Man In The Island

Medicine from Nature

"Do you hear voices?" asked Eric, his eyes narrowed in alarm at the darkness outside the cave.

Adora shook her head slowly. Her damp hair fell partially over her face. "No. I didn’t hear anything." She said hoarsely. "All I feel is the pain in my leg."

She tried to shift her sitting position, but immediately winced as pain radiated from her sprained ankle.

"I’m sure I heard something." Eric whispered, his hands probing the ground for rocks or anything else that could be used as a weapon.

The rain had stopped, leaving only the scent of wet earth wafting into the cave. But the wind still blew strongly outside, shaking the trees and creating shadows that danced on the cave walls.

"It’s probably just a small animal." Adora said, trying to calm things down. "Or maybe it’s just our imagination. We’ve been walking too long today."

The rustling sounded again in the distance, this time more clearly. Eric reflexively pricked up his ears and held his breath. His body tensed up on alert.

"Over there." He whispered, pointing toward the trees in the distance. "Are you sure you didn't hear it?"

Adora shook her head weakly. "Eric, I can barely even keep my eyes open. Even my ears don't feel like they're functioning properly."

Eric remained alert, trying to determine if it was the sound of something dangerous or just part of the forest moving at night. His hand that was gripping the stone slowly drooped.

However, after a few seconds of waiting in suspense, he breathed a sigh of relief. "It seems to be just the sound of leaves rubbing against twigs from the aftermath of the storm," he said, his shoulders that had been tense now beginning to relax. "I guess I was just being too paranoid."

"It's only natural." Adora said with a weak smile. "After all we've been through today."

Eric turned to Adora who was still leaning against the cave wall. Her face was pale and tired, with dark circles under her eyes. The light of their small campfire illuminated her figure with a faint golden glow.

"How's your leg? Still hurting?" Asked Eric, his voice a little quieter than usual. He knelt down beside Adora to examine the improvised bandage he had made from a tear in his shirt.

Adora opened her heavy eyes and nodded slowly. "Still." She answered honestly. "But I can bear it." She tried to smile, but her smile was more of a grimace.

"You don't have to pretend to be strong in front of me." Eric said as he smoothed the bandage on Adora's leg. "Tomorrow we'll get help."

"And what if there's no help?" asked Adora, her eyes looking directly into Eric's. "We don't even know how far we've left the hut."

Eric was silent for a moment, then took Adora's hand. "We'll think about it tomorrow. Right now, we need to rest."

"You're right," Adora whispered. "We need energy for tomorrow."

Eric looked at her for a moment, then leaned back against the cave wall beside Adora. His hand was still clasped in hers, providing warmth in the chill of the night.

"Go to sleep." He whispered. "I'll take care of you."

"You need rest too." Adora replied, her eyes already starting to close.

"I'll be fine."

They were both exhausted, not only physically, but also mentally. Silence enveloped them.

Eric stared at Adora's sleeping face. "We'll get out of here," he whispered, more to himself. "I promise."

It didn't take long before Eric succumbed to exhaustion. His head slowly fell to the side, resting on Adora's head. They fell asleep side by side, lost in the lingering chill of the night, while their small campfire continued to burn, providing warmth and protection amidst the darkness of the forest.

**

The morning sun slowly crept into the cave through a crack in the rocks, providing a little warmth after a long and tiring night. Eric blinked his eyes a few times, his body feeling stiff from sleeping on the hard surface of the ground.

He let out a long breath, then moved his neck to the right and left to relieve the soreness. After a few seconds, he turned his head to the side and saw Adora still fast asleep. Her breathing sounded slow and regular, her face looked more peaceful than last night when they were caught in the storm.

Eric noticed Adora's leg, which was still wrapped in a makeshift cloth. He remembered how Adora had difficulty walking last night due to sprains. He knew that if they were to survive longer on the island, Adora needed to be able to move properly.

Carefully, Eric stood up and stretched his body. He stepped out of the cave, breathing in the morning air that still felt damp after last night's heavy rain. His steps were light, though his body still felt tired.

"Hopefully I can find something to help Adora's leg." He muttered while combing the area around the cave.

The small forest around them was filled with various wild plants. Eric noticed one by one, recalling the survival knowledge he had learned. A few minutes passed before his eyes finally caught something familiar, a plant with wide green leaves.

"Daffodil leaves." He whispered, recognizing the plant.

She quickly plucked a few strands and squeezed them slightly in her hands, making sure they had enough texture to use. Eagerly, she returned to the cave, hoping this would help Adora a little.

When she entered, Adora was already awake, leaning against the cave wall with a sleepy expression.

"Where did you go?" She asked in a hoarse voice.

Eric raised the hand carrying the daffodil leaves. "Looking for this."

Adora looked at him in confusion. "Leaves? What for?"

Eric squatted nearby, beginning to pound the leaves on a flat stone. "It's a Daffodil leaf. I read once that it can help reduce swelling from sprains. I'll apply it to your leg."

Adora sighed softly. "Will it really help?"

Eric shrugged. "I can't guarantee it, but it's better than doing nothing. At the very least, it can ease your pain."

Adora watched Eric who was seriously pounding the leaves until they were pulverized. Seeing the man's focused expression, she felt a little touched.

"You don't have to bother, Eric. I can survive."

Eric glanced back at her, then smiled a little. "We're both trapped on a desert island, Adora. We'll have to help each other if we want to survive."

Adora was silent for a moment before nodding slowly.

Once the Daffodil leaves were smooth enough, Eric carefully picked them up and squatted in front of Adora. "I'll apply it. It might feel cold and sting a little, but hold on for a while."

Adora gulped, preparing for what might be an uncomfortable sensation. "Okay. I trust you."

Eric gently lifted Adora's ankle and began to apply the mashed leaves to the swelling. As soon as the liquid from the leaves touched her skin, Adora winced slightly.

"Cold –" she muttered, biting her lip.

"Hold it for a while. It'll feel better." Eric said, making sure the natural herbs were evenly distributed.

Adora observed Eric's serious face. For some reason, the man looked different when he was focused like this. No longer just the annoying man she knew when she first met him, but someone who could be relied on in the midst of difficult conditions like now.

After finishing, Eric looked at her. "That's it. Let this sink in for some time. After that, I'll help you move your legs slowly."

Adora sighed, then smiled slightly. "Thank you, Eric. I really don't know how to repay you."

Eric just nodded. "You can thank me later, after we actually make it out of here."

They were both silent for a moment, enjoying the quiet of the morning, even though in their hearts they knew that their survival journey was far from over.

"We have our work cut out for us today. But, I'm not sure." Eric took a deep breath

"Not sure what?" asked Adora.