Leanna-Chapter 249: [LEANNA] 1.2

Who am I kidding?

I can’t do it!

Before I knew it, I kneeled in front of him and pushed his arm away to see his wound. He wanted to say something, but he was too weak to even part his mouth.

I suppressed a gasp from escaping my throat when his wound came into my view.

A Cut!

And a deep one at that!

Thanks to his luck, it didn’t hit any vital organs judging from the position. But he could still die from blood loss.

The women in our village were taught medicine and healing wounds using only herbs because the men were continually wounded during hunting.

Without a second thought, I swept my eyes around with the help of the lamp. I knew this forest had many wild herbs sprouting all over the place, especially those that thrive in the clear water stream. Then my eyes shone when it found what it was looking for.

A moonstar flower!

Usually, the leaves of the moonflowers were enough to disinfect and heal tissues. But the flower, the purple flower glowing under the moonlight like stars, was a rare sight. When crushed and squeezed, drinking from its dew disinfect and heal tissues from the inside.

Looks like the goddess of luck wanted this man alive.

I cut a bunch of it and grabbed some twigs and stones along the way before I went back to his side.

"Open your mouth."

I commanded after I crumpled the flower, but the man remained unmoved. He just stared at me. His eyes, so unfathomably deep and cold, and I shivered even with the summer winds. I retracted my eyes from his, for it made me feel uncomfortable, being stared by someone so emotionless.

I grabbed his jaw and parted his lips before I squeezed the flower, shooting the dew inside his mouth.

"Drink."

When I saw his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, I didn’t mind him anymore and concentrated on his wound. I ripped his clothes to have a better view. I grabbed the twigs and some dried leaves before I used the stones and created friction, generating a small fire. I gently cleaned his wounds and disinfected it with the remaining dew. I tore some of my clothes, and crumple it to form a ball.

"Bite this. It’s going to hurt."

He just watched me with a confused look underneath a sharp gaze.

I knew what he was thinking.

Why am I saving him?

An enemy.

An invader of our peaceful land.

The killer of our people!

Frankly, I didn’t know why either. But I couldn’t live with myself that I let him die knowing that I could save him. I didn’t want that kind of outcome to add up to my already gruesome nightmares.

"Alright."

I sighed in relief as he bit the cloth.

Staring at him, I bit my lips before I slid my eyes on my heated dagger.

"Here goes."

Nrgh!

Even with his gasps and groans and burning smell of flesh, I didn’t waver and continued what I was doing. I didn’t stop until his wound closed. I ran to the stream and wet my torn clothes and sprinted back to him. I carefully, gently cleaned his wound before wrapping it with the moonstar flower leaves.

I didn’t know how long I was tending him, but after I finished, his eyes were closed. He must have fainted from pain and exhaustion.

I removed the cloth from his mouth and checked his pulse and his forehead. I breathed a sigh of relief when his pulse was beating in a steady rhythm. But it was low while his body was burning.

Moving him up on the mountains into our secluded hut was a bad idea. First, his wound would tear from the forceful hike. Second, my companions would kill him on sight. And third, I didn’t even know if I could carry him all by myself up to the mountains!

But leaving him here with the varying chilly, humid winds and wild animals was a no-no.

I heaved a big sigh.

I never thought it far ahead.

There’s only one thing left . . .

My secret hideout.

It was a small cave underneath the roots of a big tree. It was hidden by some rocks, clumps of earth, roots, and leaves. I found it one time when I decided to pick some fruits to add to my rations. It was not far from the spring. I wanted to reserve it in case something happened, and our little hut was compromised. At least there was another hideout.

Looks like I need to find another lair.

Feeling dejected, I grabbed for some papaya leaves and fallen coconut leaves. I tied it together with some vines before placing the man on top of it. I pulled the leaves with me all the way to my secret hideout. Hoping and praying that no one heard the noises we created.

I breathed another sigh of relief when we made it to my lair. I checked the surroundings, making sure that no one was following us before pulling the man into my den.

In my sanctuary, there were already preserved jars of fruits and meats, herbs, water, a blanket, some clothes, a lamp, and scattered cogon grass for bedding. I laid the foreign man on the bedding and fed him water, mouth to mouth. I didn’t care about the conservative ways of our village, as saving a life was more important at the moment.

The whole night, I took care of him as his condition was in a critical phase if his temperature wouldn’t lessen. I removed his dirty, muddy, blood-stained clothes and wiped his body clean. For a period of time, I lost my soul at the sight of his flawless face.

He’s so . . . beautiful.

I was insecure all of a sudden as I couldn’t help but compare myself to him.

I have sun-kissed skin while he has porcelain white. I have wavy brown hair while he has silver. I have a face that could pass as average while he has looks that could topple an entire country.

He’s the most beautiful creature I have ever seen in my entire life!

While my looks were considered average in our village, no one bothered offering me marriage. I was sure that this man didn’t have marriage problems as lines of women must be knocking on his door every day.

I shook away the negative thoughts in my head and covered him with the blanket. I went back into the stream and stored more water in the empty jars and wash his clothes before going into my lair.

----

Nghr . . .

I groaned when the glare of the sun hit me straight in the eyes as the burning heat of the afternoon compelled me to open my eyes.

I was jolted awake when I noticed the man was not on his bed. My heart slammed inside my chest when I saw him not far a meter in front of me, holding a gun at point blank, aiming at my heart.

But to all oddity, instead of fear –– anger rose inside me.

I told you! You should have killed him from the start!

You’re so naive to think he would spare your life if you saved him!

He’s an enemy!

The killer of our people and the invader of our land!

"Why save me?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

My mind blanked out when his voice echoed in the cave. It was rather pleasant in the ears, a little gruff –– but pleasant nonetheless. I snapped out of it when his brows rose at my silent.

"What?! You expect uncivilized people like me to kill a defenseless man? Or you thought that I would cut you into pieces to feed on your flesh?"

He remained expressionless, but a flash of amusement crossed his eyes.

"We are not like you civilized people who invade countries and slaughter its innocent citizens," I spat.

If I was going to get killed, might as well let all my feelings out.

"It’s for our people’s survival," he said after a period of our staring contest.

"And what of ours?!"

"It’s the survival of the fittest."

I snorted. "Hmp! That’s why people like you will never know contentment! You’ll always go to war thinking it’s for your people, but in truth, it’s just because you wanted more!"

He stared at me, amused like I was a rare thing he got for entertainment.

"You wouldn’t know. Our people are freezing and dying of hunger by the minute while you have abundant lands and fertile soils."

It was my turn to look at him like he was the world’s greatest idiot.

"You could have just asked. Our village will help yours. No need for this bloodshed. You’re claiming to save your citizens when you’re the very ones who send them to their deaths."

I shivered when his eyes darkened before the corner of his lips rose into a smirk.

"Who would want to give something without anything in return?"

"I would."

"And that’s why you’re naïve. And that naivety is exactly the reason why you’ll die."

I bit my lips and mastered all the evil within me and gave him my most sinister glare.

"Enough! If you want to kill me, then kill me!"

I held my head high, staring into his eyes without blinking as I ready myself.

". . ."

". . ."