Austin woke up in his bed. His whole body hurt. Every joint was in pain. All in his skin was raw and inflamed, like he rolled around a nettle patch. His head throbbed. When he breathed, or felt like fire scorched his lungs. Every beat of his heart sent waves of pain washing through his body. Every time he focused on one part of the pain, all of the others would feed into a numbing pain, not gone just in the background.

Austin laden is bed with his eyes closed. He tried not to move, the tiniest of motions sent new waves of agony through him. He didn't know how long he was there in the darkness. He just knew every moment was a struggle.

Austin groaned in pain as he opened his eyes, alerting the other person in the room that he was awake. "Austin, you're awake!" Austin slowly turned his head towards the voice. "Ben? Is that you?" His brother Ben moved to the bed and poured Austin some Tranquil Willow Tea. After he drank it most of the pain ebbed away. "That man, Mr Woodley, brought you back like this. Him and Dad had a big fight, and Dad kicked him out. THEN he came back! With an Adjudicator! I was so mad that he got you hurt I was going to fight him!"

Austin knew his brother was on a tangent and there was nothing he could do to snap him out of it until it ran its course. After a few minutes Ben stopped talking and sat in silence with Austin. As Austin's body was recovering enough to move he looked around the room and noticed that it was filled with plants. He noticed some Fire Sage in a small chiminea that was moved into his room keeping it nice and warm. There was a large Dust Lung filtering the air. Sweet Dreams vine was hung around his bed.

The door was kicked open with a bang. A young girl stood in the doorway. "Austin! You've wasted enough of everyone's time! Get up you worthless sack of crap! I'm tired of picking up your slack. Get up before I kick your ass." No one moved for a second after the outburst. Ben looked at his younger sister and said "Rose! Have you lost your mind? Austin is still recovering. You need to apologize for barging in here like an animal."

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

"But, Rubennn…" Rose whined, "I didn't do anything wrong." Ben silently stared at his sister. The girl folded under her older brother's glare. She turned to Austin and said with gritted teeth "I'm sorry I barged into your room." "Good." Ben said as he stood up and hugged Rose. "I'm sorry I was stern with you." Rose's anger faded away. She quickly hugged him back then pushed her brother away. She turned to leave when Ben stopped her.

"Rose, let's hear the story about what happened to Austin before anyone else knows he's up." Then he whispered to Rose "this might be the only chance to know the whole truth." Rose looked at Ben, a bit confused. "Oh," she said "you meen because of the…" Ben cut her off with a hand motion. "Austin, do you think you can tell us what happened?" He pulled the chair over to the side on the bed and put his hands on Austin's shoulder.

Austin looked at his brother and with an eagerness that was barely contained, told his siblings about the grand adventure he was on. He told them about leaving the city walls, finding plants for Mr Woodley, finding Basic Growth Walnuts, and getting chased by Flaming Blood Tree Rats. "That's when Mr Woodley said we should go home, but I found something. That's when I got hurt" Austin stopped talking and turned away.

Ben could see his whole body shaking. "It's ok Sprout. You don't have to tell us any more. We get it. Right Rose?" Rose grunted noncommittally and left the room.

Austin lay there with his eyes clenched tight. Ben said to his brother "Rest up. I have to tell Mom and Dad that you're up. There has been a lot of tension between them and Mr Woodley since he brought you back a week ago. I'm sure they are going to want you to clear things up. Austin, when you tell them, don't lie. I don't care who might ask you to, or who you might want to protect, lying will only make it worse for everyone, especially you." Ben stepped out of the room and turned his head " I'll bring you something to eat."