Chapter 3

Ryan, Kael, and Earl followed Maya with their gazes, then turned their heads in unison to look at me.

I slowly got back on my feet with Ryan's help. I then said, "We can catch the red fox anytime. Let's head to the ice springs first."

Ryan, however, pursed his lips and urged me otherwise. "A red fox is something we might only see once in a decade. Don't you want to take a look?"

Maya let out an exaggerated sigh. "I knew that nobody would care about my wishes the moment my parents died. Whatever, just forget about it. I'm already content enough having you all come out here with me."

Earl pulled her into his arms, his heart breaking for her. After checking the remaining supplies in the medical kit, Kael made the final call.

"We have enough medicine to last. Let's go after the red fox. We'll make it quick."

I took a deep breath, suppressing the searing pain in my chest, and asked, "And what about me?"

Kael replied with absolute certainty, saying, "Your vital signs are stable right now. A little extra time won't hurt. You'll be fine.

"We've known each other for so long, and this is the first time Maya has actually asked us for something. Of course we have to make it come true."

Earl crouched down in front of me and said, "Hop on. I'll carry you. Can't have our little princess getting tired, can we?"

It was clear they had already made up their minds. I wouldn't be able to change anything, no matter how much I tried arguing with them.

So, I gave in and said, "We must head to the ice springs by this evening at the latest."

The pain in my body was intensifying, and I couldn't hold on much longer.

"Fine. Whatever you say," the three of them said at once, eager to move on.

At first, Earl walked with a steady, even pace. But Maya kept darting in front of him, taunting, "You're slower than a snail! Isn't it a drag, carrying someone on your back like that?"

Earl ignored her at first, but as her mockery grew more brazen, he found himself picking up the pace. Eventually, he dashed so quickly that the jolting intensified until my already frail body felt like it was about to fall apart.

"Slow down!" I cried out.

However, he didn't seem to hear me anymore. All he cared about was catching up to Maya, who was running faster and faster. I could only struggle as I slid downward.

"Put me down!"

It seemed like Earl only just realized that I was riding on his back then. He pursed his lips to apologize. But before he could finish his sentence, Maya laughed and pulled him away.

The group moved on with Maya at its center, while I trailed slowly at the very back.

Suddenly, a sharp, jagged stone tore through the sole of my shoe and sliced ​​into the arch of my foot. I was overcome by a searing, intense pain, and I collapsed to the ground.

"Evelyn! Are you hurt?"

They stopped up ahead, and Kael hurried over to apply some medicine to my wound, but he froze the moment he opened his kit.

All the supplies for treating external wounds had been used up when Maya was bitten by the insect back then. Or, more accurately, they had been wasted away while they were fooling around and playfully applying them to one another.

Pressing my hand against the wound, which was still oozing blood, I looked up at Kael and said, "I hope you had a good time, at least."

He was left speechless.

Ryan sighed next to him before turning around and dashing toward a distant patch of thorny, herb-filled undergrowth. About 15 minutes later, he returned, covered in cuts and scratches and clutching a bundle of hemostatic herbs.

He gently applied the herbs to my wound.

"I'm sorry, Evelyn."

Seeing a wooden splinter embedded in one of his own cuts, I couldn't help but reach out and pull it free.

Ryan's eyes turned red in an instant.

He asked me in a soft, quiet voice, "Evelyn, do you wanna go and see the aurora borealis after you're done soaking in the ice springs?"