Chapter 122: Scar tube

She thought about it. She had the spirit fangs from the tasks and had not used them "Fine. Buy it."

[Confirmed. Scar Tube purchased.]

[Remaining spirit fangs: 150.]

A small tube appeared in her hand. No one saw it. She closed her fingers around it.

She looked at Kenai. "I am going inside."

He nodded and helped her stand. She leaned on him as they walked to the shelter.

She lay down on the bedding. Ana was beside her. Kenai sat near the entrance while Kai and Rylan stayed outside.

Anaria looked at the tube in her hand.

Tomorrow, she would use it...

She was still awake when she heard the commotion.

Voices sounded outside, loud and panicked. She sat up slowly, and her leg protested. She ignored it and looked at Kenai. He was already standing.

"What is it?"

He did not answer. He walked to the entrance, where Kai and Rylan were already looking toward the elders’ shelter.

Kenai turned back to her.

"One of the workers fell. He is hurt."

Anaria moved to stand.

Kenai held up his hand. "Stay. I will bring him to you."

She stopped and nodded.

Kenai left, and Kai followed. Rylan remained at the entrance, watching her.

A few minutes passed before Kenai returned. Two beastmen were carrying the injured man. They laid him down near the entrance of the shelter.

Anaria moved closer and looked at him. He was young, maybe twenty. His leg was cut deeply and bleeding.

She knelt beside him. Her leg screamed, but she ignored it.

She placed her hands on his leg and used her healing ability. It was small, and she was still weak, but she stopped the bleeding. She cleaned the wound and wrapped it with cloth.

The young man looked at her.

"Thank you."

She nodded. "Rest. Do not walk on it for a few days."

He nodded. The beastmen helped him up and took him to his shelter.

The people were relieved. They thanked her, but she waved them off.

The beast women were helping too. They brought water and cloth. They had been part of the work all day. Anaria saw them and nodded at them. They nodded back.

She stayed with the children while their mothers worked. She watched them, played with them, and told them stories. They laughed and were happy.

The construction continued. The men kept working. The walls of the elders’ shelter were almost done. They were tired, but they kept going.

Kenai came back and sat beside her.

"You should rest."

She looked at him. "I will. Soon."

He did not argue. He simply sat there, watching the children and watching her.

That night, Anaria used the scar tube.

She sat alone in the shelter. Ana was asleep. Kenai and Kai were outside with Rylan, speaking in low voices because they did not want to wake her.

She opened the tube. It smelled like herbs. She applied it to her leg and to her arms, rubbing it in slowly and carefully.

The scars began to fade.

Not all at once, but slowly. The angry red lines became pink, then lighter, until they were almost gone.

She looked at her leg. The twisted ankle was still wrapped, but the scars were fading. She could see her skin again, her real skin.

She looked at her arms. The small scratches from the branches had left marks, but they were almost gone now.

She felt better.

Not healed. Not yet. But better.

She looked outside. The construction had stopped for the day, but the frame of the elders’ shelter stood tall. The walls were almost finished. Tomorrow they would work on the roof. The day after, the elders would have a new home.

She looked at Ana. The baby was asleep.

She looked at her mates. They were resting.

She looked at the settlement. The work was done for the day.

Anaria lay back on the bedding. Her leg was throbbing, but it was quieter now. The pain was fading, like the scars.

She closed her eyes.

She was tired, but she was content.

...

The next day, Aaria woke up feeling better

Her leg was still wrapped. The salve had been applied. The serum had done its work. She could move it now. Not fully. But enough. She could stand. She could walk. Slowly. Carefully.

She sat up and looked around. Ana was still asleep. Kenai was near the entrance. Kai was outside. Rylan was not there. He had gone to check on the construction.

She tried to stand.

Kenai looked at her. "What are you doing?"

"I want to walk."

"You should rest."

"I have been resting."

He did not argue. But he watched her. She stood. Her leg protested. She ignored it. She took a step. Then another. It hurt. But it held.

She walked to the entrance. The settlement was busy. The men were working on the elders’ shelter. The walls were almost done. They were starting on the roof.

The women were working too. They were building a general shelter for themselves. A place to gather. A place to sew. A place to talk. It was not finished. But it was taking shape.

Anaria watched them. She wanted to help.

She stepped outside.

Kenai followed her. "Anaria."

She looked at him. "I am just walking."

"You are supposed to rest."

"I am resting. I am just standing now."

Kai walked over with Ana. The baby was awake. She reached for Anaria. Anaria took her.

Kai spoke. "You should sit down."

"I am fine."

Rylan appeared. He had been speaking to the elders. He saw her standing. He walked over.

"You are up."

"I am."

"You should not be."

She looked at him. "I feel better."

He did not argue. But his jaw was tight.

The women saw her. They came over. Mira spoke first.

"You should sit. We are handling it."

Sena nodded. "We do not need help. We are fine."

Mira did not speak. She just pointed to a stool near the shelter. Anaria looked at them. Then she looked at her mates. They were all watching her.

She sighed.

"Fine."

She sat down on the stool. Ana was in her arms. She watched the work.

The men worked on the roof. The women worked on their shelter. The children played. Tiku ran past. He waved. She waved back.

The settlement was busy but not that chaotic. It was organized and working.

She watched and only directed when needed that’s the only thing she can offer them for now since they didn’t allow her to do anymore.