As the warm, sticky fluid oozed from his neck, his eyes widened in terror as he gasped for air. The realization of what was happening made his heart race and his hands tremble. Rowan's body was aching all over as he slowly regained his senses. He could feel the pain throbbing in his head, and his vision was blurred by the impact of the explosion. He felt a sharp pain in his ribs, and when he tried to move, he let out a groan.
He shuddered as he raised his trembling hand to touch the cool skin on his neck. But as his fingers brushed against the tender flesh, he felt something warm and sticky. With growing horror, he realized that it was blood - but not his blood. He quickly touched other areas of his neck to make sure, clearly, he didn't have any cuts. The blood kept running more and more.
The world around him seemed to spin, and he struggled to stay conscious. Panic gripped him as he thought of Aricen and Casey. He needed to get up and help them, but he couldn't move. Every movement sent a fresh wave of pain through his body. He was trapped, helpless, and barely breathing properly.
As he looked down, he saw that he was covered in leaves and bushes, and his mind raced with thoughts of Serenya. Was she okay? Was she alive? He couldn't see her properly, but he could feel her weight on top of him. As he tries to focus more, he could see that she was injured too, a cut on her forehead bleeding heavily. He felt a sense of panic rise in his chest as he realized that he needed to get her help.
"It-It was her blood," he whispered.
He tried to move again, but the pain in his ribs was too much. He couldn't even lift Serenya off him. He felt helpless and trapped, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.
Rowan's mind was racing again. He didn't know where Aricen and Casey were, or what had happened to them. He didn't even know how long they had been unconscious. All he could do was lie there, feeling the pain radiating through his body, and hoping that help would come soon.
Serenya's breathing was shallow, and her pulse was weak. Rowan's heart sank as he realized how dire the situation was. He wrapped his arms tightly around her, but the chill of the morning air was seeping through his clothes. He knew he had to act. He needed to do something before the cold took its toll. But the only question was "How?"
Rowan's hands trembled as he tried to push himself up, but the pain that shot through his body was too much to bear. He felt like his ribs were being crushed under a heavy weight, and every breath he took felt like knives cutting into his lungs.
He gritted his teeth and tried again, using all his willpower to overcome the pain. But as soon as he lifted his head, the world around him spun in a dizzying blur. His vision swam, and he felt a wave of nausea wash over him.
He fell back onto the ground, gasping for air, his body shaking with agony. Tears stung his eyes, and he let out a cry of frustration and despair.
"Why can't I move?" he whispered to himself, his voice barely audible. "Why is this happening to me?"
The forest around him was silent, save for the distant rustling of leaves in the wind. Rowan lay there, feeling the cool earth beneath his fingertips and the dampness of the leaves against his cheek. He felt like he was going to pass out any second.
Rowan gazed down at Serenya's lifeless body, his heart sinking to the pit of his stomach. He could feel the cold creeping in, consuming her like a vicious predator, determined to steal her away. He held her tight, her fragile form shaking in his arms as he tried to ignore the pain and muster every last ounce of strength within him.
"Help us," he cried his voice barely a whisper. "Please, someone. We need help." But his voice was lost in the wind, a mere whisper carried away by the howling of the trees.
Tears streamed down his face, hot and salty, mixing with the blood that stained his clothes. He hugged Serenya closer to him as if by doing so, he could somehow transfer his warmth into her and...do something...heal her... But she remained motionless, her skin growing colder by the second.
He tried to call out again, his voice breaking with each desperate attempt. "Please, help us. Someone." But the forest remained silent, indifferent to his pleas.
Rowan felt a deep sense of despair and helplessness wash over him like a tidal wave. He was lost, alone, and with no one to turn to. He didn't know how much longer he could hold on, but he knew he couldn't give up, not when Serenya's life was on the line.
He took a deep breath, summoning every bit of courage within him. "Don't worry, Serenya," he whispered into her ear, his voice barely audible. "I won't let you go. After all, I promised Mr Lucius that..." he broke down, gulping his saliva as he gasped for air. "That...I will keep you safe."
But the words felt hollow, empty promises in the face of such overwhelming odds. He was exhausted, injured, and with no hope of escape. And yet, he refused to give up, clinging to the only thing that mattered in his life. Which he didn't want to lose again.
His people. Serenya. Aricen. Casey.
"Is he going to be okay?" a distant voice asked, as Rowan felt himself being lifted off the ground.
"He's alive," another voice responded, "But we need to get him medical attention immediately. The same goes for the girl."
Rowan felt himself jostled around, and he groaned softly. His body ached all over, and his head throbbed with pain. He wanted to open his eyes, but he couldn't find the strength to do so.
Rowan was vaguely aware of the sound of horses' hooves hitting the ground rhythmically. He was in a carriage, he realized, his body swaying back and forth with each jolt. The pain in his ribs had lessened somewhat, but his head was still throbbing relentlessly.
He tried to open his eyes again, but they felt heavy and unresponsive. Instead, he listened to the sound of horses and the creaking of the carriage wheels. He couldn't tell how much time had passed, but it felt like an eternity.
The carriage finally came to a stop. Rowan felt himself being lifted out of the carriage, and he heard muffled voices around him.
"Oh goodness," a voice said gasping, "I will make the arrangements, bring him inside." The voice sounded urgent.
As Rowan was carried into the room, his senses were in a haze. The dimly lit interior was a blur of colors and shapes, and he could barely make out the faces of the people around him. He was grateful for the support, but the weight of his body felt like an anchor dragging him down.
His clothes were peeled away from his body, exposing his injuries to the cold air. He winced as the chill sent shivers down his spine, but then a cool, damp cloth was placed against his chest. The sensation was a relief, and he closed his eyes, letting out a deep sigh.
The cloth was gentle, and as the coldness seeped into his skin, his muscles slowly began to relax. He felt the tension in his body ease away, and the pain in his ribs and head dulled to a faint ache. It was like he was floating on a cloud, weightless and free.
Rowan took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the musty air of the room. He tried to focus on his surroundings, but his mind was foggy. He couldn't tell where he was or who these people were. All he knew was that he was safe, for now. But what about Serenya? Just the thought of it made his muscles twitch again.
"You're going to be okay," a voice whispered softly in his ear. "Just rest now."
Rowan didn't know who was speaking to him, but he found the voice comforting. He let his mind drift, letting go of his worries and fears.
The voice trembled as he spoke, "The girl is in a much worse condition. We need to do everything we can to keep her alive." He paused for a moment, then added in a hushed tone, "But for the rest...I'm afraid all we can do is pray."
Rowan's heart sank at those words. He couldn't bear the thought of losing Serenya. He wanted to open his eyes and ask them to do more, but his body was too weak. All he could do was lay there and hope that everything would be okay.
The room fell silent, except for the sound of someone shuffling around in the background. Rowan strained his ears, trying to hear what was going on. He felt a sudden chill run down his spine as a loud, ear-piercing scream filled the air.
The scream was followed by a series of frantic footsteps, and then the door burst open. A woman rushed into the room, her voice wild with terror.
"She's gone!" she cried out, "The elf!"