Page 44 of A Winter Awakening
Gael blinked up at Orteo. Not responding.
Orteo cupped Gael’s cheek. “Are you hurt?”
“I ah…” Gael blinked. “I saw a fox.” He touched the back of his head. “I slipped and hit my head.” He pulled his hand away. Blood covered the tips of his fingers. Gael frowned at it.
Orteo’s chest tightened with panic.
No. No. No. Please. No.
Bright-red drops dripped onto the white snow beneath Gael.
Trembling, Orteo put his arms around Gael and lifted him. “I’ll take you to Ores. To Sinoe. I’ll get you there quickly.” He could hear the panic in his voice.
He started to run back to Ores, trying not to jostle Gael, cradling the man against him.
“I don’t think it’s too bad,” Gael said. “Just smarts a little.” He placed a hand on Orteo’s chest.
Orteo glanced at Gael. He saw the fingers smeared in blood pressed to Orteo’s bare chest.
Orteo tore his gaze away. He shouldn’t have suggested Gael walk in the forest. Not with him still unstable. Not with the snow deep on the ground. Of course he’d slipped. Of course he’d fallen.
This was Orteo’s fault. He should have seen it coming.
“Orteo, don’t look so worried,” Gael said.
Orteo nodded, jaw and neck tight.
What if Gael didn’t recover from this? What if he died?
“I’m so sorry. I should have looked after you better,” Orteo said. “I should have taken better care of you.”
“It’s all right, Orteo. You look after me so well,” Gael said.
But he hadn’t. Orteo was useless at caring for others. He’d failed Gael like he had failed his sister. Like he’d failed Ori and Liney.
He entered Ores, and villagers glanced his way. Several called out as he passed, but he ignored them. He had to get Sinoe. He sprinted straight to Sinoe and Edwin’s cabin. He kicked at the door.
The door opened. Edwin stood there, wide-eyed. “Orteo? What happened?”
Orteo spotted Sinoe by the stove. “Sinoe!” Orteo barged in. “It’s Gael. He’s hurt. He fell and hit his head against a rock. He’s bleeding.”
“Put him in the chair,” Sinoe said, coming towards him.
Orteo did.
“Will you step back a bit?” Sinoe asked. “I need a little space.”
Orteo stepped back. He knocked into something and stumbled.
Sinoe knelt by Gael, examining his head. “Does it hurt badly?”
“Just a little,” Gael said. He glanced at Orteo. “But I don’t think it’s too bad.”
“There was blood on the snow.” Orteo paced. He gritted his teeth at the memory. “And on his fingers.”
“Even small cuts on the head can bleed a lot,” Sinoe said gently.
How can he be so calm when Gael is injured? When he is bleeding?
