The hare clutched in his teeth had almost been severed by the time he had reached their borders. The young wolf had clenched down too hard on its body. The jostling of hunting the animal and then trekking across the wild land to reach Kvarsheim had wiped him of strength and spirit. It was only his remaining resolve that carried him the rest of the way.
At the edge of their land, Swordfish hung his head and dropped the mangled hare at his paws. It was measly and pathetic, he thought. It would be no different than the image of the redtailed boy, though. As the spring winds tousled his stormcloud coat, he squinted against it.
A low call was made to
@Bjarna. Swordfish slumped into a seated position so that he might wait.
it had been some days.
she had found a new resting place for him so that they would not disturb the other she helped. it was there she kept herbs stocked in preparation. a food cache nearby in case he stayed the night and found hunger.
she would heal him.
in all ways.
there was a grand pleasure to hear his call. now when she looked upon him, it was with warm eyes and the sway tail of a pleased young woman. glad to see he did intend to allow her to heal him.
come?
she meant to take him right away to the place of healing, so that he could rest properly.
nor was she in a grand rush to accept his gift just yet.
Not long after he had called to her, the pale girl appeared with her bright eyes and her eager energy.
Swordfish lifted his head as she drew nearer. The sway of her tail was a positive sign that she hadn’t forgotten their arrangement. To his relief, it seemed that he hadn’t misunderstood her intentions, either. Bjarna truly intended to treat his wounds with her skills.
She beckoned him and the redtail nodded, dipping his snout to scoop the hare and follow where she would lead.
Kvarsheim was a wide meadow that stretched out a great distance. The stones that stood as a marker for the territory were curious. Swordfish eyed them, wondering how they had formed there. He thought to ask the pale healer if she knew anything about them. When he didn’t think he’d get the question across, he held it inside.
she had made a place of healing in the aspen trees, beyond the stones.
a place that would be sheltered and a den that would remain strong underground. for all the roots tangled together and they would create the sturdiest walls that a wolf may ever hope for.
it was here she would gesture for him to enter.
enough space for two easily with her tiny size.
rest,
her voice held only the soft command of a healer. yet she would not settle until he did!
They walked toward the aspens at a steady pace. She did not lack in speed, he found. Try as he might, when they had arrived at her place of healing and finally ceased their walking, Swordfish could not stop the heaviness in his breath.
Bjarna’s command was to rest.
Heavy-lidded eyes lifted to her features. She did not lack the kindness she had worn on the borders of the meadow pack. There was firmness only in her tone. The redtailed boy had no intention of testing this. He dropped the hare near her paws and then found a place for himself to sink to the ground.
Sorry it’s…
he looked at the prey offering with a scrunched nose.
Mangled.
what did he apologize for?
she found no thing that needed it and only offered back a still firm — no.
a shake of her head. as she grabbed a few things stored nearby and settled near him.
hurt?
had somebody tended to him in the days he had taken to come here? or had he been left to fester and tend to himself?
a soft sigh and she already began a paste between her tongue and teeth.
No.
Swordfish recoiled, frowning.
What did she mean, no? The prey he offered her was a step away from roadkill. He had worked it to pieces with his teeth. Bjarna didn’t want it, or she didn’t want to hear him talk about it. Whatever it was that had drawn the monosyllabic response from her, Swordfish would never know.
The next word was to ask if he was hurt. The young wolf drew his snout up and gazed down the length of it at her. He was not certain how to answer this question, so simple and yet so broad in what it covered.
Better,
he tried to offer her. Riverclan had helped. His work with Moss had helped, too.