Neverwylde (The Rim of the World Book 3) by Linda Mooney Page A

food that’s been in the containers or from the apartments. It’s gone bad. It has elements in it that could affect us.”
                A shudder went through her when she realized how things could have turned out differently if he’d eaten all three pancakes. His training to ration his supplies in emergency situations may have saved his life.
                She finally wrested her own food pouch from beneath them and pulled out a couple of blue thumbs, giving one to him. “We’re to eat directly from the garden until we figure out what to do with the spoiled food.”
                He chewed slowly, using the water to help him swallow. She silently gave him another thumb, which he accepted. She heard him empty the water bag and handed him Fullgrath’s. Kyber waved it away.
                “We must save it.”
                “It won’t be much longer,” she noted.
                He gave a snort of amusement. “You have said that before. How long is long in your estimate?”
                She smiled. He sounded like her Kyber, but this moment of clarity didn’t mean the madness wouldn’t return. His next remark surprised her.
                “You said you were armed. Keep your weapon close, in case I lose myself again.”
                She stroked his face. He caught her hand and kissed it.
                “I think your fever’s broken. You don’t feel as hot. It’s a good thing you didn’t eat that third pancake. Can you move?”
                He tried to sit up. After two unsuccessful attempts, he sighed. “Not yet, but the pain in my head seems to have eased.”
                Kelen nodded to herself. “You’re dehydrated. Keep sipping the water, my love.”
                They sat in the darkness in silence. Kelen felt him take her hand again to kiss her fingers.
                “How did you find me?” he croaked.
                “Fullgrath and I were searching the garden and we found this crack in the wall. We noticed the crack had three sides, which we thought was telling. Fullgrath went in a little ways, and we realized it was a tunnel. So we started following it.” She waved a hand. “It’s ventilated. That told us it definitely goes somewhere, but we don’t know where. It weaves all over the place, but it doesn’t go upward or downward. That’s how we found you in here. Kyber, do you have any idea how you ended up in this place?”
                “No. I think the monsters left me here.”
                She bit her lips. There was no telling if his monsters were real or imaginary, but she didn’t dismiss his claim. “Do you remember when the eye worms attacked us in the temple?”
                He lay still as he tried to recall the incident. “I remember trying to lead them away from you. The rest is…hazy.”
                She bent to kiss his brow. “My love, maybe you imagined the monsters. Maybe you hit your head, or maybe you’ve had some kind of hallucinogenic episodes after eating the pancakes. And that’s when you wandered into the garden and found this tunnel.” She nuzzled his temple. “Thank God you’re safe. The others wanted to believe the eye worms had gotten you, but I couldn’t believe it.”
                “That is why you came looking for me.”
                “The rest didn’t want to believe you were dead,” she clarified. “We decided to take shifts to look for you.”
                He squeezed her hand. “You took first shift.” It was not a question.
                She kissed the top of his nose. Having found him, and knowing he was all right, she allowed herself to feel relief. Tears stung her eyes and she let them roll down her cheeks. She sniffed and wiped the wetness with the back of her hand.