Chapter 72: Rootmilk (2)
Ah, so this is why Yoa didn’t want her to help. With each passing moment, it became more obvious to Nova that anything capable of healing wounds was bound to be challenging to obtain. To apply Rootmilk to Yoa’s injuries, it also needed to be combined with Miroth leaves and used as a poultice to hold and deliver the Rootmilk to the wound. It sounded so simple when he explained it.
Then he told her where to find the leaves, and for a split second, she said nothing. Yoa took her silence for hesitation and immediately dropped the entire subject, insisting she stayed by his side and cuddled instead.
But how could they cuddle if he bled out?!
Nova gave him a reassuring smile before kissing him gently on the cheek and detangling his limbs from her.
"Be careful," he whispered against her skin. She could feel his fear, but it didn’t have anything to do with her ability to get what she needed. No, he was confident she would succeed, but his beast didn’t want to part with her again so soon.
Now she stood at the edge of the cave, her heart galloping and blood pumping with adrenaline as she stared at the water pummelling into the depths below. Her gaze slid to the side, instantly locating the Miroth plant.
Its leaves shimmered faintly in the mist light, their waxy surfaces catching silver from the cave’s scattered glow. It honestly couldn’t be as simple as tugging a few leaves from a plant that grew on the floor, huh?
Clinging to a slippery curve of rock, the plant grew in a treacherous spot just beyond the safe ground. Nova eyed the ledge. Narrow. Wet. A single misstep and she’d fall straight into the churning pool beneath the falls.
If there was any real danger of that, Yoa would adamantly refuse. Either that or his confidence in her was wildly misplaced.
Still, she moved forward. Slowly. Hands brushing along the stone wall, toes gripping any crevice they could find. The roar of the waterfall thundered beside her, vibrating in her bones. She didn’t look down. She couldn’t.
Mist of the waterfall sprayed against her body, drenching her hair and skin. Her skin pebbled from the cold. It didn’t help that she was completely naked— Yoa couldn’t stand seeing her in the feathery outfit, and she accepted walking around in her birthday suit until they had to leave this place.