I see a wolf towering above me. I feel my courage melting away and start to panic. Her huge
body approaches me, luminous eyes glinting. Perhaps I can tame her into going away? She seems
gentle and kind. If she’s a-
“Run!” I hear Nergüi gasp. I leap away just in time as the wolf lunges toward me, her eyes
alert and her hind legs springing. What should I do? No, I must kill the wolf. No, it’s disgusting.
Stop arguing with yourself! Just be brave and kill her!
Glancing at the pocketknife in my hands, I don’t know what came over me, or how I did it. I
only hear a popping sound as my blade punctures the wolf’s skin.
Glancing down, I see warm, red blood dripping down. The wolf is on her side and she’s
injured. I draw my pocket knife out of her flesh and run back to Nergüi.
Her wounds are deeper than I thought; I had no idea how serious they were. Purple and
green bruises line her elbows and knees. There’s a long gash along her left calf and her arms are
badly scraped.
I help her up, half hobbling, half stumbling back to the tent.
I can’t possibly treat an injury like Nergüi’s with the limited goods I have. I give her some
water for her wounds. While I do that, she cries out in agony. I then pour all of the antiseptic
liquid on her wounds. Lastly, using bandage cloth, I wrap it tightly over her wounds.
Too tired think about anything anymore, I fall asleep.
When I next wake up, it is already bright outside. Glancing at Nergüi, she seems fine. I look at
her and she blinks a few times. “Water,” she cries out weakly. “Food.” Before feeding her, I feel her
forehead. It burns like lava.
Rushing outside, I gather some food and stare down at my empty flask. I dig for a long time
before finally reaching a small puddle of water.
Along with the last of the bread and meat, I rush back inside. I tell Nergüi that there’s food.
“No! Go away from me!” she yells. “Help!” her arms flail around wildly, but I hold them down.
Inching closer to her, I stroke her until she finally calms down and nods off.
She has not drunk any water in more than half a day. Worried, I see her hands trembling. Her
heart is beating fast. Peeling off the bandages, I notice that her condition has gotten worse. Bruise-
like spots have formed on her skin. Assuming she isn’t asleep, I shake her. She doesn’t wake up.
Looking closely, she doesn’t look like she’s sleeping. She looks abnormally still. She’s unconscious!
I can’t stay here anymore; Nergüi needs help. I don’t know why she’s like this, but I need to do
something about it. I don’t know.
Finally deciding to move on and carry Nergüi with me, I pack up my bags and let her sit
on the horse. I am dehydrated; my flask is almost empty. I am ravenous and my strength is
dissolving. My feet shake with every step.
We’re not going to make it, Chulunn. Face it. You’re going to die!
Then, I see a house nearby. My heart fills with hope. A small group of huts, with people
standing outside. Must get there. The land swirls. My vision blurs.
Go forward. I’m losing control. Someone’s calling me, but I can’t make out what she’s saying.
What’s coming over me? I can see things, but I don’t really see them. I don’t understand what I see
or what she’s saying. A voidlike haze separates my cornea from the world. I feel lightheaded and
faint; I can feel myself losing consciousness. Suddenly, nothing.
“Wake up.” I hear a gentle voice somewhere in the distance. “You’re safe.” Someone dabs a wet
rag on my forehead. It takes me a few moments to register what she said.
