I awoke to the feeling of my head exploding with every heartbeat. I tried and failed repeatedly to open for eyes for several seconds before they finally responded. Still seeing nothing I considered my experience may have blinded me.

After a moment I could make out the pinpricks of light from the stars coming into focus, no moon but I’m pretty sure that was to be expected though it was all a little hazy.

My mind slowly gathered itself. I noticed the sand against my back and a light breeze against my face. I heard a soft sniffling sound and turned towards it.

“K-AY” My voice was hoarse and I could barely get anything out.

Kaylee’s head snapped towards me and she squealed.

She threw herself at me and I tried desperately to get my arms to respond long enough to push her off before she suffocated me. My breath was coming in shallow gasps and I could feel sharp stabbing pains from my chest. she must have finally noticed the difficulty I had because she withdrew sheepishly.

“Sorry! You must be thirsty! Stay here! I’ll get some water!”

Stay here. Right.

“Looks like the wounds on your chest opened a bit. I’ll seal them right up.”

Her finger traced over my skin and white scar tissue followed behind.

Then she moved to my face, her soft fingers opening my lips.

I felt cool water splash against my tongue.

Too much.

I could barely swallow and coughed as gravity carried it to my lungs.

“Sorry! Sorry!”

Kaylee lifted me to a sitting position and tried once more, slowly this time.

After several large gulps, I could feel my eyes growing heavy. I took one last look at Kaylee’s face before dozing off again.

I awoke to feel of the ground moving underneath me. I watched the sun pass over me while becoming fully aware and then tried to speak.

“Kaylee,” I rasped.

The ground stopped moving.

“What are we doing?”

“Going back to the old camp.” She said.

“And how are we getting there?”

“I made a sled from some bones and the tent fabric. We’re dragging you.”

“We? Am I dragging something?” I asked.

“Me and the dog,” she replied exasperated.

“Dog? isn’t he dead again?”

Kaylee walked over and crouched above me.

“Wha-”

She poured water into my mouth causing me to focus on not choking. But she didn’t seem bothered by my coughing this time and just waited till I finished before pouring with gusto once again.

.

“Well be there soon,” she spoke as she continued.

I glared at her.

Maybe.

I'm not entirely sure I was up to glaring at the moment.

She smiled but said nothing, emptying the rest of the contents of the skin onto my head.

“Unless you drown me first.” I sputtered.

I gave up asking questions and laid there watching as the sun passed overhead. It was peaceful almost, the only sound an occasional grunting from Kaylee as she strained against the weight of the sled.

I couldn’t remember the last time I’d relaxed.

Then I remembered my night with Kaylee in the tent and smiled. But even that took some work, worthwhile perhaps but work all the same.

After a while relaxing my mind grew restless, and I meditated. Focusing inside myself I found and fixed the worst injuries. I killed off the dead and dying bits of me to be raised once more.

As the sun started its way back down the sled came to a stop.

I felt much better. I was still weak and the inside of my throat likely looked white from all the reanimated flesh but at least I could speak.

I sat up and noticed a small bundle of supplies surrounded me on the edges of the sled. Turning around, I saw the dog was equally encumbered. I almost laughed as I saw the griffon feathers tied to one ear. She’d apparently taken the loot with us.

I closed my eyes and laid back once more when I heard her speaking softly.

“What happened back there?”

I considered her question.

“I don’t know,” I replied.

“What do you mean? That was your doing wasn’t it?” she asked.

I shrugged.

“Kind of.”

“What’s that supposed to mean! I watched both of us get killed! Was that like our soul being released? Are we undead too now?”

“I’m pretty sure we went to the ethereal plane. It’s a place between the living and the dead. I’m not sure how it happened though. I’ve never been able to send more than a small part of myself there at one time.”

“Your eyes...” She said. “They went white, That’s the second time you’ve done that.”

“Well, I don’t know about that either,” I shrugged.

“You saved my life.”

She sat silent for several seconds apparently she was waiting for me to say something.

“Yes, well, I’d have chosen the priestess but those bitches believe in remaining completely “pure“ and “natural“ no trimming for them. get her in a dress a half an inch long and people ask her why she was standing on her head." I replied.

"Easy for them to avoid a pregnancy though, you‘d need half the king's groundskeepers just to figure out if you‘re stickin’ it in the right hole.”

Her soft laughter grew closer.

“Ryzen?” she asked

“Yes?” I said.

“I’m ready for bed,” she replied.