Lan and Sorraru - Rain

Lan looked behind himself at her – Sorraru. She was sitting on the ground, her back against the wall. Water was dripping onto her leg. He looked up and noticed a hole that was letting in the rain that pelted relentlessly against the shelter roof. She must have been cold, but she didn’t seem to notice, or didn’t care. Her eyes were closed, so she couldn’t see Lan’s worried expression. There was a sheen of sweat across her forehead.

Lan wondered how she could have gotten so sick so fast. There were no signs of her illness a week ago. Then again, if there was anything they had learnt in this place, it was how fast your situation could change in a week. Many times they had both nearly died of dehydration, starvation, exposure, illness, injuries. But Lan had not seen Sorraru this sick before, nor been himself. Then again, this was a whole different type of illness.

Lan wondered if Sorraru might die. What would happen to him if she did? With all they’d been through, he knew now he could not survive here on his own. What would The Man do if Sorraru died? Would he act before then and pull them both out? Or maybe just her? Many questions raced through Lan’s head. One thing was certain to him – he could not be without Sorraru now.

Lan heard Sorraru stir behind him as he faced the sheeting rain.

“It’s still raining?” Her voice was hoarse and crackly.

Lan turned and retreated back into the dry of the shelter. “Yes,” He replied. “It has been keeping up for over a day now."

Lan crouched down and grabbed his canvas pack from the cold ground. He reached inside and retrieved his water canteen, shaking it to make sure it was still full and hadn’t leaked. He removed the cap and offered it to Sorraru who took it gratefully. It gave him relief to see she was still able to move.

“Thank you,” She said fervently and touched the canteen to her cracked lips.

Lan watched her closely as she drank in controlled gulps. Though she was clearly unwell, she did not seem unfit as he expected. She still looked like she could get up and hunt if the need arose. And the need would soon arise as their dwindling supplies indicated. His canteen was the only water supply remaining. They could fill their water containers from the falling rain, but there was no way of knowing if it was safe to drink. The Man had played tricks like that on them before. When he poisoned the river, he'd made them both sick for days.

Their food supplies would hold for now, especially since Sorraru wasn’t eating much for fear of bringing it back up. But they would have to hunt before the week was up. The most important things they needed right now were water purifiers and radiation meds. The only places they could get those were at Checkpoints, and who knew how far away the nearest one could be? They may have to abandon their shelter and some of their supplies to search.

Lan was patient at the worst of times, but soon he would insist they go. Sorraru would come with him even if she may not be fit. He couldn’t possibly leave her there, she may get attacked by wild animals or agents of The Man. He sent them sometimes to keep Lan and Sorraru on their toes. Sorraru did not take more of the water than she needed. She smiled at Lan appreciatively and handed the canteen back to him. He took it, managing a smile, and returned it to his pack. Sorraru leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes wearily. No, Lan wasn’t sure whether or not she would have the strength to leave. But certainly he wasn’t prepared to wait until she got worse.