Getting patched up

While I'm still examining the carcass of the creature, Nym asks: "You really know everything, don't you?"
Without looking up, I reply: "It's been a custom to pass ALL available information down to the next generation, so it won't be forgotten..."
I chuckle slightly and shrug: "I never thought the information would actually become useful though, since we were stuck on the ship."
I think: 'If only I would remember all of it...I'm pretty sure there are some information that would help us even more...I just hope it'll come back to me when we need it...'

I carefully begin working on the corpse, trying to figure out how it shoots it's needles, when Nym interrupts me: "You should clean yourself up. You reek and your chest is bleeding again."

I blink a few times before looking down at my chest...she's right...I stopped smelling my own scent, but I must be reeking TERRIBLE by now...what did I get on me? Blood, grease, snot...no, the snot probably was washed off when I almost drowned...
Also, my chest starts hurting again.
I think: 'Thanks for reminding me, Nym...or rather my brain that it's supposed to hurt...'

I notice Nym turning around.
Before leaving she says: "I'll go get the gauze and wrap you up after you finish cleaning yourself. Stay close to the edge this time."
Her voice sounds stern, however it feels like it is merely her concern for my well being showing. Cute.
She then adds: "Saving your life from drowning once is enough."
Ouch...that stings...but she's right...I probably should stay close to the borderline... no...there was another word...ah yes, shore, that was it.

She then walks off, leaving me alone with the beast.
Once she's out of earshot I say to the dead creature in front of me: "Well, I guess you'll have to wait...don't go anywhere, you hear me? I'll be right back."
I laugh a little as I head for the shore, my spear still in hand...after all, there's no telling when the scent of blood will attract another predator.

I take off my clothes once more...or what remains of them anyway and slowly step into the water...it's warmer than yesterday, if I'm not mistaken...come to think of it, it FEELS warmer than yesterday too.

I sit down in the shallow water, trying to clean myself as thoroughly as possible, washing off all the dirt, blood and sweat I have accumulated over the past days.
I look over to the clothes on the shore and ponder if I should at least soak them as well, but decide against it...Nym would chew me out again if I strip here.

I get out of the lake, dry myself with the fur and slip back into my pants. when I see Nym coming back...she must have been pretty fast, it's at least 10 minutes on foot from the cave to here...either that, or I spent more time in there than I thought.

As she approaches me with gauze in hand, she slips her gloves on and commands me to stay still.
I think: 'The gloves again...? What is it with her and those gloves?'

When the gauze touches the many wounds on my torso, it feels like a needle is stung into each of them...the water numbed them...but it didn't heal them...obviously.
While Nym is trying to fix up my wounds, I remark: "You keep wearing those things when you get close to me..." while looking at Nym's gloves.

She remains silent for about half a minute...but her movements have slowed down significantly...she seems to be thinking about what I just said.
Eventually she stops halfway. Just when I mean to ask, what's wrong, she pulls off the gloves and continues as if it was nothing special at all...now what gives?

Also, her fingers seem to be shaking now...either she's embarrassed...or she's afraid of something...but of what? I mean...there's nothing but us here...surely she can't be afraid of me any more, right? Not after what we've been through I mean...

Nym interrupts my thoughts by asking: "I already told you that my elders told us that making contact with a Terran would result in death within days, correct?"
I think: 'Ah yeah...yeah, the mentioned something like that...wait, really?!'
For the time being I nod in response...while I have a pretty good idea what's going on, I think it's a good idea for Nym to actually say it...my mother has always told me, that confronting a problem is the first step to solving it, after all.

Nym explains: "Well...because I have been constantly reminded as a seedling not to touch your kind, I slowly grew an extreme phobia."
I furrow a brow, acting like I had no idea and ask: "So wait...this whole time...?"
For myself I think: 'Bullseye...poor girl, what other nightmares did they tell you?'
She continues: "Yes...this whole time I avoided touching you because of it."
I think: 'You're on a good way, Nym...now, why did you take off your gloves today?'
I ask with a bit of a encouraging notion in my voice: "And...?"

She finishes patching me up by tightening the bandage as much as I can...it sends a shock wave of pain through my system, but I try hard not to let it show.
She continues: "And...I finally accept that it was a lie and that I'm not going to die from touching you...after all, we've been rather close lately and I'm still alive."
I think satisfied: 'Good girl...logic to drive the demons away.'

She rubs her hands, apparently trying to get the feel of my skin out of her system...well, small steps are still steps, right?
Upon noticing my look, she says a little meekly: "Sorry...I'm still trying to get over it."

I nod in response and say: "Thanks for fixing me up...but what about you? I mean...you're hurt too."
Nym smiles a little as she says: "It's...it's nothing to worry about. You are to serve as my protector, which is why it is more important that you are well."
I think: 'That's another way to put it, alright...'

I put her under my arm and notice how she momentarily freezes from head to toe.
I think with a bit of a mischievous smile on my lips: "Just helping you fight your demons."
Nym stutters: "P...Please refrain from touching me so familiarly. There is no reason for..."
I interrupt her: "Aww, don't be like that. It's fine! We're friends after all, aren't we?"
Nym stops trying to heave my hand up and freezes again...did I say something wrong?

I let go of her and back off...she seems sad...and I mean really sad...okay, this is freaking me out...time to change the subject.
I look over to the 'Porcupine' creature and say: "How about you help me bringing this critter home? It sure looks to heavy for me alone."
Nym asks: "But...I thought you said we won't eat it...why take it home?"

I reply: "First...so the parasite can't spread, I intend to burn it. Second...those needles...I want to study them. I think they can help us."
Nym seems puzzled and asks: "Help us? How would it help us?"
I explain, that I think that the needles are loaded with that poison and if we use them right, we can definitely increase our chances for hunting.
I also explain the concept of a 'blowpipe' to her, a small tool the children on the ship used to play with each other...as I speak about my childhood, Sarah's laughing face surfaces from the sea of my mind again, but I push it to the side quickly...I've had enough nightmares to live through as of late.

We carefully carry the creature home after I pick up my shirt again. For good measure, I cover the spikes with the wolfs fur, so we don't accidentally poke ourselves with them.
Back at home, Nym goes out to get water, when something falls from her hair.
I look over and ask: "What is that?"
Nym stops and looks at the small metallic object on the ground.

She kneels down to pick it up and says: "Ah yes...my hairpin. I had completely forgotten about it...you see, it's the only thing my mother..."
I stop listening but examine the small item closely...it is made from metal, fairly small and has a pointy side...any way you look at it...it's a needle...just what we need...but how am I going to explain THAT to her?

Nym puts the hairpin back into her hair, where it vanishes completely...no wonder I never noticed it before...how does an item this small keep so much hair together?
Suddenly Nym asks: "Is something wrong, Sirus?"
I shake my head and decide that honesty is the best way to go here.
I point to the pouch in Nym's hand and explain: "This pouch would be a LOT more efficient, if we sewed it shut. I was thinking that we could use your hairpin..."

Nym's face lights up and she hurriedly sits down, pulling the needle from her hair again.
I can't help but wonder, how she could even FIND it so fast, while she has already formed the pouch into a bag, the legs as handles and stuck the needle through the fur.
Only then she complains: "Aww, we don't have any thread...and like this it'll revert to it's previous form as soon as I let go...such a shame..."

I blink a few time, trying to comprehend what Nym was doing just now...not only she was willing to 'soil' the memory of her mother, but she also wanted to sew herself...can she sew? But...how would she...?

Nym smiles at me slyly as she asks: "You seem surprised...you didn't think I could sew, didn't you?"
I put my head behind my head and say: "I'm really easy to read, huh? Yeah, I didn't think you could...but I sure am glad you do."
Nym explains: "Actually, this hairpin IS a sewing needle my mother gave me. I remember her telling me, that it would do me a world of good some day...she probably meant when I would fix up the clothes of my husband, but I'd much rather use it like this...but honestly, the thread is a problem...without it, we're stuck..."

I lean back, trying to think of alternatives...thread...yarn...how are they made...all of a sudden I get an idea...it won't make me any more popular, but at least it's an idea.
I say: "Hair would make a good thread! We take a few single hairs, twirl them together and we should get a thread."

Nym looks over to the wolf fur and objects: "But that hair is way too short...we won't be getting any thread out of that hair."
I sigh and say: "Well, I was kinda thinking about using your hair. It's been well kept and should be strong enough...and it sure is long enough."
Nym touches her hair carefully...obviously she's pondering the decision...we would need quite a bit of thread to make the bag and the clothes...she would, without a doubt, lose a lot of hair...I decide to leave the decision to her...but I really can't think of any alternatives...