章 256: The Fugitive's Plight (4)

The woman's head lolled weakly, her hollow eyes fluttering open just enough to register the water. Her chapped lips quivered as the first few drops touched them, and something faint, fragile but alive, stirred within her. With a desperate gasp, she latched onto the waterskin, her entire body trembling as she drank greedily, as though each sip was the only thing tethering her to life.

Her thin, skeletal fingers twitched feebly, as if trying to grab hold of the waterskin. They lacked the strength even to curl fully, falling back limply. Drystan adjusted his grip, holding it steady for her, his movements painstakingly gentle. Each gulp she took cut through the tense silence, the sound harsh and raw, stabbing at Drystan's heart like a dagger.

"Take it easy," he murmured, his voice cracking under the weight of his emotions. His hand steadied the waterskin as he slowed the flow. When she drank too fast, he gently pulled it back. "You'll choke. Easy now."