East

"Good. I could eat a goat."

I sat back and watched as Grumpy - whose real name I had learned was Temujin - brought him food and water. The two interacted with familiarity that led me to believe they had grown up together. Batu's energy flagged after his meal, and he lay down for another nap.

It took another week before he was on his feet most of the day. As I noticed with Temujin, there were lingering effects, even after they appeared fully healed. Fatigue was one, and both men wore down more easily than before.

A full six weeks after I entered the plague tent, I returned to the main camp with the two men.

The weather had changed suddenly a week before, plunging us into a chilly autumn. Ghoajin had brought me extra coverings, but I burned pretty much everything before returning, so we came back in the bare minimum after all three of us had cold baths in the stream nearby. With wet hair and shivering, I stood aside as the two warriors greeted happy family members and received congratulations for being spared by the Eternal Blue Sky. I watched both for signs of fatigue or illness and was pleased both appeared to be healthy and upbeat, though I knew the road to full recovery was long.

It was decided there would be a feast in honor of the survivors this evening, and I walked away with Batu towards our tent. The only thing on my mind: sleeping. Hopefully for a week or so.

Entering the familiar ger, I found myself smiling as I looked around. If I had learned one thing from the sick tent, it was that I didn't want to take for granted that Batu was alive or that we were healthy and comfortable. There were no luxuries here, but I was learning there was something more important than material things: companionship, family and their link to survival.

He grunted as he sat on the ground beside the fire.

"What's wrong? Are you feeling ill?" I asked immediately.

"Be at peace, ugly one," he replied. "My body is healing. It will take some time."

I relaxed. "You sure?"

He met my gaze, amused. "As certain as I am that you need rest."

"I'm fine. My skill is immunity to disease," I said with no small amount of triumph. "It's the only thing I'm better than you at."

He laughed.

"But yes, I do need a nap." I crossed to the bed and dropped into it with a groan. "Oh, god! I forgot how comfortable anywhere but the ground is."

"Do you wish a song? Or a companion?"