Soren recognized him.


    It was Finn.


    Finn helped Evangeline up, said something to her, and then they both walked toward him.


    At the same time, a powerful wave of drowsiness washed over Soren.


    He couldn''t hold on any longer and closed his eyes.


    "He''s alive, but his arm''s dislocated, and his leg is broken."


    "But he''s not bleeding much, so it''s not life-threatening. No head wound, so he didn''t hit his head. He probably passed out from the pain."


    Inside the cave, Finn exined the situation to her as he popped Soren''s arm back into its socket.


    Soren was heavy and unconscious. It had taken all of Evangeline''s strength,bined with a feverish Finn''s, to drag him back to the cave.


    The night was cold, but Evangeline was sweating from the effort.


    Finn was already sick, and after they got back, he couldn''t help but gasp for breath.


    Evangeline had seen him effortlessly handle several attackers before, and this was the first time she''d ever seen him so exhausted.


    "I''ll take it from here."


    "I know how to handle fractures."


    She''d been a mischievous child, prone to falls and injuries, and her family had even kept an orthopedic specialist on call for her.


    She had told Finn about this before, so he didn''t try to push himself, stepping aside to give her space.


    Evangeline first assessed the location of Soren''s fracture, then found a rtively thick branch in the cave to use as a makeshift splint.


    There were vines in the cave, and Evangeline found a thinner one to use as a rope to tie the splint in ce.


    As she tied it, she saw Soren''s brow furrow in pain.


    She hesitated, then tried to be a little gentler.


    In a life-or-death situation, she couldn''t spare the energy to dwell on her history with Soren. Besides, he was wearing rescue gear; he had clearly fallen while trying to save them.


    She wasn''t the type to kick someone when they were down.


    After securing the fracture, Evangeline checked his pockets and found a satellite phone and a walkie-talkie.


    She tried them, but both were useless.


    To her surprise, however, she found a few pills in Soren''s personal rescue kit.


    There weren''t many, only four, probably just thrown in there.


    Evangeline searched again but couldn''t find any fever reducers.


    Still, she was overjoyed.


    Anti-inmmatory pills were more important right now. Once the inmmation was under control his fever would eventually break.


    Evangeline immediately got some water and mixed it with a pill for Finn to drink.


    After Finn had taken his, Evangeline thought for a moment and gave one to Soren as well.


    A fracture like that was bound to cause inmmation.


    Even if they couldn''t expect rescue


    e soon as long as they cont


    care of then bodies getting out just a matter of time.


    Once she was done, Evangeline put everything away.


    She was about to turn back when she felt a tug on her clothes.


    She looked back and saw Soren''s hand gripping the hem of her jacket.


    His lips moved, as if he were murmuring something in his sleep.


    "Soren?"


    Evangeline tried calling his name, but there was no response.


    She instinctively reached out and touched his forehead.


    It was warm, but he didn''t have a fever.


    Seeing this, Evangeline pulled her jacket from his grasp and paid him no more mind.


    The anti-inmmatory medicine worked quickly. The next morning, Evangeline found that Finn''s fever had broken He looked much more alert than before