?


    After they finished eating and rested for a bit, they set off to head back down. The descent was much faster than the climb, and they reached the halfway point in less than half an hour.


    Mason walked quickly and would asionally run when the path was t.


    N kept an eye on him, reminding him to slow down, but she wasn''t watching the stones under her feet. She stepped on one and slipped. "Ah!" she cried out.


    A sharp pain shot through her ankle as she stumbled toward the railing.


    Damon quickly grabbed her hand to steady her.


    "Are you okay?" he asked.


    N''s face turned pale, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead. "I think I twisted my ankle."


    "Hold onto the railing. Let me check it," Damon instructed.


    Once she was stable, he crouched down to examine her ankle. Seeing that it was swollen, he frowned. "It''s swollen-you probably sprained it."


    He stood up, turned his backpack around to the front, and crouched down again. "Get on my back. I''ll carry you down," he told N.


    "But we still have quite a distance to go..." N hesitated.


    "I''m not that weak. Just get on," Damon insisted.


    N bit her lip but finally agreed, climbing onto his back and wrapping her arms around his neck.


    Damon stood up and began the descent, his broad back providing her with a reassuring sense of security.


    Mason, who had been running around earlier, quieted down after N twisted her ankle. He stayed close to Damon as they made their way down.


    When they reached the car, Mason looked at N with guilt in his eyes. "Mommy, I''m sorry... It''s my fault."


    N patted his head, seeing the sadness in his expression. "Buddy, it was just an ident. It''s not your fault. But next time, you need to walk slowly when going downhill, or you might twist your ankle like I did-or worse, fall."


    Mason nodded. "Okay, I promise I won''t do it again."


    "Good," N replied approvingly.


    Damon took a spray from the medical kit in the car and applied it to N''s ankle. "Just hold on for a moment. I''m going to take you to the nearest hospital to get an X-ray just to make sure there are no fractures."


    "Is that really necessary? I think it''s just a sprain," N said.


    "I''d feel better if a doctor checked it out," Damon replied.


    Upon seeing the worry in his eyes, N''s heart softened. "Okay, I''ll listen to you."


    Damon started the car and drove to the nearest hospital.


    ...


    After the doctor examined N, he confirmed it was only a sprain and prescribed some medication for her to apply over the next few days.


    After all themotion, they finally returned to the vi, close to evening.


    Once they parked, Damon carried N straight to her room.


    Nughed, a bit helpless. "The doctor said it''s just a sprain. I can walk on my own."


    "But the doctor also said to avoid walking as much as possible," Damon countered.


    His tone was so firm that N couldn''t help butply.


    He ced her on the couch, stood up, and said, "I''ll run a bath for you. Since your foot''s not in the best shape, do you want to use the bathtub?"


    "No need. I can stand for a bit," N replied.


    Besides, he''d have to carry her in and out if she used the bathtub. The thought of that made her ears turn red.