(Artwork by:prairiemule)

The fever gripped Mary Beth tightly, its talons seizing her body in a relentless vise. She thrashed upon the sweat-soaked sheets as scenes from her scattered mind played out. One moment she was fleeing through a dark forest, the gnarled branches clutching at her dress. The next, she stood upon a cliff's edge with the roar of the ocean below beckoning her towards the jagged rocks.

When clarity returned, it was your face hovering above pressing a cool cloth to her brow. "You alright, Dutch told me to keep an eye on you while you're stuck here." you said softly. Mary Beth shuddered beneath the blankets as another wave of fever washed over her. "I appreciate you being here, but you're gonna get sick being this close to me." she muttered weakly.

Gently, you brushed her damp hair back. "Can I get you anything? Water? Broth maybe?" At the thought of food, Mary Beth's stomach churned. But your kind eyes anchored her, a port in the storm of illness. "No...stay, I don't need anything, I'd rather have someone to talk to. I don't like the fever dreams." You obliged with her request. Pulling up a crate.