‘No, it can’t be him. He should be a lot older than that. This guy is my age, well my age to humans, but still. I don’t get it. He has the same mark on his face and the black bands on his arms.’

She runs for her camp to get her bow. It’s still laying on the ground where she left it as well as the pool of now dried blood.

‘God, there’s so much blood. How did I not die from that?’

Moving swiftly, she picks up the bow and looks for an arrow. As she spots it and starts reaching, he shows up again.

“I thought you said you wouldn’t run off?” His voice sounds out of breath from running.

“I never promised anything.” She becomes defensive and starts to notch the arrow.

“What are you doing? I’m trying to help you.” He raises his hands, trying to show her he means no harm.

“You’ve helped me enough already. It’s time for me to help you.”

“What does that even mean? I haven’t done anything to you.”

“You’ve done more than enough to me. You raided my home, stole our prized treasure, you burned my village. You need to pay for what you’ve done to me.”

She shakes with anger. Drawing back on the bowstring, her face scowls in agony, the pressure too much for her to handle.

“Stop, you’re going to rip open the wound again and make it even worse. And I wouldn’t do that kind of thing.”

“Then you’re even more of a liar that I thought.”

“Oh, it’s you.” His face falls with a sudden realization.

“You finally recognize me now?”

“Yes...”

“Now you know why I won’t hold back when I say I will make you pay for what you did.”

“I understand, but you can’t fight me. You’re in no condition. Please let me help you. This is your blood, isn’t it?” He gestures to the area around them.

“I don’t trust you. Why would I let you help me when I’m already injured, and you could finish what you started easily?”

“You did last time.”

“I was about to die. I didn’t have much choice.”

“This could get infected, and you’ll be in the same spot again if you don’t let me help you again. But it’s your choice.”

“Ugh, I hate you, but fine. One wrong move and you’re done, though.”

“This will hurt a bit, but I’m not doing it to hurt you on purpose.”

“Get it over with already.”

“Sit down over here and tell me what happened, at least.”

He moves her pack from a fallen log and sets it on the ground instead. Then motions for Solvi to sit as well before kneeling in front of her to look at her arm.

“There was a bear that attacked my camp last night, and I tried to fight it, but it got in a good hit before I could scare it off. Since I was bleeding so badly, I had to cauterize it, and now I have to deal with the burn.” Her voice starts to trail off.

“You tried to fight a bear?” He looks up at her with surprise.

“Yes, it attacked me; I wasn’t going to run if that’s what you think I should've done.” She pulls her arm a bit, and he keeps a tight grip on it.

“I certainly wouldn't have tried fighting it. You don’t win against a bear unless you have the numbers on your side, and even then, it can be a losing battle.”

“I still fought it off, didn't I? The bear didn't kill me, and I injured it too.”

“This will hurt, but it will help to clean anything on the surface.” He pours a green liquid over the wound, covering it entirely in a sticky substance. “I wouldn’t consider that a win, but sure.”

Her face contorts with the pain following the cleaning liquid, and then relief as it numbs away the pain.

“I see the numbing herbs I added are helping. And you said I wouldn't have any helpful herbs.” He smirks and continues his work.

“Yes, it is. But I said that the herbs you would have couldn't be better than the ones I have, and I'm still right.”

“So, where are your magical herbs then?”

“In this pouch, just add a bit on before the wrapping.” She holds up a small leather pouch with green etching around the top.

“That's a pretty bag to carry herbs. Where did you get them?”

“That’s none of your concern,” she replies sharply.

“Alright, then.”

“Are you almost done?” She huffs, growing impatient and tired of all the questions.

“Yes, I am, just need to tie it off, and then you're free from me once again.”

“You aren’t free from me yet, though.”

“Are you going to force me to stay here?” He leans in close, testing her.

“You don't know what I’m capable of. I can guarantee that.” Solvi stands her ground, determination in her eyes.

“And I look forward to finding that out, but not today. I would never want to fight when you're already hurt. For now, you’ll have to wait. I need to get back to camp, my men are probably going to send out a search party soon, and they shouldn’t find you here.”

“Is that concern in your voice? Are you worried about me?”

“I wouldn’t want to miss out on a fair fight with you in the future, and I can’t do that if they find you.” He reaches his hand out and brushes his fingers across her cheek. “Don't worry, though, and we’ll meet again. I Promise.”

Smirking, his fingers linger a moment next to her, then he drops his hand back to his side. Picking up his supplies, he leaves through the trees back toward the creek.

Once he’s out of earshot, Solvi lets out the breath she didn't know she was holding in a loud audible sigh.

‘Why did it have to be him of all people to find me? And he's doing the same thing he did last time, saving poor me from danger. Ugh, I would have let the bear kill me before having him help me again. But there's also no way I could have cleaned the burn and gotten it wrapped like that.’

Looking down at her arm, the bandage is wrapped smoothly and stopping short of her wrist so it won’t bunch or come loose with movement.

‘He knew what he was doing. That’s a surprise.’

Solvi shakes the thoughts of him from her head and stands up to start a new fire. The remains of the first one still sitting in a small pile.

She thanks herself for collecting berries while hunting the day before, so she at least has something to eat. It would be useless to try hunting tonight. It would only aggravate the wound more.

The fire lights up with ease, and the flames spread through the wood. She sits down on the other side of the fire, opposite where she was attacked. Her blood still covers the ground. Berries slowly fill her belly as she eats and carves again into her bow, marking off another day on her own.