Thorn in the West
Copyright© 2025 by Heel
Chapter 9: Improvised Care
Mika Thorn lay sprawled against the jagged rocks at the base of the cliff, her left leg twisted unnaturally, pain radiating through her bones with every heartbeat. The desert sun beat down relentlessly, dust swirling around her hair and clothes, and for the first time in days, she felt utterly vulnerable. Her revolver had fallen to the ground, forgotten in the agony.
The teacher appeared, calm and infuriatingly amused, glasses glinting in the sunlight. He crouched carefully beside her, arms moving with precise control, and spoke with a teasing, almost gentle tone:
“Well, well, Miss Thorn. You always did have a flair for dramatic entrances. That leg, however, is far less impressive.”
Mika gritted her teeth, barely able to lift her head. He didn’t rush. Instead, he assessed the fracture visually, noting the unnatural bend and swelling. With a small knife, he cut along the leg of her trousers, freeing her limb from constricting fabric. Then, with deliberate care, he loosened and removed her boot, then the sock, exposing her bare foot to the desert sun.
“Careful,” he said, his voice softening slightly, though the teasing never left it. “This is going to hurt a little, but it’s necessary.”
Gently, he placed his hands under her armpits, lifting her torso just enough to relieve the sharp pressure on her leg. She flinched, but the movement eased some of the pain, and she could breathe more freely. Then he shifted his attention to the fractured limb. With careful, measured movements, he extended it to a more natural alignment—just enough to reduce the agony but without forcing it into a position that might worsen the breaks.
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