Synopsis

The chapter opens with the main character caring for a child who passed out after spending the night clearing leaves off his head. They realize the child is severely ill with a fever, likely from a cold, and remember past lessons on caring for sick children. The character then tends to the child's needs, from cleaning him to preparing special food, and grapples with the unexpected shift in their own behavior from self-preservation to nurturing. As the child wakes, it's revealed that they are scarred and deeply scared, suggesting a history of abuse and mistrust.