Jungle Fever

Posted on Mon Feb 15th, 2021 @ 11:04pm by Chief Petty Officer Remal Kajun & Captain Rhenora Kaylen

Mission: The Jungle
Location: Jungle - Cave
Timeline: Current

Rhenora's eyes fluttered open for a moment, glassy and red with fever. She looked around, seeing Remal and Sarah behind him.

"Remal" she whispered through dry lips, her voice refusing to cooperate.

"Welcome back." He said simply, hiding the tears that welled in his eyes.

Sarah moved closer, pressing the back of her hand to the Captain's forehead. It was still burning hot with fever but the fact she was conscious was a good sign.

"We're treating you Captain, I've found a plant that's helping with the infection but I need you to fight this, fight it for your crew, fight it for your husband" Sarah encouraged, bringing over the canteen and using a scrap of material to moisten the captain's lips. She squeezed a little liquid inside, making sure the other woman could swallow before repeating it.

The moment of awareness was brief, Rhenora trying but failing to be able to express what was going on. She felt as though she were enveloped in ice, wishing for a warm blanket despite the proximity of the fire. "Cold" she managed between chattering teeth before the fever claimed her again.

"Rest Captain, you have a fever. Remal and Ronson are here looking after you" Sarah soothed, as Remal resumed wiping his wife's face with a wet cloth, cooling her burning skin.

There was an almost imperceptible nod before Rhenora stilled once more.

She was burning up. He could help with that. He released her hand and shifted to her feet. Slowly he pulled her boots off one by one making sure not to disturb the wound. Then he pulled her socks off as well. "Feet cold as ice." He commented. "Ronson, see if you can get me warm water on a cloth or something."

Ronson gave a heartfelt but pouty look. "We don't have anything left like that. I'm sorry."

He understood supplies were limited. "No worries. Here." He stripped his own shirt off his back, without shame, and handed it to Ronson. "Use this."

Ronson nodded and took the shirt. Meanwhile Remal began rubbing Rhenora's feet trying to draw the circulation down and away from her head. Sarah noticed what he was doing.

"That's a good idea, where did you learn that?"

"Oh, long before I was lost to the Resistance and still had parents, I came down sick with a high fever. My mother did this for me to draw out the fever. She was a good woman, my mother. Taken well before her time."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I am glad she raised a good man for our Captain though."

Ronson returned with a warm wet shirt. "Here you go."

"Thank you." He took the shirt and wrapped it around Rhens feet, then turned back to Ronson. "Try and keep this warm. If it gets cold, take it off and warm it again, every half hour, okay?"

"Yes sir."

Remal then sat back and waited, the cool temperature in the cave comforting against his bare back. A small price to pay if it would help save a life, even smaller when that life belonged to his beloved.