Rhydian let out a breath as he rubbed a hand over his face. It had been a long week since he'd left Stoneybridge. It was Christmas Eve now and he was attempting to draw a picture of Maddy.
His eyes were unfocused, and he was super tired. Jana was currently looking through some books having given him some time to rest.
She'd noticed it was taking a toll on him and wanted him to take care of himself.
"Are you alright?" A small voice asked from beside him.
Rhydian startled as he turned to look at the voice seeing his brother. "Hey, Bryn. I didn't hear you come up." He said smiling at him. "I'm fine. Just tired."
"You're not fine." He said as he moved to sit next to him. "Are you getting sick like mum too?"
He sighed softly as he ran a hand through his hair. "I'm not getting sick like mum. Trying to figure out what was wrong with her has stressed me a little."
"Is it because you miss Maddy?" He asked looking up at him humming.
"That's probably part of it." He said smiling gently. "I'll be fine. I promise." He said kissing his head.
"Okay." He said as he stayed close to him as Jana ran over towards them.
"Rhydian! Rhydian! I figured it out!" She said smiling as she held a book in her hands. "Look." She said showing it to him.
He blinked as he took the book being mindful of his sketch pad that still had his letter attached and the new picture. "You figured it out?" He asked raising an eyebrow as he looked over the page.
Illustrated on the page was a bright purple flower with little white dots on the tips of the petal. The name of the flower read, 'Canis poisonberry.'
"I talked to Bree about what her and Camden had been doing. She remembered that when they were running the other day, they'd found a flower. It was pretty and they'd picked some."
He nodded as he listened while reading over the passage. "They must've had the pollen on them. Then spread that to the other's among the pack. He probably only recently inhaled the pollen from what little remnants are left." He said as he looked up at her. "What do we do now?"
"With those still affected we can create an antidote as I don't think they've had too much of it. The antidote is simple. Just normal herbs we have on hand. We'll make sure to stock up on the antidote and inform the pack not to inhale it." She said taking the book back from him.
He nodded as he started to stand up groaning slightly. "Alright, that's good. I'll help you make the antidote." He said taking a deep breath as he closed his eyes.
Bryn looked up at him and furrowed her brows. "You should be in bed." He said pouting slightly.
Rhydian chuckled a little as he put his hand on Bryn's head. "I'll go lay down after we finish the antidote." He said softly.
Bryn let out a breath but nodded as they slowly made their way towards the medicine tent. It didn't take long for them to make enough to heal those that were affected.
Within the hour everyone started to feel a bit better as the antidote started working. Rhydian sighed as he leaned against a tree resting his hands on his knees.
Jana came up next to him brushing her hair out of her face with a small smile. "We did it." She said looking at him. "We cured them. Dad's taking out small groups to show them the flower from a safe distance and we'll add it to our teachings."
"That's good." He said as he leaned up letting out a breath. "That's really. Now I think I should really go lay down." He said as he put an arm around his middle.
She furrowed her brows as she looked at him. "I'm really starting to worry about you Rhydian. This isn't normal stressed behavior."
He looked at her softly. "I'm fine Jana. I promise I will be okay. I just need to lay down and sleep for a few hours before trying to eat something."
She looked at him and raised an eyebrow crossing her arms. "They always did say the worst patient is a healer." She grumbled before conceding. "Fine."
He chuckled a little held onto her a little as they headed towards his tent. She got him laid down gently running a hand through his hair. "You better not die on me."
He looked up at her his eyes starting to get heavy a small smile on his face. "I'm not dying Jana. It's going to take a lot more than this kill me."
She chuckled a little and shook her head as she left the tent. "I don't think this is just stress." She muttered after he'd fallen asleep and headed towards her tent.
Ceri had been watching Rhydian and Jana over the last week and sighed at the state her son was in. She'd tried to get him to rest but he was too stubborn.
She sighed as she walked over to Jana's tent. "Jana. Can we talk?" She asked standing outside.
"Ceri, of course. Come on in." She said smiling at her as she waved her in. "What's up? Are you feeling alright?"
"Oh, quite alright. It's Rhydian I'm worried about." She said sighing. "I know he hasn't been taking care of himself and I know he's not going to ask for help."
"Ceri, it's alright. I understand. I am worried about him too. He's currently sleeping when he wakes, I'll make sure he eats. Right now, we can't do anything other than hope he's just pushed himself too far."
"What if it's not okay? He's my son and he's been worrying himself into the ground. I want him to be okay." She said letting out a breath.
"Ceri, he will be okay. I promise you. I'm going to look for a reason." She said gently taking hold of her hands. "I'm not going to let him die if I can help him."
Ceri closed her eyes as she squeezed Jana's hands before nodding. "Alright, I will help you in anyway I can as well."
Jana nodded and smiled. "Thank you, I will let you know if I find anything."
Ceri nodded before they soon parted ways and Jana looked at the books, she had letting out a breath. "This isn't going to be easy."
Jana spent the next few hours looking through her books to try and find something that would explain the way Rhydian was feeling.
She groaned slightly closing a book as she rubbed her eyes when her father stood next to the tent. "Jana? Are you alright?"
"I'm fine dad." She said as she looked over at him. "I'm just trying to figure something out."
"Anything I can help with?" He asked as he made his way inside.
"I don't think so. At least not yet. I can't find anything that has the same symptoms as Rhydian." She said running her hands through her hair.
"I'm sure he's fine. Even if he isn't right now, he will be. You should take a break. Dinner is almost ready." He said as he squatted in front of her.
"It's that late already?" she asked furrowing her brows as she looked out of her tent. "I didn't realize how late it was."
"I didn't think you had." He said chuckling as he got up. "Come on, Rhydian's bound to be up soon."
She nodded letting out a breath as she stood up and stretched a little. "Alright." She said as she walked out with her dad as they chatted a bit.
As Alric had suspected Rhydian was up and sitting near the fire on one of the logs a small smile on his face.
She smiled as she walked over to him sitting down. "You look better." She said nudging him slightly.
"I'm feeling better." He said nodding as she smiled at her. "I only woke up a few minutes ago when I smelled the food."
"I see, you slept a while then." She said taking in a deep breath of the food. "When do you plan to go back?"
He looked at her and hummed. "Right now, I just want to spend time with the pack. I'll have to go back for school but that won't be until the first of the year."
She nodded and hummed softly. "I see. It's going to be good having you back when we're not in danger." She said laughing.
He nodded as he hummed. "Maybe you could some with me. To meet Maddy and the other's?" He asked quietly.
Jana looked at him and blinked slightly. "We'll have to see if I'd be able too. Though I would like to meet them eventually."
He nodded and smiled. "I'm sure they want to meet you too." He said as the food started being passed around.
Jana smiled softly and hummed as she thanked the cook as the pack seemed to be in better spirits.