Swiftcurrent Creek wild inside

Maybe he would’ve ended up back this way of his own volition, though it was presently an injury that forced his hand. Limping and weary, the yearling bit his lip as he finally reached the borders of Swiftcurrent Creek. He slouched to a halt to catch his breath, nose twitching as he sifted for any trace of @Etienne’s scent. His heart skipped a beat when he caught it.

He thought of howling but continued chewing his lip, eyes drifting over the bare treetops. Winter was nearly here. He had survived one on his own before and he could do it again, supposing he could beat this infection. But Cambria could feel his determination flagging as he pictured Etienne’s face in his mind’s eye, easily crowding out any thoughts of the Redtails at all.

It was not often Etienne wondered to the borders. He was not a guardian by any stretch of the imagination. Did he know how to protect himself if he must, and others absolutely. Especially after the incident with Glaukos he had learned, but it was a last resort for him.

But he had been traveling outward to gather herbs for any sicknesses especially among the young come winter time. So it was with surprise and joy which quickly morphed to worry when he saw Cambria.

Cambria! You be 'urt. He clicked his tongue and moved closer to inspect, at thr moment his concern outweighed anything else and he very quickly crowded the man.

Wut did you do? 'Ave you had any care for it? ' ow long 'as you 'as dis?

I am assuming based on the description it's an open would that is infected? Is it visible? How big and deep? And I can edit of course

Your assumptions work perfectly! I’ll describe it more in the following narrative. :D

The sight of Etienne’s face snatched the breath right out of Cambria’s lungs. Immediately, two violently opposing emotions rose up within him. On one hand, he felt such overwhelming fondness, he never wanted to be apart again. On the other, he felt such overwhelming fondness, he knew he should hightail it out of there just as soon as he consulted with his friend about treatment.

Eti, he said, his voice slightly strangled as his feelings clashed and warred. Struggling to maintain a businesslike composure, he cleared his throat and answered, I took a stumble while hunting in some rocky terrain and managed to fall against a particularly sharp one. It’s not deep but I think it might be infected?

He held out his left foreleg, putting the gash on display for Etienne’s assessment. It was perhaps four or five inches long and rather shallow, though it was crusted with drying pus. He had tried cleaning it immediately afterward but there had been a lot of debris in it. Something must’ve gotten left behind.

It’s really painful to the touch, he murmured, eyes flicking up and catching on Etienne’s face. I know you’re busy, with a pack to look after, and you owe me nothing, Eti. But I would appreciate any help you can provide… Cambria trailed off, thickly swallowing the words, “Because I’m afraid.”

Etienne was so focused on the wound. He noticed nothing else. Not the way Cambria’s voice was strangled. Or the breathless quality to his words. Non. He was oblivious when he should have been the first to notice. He knew those feelings well. And normally. But there was a wound. That was his focus.

Eti clicked in his throat again. O' non you not be worrying your 'ead about dat. I be takin' care of it. It probably 'as piece in it.

Etienne lifted his head and looked sround and then motioned for his friend to follow. We be goin' to de river. Dere I be cleaning and get dey dirt from it. Bind it up tight and give you someting to eat for dey pain and infection. .

Belatedly, Cambria realized he hadn’t answered all of Etienne’s questions. He gently set his foot back on the ground as the healer reassured him. His words soothed the jagged edges of fear in his heart even as the sound of his voice stoked a fire in it. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed it.

He had no desire to argue with Etienne, so he simply said, Okay, and readied himself to follow. It happened a little less than a week ago, by the way, and I did my best to clean it. Guess it wasn’t good enough. Cambria huffed a dry laugh. Anyway, thanks, Eti.

As they strolled deeper into the territory, the yearling made sure to stay very close to Etienne—not hard to do—and mind his posture. It felt a little strange, like he was trespassing, but maybe they didn’t mind guests. He didn’t think the Redtails would have entertained them, but Etienne couldn’t be more different than them.

That prompted him to share, Redtail Rise is gone. Well, I guess the rise itself is still there, but the Redtails aren’t, unless something had changed in the past month. They didn’t have a healer anyway, he murmured, frowning as he thought of Redd for the first time in a while.