Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Kevin’s POV

My legs swayed slightly as I walked unstably along the path. The slight buzzy sensation numbed the pain made the memories bleary. It didn’t hurt that much now.

I took another swig from the bottle in my hand; hissing slightly as the liquid burned my throat. My legs swayed and the trees around me started spinning round and round. I grasped a nearby branch in an attempt to regain balance but I fell anyway.

I wanted to get up and go to my house, to my pack but my legs felt like they weighed a ton. Before another thought could pass through my mind, I had fallen asleep on the muddy ground.

I was jolted awake by an ear-piercing scream. Rubbing my eyes, I sat up trying to get my bearings. The faint light of the sun had just kissed the earth and everything was bathed in a red hue.

F***! I had fallen asleep in the midst of a forest. Before I could berate myself further, my attention was drawn by a loud cry, “Help! Is somebody there? Please help!”

Scrambling to my feet, I took off in the direction of the voice. A few meters along the way, I found an old man crying for help. His skin was wrinkled and his eyes were sunken in.

Another man was lying on the ground. His skin had turned blue and froth was coming out of his mouth.

I knelt to the ground and checked his pulse hastily. He was still alive but he seemed to have been bitten by a poisonous wolf.

“Hurry… help me carry him to the Nirvana Camp. We can save him if we reach on time…”

I grabbed him by his upper arm and said, “He is bitten by a poisonous wolf. I don’t think we can save him.”

He snorted and shrugged off my hand, “If you don’t want to help just leave. There is no need to jinx my son. I will carry him myself.”

He knelt to the ground and tried picking up his son but his frail knees gave way. I didn’t have the heart to abandon him like this so I agreed to help him.

“Hurry… hurry… walk faster… we don’t have much time…” The old man urged as he walked as fast as he could.

Seeing his confidence, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was really a cure for the bite. Increasing my pace, I rushed in the direction indicated by the old man.

After walking about a mile, I reached a clearing. There must have been at least a dozen tents lined in a row.

I was wondering if I should just walk inside when a tall man ran towards me. He inspected the eyes of the man in my arms and said, “We must hurry. I am afraid that it is already too late…”

He led me to a white colored tent. Two men came with a stretcher and carried him inside. I wanted to accompany them but I was stopped in between, “No one is allowed to go inside during the treatment.”

Wringing my hands I looked at the man beside me questioningly. The dimple on his left cheek deepened as he smiled at me. “Don’t worry… he is in safe hands.

“Adrian, did Dorso make it on time?” the old man said, gasping for air as he came to a halt before us.

Adrian led the old man to a chair and made him sit. Handing him a bottle of water, he knelt in front of him. Clasping the old man’s hands, he said in a soothing voice, “Grandpa, the poison has spread to his heart but I am sure Nancy will be able to save him.”

Grandpa relaxed and leaned against his chair. Adrian seemed to be good at this.

“Who is Nancy?” I asked when Adrian returned.

“She is an angel…”

I waited for an explanation but when he didn’t say anything more, I decided to change the topic.

“How long do you think Droso has?” I asked in a whisper.

He looked at me and said incredulously, “Are you always this negative or you have hit your head today? The required antidote is available, I am sure we can save him.”

My mind veered to all the members of the pack that had died due to poisoning. We could have saved them if we had the antidote. I had to find more about it.

I turned to ask Adrian about the antidote only to find that he had disappeared. Exhaling deeply, I turned my attention to the tent I was prohibited from entering.

My feet moved closer on its own accord. I swept my eyes around. There was no one else except the old man who seemed to have dozed off.

I pulled open the flap of the tent and peeked inside. The man I carried was lying comfortably on the bed. His mouth wasn’t frothing anymore and there was a peaceful expression on his face. The color of his skin seemed better too. Maybe the antidote had really worked.

I watched as the lady cleaned fidgeted with something on a nearby stool. Her back profile seemed oddly familiar. Before I could see her face a tap on my shoulder startled me.

“I was just looking…” I started explaining but Adrian interrupted, “We are going to look for survivors. Would you like to accompany us?”

I was stunned by the sudden question and couldn’t respond instantly.

“If you don’t want to come, I understand… I jus thought you like helping…” He said in a slightly flustered voice and started walking away.

This could be a good opportunity to know about this antidote. I cursed myself for not accepting the offer immediately and ran after him.

“I would love to help… I was just a bit distracted…” I said catching up with him.

By the time we returned, Adrian and I had formed a good bond. I found out that he was a very kind and generous person.

I also figured out that he was fiercely loyal. He didn’t tell me about the antidote no matter how much I badgered him. Probably I would have to talk to Nancy or the alpha of this pack to know more about it.

Nancy was busy taking care of the patients and the alpha had gone on a visit. So, I decided to come again the next day…