#so don't ask things like: “where's Fu?” or “How did Lan Fan lose her arm?” etc

[theyoungprinceling]

Ling entered the abandoned cabin where he left Lan Fan resting. It was a long trek going from a town to a more forested area but he had to get more supplies to help with Lan Fan's injury. He also had to stock up on water and food all the while keeping away from any authority figures.

Lan Fan hadn't moved from her spot, close to one of the windows, with a makeshift pillow under her head and Ling's jacket as a blanket. The cloth he used for her forehead had slipped off. After her arm was severed she started to run a fever and he tried to keep her cool. Ling had debated constantly if he should go straight to a doctor but he couldn't risk the both of them being deported or arrested the moment that was done.

In the meantime, Lan Fan had to deal with Ling's patch work. He really wasn't cut out for it. Fu had taught him things to help with injuries but nothing as serious as a lost limb. There had been a few times while he was patching up Lan Fan that he thought he lost her, she stopped responding and moving. Thankfully, he managed to get her to a more stable condition, and she was in as good a shape as Ling could get her in on his own. She was still in pain but at least she wasn't in a dying state.

He sat next to her after he placed his items down. She'd been sweating more during his time away but her breathing was even. Ling gently brushed the bangs out of her eyes to stir her. She could sleep again once he got some water in her.

Lan Fan barely managed to open her eyes, no less keep them open, but she smiled when she saw Ling. "I'm sorry I took so long. There were people I needed to avoid."

Although Lan Fan already knew that. She knew their situation was delicate. Around people who didn't know them, didn't realize they were illegal immigrants, they were okay. Around authority figures who knew the residents, they would more likely than not get questioned and that was the last thing they needed.

Ling placed his hand under her head and lifted it the slightest bit so she could drink the water without choking. She drank more than half the glass, which Ling took as a good sign, and then he put her back down on the pillow.

He used the remaining water to pour over the cloth that fell off Lan Fan's forehead. He squeezed out excess water so it wouldn't drip all over her head before he folded it up and placed it back on her forehead. Lan Fan released a quiet sigh and her body seemed to relax as she closed her eyes.

It was just then that Ling got a familiar sensation of a person nearing. He went to the window and looked out to see a small boy with hair bright like the sun and an armoured companion walking next to him. He couldn't make out what they were saying but the small one was speaking animatedly.

This wasn't good. Ling doubted they went out specifically looking for him and Lan Fan, but they could still be people who could turn them in if they saw and realized.

Ling went back to Lan Fan- she seemed to have fallen asleep again- and stroked the top of her head gently. He noticed it still felt warm despite the cloth he put on her. Even if she was asleep and couldn't hear him, Ling felt the need to reassure her.

"Hold on. I'll take care of this."

Ling stood and left the cabin and he really wished the thing had a door he could close. Although the small boy and his armoured companion were still a decent ways away, they could've seen him leave the cabin which added to his stress levels. He couldn't let them see Lan Fan inside. He couldn't let them hurt her further. He couldn't let them kill her, if they were capable of such a thing.

Ling would just have to talk them out of going in this direction. It was the only thing he could think of.