocutor, who gets up and leaves the tent without a word. Then I turn around to face the tormented look of my beautiful dark angel.
Nixx
I can't seem to regain my composure. I can't do anything. Ever since the alarm was raised about the gortach attack, ever since Zakk warned me that Sarah was alone somewhere in the camp . . . When I looked for her relentlessly and saw her, only a few meters away from the monster, screaming at it like a fury, my heart gave out. I have never been so scared in my life. This woman will have my skin.
The fight against the gortachs was tough and unfortunately, we had no choice but to take their lives. If Nurr is indeed behind this attack, as has been reported to us, he will have to answer for his actions.
I watch as Liamm holds the lifeless body of his father, Amill, and cries out his grief through the Winds. I am so sorry for him and his loss. And I am so relieved that my companion is okay. She was quickly put out of reach of the gortachs' deadly fangs by Hugg, allowing me to calm down and better focus on the fight.
Intellectually, I know she's fine. But I need to see it for myself and hold her. As I walk toward her, I see her take out her scanner and approach the gortach.
Sarah, don't come any closer! I say to her.
Even though I know that the monster is dead, seeing my companion right next to me triggers an irrational fear. Ah, my companion has gone into a general mode and hands out instructions with composure.
She doesn't seem too traumatized by the macabre scene and asks for a place to treat the wounded. I do my best and watch her scan the beast methodically. Once done, I grab her to deposit her at the entrance of the tent that we are preparing for her, at her request.
While all my instincts urge me to hug her, to comfort her, to make sure she is unharmed, I remain stoic, aware that for the moment she does not have that same need. She suddenly realizes that I am hurt and worried. I calm her down gently.
