>>6069348You and Cora ran until your aching legs could run no more. They felt like splinters beneath your leg, mere accessories to your torso, finally wearing out their welcome and stumbling to a crawl.
Cora was the first to go. It wasn't much wonder as to why the sedentary nurse who spent most of her days at a small clinic was less fit than the renegade farm boy who took it upon himself to walk to the big city for his dreams. She soon took on the role of director, pointing you towards narrower areas that'd hopefully shake the demons while guiding you vaguely towards her house. "I don't know whether it'll be safe, but we're running out of options," she'd thought aloud.
When you finally caved, you considered yourself incredibly lucky to have made it far enough to spot a railroad in the distance. Not far off from that was the small house Cora had mentioned before.
From a distance, it looked rather shoddy. Built out of the same wood as the rest of the town, yet upon a stony shore which seemed to provide it significantly less stability than the stronger houses you'd seen upon Shenanigan Gulch's soil earlier on your trip. The roof especially seemed to be slanted towards the front and almost sliding off of the back. It reminded you of the shack on the river where you'd kept fertilizer back home.
The house was almost twenty feet away. Your feet refused to make the journey. You <span class="mu-i">needed</span> rest more than anything in that moment. Even the riverbank upon which you now sat did not tempt your thirst with its steady stream. You were too tired to stop and quench it.
Cora lay not far from you. Unlike yourself, she was taking full advantage of the river's offerings, sipping from the bank and splashing her hair. You wondered if she was used to this. "Is that your house over there?" Just to make sure.
The nurse glanced back at you and nodded, too tired for words. She returned to letting her bandaged hand soak.
More time passed. You were enjoying the peace but found it hard not to be restless. The sooner you could get to shelter the better, and you were incredibly exposed out here. The Gulch was but a few winding paths south, while the riverbank was wide and lengthy. You could even see strange fish pervading it, larger than any you'd ever seen with sharp fins and enormous jaws. Their lack of aggression was a miracle and you weren't convinced that it would last.
