She flinched, whimpering slightly. “Hell… it hurts bad…” she complained, her arm twitching a little as if she were going to draw it into her side. She didn’t. She stayed still.
Juniper looked to Astrid, smiling weakly. She closed her eyes when he began to dab at it, wincing in pain.
Jesse's eyes trailed up Juniper's eyes as he held his breath.
"We have some leftover hydrogen peroxide to keep the wound from infecting, but it's going to sting a lot."
Astrid flinched at the thought of the hydrogen peroxide, knowing that the time it takes to clean even a mere scrape still hurts like hell.
"I won't apply it if you don't want to, but with how the wound looks, it's your best option."
“Do it. I would rather a clean wound with pain than an infected one.” She stated firmly, her hands clenching into fists. She knew this was going to hurt like heck. “Just, keep it slow, ok?” She bit her lip and waited for the sting, wondering if he had the peroxide on him or not.
“Man this is going to hurt.” She whined, opening her eyes to glance at Astrid. “I don’t like Peroxide on small scratch’s and scuffs but on something like this?”
Astrid winced before Jesse even had the bottle as she listened to Juniper preparing herself.
"Do you need a pillow to squeeze, or scream into?"
Jesse closed a cabinet door and returned with a brown bottle. "You can't squeeze with your wounded arm, it'll tense up and circulate blood. You can squeeze the other arm, though." He informed, bending his knees again, holding the towel at a more dry area.
"You ready?" He whispers, not really waiting for an answer as he pours the formula onto the dry part of the towel and slowly applies it to the wound.
“No I’ll be ok.” She murmured, relaxing her arm. She stared at Astrid, refusing to watch. “Yes I’m rea-“ Her eyes widened and she was cut off as pain seared up her arm. Her teeth clenched and a muffled scream fell through her teeth.
“Hell that burns!” She cried out, her eyes watering.
Jesse resisted the urge to flinch as he stiffened himself, still needing to maintain his composure, at least while he patches Juniper up. He allowed the formula to do it's job, the spots that it had touched started to bubble a bit, eating away at the possibilities of infection.
Astrid, on the other hand, felt her heart jump at Juniper's cry. Astrid shuddered aggressively as her throat tightened in an attempt to avoid crying.
"Almost done, the pain will end in a matter of seconds."
Jesse reassured, reaching for the clean bandages to wrap around the wound.
Juniper cussed some more, holding her head in her free palm. As the pain began to fade away she glanced up at Jesse, tears streaming down her face.
“Thanks again…” she murmured. “You two are the best things that ever happened to me.”
Astrid's face relaxed at Juniper's words, but the hint of anxiety still underlined her expression.
"I'm glad there's still soft-hearted people like you, Juniper."
Jesse quickly stood up from the floor with a satisfied sigh.
"Alright, all patched up. If it starts acting up, let me know, cause it's definitely something we need to worry about."
Juniper smiled at her words, shifting happily. She was wanted and loved and it felt wonderful. “I’ll be sure to tell you. It’s already feeling better. Minus the burn from the peroxide.” Shejoked, laughing softly.
Juniper stretched out her arms, testing the bandage.
"I'm glad Jesse's able to patch up your wounds," Astrid began, a little shakily and tired, but still managed to formulate comprehensive sentences. "I'd be too scared to do that."
Jesse eyed the window, noticing the sun's last hint of a sliver slipping down beyond the horizon, blowing up an array of pinks, purples, and orange hues throughout the sky, like a painting.
"We should get to sleep now if we want to wake up early." Jesse muttered, making his way down the hall. "Goodnight you two, sleep well."
Juniper nodded softly, looking out at the fading sun. “We should head off. Goodnight you two. Thank you again.” She murmured, laying her head down and pulling the blanket over her body. “You’re amazing and I’m definitely coming back.”
Astrid smiled from ear to ear as she bid Juniper goodnight and retreated to her room, washing herself off and changing into pajamas. She plopped herself down onto her bed and fell asleep within minutes.
The sleep was oddly better than any sleep she's ever had. Despite waking up early-before the sun even rose- and lying awake in deep thought for who knows how long, she managed to fall back asleep and wake up fully refreshed. Jesse seemed in a good mood when he woke her up, too. Was this their first good night's sleep?
Juniper had her second best good nights sleep that night. She woke feeling refreshed and happy, stretching out her arms, she studied the bandages, sighing softly. They weren’t red. That was a good sign. She slid to the bag of food and resources they had been given, sorting through the foods they could take and what tools they’d need.
There was a lot but she had it done in no time. They”d be on their way to find Roger in no time. All she had to do was cash in a few more items and they could be on their way. She glanced around, making sure she wasn’t forgetting anything. Her eyes fell onto the bag Jesse had prepared for her. She brought the whole thing, smiling warmly as she pushed the water bottles into another bag.
Astrid managed to put on a few clean clothes, but she insisted on wearing her over-sized jacket along with everything she wore. Jesse nearly returned to his bed, but Astrid reminded him they have plans, to which Jesse grumbled sleepily and trudged down the hall to the main room.
"We're going to hold out on breakfast until the sun rises, but we have to be careful of the creatures; some of them still wander around right before sunrise."
Jesse informs Astrid, taking out a few apples for later on in the day.
Juniper nodded softly, hearing Jesse’s voice. “Some even prowl during the day once you get far enough from this city.” She called, grabbing her now-filled bag. She walked to the two other beings, smiling at them.
“Do you have any old blankets you wouldn’t mind ruining?”
Astrid and Jesse exchanged confused glances with each other before Astrid nodded.
"Just a few," Astrid muttered before taking a few steps into the hallway, opening a closet and pulling out two already ruined blankets that had been worn and coated in dirt.
"Why?" Jesse asked as Astrid handed Juniper the blankets.
Juniper took the blankets happily. “It gets colder than hell out there. I want to make sure you two are warm. That and it’s nice having a blanket to sleep with.” She told them gently. The blankets were shoved into her bag and she lifted it to put it on, sighing softly.
“You two ready?” She asked softly, eyeing them carefully.
Astrid nodded confidently, her eyes quickly trailing the house one last time as she prepares herself to set out for the longest, furthest walk she's ever taken. She couldn't be more excited for the possibility of her brothers reuniting finally. Even if Roger had become like a street rat, Astrid was willing to accept him. Even if Roger had become a rich man, living life in the floating cities and only visiting the towns below, Astrid was willing to accept that. She just wanted to see her brother again.
"Let's go." She uttered with soft determination.
Juniper nodded curtly, opening the door to the house and gesturing for them to exit before her. “Nothing will happen to the house right?” She asked slowly, softly. Her eyes wandered around the neighborhood. It looked safe enough.
She turned back to Astrid, grinning st her happy face. She hoped she could help find this brother for Astrid.
Jesse shook his head, pointing behind him with his thumb.
"Polly takes care of it. She doesn't want strangers getting anywhere near the house of her best friend."
From Jesse's explanation, he sounded like he was in a good mood.
"See ya in a bit, Polly," Jesse called to the dog as he stationed himself in front of the house, wagging his tail patiently.
“Oh. Good…” she blinked at the dog, still afraid of it. “Bye Polly…” She said weakly, sliding around the dog.
She looked at Astrid and smiled softly. “Alright, Let’s go…”
Polly let out an affirmative, and somehow very friendly, bark. Astrid giggled and with that, they set off. Astrid managed to grow lost in thought during the walk, as she allowed herself to do that every morning, but Jesse still struggled to calm down. His eyes shifted everywhere, his hand shaking very slightly, and occasionally resorting to fidgeting as he hung his head a little low.
Juniper noticed his fidgeting and moved to his side, gently grabbing his hand and squeezing it. “Hey, it’s alright…” she said softly. Smiling at him. “It will all be ok.” She murmured. “Nothing will happen. I’ll make sure of that.”
Jesse's face nearly flushed as he nodded at Juniper, attempting to hold himself back as he revealed a gentle, soft smile.
"Thank you, I'm sorry I was so untrusting at first," Jesse stuttered, clearly forcing his words as all linguistics escaped him.
He heard Astrid giggling behind him, and he knew she'd tease him at every opportunity.
Juniper smiled softly at him, a light blush coating her face. She let go of his hand and brushed a strand of her face out of her eyes and laughed nervously. “L-Let’s go, Shall we?” She asked softly, smiling at him.
She looked to Astrid and giggled. “Your brother is a little nervous.”
"More than a little," Astrid giggled as Jesse hid his red face, pushing Astrid as she snickered.
"I'll turn this party around." Jesse threatened, warranting a laugh from Astrid.
"I'm older!" She retaliated, stuffing her hands in her oversized jacket pocket.
Juniper blushed lightly, giggling. “Just a little more.” She winked, moving to nudge Jesse.
She listened to them talk and laughed softly. “Now come on you two. Let’s keep going.”
Astrid continued her stifled laughter, but once they reached the farthest Astrid had been on her morning walks, it was her turn to be nervous. She paused, her steps starting to grow a little shakey, as she looked up at Juniper and Jesse in anticipation. Jesse returned to Astrid's side and, without getting too uncomfortably close, attempting to nudge and encourage Astrid further.
"C'mon, I'm right here, and I'm okay with you going further," Jesse spoke in a calm voice, one that he doesn't use too often.
Juniper walked with confidence, smiling softly. She couldn’t wait to get back out there and show these two the world. And to help them find their brother.
“Aren’t you two excited?” She asked, grinning, laughing. “It’s so scary out there but it is also thrilling!”
Astrid nodded, her eyes gazing at the sight around her. The streets started growing busy with more lively people. They walked around like they had somewhere to be, determination and confidence in their eyes. The orange tint of the leaves on the ground adding a sense of beautiful autumn int he scenery. If it was this lovely just down here, what would it be like in the floating cities? Was it as beautiful and natural as this?