Epic (Nod x Reader)

It didn't take long after our talk for Nod to fall asleep. Two bowls of food in and he was out like a light, soft snores echoing off the cave walls as he curled next to the dying fire. Ronin had returned a little while ago but remained steadfast at the entrance, keeping guard, and ensuring the birds were fed and ready to fly at a moment's notice. And while everyone else was prepared to keep going, the stinging pain that traveled to my shoulder and back said something different. 

Unwrapping the bandages, I glanced at the festering cut, the injury looking worse for wear with every aching minute. It was hard to keep the muscle spasms from taking over the entire limb, but my larger concern was the effect the poison would have on my heart. Just thinking about it made it beat an awkward pace, and I squeezed my eyes shut, as if visually blocking everything out would be enough. 

I gnawed at my lip, rewrapping it as quietly and quickly as possible. Ronin tended to get fussy about these things, let alone Nod, and the last thing I needed was the others acting as doting mothers before they acted like my commander and my...friend. I could only hope that it wouldn't kill me slowly and painfully. 

Then again...my eyes trailed over to where the pod rested in MK's arms. The vines still held on tight and coiled, as if they were a baby clinging to its mother. There were much more dire concerns at the moment, my arm was collateral damage in the larger scheme of things. On that last thought, I crawled over to where Nod was snoring, out cold, and lay myself next to him- far enough away where I wouldn't be jostling him in my sleep but close enough where I could feel the heat emitting from his body. 

It was more secure like this, with him at arm's reach. This was the only calming thought that finally let me fall into a fitful sleep, one that was unrestful and made my limbs heavy. 

"--princess, wake up." Waking up to Nod's face just mere inches away had me jolting up and away, landing painfully on my side three feet away. I winced and bit out at him, "What was that for?". The nerves were tittering under my skin, and I snatched the stick from his unassuming hand, weaponizing it against him. 

"My bad, didn't mean to  surprise you." He lifted a parcel, tossing me a piece of fruit. "Eat up, we're doing a straight away to Nim's." 

I nodded, taking a large bite of the sweet berry. Hefting my sword sheath back onto my back, I glanced around the room, wondering where Ronin and MK were. "How much longer do we have to go?" I asked, watching as Nod gathered the saddles for the birds. 

"Not much longer, about an hour east. We should get there well before nightfall." He remarked, something in his voice sobering. I blinked, curious at the change in his demeanor--Nod was perhaps the most solemn he'd been the whole journey.  

"What's wrong?" I queried, putting the food back into the parcel. He didn't pause in his work; instead to my surprise, his shoulders tensed up even more. I stepped closer, uneasy at his taciturn gait. 

Nod sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead. "Last night, you broke out into a fever. It was really bad, you were writhing and in pain...and there was nothing I could do." 

I was surprised, I had no recollection of it, and when I woke up, I didn't feel clammy. He continued, "Ronin helped more than I could, broke the fever, put you outside for a bit while I just...floundered." Nod let out a bone-deep sigh, one that was brim-filled with emotion. 

"I'm..I feel better now, so don't beat yourself up over it." I ended lamely. I wasn't sure how to respond to his concerns, for the most part, his worries have been superficial--laughed off with a pat on the back. This was unfamiliar territory, and I was stuck in deep water with no island in sight.