Broken Wings

Two Steps Forward...

Figuring all of that out through trial and error had taken three full days. By then, my left shin only expressed moderate soreness at most, and that was after I'd spent half an hour standing on it. My right ankle was as painful as ever though, which really bothered me. It had gone from being among my least noticeable injuries to the one thing that kept me from being back to normal. If I moved it at all, or so much as touched my big toe to the ground, my ankle burned like I'd dipped it in molten lead. I'd made a makeshift brace from sticks and my twine to tie my foot into. This held it immobile while I moved, which kept the pain down to a dull throb most of the time. But the brace didn't seem to be helping the healing process. If I was being stubbornly optimistic, then at least my continued infirmity meant all the time and effort I'd spent designing and crafting my crutches wasn't wasted. I'd get some use out of my handiwork. Small comforts. I'd spent the next day, yesterday, getting used to walking around the cave on them. By evening, I was steady on them, and I'd walked out to the mouth of the cave only to run into Anea returning from that day's hunt. She'd turned me around, saying she didn't want me limping around in the dark and tripping on something. I'd obliged her that night. I set out again after eating my breakfast of leftover leather this morning.

Now that I could walk around outside, all kinds of possibilities were open to me. I looked up and down the clearing, wondering which direction I should head, then shrugged and turned left. I had no idea where I was on a map, but as long as I kept the cliff side to my left, all I had to do to find my way back here was turn around. Walking with my crutches took much of my concentration, but I still had enough attention to spare to both appreciate the simple freedoms of mobility and plan my next objectives.

Food and water were the first items on my wish list. Anea provided me with enough meat to keep me satiated, but after two full weeks of it I had a desperate craving for some variety. I hoped to find some edible plants nearby to start supplementing my diet. And I needed water not for drinking, but for bathing. I felt grimy and disgusting, and I reeked. My flight suit didn't smell any better, and it was covered in dried blood, dirt, ash, and more dragon drool than I cared to think about. What is it with her and licking? All three pairs of my socks were crusty and gross as well. I'd done my best to maintain some basic hygiene during my time in the cave, but there was only so much I could do with a wet rag, a canteen of cold water, and no soap. If I could find the stream Anea assured me wasn't far from the cave entrance, I was diving in no matter how cold it was and not coming out until I was either clean enough to squeak, or as pruned as a raisin.

I paused again when the wind quieted down for a moment, listening for any trickle of water that might reveal the stream's location. As I listened, I scanned the skies for any sign of Anea flying around. There was no hint of either. I shrugged and set off again, a bit slower because the thickening grass threatened to entangle my crutches if I was careless. I felt a bit disappointed; I was looking forward to finally seeing Anea fly. I brushed the feeling aside. I'd see her soon enough. She'd promised she'd check on me throughout the day, and we'd left the cavern at about the same time. I was just so slow that by the time I made it out, she was long gone.

I wondered what she might be up to. She normally hunted in the evening, and her stock of firewood was adequate. Something told me she wasn't far. Maybe she was just giving me some space, or at least letting me think she was. The dragon could be quite accommodating when the mood struck her, and I could definitely use some personal space for a change. I looked up again. Still no dragon. Or maybe she was doing her own thing and didn't care what I was up to. She didn't have to watch me to keep me from running. She knew I couldn't get far. She knew that I knew it too. I shook my head, then felt my foot snag as I swung it forward!

"SHIT!!" I swore, teetering on the crutches for a moment before I regained my balance. "Ok," I sighed, heart pounding at the near fall. "Pay attention to what you're doing, moron." Last thing I needed was to get myself hurt the first time I took a walk outside Anea's cave. I awkwardly sat down and tugged my boot free of the knot of grass it was stuck in. Then I stood and set off again, this time taking more care to avoid any dense patches of undergrowth.