When I wake up, I see Buck sitting next to me. I think back to our previous conversation. I cast a somewhat guilty look his way. "Buck? I'm…sorry if I offended you earlier…" I mumble my apology.
"'ow would ya 'ave offended me?" Buck is confused, his head tilted in a manner that reveals just how much.
"I was complaining about my pain, but I never realized that you must've gone through the same thing," I continue.
"Oh. Ya don' 'ave anythin' ta be sorry fer. I wasn't offended. Jus' kno' tha' I understand wot yer goin' through," Buck smiles softly.
"Hmmm….Why's my pain somewhat less?" I ask curiously.
"I used some plants from nearby ta dull yer pain," Buck answers.
"Thank you," I smile.
"Yer welcome. Now, Icea, why don' ya ge' some sleep?" Buck suggests.
I nod my head. I close my eye and drift off into a deep sleep.
I wake up a few hours later in excruciating pain. My wounds are killing me (Not literally). I whimper. Buck is nowhere to be seen. "Buck!" I cry out for him.
Buck is by my side in an instant. "Wot's wrong?" He asks.
"The…the pain! It's…it's worse!" Tears stream down my left cheek.
Buck grabs me into his arms. I begin sobbing into his chest. "Hush now, Icea. I'll ge' ya somethin' ta 'elp ease th' pain," Buck smiles comfortingly at me. He grabs a coconut bowl and crushes some herbs in it. He gives them to me. I eat them, gagging slightly from the bitter taste.
Even after eating the herbs, I am still in pain. I can't help the high-pitched whine that escapes my lips.
Buck can see that I need cheering up. "'ow 'bout I tell ya a story," he suggests.
"Okay…" I mumble.
"Do ya wan' th' one 'bout 'ow I lost my eye?" Buck asks.
"Yeah," I answer with a slow nod of my head.
Buck clears his throat, before beginning his story. "The-ah I was, my back against th' wall, no way out. Perched on th' razors edge ah oblivion. Staring at th' eye ah th' great white beast. I was frozen ta th' spot. He raised a claw an' struck my eye. I was flung backwards. As I rose, I realized tha' my eye was gone. I turned tail an' ran fer my life. Th' Dino, who I now call Rudy, chased me. I climbed a tree ta ge' 'way from 'im. I tied a leaf patch 'round my eye. I grabbed a stick ta try ta defend myself. Rudy was comin' closer an' closer. I looked 'round. Rudy opened 'is mouth. As I turned back ta face 'im, Rudy closed 'is mouth 'round me," Buck pauses.
"How did you survive?" I ask, my voice laced with awe.
"'m ge'in' ta tha'! Anyway, before I could be sucked through 'is gullet, I grabbed onta tha' gross pink fleshy thin' tha' dangles in th' back ah th' throat. I hung onta tha' sucker an' swung back an' forth, an' back an' forth, an' back…an' forth, an' back an' forth, 'til finally, I le' go an' I shot right out ah 'is mouth. I may've lost an eye tha' day, bu' I got this!" Buck shows me his knife.
"Wow! Rudy's tooth!" I smile at what Rudy's reaction must've been.
"Now, ge' some sleep. I'll be 'ere when ya wake up," Buck smiles.
"Goodnight, Buck. Let's hope Rudy has nightmares tonight!" We laugh a bit at what I just said. Well…mine is more of an evil laugh that makes Buck laugh even harder. I then close my eye. I'm asleep before too long.