sunburn : {frankel}

Hauling the last log into the carriage, the men would cheer, the work shift was over. Wiping away the sweat from his brow, Renly would slump down the side of the carriage. Removing the canteen from his belt, he’d take a swig of the warm water. Preferring a colder refreshing beverage, he’d just pour the rest over his face. Summer had arrived, much warmer than last year; work was becoming more tedious for Renly. Having only started the more hands on labour in the past two years, he wasn’t used to working hard in this heat, it was really taking a toll on his body.

Pulling himself back onto his feet, he’d approach his boss, signing off today’s shift. Unusual for Renly, today he hadn’t had his morning run; he needed to do it this afternoon. No matter how much his body was telling him not too, he couldn’t skip a day, he was really feeling the benefits from it. This morning’s excuse was his brother. The night before he had switched off Renly’s alarm clock, he had become annoyed, having to wake up an hour earlier for it. Crafted by Renly himself, the clock was in the shape of a bird, all the mechanical stuff was placed in by a citizen in the district. Renly had spent months trying to perfect the bird; it wasn’t any particular species of bird, although it looked more like a robin. Running all the way to the market one morning, he watched for hours, as the old man fitted all the functions.

Every morning he ran for an hour before work, hoping it’d help build up his stanima. When he started the more hands on work, he had struggled with his fitness, but since running he had got a lot better. It was refreshing, it helped his body and he was able to meet lots of people. Hoping this afternoon would have a much cooler air like the morning, he was wrong. Stuffy and humid, he could barely breathe walking, let alone running. But he must do it; it was a part of his routine now.

Removing all his work gear in the changing area, Renly would run in the clothes he worked in. A grey torn at the sleeves shirt and a pair of black shorts, which were once trousers. Pulling off his socks, his feet would be swamped in sweat; he couldn’t run unless they dried out. Letting air get to them, other workers in the room would cover their noses. Laughing, Renly would put his bare feet back into his shoes; he couldn’t run with socks on. Leaving the soaked socks on the bench, to allow the strong smell to linger in the room, he’d head out. Filling up his canteen from a tap outside the changing room, he’d clip it back onto his belt.

Walking back out into the direct sunlight, he’d jog out of his work station, warming up his leg muscles. Renly never planned the routes he took; he usually went to different places every day. Breathing quite heavily, the smoggy air would hit his lunges; he must take it easy today, especially in this heat. Renly had been affected by sun stroke before, today was not another.

Taking it to a slight jog, the ground beneath him became more hazardous. Loose gravel and rocks scattered across the road. As predictable as it was for Renly, his left foot caught a rock, sending him flying to the ground. Scraping the palms of his hands on the gravel, as well as his knees, the skin on his limbs would scrape off. Sitting up, he’d try to figure out what just happened. Looking at his hands, dirt covered the grazes. Inspecting his knees, his left one had taken the hit, some slight blood dripping down his lower leg. ”Great” he said to himself, as he still sat on the ground.

Hearing someone shout, he’d spot a girl exiting from a nearby building "Are you alright?" Looking at his palms and back at the girl, he’d try to act tougher than he is. “Yes I am fine, just a graze.” Pushing himself off the ground, with his injured hands, Renly would bite his lip as the stinging pain would settle in. He really needed to clean the wounds, before he continued his run, although his knee would probably be reluctant to running.

Glaring down at his hands, Renly would shake his head. He knew his brother would embarrass him because of this; his mother would want to bathe him in some medical ointment. Renly needed to treat himself before he got home, so they wouldn’t worry, he didn’t want anyone worrying about him. Looking up at the girl awkwardly, he’d listen to her rambling on, as he stood, resting his injured knee.

Not understanding why she was apologising to him, he’d just grin. “You don’t have to say sorry, it’s my own silly fault anyway.” He’d laugh, his hands still in the air, as if to say, please fix me. “Yeah I’m bleeding, not too much though, not like I am dying…really it isn’t serious…” Slowly scraping away the gravel from his wounds, he’d fuss over his hands, his knee he didn’t care about much. His hands had probably had most of the skin swiped off the palms, it will be hard from him to hold something for a couple of days, and maybe he could get a sick day from work…

Smiling at the thought, his focus would go back onto the girl, who was fussing over him.” If it is not too much for you, I could do with some help…” Looking down at the extended hand, he’d look at his palms and at the girl. She seriously doesn’t want to shake my hand, he thought. But before he could dare shake it, her hand was gone and she was heading to the shop. “Thanks for helping me Camilla, I’m Renly.” He’d say in quite a chilled tone, despite the stinging sensation erupting from his wounds.

"I can drag you in there and help you out? Or I can just bring a wet cloth out here?" Looking up at the summer sun, he really needed to get into some shaded area, his lungs full of the smoggy humid air. Sweat still dropped from his brow, his hair literally soaked in the substance. “I really want to get out of this heat, if that’s okay.” Giggling at her rambling, Renly had quickly grown to like this Good Samaritan, someone actually helping him.

Continuing to scrape away the dirt from his scraped hands, Renly would end up scraping away some healthy flesh. “Well damn…” He’d mutter under his breath, as the stinging pain from his stupidity, would run through his body. “Just leave it alone.” He’d tell himself.” Someone is here to help, don’t make them worse, they’re only scratches.”

Flattered by the help from the girl, he’d smile “Nice to meet you too Camilla! Thanks very much for offering to fix me.” Limping behind her, his knee wasn’t that painful, but he limped anyway. Trying to look all war wounded, he’d have his palms out in front of him, ready for the medical care coming his way.

"I made a friend! He's injured though. Deathly. I'm here to save his life." Chuckling at the Camilla’s comment, he’d look around the shop she just led him into. “Yeah sure call me whatever.” Renly would say, he had been called much worse before, an abbreviated version of his name wasn’t that bad. Looking around for any seat to sit himself on, Renly would just plonk himself onto the ground. Bending his knees, so he could inspect his critical wound more closely, he’d move his face quite close to it.

Hands up in the air, at either side of his knee, he could see the gravel embedded into the scrape on his left knee. Renly felt quite proud of the injuries, maybe they would leave some wicked scars, he already has purpled knees; from childhood falls. “I'm going to go stitch his missing leg back on" Renly would shake his head laughing to himself, this girl is mad, he thought.

Waiting on the floor, Renly would glance around, quite bewildered. He hadn't had such hospitality from a district citizen before. Forgetting about the scrapes on his hands, he'd rest them on the floor..."Shit." He'd mutter under his breath, while quickly collecting his hands from the floor "You idiot." 

Chuckling at Camilla's comment, Renly would play along with the dying act. "Do whatever you must...just please save the leg!"  Speaking in quite a fake distressed tone. Biting his lips as the cloth hit the cut on his knee, he'd try to hold back any signs of pain. How can such a pathetic wound cause so much pain? 

Once the cloth was lifted, Renly would sigh with relief, as the pain slowly left his body. Observing as she scraped away the gravel, he'd bite his bottom lip whenever she got too  the tender bits. "Well I go running a lot. I usually run in the morning but slept in..." He cursed at his brother in his mind. "So decided to run after work. I don't usually come down here so, decided to have a change....Hey if I ran this morning, I may not have been blessed with your hospitality." He say grinning, although he may not have fallen over if he had ran this morning.