Hawthorne lowered himself, and with great difficulty, I clambered onto his back, snatching up the fractured jug that lay discarded on the floor.
It was nerve-wracking being out in the open during the day, but what choice did I have? I needed to take care of myself. It seemed that Hawthorne had already inspected and memorized the surrounding land, for he wound his way easily through the trees at the bottom of the hill. He took me only a short distance before the sound of running water reached my ears. Minutes later, we stopped beside a small stream. The water was crystal clear; I could see every pebble at the bottom of the brook. It babbled across the rocks merrily, it’s cool depths looking incredibly inviting. My mouth salivated at the very sight of it.
Sliding from Hawthorne, I propped myself upon the edge of the bank and removed my shoes with great care. Slowly, I dipped my feet into the running water and gave an enormous sigh of relief. The cool water was like a gentle breeze caressing my skin. I soaked my sore feet for several minutes, basking in the sun that shone through the canopy of leaves. It really was beautiful here. If I wasn’t in so much pain I might actually be able to enjoy it.
I cupped my hands and dipped them into the water before bringing it to my mouth and drinking slowly. It tasted fresh.
Soon, I was drinking it in great gulps, until my stomach was completely full, and I was satisfied. Hawthorne joined me, lapping up the running water, his paws in the stream.
‘Hey, turn around, will you?’ I asked Hawthorne, who had drank his fill.
Doing as I asked, Hawthorne retreated from the stream and faced away from me.
‘No looking!’ I called over my shoulder.
I removed my clothes piece by piece until I was in nothing more than my underwear, laying everything on the grass before slowly lowering myself into the stream. My breath caught in my chest when my wound sank below the water.
But it was heavenly. I allowed myself to sink until the water came to my neck, perching myself upon a submerged rock and letting the flow of water wash away the dirt, blood, sand, and salt from my pores. I brought the water to my face, letting it splash across my skin, wishing I had soap.
I allowed myself to become completely submerged in the water so I could clean my hair, which had become matted during the last few days. Normally, completely submerging myself in a strange body of water would be terrifying, but this stream was nothing compared to the ocean I’d almost drowned in. Besides, Hawthorne was with me, so I knew I was safe.
After I’d cleaned myself, I turned my attention to my bandaged thigh. The linen was now completely soaked through, and the dried blood had come loose, making it easier to remove.
I didn’t want to do it, but I knew I must. There was one thing I dreaded, and that was infection. My knowledge of first aid was limited. About the only thing I knew how to do was to treat burns because Helena had suffered through many during her lifetime.
Slowly, I unraveled the bandage, holding my breath all the while. I didn’t look at the gash in my thigh. Instead, I concentrated on cleaning the bandage until all remnants of blood had been removed. Later, I would boil the bandage in the jug I had brought to sterilize it. For now, I placed it on the grass so it could dry.
It was time to look at my leg.
I hoisted myself out of the water and sat on the bank, dreading the moment I saw the damage, expecting to see a gaping hole covered in pus and maggots.
I looked down and gave a sigh of relief.
It was not as large or gaping as I had anticipated. In fact, it was quite small; only an inch or so long. There was no redness or pus around the wound. It seemed quite clean. Nevertheless, it was deep, and I needed to make sure it stayed sterile.
At that moment, something rustled in the bushes across the stream. My head snapped up, and I stared at the place where the leaves had moved. Hawthorne came to my side, his ears perked, listening hard.
‘Who’s there?’ I demanded.
All was still on the other side of the stream.
Stupid, I told myself. It’s probably just another rabbit. Yet I couldn’t blame myself for being paranoid.
The bushes rustled again, and this time I was sure it wasn’t a rabbit for it moved a considerable amount. Whatever it was, it was large; larger than a dog, at least.
‘Show yourself!’ I called with as much authority in my voice as I could muster. My voice broke mid-sentence, shattering the illusion of confidence.
Hawthorne sniffed the air and seemed to relax. His hackles were no longer standing on-end, and he sat down.
Well, if Hawthorne didn’t sense any immediate danger, then there was probably no use in worrying myself too much.
However, I didn’t fancy getting caught in the nude, so I quickly put my clothes back on despite the fabric clinging to my damp skin. My high body temperature meant they would soon be warm and dry.