Aok woke with his face pressed against cold earth.
For a long moment, he didn't move. His entire body felt unbearably heavy, as though someone had piled stones over his back while he slept. His head throbbed with every heartbeat, his mouth was dry, and there was a deep ache running through his arms and legs that made even curling his fingers unpleasant. His stomach felt strangely unsettled too, leaving a bitter taste at the back of his throat whenever he swallowed.
He opened his eyes slowly.
Bright sunlight immediately forced them shut again.
A low groan escaped him as he turned his face away and raised an arm over his eyes. Even that small movement took far more effort than it should have. His muscles felt weak and unresponsive, and when he tried to push himself up, his elbow buckled beneath him.
Aok dropped back onto the grass.
