Zeke talked and talked about lots of things, and Alan tried to listen to most of it. But he found himself drifting away. His leg still throbbed; it had throbbed since he woke from that weird dream. He shivered, not because he was remembering the dream, but because he was cold. Freezing cold. His whole body shivered in the cold room, but Zeke didn't look cold at all. So why was he so cold? His head throbbed, he felt sick to his stomach, and he couldn't focus no matter how hard he tried.

"Alan. Alan."

Alan looked over at Zeke. "Y-yes," he said, his teeth chattering. He was so cold.

"Alan, are you okay? You look hot," Zeke said, his head tilted in thought.

"Hot? I'm not h...h...hot." Alan swayed a little; he felt dizzy. The whole room began to fade, and the last thing he heard was Zeke yelling his name, then all was black.

David sat in the mess hall with Ky and Ky's sister Amelia. He looked down at the large stack of pancakes in front of him and smiled. The pancakes looked delectable. They were golden brown, drowned in maple syrup, with red-pink strawberries and the darkest blueberries he had ever seen piled on top, three big slices of butter melted at the summit of this pancake mountain.

David couldn't remember one time he had ever eaten like this. He was just about to take his first bite when Zeke came running into the mess hall, yelling his name and waving for him.

David frowned, looking at the stack of delectable pancakes and sighing. Zeke finally reached them and said, his eyes wide and wild and his breathing short and shallow, "David, you have to come quick, it's Alan. He...he's passed out..."

That was all David needed to hear. He dropped his fork and got up quickly, splattering syrup all over Amelia.

Amelia backed away, disgusted. "Look what you did! This was my new dress," she said, upset, but David didn't pay any mind to her; he just ran out of the mess hall with Zeke.

David slung the door open and ran to where all the younger bucks were now standing; he knew that was where Alan was. When he got over there, he saw that Alan was now on the floor soaked in sweat. Alan turned and tossed, groaning. David looked to Alan's leg and saw that the wound was open, and already the bandages and floor were covered in blood.

David bent down beside Alan and put his hand to Alan's head; he was burning up with fever. "No!" David said to himself, then he turned to Zeke and yelled, "Go get a doctor!" Then to the other bucks, "All of you to the mess hall now!"

The other bucks began to leave the room, but Zeke still stood there as he said, "But I thought Alan didn't like doctors."

"NOW! Zeke, go get one, now!" Zeke nodded and ran out of the room.

"It's okay, Alan. I've got you, and I'm never letting go. It's okay." David said as he picked Alan up and ran. He had to get Alan to a doctor and fast. He ran faster than he ever had, but turned a corner and ran into someone. Alan moaned.

"I'm sorry," David said, looking up to see if it might be a doctor, but it wasn't. It was Meeker.

"David, what's wrong with him?" Meeker asked, looking down at the shaking form of Alan.

"Fever. I think. I don't know. I don't know what to do. I can't lose him!" David said, his voice cracking as sobs caught in his throat.

"It's okay, I know where a doctor is I'll run ahead and get him," Meeker said as he turned to go.

"Is he any good?" David asked, he wanted the best and only the best for Alan.

"Trust me," Meeker said, "Doctor Wim is the best, he will help your friend." Meeker looked at David kindly.

David nodded. "Okay, take me to him and fast!"

"Come, he's this way," Meeker said as he darted off.

David followed as quickly as he could. Soon they reached Doctor Wim, and medics came and took Alan away from him. David watched as once again Alan was taken out of his sight, and all he could do was wait and hope that Alan was strong enough to make it back out alive.

Okay, so hope you guys like this!

Jaidie