When she was safe, I ran to the patch of vegetation a dozen or so metres away from the path. My fear of the female dying overwhelmed my fear of the creatures that lived within the forest. I focused on my task. Nuni had told me kodak weeds grew all over Kalbik because the climate was perfect for them, so I knew they would be somewhere nearby.
“White stems, yellow and brown leaves.”
I repeated what kodak weeds looked like over and over, and when I spotted the plant, I yelped with shock and delight. I hurriedly fell to my knees, gripped the base of the plant, and pulled it from the ground by its roots. As I stumbled to my feet, a snap of lightning nearby stole my breath. I spun around and was relieved to find it hadn’t struck a tree close by. I ran back towards the female when another swift rumble of thunder rolled through the sky. I pulled the leaves off the plant and pushed them into my mouth and chewed. The taste was revolting, but by the time I reached the female, I had a mouthful of paste.
I turned her back onto her back, removed the blood-soaked fabric strips, spat out the ball of weeds from my mouth, and pressed it into the female’s gaping wound. Her whole body jerked, scaring me. She remained unconscious as I stuffed more weeds into my mouth and chewed so fast my jaw ached. I applied more of the paste into the wound until it was completely covered. I thought I heard something behind me, so I looked over my shoulder. The second I saw bodies jog out of the mist that the heavy rain had created, I scrambled to my feet. I began to scream and waved my arms as I jumped up and down. I was spotted instantly, and the males who were jogging broke out into a sprint.
I met them halfway.
“Help me.” I grabbed the first male I could. “She’s dying!”
The male hurried by me to get to the female, and I followed them.
“Princess Linsah!” The male I had grabbed almost choked when we reached the female. “It’s Princess Linsah!”
Princess? This female was Ezah’s sister?
“Get help!” I demanded. “We need a healer! She’s been badly wounded. I stopped the bleeding with kodak weeds, but she’s lost so much blood already.”
“I’ve called for a healer,” another male said. “We need to move her. Now!”
Without another word, the male effortlessly lifted the female into his arms, then he turned and began to run back in the direction he came. The other male followed him, and so did I, but I couldn’t keep up with their fast strides. Minutes passed by, but I still ran. I trailed the males by about a hundred metres, but I realised I was gaining on them because they had slowed down. Other Maji had reached them. By the time I got there, I was completely out of breath.
“Levi?”
I looked up and was shocked to see Ezah.
“Help her,” I panted. “Please.”
He was already on his knees next to the female. He looked back at her, placed his hand on her bare stomach where the fabric of her clothing was ripped and closed his eyes as a faint green glow appeared under his palm. I fell to my knees, my body not being able to support my weight any longer. The rain had eased to the point where it wasn’t blinding anymore, but the sky remained dark, and the thunder and lightning were constant.
“Mother!”
I looked up, and through the rain, I saw Nero, the male who led the herbalism class I attended, sprint down the pathway. Other males trailed behind him. I quickly realised that this female was not Ezah’s sister because Nero was not a prince. She was Ezah’s auntie. That meant Nero was Ezah’s cousin. I blinked when a male overtook the group of approaching males and ran so fast that he came to a skidding stop when he reached us.
“Loro!” The male dropped to his knees next to the female after I got to my feet and shuffled back a few steps. “Oh, my female. Ezah. Nephew,” the male choked out. “Please, help her.”
Ezah was already helping her.
Along with the other males who surrounded the female, I stared down and watched the scene wordlessly. I stepped back little by little, suddenly feeling like I was about to break down. Ezah was doing whatever his ability allowed him to do, but the female didn’t look any better. I couldn’t watch in case the outcome was one that I was all too familiar with.
I turned, and without a word, I walked away.
Before I knew it, I reached my homestead. I stared at the front door and blinked. I couldn’t remember entering Royal City and walking into the district of Harmony. My mind was completely focused on Princess Linsah. I was worried sick over her. I didn’t know what would happen. Would she live? Die? Be disabled if she survived? I had no idea. I pictured my mother and how I felt right after she died because I couldn’t save her. Would Ezah feel that way if she died? Would Nero if he had to stand by and watch his mother die? She wasn’t just a stranger to both of them. She was family. Someone they loved.