A/N: Forgive me, as I'm much less than an expert on anything medical. Or botanical. I hope this isn't going too slowly! ^^"
The spear had just missed her spine. In the night I didn't sleep; several times I inched my fingers under Rue's makeshift bandage and felt as softly as possible with my fingertips. How many organs had been punctured? A pretty big wound on both ends, it seemed like, but the bleeding had slowed over the night. I hoped it was because it was clotting – she couldn't have run out of blood already?
I could just make out a patch of false stars, through a gap in the branches above us. My arm supporting her head, I lay very still all night, trying not to disturb her. I couldn't care for her any more until the light came back.
As dawn broke, she still breathed. Lightly but surely. I kissed her forehead, then wiggled my way onto my knees. Having no pants, I stripped off my jacket and tied it around my waist. Surely cameras were watching me even at that moment, and I had not quite lost all of my dignity.
Up in a tree that shadowed Rue's bush, I crouched for an hour and watched every direction. The only people who came our way in that time were a couple of the careers' grunts, apparently coming around to salvage goods from the dead tribute. Maybe look for a lead on where the killer had went. But the body was gone from the bloodstained soil by now, and the scouts eventually turned back and went away through the woods.
I clambered down, hefted my jacket-skirt. Rue had healed me with leaves before… if only I could ask her where to find them. But I couldn't get her conscious. I was on my own to save her.
Figuring roughly, I had half an hour to search before anyone could enter the area and pose a threat to us. So I trekked towards the river, eyeing every plant and trying to recognize the right leaves as I went.
By the time I got to the water's edge, I had a handful of confusingly similar plants and a poison ivy burn. I waded into the water to try and soothe my scratched legs. As I rubbed over my knees and calves, my mind was back with Rue.
A rustling noise grabbed my attention, and I shot up, instinctively covering my ass. Frozen, my hands itching for my bow, I tried to detect movement in the foliage around me. I saw a tree branch swaying more than the others, and with a liquid movement I drew and loosed an arrow into the shade. A muffled scream, and I heard the person bolting away. I sloshed through the water as fast as I could, another arrow prepared. The skirt made it hard to move but I didn't have time to take it off. By the time I had a clear view of their hiding place, they were already gone.
"Dammit!" I hissed, then noticed the little shrub by my dripping legs. Leaves had been torn from it – more or less the type I'd been looking for. I ripped a bunch loose, then bolted for my pack and set off sprinting back for Rue.
Nobody was there outside our little shelter. Near hysterically I shoved myself in, and found the little girl sleeping peacefully as before. "Thank you, thank you…" I murmured desperately to nobody, fumbling with the leaves and removing the branches. What could I do with these?
After a few minutes' silent consideration I took a bundle and crushed it, cupping one hand to catch the juice. The nectar felt calming to my ivy-burned skin, so I took it as a good sign. When I had enough I poured the juice onto Rue's wounds, taking care not to get any leaves or dirt in them.
If that plant was poisonous, then I'd just killed her.
Around mid-day Rue rolled over, moaning faintly. I scrambled closer and listened, my heart instantly racing.
"Kk…. K-"
"I'm here, Rue. I'm here! Don't move." With my face close to hers I watched her eyelids flutter weakly, then fall closed again. Her lips kept moving.
"…kh…hurt? Are you… -hurt?"
I couldn't contain an incredulous laugh. "Ha! – Me, hurt?! Don't worry about me." My words fast and quiet. "I'll be fine. And you will too. Just don't move."
"I got stabbed, right?"
"Yeah, you got stabbed. Pretty bad. But not bad enough!" I was so excited I could barely tell what I was saying. "I'll make sure you heal."
"What happened… to the boy?"
My smile vanished. "The boy? I... killed him. He died really quick." I thought she could do without the details.
"Good." I swear the corners of her mouth turned upward as she said it with relish.
"Nobody's gonna hurt you now. I'll protect you better from now on, I promise." A tear of mine fell onto her chin and rolled down her jawline. I hadn't realized I was crying.
"I know." And then I definitely saw her grin.
A/N: Short chapters are sort of my thing this week. More coming soon! Please R&R!