Botanicaust

blackened flesh had already sloughed away, leaving glistening sores. Even if she had a burn kit, it would not have properly treated this injury. “ Oh, Levi. ”
    Wracking her brain for solutions, her eyes slid over a nearby yuvee tree. The wide, pale leaves resembled helping hands in the calm morning light. Back at the pond, he ’ d covered her in the leaves thinking they might heal her. Would they work on him? She rose and plucked one between her thumb and forefinger, touching as little as possible.
    Returning to his side, she put the leaf in front of his face. “ Levi. Good? Burn good? ”
    He cracked his eyes again. He seemed to have trouble focusing, but he nodded. She gathered several more leaves, then helped him remove his shirt. Magenta bruises dotted his chest and lower back. A gash on his left arm showed a glimmer of bone near his wrist.
    He managed to remain sitting while she washed the burn with water from a bottle. He stiffened as she sprayed antiseptic and pressed the leaves to the sores. Using a swath of gauze, she held the leaves in place and then turned to his sliced arm.
    Dirt caked the jagged edges of flesh. As she picked out bits of debris, the wound dripped blood, and his face grew so pale she wondered if he was conscious. She debrided the wound as best she could, washed it with the antiseptic and pinched the flesh together to apply the butterflies. The scar would be ugly, but no major arteries had been severed.
    Satisfied with her work, she wrapped the forearm in gauze. She wished she had painkillers to help him sleep, but all she could offer was a sip of water. He swallowed obediently.
    His stomach growled. She had no food for him. She didn ’ t even know how to go about getting food. He lowered himself onto his left side, hugging his injured arm against his abdomen. He didn ’ t look in any shape to gather for himself any time soon.
    She rummaged through the pack and found the raw roots he ’ d gathered at the pond. Back at the camp, he ’ d put them into the coals to cook, but she wouldn ’ t risk a fire with cannibals nearby. Could he eat the roots uncooked? With the knife, she cut one open. They were tough and fibrous, and he was weak to chew.
    The sun cleared the horizon and she swallowed two suppression pills before deciding what to do. She couldn ’ t be drunk while caring for him. Again with the knife, she scraped at the root ’ s juicy inside. A pulpy white fluid gathered on the blade as fibers separated. Carefully, she deposited the pulp into a half empty water bottle. She scraped each of the roots until she couldn ’ t get any more.
    Her reward was a half bottle of semi-liquid she believed Levi could swallow. She gently rested a palm on his forehead, distressed at how hot his skin felt.
    “ Levi, food. ”
    His eyes didn ’ t open, although his bloodied, cracked lips tried to form words. “ Water. ”
    She gave him plain water. “ Plants in basket. Water here. ” She put the milky fluid to his mouth and he took a sip.
    His head dropped back and he smacked his tongue. “ Good. Thank you. ”
    “ More. Food eat . ” She urged him to take another sip. This time he managed a large gulp before stopping to breathe.
    The sun beat down on his exposed torso and would soon be overhead. If they were going to stay in one spot, he needed shelter. She scanned the landscape. Other than the river, the land was flat, without any hope of cover. Nearby, a triad of yuvee saplings cast a pocket of shadow, and although she hated the thought of boxing herself in with plants, she had an idea.
    Taking the blanket, she tossed it over the short trees. With a broken stick, she maneuvered the fabric into a sort of tent between the branches. It wouldn ’ t stand up to a wind, but it would keep the sun off.
    She helped Levi fumble upright. His eyes were still swollen shut, but once he gained his feet, he seemed sturdy. Leaning on her, he accompanied her to the tent and sat where she lowered him.
    “ Sleep here. No sun, ” she said.
    “ Shade. Good. ” He drank again, deeply, and Tula sighed with relief. But she ’ d used most of the water to wash him. The bottles needed filling.
    “ Levi sleep. ” She put her robe in his hands and urged him to lie down. “ I get water. ”
    He fumbled for her hand and clutched it. “ Watch for cannibals. They will be near water. ”
    “ Yes. ” She loaded the empty bottles into Levi ’ s basket and stepped out of the shelter, taking a good look