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“Pomni?”
Ragatha tapped softly on the door before stepping in. She noticed the jester curled in a ball on her bed, her back facing the door. The only light came from the hallway through the cracked door. Ragtha’s outline casted a shadow across the room.
The ragdoll sauntered in, creeping over to the side of Pomni’s bed. She reached down, gently resting a hand on the girl’s shoulder. Pomni stirred, rubbing her eyes as she turned to face Ragatha.
“Hey. It’s past noon. You doing alright?”
Pomni blinked lazily. Her face was pale and her eyebags dark.
“God… my head,” Pomni groaned, squinting at the light that shone in through her door.
Ragatha winced, standing up straight to walk over to the door. She shut it gently, replacing the darkness with the soft light of a lamp next to Pomni’s bed.
“Is that better?” Ragatha asked softly.
Pomni nodded.
“Not feeling too good, hm? Everyone usually gets this gunk when they first arrive.” she continued, pressing the back of her hand to Pomni’s forehead.
The smaller girl let out a grunt, squeezing her eyes shut. Ragatha frowned.
”Let me go get you an ice pack. You’re burning up.”
Ragatha left, closing the door with a quiet ‘click’ behind her. Back in Pomni’s room, The jester grunted as she opened her eyes. She pushed herself up to sit, feeling a rush of nausea wash over her. Her head spun, vision blurring as Ragatha swiftly slipped back into the room. She carried a cloth ice pack in one hand, and a glass of cold water in the other.
“Here,” Ragatha set the water down on the nightstand and pressed the ice pack to Pomni’s head. Pomni leaned back against the pillow, sighing softly. Ragatha sat next to her on the side of the bed.
”Thank you,” she breathed. Ragatha just smiled.
“I hate that we don’t have digital medicine or something. Would definitely make this a little easier,” the ragdoll said.
Pomni hummed. Ragatha reached out and brushed a stray piece of hair out of her face.
“Well, I’ll check back in on you in a bit. Call me if you need anything.”
Ragatha patted Pomni’s thigh, standing. Pomni smiled.
The redhead walked out of the room quietly, giving Pomni one last smile before exiting.
Later that evening, around dinner, Ragatha creeped back into Pomni’s room, holding a small plate of saltine crackers. The sickly girl peered up from her blankets, letting out a soft squeak. Ragatha gave her a compassionate smile.
“I brought you a couple of crackers. Figured they’d be easy on your stomach.”
Pomni pushed herself up, leaning against her pillows. She smiled tiredly at Ragatha.
”Thanks,” she said weakly, taking the plate from the doll. She lifted one from the plate, taking a small bite.
“You feeling any better?” Ragatha asked, glancing away. She swayed her hips gently.
Pomni shook her head, placing the cracker back down.
”No,” she chuckled softly.
Ragatha frowned.
“I’m sorry, Pom.”
The girls stared at each other for a moment, smiling.
“Well, I’ll let you get some rest,” Ragatha said. She slowly backed toward the door.
Pomni lifted her hand in a half-wave as she left.
After lights out, everyone returned to their rooms and climbed into their beds to get some sleep. Everyone but Pomni.
Pomni laid on her side, clutching her stomach as she tried to steady her breathing. She shook with cold sweat. After a much difficult attempt at settling her stomach, she shot out of bed, immediately throwing herself over her trashcan.
She lost every cracker she forced herself to swallow earlier as well as the entire glass of water ragatha had brought her. She gagged and coughed so much she didn’t even hear the door open. Hands reached around the side of Pomni’s face, scooping her hair and holding it into a loose ponytail behind her head. Another hand came to the small of her back to rub comforting circles.
Pomni’s hands released the sides of the trashcan as she emptied the rest of the contents in her stomach. She fell back weakly, being caught by the figure behind her. Her chest heaved as she sucked in breaths of air. The person behind her muttered soothing words of affirmation in her ear as they rocked her slowly.
Pomni turned, catching sight of red yarn in her dazed state. She smiled softly, letting herself relax into Ragatha’s arms.
“You’re okay, Pomni. I’ve gotcha.”
Ragatha stood, lifting Pomni by her waist. She led her back over to her bed, sitting her down.
“Are you alright?” Ragatha asked quietly, just above a whisper.
Pomni nodded, her eyes lingering on the floor. Ragatha frowned.
“Cmon, let’s get you back in bed.”
Ragatha pulled back the sheets, allowing Pomni to crawl into the bed. The ragdoll tucked the smaller girl in, patting the blanket gently. She smiled, reaching out to gently brush the side of Pomni’s face. Pomni closed her eyes.
“I’m gonna get you a new trash bag. Hang tight.”
Ragatha tied up Pomni’s soiled trash bag and left the room, returning with a fresh one. She moved the trashcan next to Pomni’s bed, just in case.
As she turned to leave, she felt a grip of pressure around her wrist. She turned back and met Pomni’s eyes.
“Please stay,”
Ragatha stared at the poor girl in front of her. She sighed, her gaze softening.
“Okay,”
Ragatha climbed into the bed, burying herself into the covers. Pomni had a very comfortable bed. It was almost unfair.
Ragatha froze as she felt a weak arm wrap around her. She heard Pomni grumble as she pulled herself into Ragatha.
“I’m so cold..” she murmured.
Ragatha smiled affectionately. She turned and wrapped her arms around the jester, pulling her into her chest.
“You better not get me sick,” Ragatha half-joked.
”No promises,” Pomni whispered back.