Good Instincts 1.16 - ING. VERSIÓN

-How is the boy?- asked Kratos to Faye.

After eliminating the draugrs, Kratos took Viggo back to the house. He was already on his second day unconscious. He had been laid on Atreus' bed and Faye took care of him by giving him all kinds of medicine.

At that moment, the campfire in front of the beds burned illuminating that part of the house, next to the sunlight that entered through the opening in the ceiling.

Faye was sitting on the side of the bed, putting cold cloths on Viggo's forehead. The latter was lying on Atreus' bed, looked pale and weak.

Faye took the cloth from Viggo's forehead, dipped it in a bowl of water, squeezed it and put it back on his forehead. Then she looked back and with a face full of worry, she said -he is very weak, his internal organs were severely damaged. It is a miracle that he is alive, but the worst is over. However, it will be a long time before he can return to training-

Kratos looked at Viggo lying on the bed and muttered –recover soon, boy, your training is just beginning-

On the other side of the bed, little Atreus was standing, looking at Viggo with eyes full of sorrow. He looked up and saw his father, then frowned and felt like yelling at him a lot of things, but he was afraid. So, he just lowered his gaze and turned to look at Viggo.

-Don't you have any way to contact Mr. Xiao?- asked Faye.

Kratos denied and pursed his nose, letting out a faint growl.

After that, they continued to take care of Viggo for a week, but he never woke up. Only on the eighth day, Viggo woke up at dawn. He stood up and began to walk among wobbles, as if drunk.

Kratos picked up a sound and opened his eyes. He heard the footsteps through the floorboards and sat on his bed to see what it was. He only saw a thin silhouette, short stature and youthful. The door opened gently, and the whitish moonlight illuminated a red hair. Kratos stood up, trying to avoid waking Faye. Then he walked through the house in complete silence and opened the door as smoothly as he could. Once he came out, he closed the door and looked at the surroundings. Only the dark, damp earth illuminated by the moon was visible. A strong breeze was blowing, rocking the trees and their branches creaking. In the distance an owl could be heard and the howling of the wind.

-Boy, boy- Kratos said below -Where did you get in? You are not in condition to walk-

However, no one answered. Then Kratos walked to his right, advanced to the corner of the house and turned around to stand in front of the shed. The roof was above the stacked logs and made everything look too dark, but a couple of meters beyond the shed, Kratos saw a thin silhouette advancing between wobbles.

Kratos let out a growl and advanced through the shed, passing by the side of the logs and reaching the figure in a dozen steps.

-Boy, what are you doing?- ask

Viggo put his hand to his face and talk like a drunk —I'm going to, I'm going to my cave. My body hurts and, and I'm going to get a medicine-

Kratos let out a growl and said -ok, I'll be watching you in case you faint-

-Thank you- replied Viggo and moved forward, with Kratos by his side. He felt weak and sore. He imagined having eaten glass and that, as it passed through his stomach, he cut off his intestines inside.

-Where did you get that medicine you're talking about?- asked Kratos.

-Old Xiao- said Viggo moving forward at a slow pace and with difficulty -he told me, that he would leave me books on medicine in place of me, power. Lie, it's the books, which my old man had. It's the books, which my dad made with his friend- Viggo stopped next to a pine tree and rested his left hand on his trunk feeling the rough bark. Then he put his right hand to his mouth and gagging, as if he wanted to vomit. However, the desire was endured. Then he continued to advance until he reached in front of a rock wall and said -I go, and I come back-

Then he walked straight to the rocky wall that was illuminated by the moonlight and pierced it as if it were a mirage. Kratos stood outside, arms folded and waiting. Somewhat annoyed by the refuge that gave the primordial to Viggo. If something happened to him inside the cave, he would be alone and no one could help him.

-Ouch- a scream sounded from the cave

-What's going on, boy?- roared Kratos, somewhat worried.

-I'm fine- replied Viggo from the inside -just hit me with the furniture on my feet-

Kratos took a deep breath and let out a sigh. Then he folded his arms again and waited for the boy to come out. Viggo only came out five minutes later, the whitish moonlight passing through the foliage of the trees and illuminating his face.

Kratos looked at his face and noticed the sparkle in his eyes and the blush on his cheeks. He was much better, he thought.

-Anything to say?- asked Kratos frowning.

-I'm sor...- Viggo was going to say, but he closed his lips. He raised his face and looked Kratos in the eye –I will be better, much better. I will not let anything surprise me and I will be much more skilled and faster than anyone in this world-

Kratos let out a growl and said -let it serve as a lesson. You deconcentrated for a moment and they almost killed you. The battlefield is not for curious boy, but for disciplined warriors. I hope you don't forget-

-I won't forget- replied Viggo.

Kratos nodded and asked –that medicine, where did you get it from?-

-I made it, old Xiao said he would leave me some books of medicines and plants. Stress that they would be very useful once he is injured. Until this moment I did not measure how much-

-You said something about your father-

-Yes, my father, he has some smart friends. One of them is a god of medicine-

-God?-

-Yes, but it's not what you think. This is a poor god, who lives to help people and give his knowledge to his disciples.

-There are no good gods-

-You don't know them all- Viggo said, looking into his eyes. Kratos frowned and turned his back to him, not much desire to hear about a benevolent god. He began to walk leaving Viggo standing in front of the rock face, the cover of his cave.

-Rest for today- said Kratos moving towards his home, the moon illuminated his stocky back- tomorrow you will be examined by Faye and if you find yourself fit, we will continue training. You're not ready yet-

-I'll be better- replied Viggo. Kratos stopped under the shade of a tree and looked back. Viggo could see the sharp glow in his eyes. Then Kratos nodded and kept walking, disappearing into the shadows of the night. Only his footsteps could be heard as he moved forward.

On the other hand, Viggo raised his gaze and saw the whitish moon. Eternal, big and beautiful. He closed his eyes and stretched out his arms as he felt the refreshing night breeze. After a while, he opened his eyes, looking once again at the moon, and turned his back to return to his cave. Once he took six steps into the cave, he stuck himself on the foot with the base of the furniture where he kept his clothes. He croung down and grabbed his foot.

-Ouch- he said in pain as he stuck to the little finger of his right foot -I need to learn how to make candles. I need it-

Then he stood up and began to grop with his hands in front. He found the furniture on his right and his bed on his left. He slid on his bed and lay on his back. Everything was dark, but the soft feather mattress was the sky.

-How can he sleep in such a hard bed?- he wondered thinking of Atreus' bed.

After that, he closed his eyes and almost at the same instant began to sleep from exhaustion. The medicine was good, very good. Made with a base of mushrooms from the mountains. Most of the ingredients were found in the forest, next to Kratos' house. But in turn all the ingredients (mushrooms, mixed with a solution of sap tree, honey and other wild plants) gave you the terrible need to sleep.

Viggo slept for two days and only woke up on the third day with a terrible hunger. Once he came out of his cave, he found Atreus sitting on a log, facing the stone wall.

Viggo narrowed his eyes and brought his hand to his eyes to wear as a visor. The sunlight high in the sky was very strong for his eyes –what are you doing sitting there? – he asked with a smiled.

However, Atreus remained silent. He stood up and moved forward pouting and once he got in front of Viggo, hugged him. Then he burst into tears with all his strength and Viggo got a lump in his throat to hear him cry so heartbroken. Viggo hugged him back and thought, that when he was only five years old and in the middle of this mountain, the only friend Atreus had was him.

-Don't cry- said Viggo in a weak voice about to cry -I'm fine-

-Brother- Atreus said to him in his cries, but it looked like the howl of a little wolf.

Viggo shed tears and embraced him with sorrow in his heart. This place, this mountain, was too lonely a place for a child.

Half an hour later, Atreus burst into tears and together with Viggo went to the house. Viggo pushed the door and saw at the end of the house, Kratos sitting on his bed and Faye sitting on Atreus's. They were one meter away from each other, chatting about something. Kratos and Faye stopped chatting and both looked at him. Viggo made an uncomfortable smile and moved forward along with Atreus. He closed the door and walked until he stopped in front of the campfire. I take a log, which was often used as a seat and place it aside. He sat down and stretched his hands to warm up to the heat of the campfire.

-How are you Viggo?- asked Faye.

-Fine, much better- said Viggo, giving her a brief glance and then bowing his gaze.

-Faye, serve him something to eat- Kratos said -we must resume our training-

-But Viggo!- said Atreus, raising his voice. Kratos just looked into his eyes for a moment, and his mouth became mute. Atreus looked down and went to sit next to his mother. At the same time, Faye hugged Atreus and looked at Kratos with a frown. The latter just grumped and stood up, to walk to the door.

-It's okay, Atreus- said Viggo, noticing his little friend somewhat sad -I came to train and if I stop now, all the effort I have put in these months will be in vain-

Atreus nodded pouting, then became attached to his mother. Faye looked at Viggo and smiled happily, as her little one had a friend.