Chapter 117: Small steps

The healer arrived within the hour.

He was an old badger. Grey fur, bent back, slow steps. But his eyes were sharp. He carried a small bag. He did not speak when he entered. He just walked to Anaria and knelt beside her.

He looked at her leg before touching it.

Anaria winced.

He did not stop. He pressed, turned and felt the bones and the swelling.

Anaria gripped the bedding. Her knuckles were white.

Kenai stepped forward "Careful."

The badger did not look at him "I am being careful."

He pressed again and this made Anaria bit her lip.

Kai moved closer "Is that necessary?"

The badger looked up "Do you want her to heal or not?"

Kai did not answer, he just keep looking at what the healer was doing to his mate.

The badger turned back to the leg and pressed one more time. This made Anaria let out a small sound.

Then he stopped and sat back "The leg is badly twisted not broken."

Rylan spoke from the entrance "How bad?"

"She needs to stay off it. No walking and running around the forest."

He looked at Anaria "Do you understand?"

She nodded.

He reached into his bag and pulled out a small jar. He handed it to Kenai "Salve. For the swelling. Apply it twice a day."

Kenai took it.

The badger stood. He looked at Anaria one more time "You are lucky. It could have been worse."

Anaria did not answer.

He turned and left.

The shelter was quiet for a while

Kenai sat beside her. He opened the jar. The salve smelled like herbs. He applied it gently. Anaria did not wince this time. The coolness helped.

"Better?" he asked.

"A little."

Kai sat near the entrance. Ana was in his arms, staring at what her parents were doing.

Rylan remained standing, looking at Anaria "You heard him. No walking and running and most importantly, no more playing the hero of the day."

Anaria nodded "Are we still on about the matter"

"Nope, I’m just saying"

She looked at him "You do not have to say it like that."

"Like what?"

"Like I am a child that makes irrational thoughts and just jumps into anything." Ananria added "It’s hurts, you know and you are making me feel like I did the wrong thing"

He did not answer, he looked at her and removed his eyes from her, he turned and went outside.

She sighed and closed her eyes.

The salve was working. The pain was fading a little and that was more important.

Anaria rested for a while.

The salve helped. The pain was still there, but it was lesser now.

Then the system chimed

[Good day, Host]

[Reminder: Serum available for pain management. Would you like to administer?]

She had forgotten about the serum.

She looked around. Kenai was sitting beside her. Kai was near the entrance with Ana. Rylan was outside, speaking to one of the guards.

She called on the system quietly "Yes. Give it to me."

A small vial appeared in her hand it was clear liquid and she drank it quickly.

It tasted bitter. She made a face.

Kenai looked at her "What is it?"

"Something the healer gave me for the pain"

Kenai looked at it and nodded.

The pain started to fade slowly but better. She could move her leg a little without wanting to cry.

She let out a breath.

Then Rylan came back inside, He sat down near the entrance "We should talk."

Anaria looked at him "About what?"

"About leaving."

She was quiet "Now?"

Kenai looked at Rylan. Kai looked at Rylan.

Rylan continued "Yes, we came here to check on the settlement just like you wanted. We did that. The child is already found. The people are well. So we should go back to Wolfrine."

Anaria did not answer, her thoughts were already spiralling around. They can’t leave this early, she still has tasks to do and she can’t complete the task at wolfwrine "God, I need to think of something before they agree to head back"

Kenai nodded slowly "He is right. We cannot stay here forever."

Kai spoke "The council is waiting. The settlement needs its Lord."

Anaria looked at all three of them "You guys want to leave, we can’t just leave them like that"

"It is not about wanting," Rylan said. "It is about what makes sense and why can’t we leave them, it’s not like something is holding us back."

"And what about me then?"

They looked at her.

"Look at my leg and look at me. I look sick and miserable, I cannot travel plus I can barely stand. You want to put me on your back and ride for hours?"

Kenai reached for her hand "It’s not like that but we can wait until you are better."

"How long? Days? Weeks?" Rylan added, he was already angry that Ananria got hurt by staying at this settlement and she wants to prolong her visitation.

She looked at Rylan "Do you want me to die on the road?"

Kenai’s face changed immediately"Anaria"

"Do you want me to stress myself until I collapse again?"

The words hung in the air and it struck Rylan, he clenched his hands "That’s not what I meant, Ana" his gaze dropped immediately "I just can’t bear to see you stay at the same place that caused you pains"

No one spoke.

She looked at all of them "I cannot leave like this. I cannot travel, ride nor walk. I need to rest."

Rylan closed his eyes, she was right and he knew that. He opened his eyes. "Fine. We stay."

Anaria let out a breath "Thank you."

Rylan stood "I will send a message to the council. Tell them I am handling important business. They will not expect us back soon."

He left the shelter.

Kenai looked at Anaria "You did not have to say it like that."

She looked at him "Yes, I should."

He did not argue.

Kai stood up with Ana "I will get food."

He left too.

Anaria lay back on the bedding. Her leg was still. The pain was quiet. Ana was safe.

She closed her eyes, at least they can stay with her till the task was finished.