Its hoofs stepped into the snow, slow and heavy. The horse carried both Jason, flat on his stomach, and Miyo, Ramos assistant and the one who'll take care of this boy
It continued to march forward, both the trees and the ground drained of colour, White was crowned supreme over them all
With his nose and mouth Covered, Miyo kept his guard up, checking his surroundings with every passing moment
Jason continued to breath in and out in broken gasps, Is it the Flu? Who knows
Miyo decided to stop without any valid reason, she took it upon himself to carry Jason. Right beside a huge rock Miyo spotted a pit, taking out a rope, tying his horse to a nearby tree he took Jason in
Miyo crouched inside the hole laying Jason by his side, dry twigs based the sparks of yellow as a little flame coloured the dark walls anew
Jason was in agony, fighting to get a hint of sleep. Miyo walked out taking different herbs, mushrooms and some seeds
Scattering the seeds, she hid beneath the snows waiting for his prey, just to catch 3 little birds
"Hmm… this one is too skinny," said Miyo realising it "I guess the two o them will do"
Water filled the pot whilst he placed the soup's ingredients and the birds he caught. Her gaze went up to Jason, once he saw his face staring the other direction Miyo took out the weird stuff he harvested
Smashing the mushrooms and flowers together she added them quickly handing some to Jason
"What is that" said Jason with half closed eyes
"A medicine for you" replied Miyo "You need strength so finish fast"
With how hungry he is, Jason swallowed it whole regardless of how hot it was
"If you want more just ask for it" said Miyo with a gentle smile as if asking him to do so
Without a word the little boy handed over the bowl. All it took was 2 other fills, and Jason fell deep asleep
Miyo sat there for a moment, "Jason?" he asked "Do you want another?" … no response "Jason we must go wake up"
Miyo stood up, towering the little boy she spoke "Son… stop it and let's go"
Broken gasps every now and then was his reply, she leaned opening his eyes, inside and beside the pupil she witnessed it, worms dancing, small, probably unseen by the naked eye, but not hers
Miyo took out the wooden case, inside she pulled out true horror
A worm, but not any worm, as long as her palm in size, although it did not look dangerous, just a normal maggot, you'd mostly think of it as dead
She brough it above the fire, and in no time screeching sounds came out of it, that little creature opened its mouth revelling 3 sharp fangs, it danced seeking to reach her skin, but Miyo grabbed tight
With Her left she held his mouth open, while her right held the little creature by its fangs not allowing it to cause harm
Its slowly sank deep in, once the tail has reached the throat, Miyo added soup letting it slip inside
Jason's body on pure instinct started coughing out, little to no blood left, the maggot managed to leave its mark on the way down
Time passed on, and slowly Jason's body heated. The flu bit deep forcing his body to dance and scream in pain
Miyo came in watching his helplessness, she brought some food of her own and started cooking it, watching him, showing no remorse
Jason woke up screaming while holding his stomach, Miyo without hesitation switched that cold mask of hers
"What is wrong?!!" a gentle voice came out of her mouth
"It painful!!" said Jason twisted same as the maggot that inhabited him "What did you feed me!!!"
"Here take, this will help you out" said Miyo handing over more of his soup to him
As his body moved violently the last bowl was spilled by accident
"Hang in there I will bring something that will help!" said Miyo ruching outside
With her first step out she stopped, walked towards the side slowly, and took out the same herb smashing them together while backing a nearby tree
Jason's voice pleaded for mercy, it echoed reaching her ears, but not her heart. Miyo showed no care in that
Coming inside with all that fake pity she wore, Miyo forced Jason's mouth open again pushing the 'medicine' inside his mouth, her hand tightened on his lips forcing him to swallow
The rest reached their shelter deep inside the forest, Seryon and Doryon were allowed entry after being checked by Ramo
Him being the only one with experience had a line awaiting his approval. One after the other their eyes and mouths were inspected,
"Clean" said Ramo after each one
Doryon and Seryon were as healthy as everyone who was allowed in
"Where do you think she took him?" asked Doryon
"Who knows" replied Seryon
"Do you think it is fatal?" said Doryon
"Maybe" replied Seryon
Those boring simple answers started to annoy Doryon
"How long do you think they'll take?" said Doryon
"I am no doctor, go ask the chief" replied Seryon
"…Do you even care? Would it even matter to you if he died?" said Doryon, finally getting some attention, but merely one of the eyes
" …. Yes" replied Seryon
"I can't understand you at all" said Doryon "One moment you try to be the strong bully, another you inhabit the strong guy mask, and now you try to look cold and cool, What the heck is your problem"
"How many layers of skin do you need to wear, are you that embarrassed of being normal? Forcing yourself to try and fit in with the rest"
"And the thing Ramo said about you seeing yourself in him? Is that some new lie you made up behind my back?"
Seryon bit down on his lip forcing himself silent
"Are you this desperate for attention" said Doryon
"It is the truth" said Seryon
"What will your parents think of this… thing you became, using their deaths for your advantage" said Doryon
A punch drove him down, Seryon had enough
"I never… used their death… for anything," said Seryon with heavy breath dividing his words "Don't you dare spread such lies, or it won't end like that"
There he left Doryon on the ground, shocked by how honest his face looked, forcing back the tears, how his voice twitched alongside his trembling hands
Doryon stared his hand as blood dripped upon it from his nose, he watched it in silence, not knowing what to feel about all of this