Nicholas didn't waste time with orders. Once he saw that Ryder was safely positioned in the wagon, he started the horse off again. Lena was right. Ryder needed help and he needed it now. He had no idea how far the Forest Kingdom was, but that only meant he had to assume it was far and push the cart as fast as it would go. The cart bounced against every stone and crack on the road. Nicholas found himself praying. To who, he didn't really know nor care. If someone was listening, then he was bargaining for his friend's life.

Felix curiously crouched over Ryder. The man's face had gone pale and he didn't seem to be breathing. The woman was sure that he was still alive. Felix reached down and tried to open Ryder's eyes. He withdrew slightly when one of his claws scratched under Ryder's eye, but he went back in more carefully. Felix pulled apart Ryder's eyelids and flinched back at the sight. The man's eyes sat pitch black with red specs floating around. He had seen it before. It was the curse from the forests. Now only time would tell if the man would die or become feral like so many of the others had.

Felix reached into the pouch on his belt and pulled out a small, blue herb. The flower on it sat bright orange and seemed to give off a faint glow. He handed it over to Lena, careful now to watch his hands around the dying man.

"Here, this will help. It is Sun Root from the ruin in the forest. The elders are using it to help slow down the curse."