Nightwind
Copyright© 2025 by Heel
Chapter 10: Days in the Cave
The cave was cool but confining. Calista lay on the crude wooden frame, her legs in the traction device, each pulled taut by the hanging weights. Every slight shift sent sharp jolts of pain up her bones, making her gasp and clutch the blankets beneath her.
The weights tugged relentlessly, stretching muscles and tendons that had been crumpled in the fall. Her calves burned from the strain, her thighs ached around the fractures, and bruised hips throbbed with every tug. Even the tiniest movement of her torso against the frame radiated pain through her chest and back.
The healer worked with careful precision, adjusting tension and repositioning weights when necessary. “Must ... heal,” he said in his measured, broken English. “No ... move. Legs ... still.” His calm, deliberate hands contrasted with the constant, punishing tug of the ropes, forcing her bones into proper alignment.
Calista’s body felt trapped. The pull of the ropes reminded her of her fragility, her helplessness. Every tug was agony, yet she could feel it working, pressing her limbs into position, coaxing broken bones toward recovery. She trembled from pain and exhaustion, but she forced herself to breathe slowly, holding onto the knowledge that this suffering was part of healing.
The healer’s wife moved quietly around the cave, attending to her needs. She bathed Calista carefully, wiping away sweat and dust, and offered small sips of water and soft food. Every swallow caused discomfort, as even the slightest motion shifted the ropes and added tension to her elevated legs.
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