Chapter 690: No Hostility
After finally making it to solid ground, Liam forced himself to put more distance between himself and the edge of the swamp. He didn’t stop immediately, even though his body urged him to. The damp, unstable terrain behind him wasn’t something he wanted to linger near, not after everything that had just happened.
With Smoke’s help, he managed to locate a somewhat concealed hollow at the base of one of the larger trees. The opening wasn’t obvious at first glance, partially hidden behind thick roots and low-hanging growth, but it was enough to serve as temporary cover.
Making his way there, Liam finally allowed himself to rest properly after more than an hour of movement on an injured leg.
Lowering himself into the hollow, he leaned back against the inner curve of the tree, letting his body settle for the first time since leaving the swamp. The tension in his muscles eased slightly, though the ache in his thigh remained constant.
Without wasting time, he turned his attention back to the puncture wound.
Carefully, he reached down and undid the cloth wrapped around his thigh, peeling it back slowly to inspect the condition of the injury.
The sight was... mixed.
The wound wasn’t getting worse, but it wasn’t improving either.
The bleeding had stopped, thanks to the pressure and the crude treatment he had applied earlier, but now a faint greenish fluid seeped from the puncture. It wasn’t excessive, but it was noticeable, likely a result of the plant mixture he had used interacting with the damaged tissue.
Liam studied it quietly.
’Should I just burn it shut?’ he wondered.
It wasn’t a bad option.