Chapter 10: The Boy Who Came Back
Inside the teacher's tent, the atmosphere was tense. The dim light of a lantern illuminated the injured boy's face, now pale and sweat-slick.
The school nurse, Mrs. Harding, knelt beside him, her hands steady as she finished tying a bandage around his swollen eye.
The principal, Ms. Reed, stood at the foot of the cot, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her usual composed expression was replaced with one of concern.
Nearby, Mr. Rowe and the other male teachers huddled, their faces grave as they watched the nurse work.
"How bad is it?" Ms. Reed finally asked, her voice low but urgent.
Mrs. Harding sat back on her heels, pulling off her gloves. "He's lucky to be alive, but his body's taken a beating," she said.
"Most of the wounds are superficial scratches, but there are a few deep gashes. None of them appear to be infected, which is a miracle given what he's been through. His left eye..." She paused, glancing at the swollen, bandaged socket.
"The swelling's bad, but I don't think it's permanent damage. Time will tell."
"And his condition otherwise?" Mr. Rowe pressed, his hands resting on his hips.
"He's dehydrated and malnourished. Whatever happened out there, it's taken a toll on him. He needs food and rest before we can get much out of him."
Ms. Reed sighed, her fingers pinching the bridge of her nose. "This changes everything. If the forest is as dangerous as it seems, we need to rethink everything."