@five16 held a [ DAMP ] cloth against Caitlyn's forehead to combat her fever
Bright blue eyes fluttered open as a sharp, involuntary hiss escaped her lips as the icy touch of the damp cloth sent a jolt through her overheated body. The shock was immediate, her muscles tensing as if trying to brace against the unwelcome sensation. Her hand shot up, trembling slightly, and she tried weakly to shove the cloth away.
❝ Ugh, what the hell? That’s freezing — get it off me,❞ she mumbled, her voice hoarse and breaking apart, an attempt at sounding tough despite the weakness behind it. The effort didn’t hold; her arm dropped limply back to the bed, unable to fight gravity or the bone-deep fatigue weighing her down. She squeezed her eyes shut again, as if closing them could block out the piercing cold and the burning pain coursing through her.
Her whole body felt unbearably heavy, every muscle dragging like it was pinned beneath a crushing weight. The fever raged through her, turning her skin to fire, while the deep, aching throb of her injuries refused to relent. The clash between the searing heat and the biting cold only heightened her discomfort, leaving her too exhausted to fight, too overwhelmed to find relief. A shaky breath escaped her, more a sigh of frustration than anything else. Even in this miserable state, a flicker of stubborn defiance lingered in her tone.
❝ Seriously, Vi,❞ she whispered faintly, her voice barely audible, ❝ this isn’t helping…❞ But even as she complained, her body betrayed her, sinking deeper into the mattress as fatigue overtook her once more.













