STRAINS OF COMPASSION

**DR Volkov’s POV**

As we stood in the quiet corner of the infirmary, I couldn't tear my eyes away from Alivia. The bags under her eyes spoke volumes, a clear sign of the exhaustion weighing heavily on her shoulders. "Alivia," I said firmly, my concern evident in my voice, "you just healed your first patient. You should go back to the pack house and rest."

But she shook her head, her eyes filled with unwavering resolve. "There are too many patients here, Dr. Volkov," she insisted, her voice determined. "We need all the help we can get, and I can't just sit idly by."

I felt a surge of annoyance at her stubbornness, mixed with a pang of admiration for her dedication to helping others. With a resigned sigh, I relented. "Fine, but don't overexert yourself," I warned, knowing I couldn't dissuade her once she had made up her mind.

She nodded, and I turned to lead the way back to the critical care wing, Alivia following closely behind. Sarah was still there tending to patients, her expression a mix of weariness and determination, while Adam hovered nearby.

As we stood in the quiet corner of the infirmary, I couldn't tear my eyes away from Alivia. The bags under her eyes spoke volumes, a clear sign of the exhaustion weighing heavily on her shoulders. "Alivia," I said firmly, my concern evident in my voice, "you just healed your first patient. You should go back to the pack house and rest."

But she shook her head, her eyes filled with unwavering resolve. "There are too many patients here, Dr. Volkov," she insisted, her voice determined. "We need all the help we can get, and I can't just sit idly by."

I felt a surge of annoyance at her stubbornness, mixed with a pang of admiration for her dedication to helping others. With a resigned sigh, I relented. "Fine, but don't overexert yourself," I warned, knowing I couldn't dissuade her once she had made up her mind.

As she nodded in agreement, I pivoted on my heels, leading the way back to the critical care wing with Alivia shadowing my steps. Sarah's presence greeted us like a beacon amidst the sea of patients, her weary yet resolute expression betraying the weight of the situation. Adam lingered nearby, his concern palpable in the tense atmosphere.

Glancing around the wing, I couldn't help but be struck by the sheer number of patients packed into the space. The room pulsed with urgency, each occupied bed a testament to the gravity of the situation we faced.

"Sarah, how are we doing on medical supplies?" I asked, my voice laced with concern.

Sarah glanced up from her work, her brow furrowing in worry. "We're running low, Dr. Volkov," she admitted, her voice tinged with apprehension. "We don't have enough supplies to treat all the patients."

I cursed under my breath, frustration gnawing at the edges of my consciousness. "Adam," I said, turning to face him, "I need you to go to your workshop and gather whatever medical supplies you can find. We're going to need all the help we can get."

Adam nodded, his expression determined. "I'm on it," he replied, before turning and hurrying out of the infirmary.

With a heavy sigh, I turned back to Sarah. "Do what you can with what we have," I instructed, my voice tinged with resignation. "We'll make it through this, somehow."

As Adam rushed off to gather medical supplies, I turned my attention back to the patients in critical condition, each one a testament to the severity of the situation we faced. Alivia joined Sarah in attending to a young woman lying on one of the makeshift beds, her face pale and drawn with pain. I watched as Alivia's hands moved with practiced precision, her focus unwavering as she worked to stabilize the patient's condition.

Turning away, I moved to another bed where a middle-aged man lay unconscious, his breathing shallow and labored. Without hesitation, I began assessing his injuries, my mind racing with the knowledge and experience accumulated over years of treating the sick and injured.

As I worked, the chaos of the infirmary faded into the background, replaced by a singular focus on the task at hand. Time seemed to blur as I moved from one patient to the next, my hands moving with practiced efficiency as I did everything in my power to save as many lives as I could.

Despite the exhaustion weighing heavily on my shoulders, I refused to give in to despair. There were too many lives depending on us, too much at stake to simply give up. With each patient I treated, I felt a renewed sense of purpose, a determination to do whatever it took to see them through this crisis.

Every now and then my eyes wondered towards Alivia and my thoughts drifted back to when I had returned from my trip, only to be greeted by news of Alivia's heroics. I was walking up to Adam when Jess's hurried approach caught my attention in the bustling courtyard. Breathless and visibly anxious, she recounted Alivia's daring act of restraining an infected student and guiding her to Agartha's clinic.

A jolt of anxiety shot through me, my heart skipping a beat at the thought of Alivia's impulsive actions. Without a second thought, I dropped everything and dashed off in search of her, Adam following closely behind. How could she be so reckless? What if she got injured? The questions swirled in my mind, fuelling my worry as I hastened towards the clinic.

Relief flooded through me as I finally spotted Alivia in the chaos of the infirmary. Her exhausted visage spoke of the trials she'd endured, yet her unwavering determination shone like a beacon of hope. However, my relief took an unexpected turn when Adam wrapped Alivia in a tight hug, an unexpected pang shot through me, tightening my jaw with an almost painful intensity. A wave of possessiveness washed over me, clawing at my insides with a fierce urgency, as if daring anyone to challenge my claim on her.

I quickly pushed aside those feelings and focused on the task at hand. I forced my attention back to the pressing matters at hand. Adam's return, accompanied by Vasil and the much-needed medical supplies, was a welcome distraction.

"Adam, Vasil, good timing," I acknowledged, my voice carrying a note of gratitude. " Did you manage to gather everything we need?"

Adam nodded, a sense of urgency in his voice. "Yes, Dr. Volkov. We got as much as we could from my workshop. Hopefully, it's enough to last us a while."

Vasil chimed in, his expression serious. "We also brought some additional herbs and remedies from the forest. They might come in handy given the severity of the situation."

"Good work, both of you," I commended, a hint of relief evident in my tone. "Let's distribute these supplies and get to work. There's no time to waste."

As we continued to work tirelessly, my attention kept drifting back to Alivia. and a sense of anger simmered beneath the surface. She acted recklessly without my supervision, and I couldn't ignore the potential consequences of her actions. Yet even though she frustrated me with no end to her stubbornness and impulsiveness, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of pride at her bravery. She has come so far since she has arrived at the packhouse, and her determination to save lives was nothing short of admirable.