Firestone Hot Springs behind closed eyes

Dated for beginning of February, shortly after the blizzards ended. Looking to put this toward the medic trade. Preference is for fast pace/ short posts.

Lane lowered her infected paw into the pool, squinting against the steam that rose from the water's surface. These pools smelled fucking terrible. Lane reasoned with herself that the best remedies were often those that smelled or tasted the worst, but even so it took all of her willpower not to snatch her paw from the water and high-tail it out of here. 

She had research to do. Wolfkind had yet to even scratch the surface of what heat could do for sickness or injury, seeing as there were so very few sources of natural heat available. It stood to reason though, that if cold could be helpful for injuries then heat might also have some notable effect. 

Lane settled on the side of the pool, paw still extended and soaking in the brine. She tried to get comfortable, knowing that it could be a while before whatever was going to happen happened.

Vein was just leaving this area early Feb so I'd love my healer to snag this, I'd love to spree so hopefully our schedules will a line :)

The over large white brute was rested the snow had stopped but the pack he had hoped to join and seemed to disappear over night and thus it was time for him to move on. He packed up his tools, He wore two skulls hanging at his sides tied together with vines and a C shaped stick that had been slid over his head and down his neck until it came to rest at his shoulders. They hung from him like saddle bags would from a horse or pack animal. One skull was of a moose with antlers still intact and one of a similarly large (to himself) wolf both skulls were lashed with twisted dried vines, both skulls were almost over flowing with herbs, there were some wooden tools lashed to the antlers of the moose skull among other things,

He began his journey in a westerly direction but as he moved a lone figure caught his eye and she seemed to be dipping only a single body part into the pools, which was odd, unable to leave it be he trotted closer to investigate.His own pelt was a rich clean white color but it also held a hint of the sulphuric scent of these pools as he had bathed in them not so long ago and he drew closer to her and stopped only a few feet off.  If the rattling of his tools didn't give him away his voice soon would as his deep rich tone filtered through the air "Hello there, I am Vein, A healer and a high priest, Might I ask why you are dipping just a paw?"

Oh yes, Lane had heard the man rattling toward her from a long way off. She cracked an eye open, watching the enormous man lumbering a snaking path through the springs. Squinting, Lane thought she could see a skull hanging off his side. From a distance, it looked like he had enjoyed a successful hunt, and he was carrying the leftovers home to his pack. Well, good for him. From the look of the man, his pack already ate well, and now they would be eating even better. Lane closed her eyes once more, fully expecting the man to pass her by and go on about his business.

Instead, he stopped to address her, his voice a rumbling baritone. Vein. A "healer" and a high priest, oh fucking hell. Was she a magnet for crazies? Lane turned over her shoulder toward the man, fully intending to send him on his way somehow. Maybe she'd pretend like she couldn't speak Common or..

"Whoa. Kickass." Oops, so much for pretending she didn't speak the language. But really, his herb-sling-thingamajig was absolutely ingenious. Lane had mistaken it for prey from far away.

"Guess I'm old-fashioned," she said, gesturing toward her own medkit, which was laying in the snow a few feet away. It was the typical medic's set: a few essentials wrapped up in cobwebs like a brick.

"Name's Lane." Lane didn't answer his question because honestly, she had completely forgotten it. She was far too distracted by the thingamajig. "And, sorry.. what else was it?" she asked, bidding him to repeat himself.

Vein chuckled as she saw her fascination with dear ole dad and the rest of his tools. He glanced at hers and worked hard to keep a jovial expression, he had to remind himself the wolves in the teekon wilds were only battle medic's not truly healers. "I see" he glanced at her paw unable to smell anything beyond the sulphuric smell of the hotsprings. He wished desperately that there were untainted hotsprings round here somewhere, he wanted tea damn it.

"Is there a reason you are dipping only a paw? I might be able to offer advice if it is sore"

"Oh, right," Lane murmured when Vein reminded her of the question. She turned her gaze to her submerged paw, as if checking to see that it was still there. The man's question seemed to indicate that these pools could relieve soreness, which was useful information. 

"No, it's not that, it's--" 

She lifted her paw out of the pool to show him. When she had placed the paw in the water, it had been blighted with an infected puncture wound; healed on the exterior but still rotten beneath the surface. Now however, puss oozed from beneath the cracked scab. The infection had risen to the surface, seemingly as a result of being soaked.

"That's interesting," Lane commented, surveying her own paw with curiosity. "It wasn't leaking like that before," she explained after a beat. "It was just, you know-- all angry and swollen, like how it gets right before the fever comes on." Had the heat drawn the infection out of the wound?

Vein stared at her then his eyes fell to be paw as she pulled it from the water. “How about you step over here, That paw needs cold now. If you could dip it in the snow” Vein’s eyes were wide her lowered his front end and backed out from below the vines timing his portable cache’s together.

He dug through the snow pushing enough aside to create a flat drier spot to work on. He quickly began pulling dried herbs from the wolf skull and placed then in the moose skull, emptying the wolf one almost completely, setting a few broadly lance-shaped to egg-shaped leaves aside.  Those were Plantain leaves, common enough plant he just wished he had more, since they were so common he didn’t grab much of them for his portable caches.

He continued to transfer many different herbs having no choice to put of of the overflow onto the rock itself, until the wolf skull was almost empty, in the base of the skull was a black powder, he tipped just a bit of the powder on the rock and mixed it with just a tiny bit of snow until he made almost a paste.

Vein then took a leaf and crushed it under paw while rolling it until the natural juices of the leaf were flowing but it kept it’s leaf shape this was what he was going to use to hold the charcoal paste where it needed to be, then he carefully covered the leaf with the paste.

He looked up to the female having started this work without ensuring that she had listened to him about putting her paw in the cold snow.

“It looks infected I need you to reduced the swelling by cooling your paw then I will cover it with these plantain leaves and charcoal to draw the infection out if we work quickly I might be able to save your paw”

Vein began to dig a wolf size hole in the snow, clearing the ground to make a more comfortable place for her to lay down.

Lane knew that tone; even and businesslike so as not to cause alarm, but almost overly-so, betraying the seriousness of the situation. Coupled with the wideness in the man's eyes, Lane could see that the sight of her paw had concerned him.  

She did as he ordered, placing her paw on the ground and then pushing snow over the limb. A voice in the back of her head reminded her that listening to a random "healer" before was what had gotten her into this mess. She was skeptical about whether she ought to trust this man at all... but then again, he did seem a hell of a lot more professional than the last one. She watched the man mix the charcoal paste with keen interest. The broadleaf made a good surface for mixing and easy transport, but it must have had some kind of medicinal purpose as well, or else the man wouldn't have bruised it as he did. 

He might be able to save her paw? That seemed overly dramatic to Lane. She wasn't even fevered.. not yet at least. Lane knew that some travelling medics used scare tactics to trick their grateful patients into paying more. Was that what was going on here? She was reluctant to admit that-- perhaps-- she had pushed herself too far, battling through the blizzards alone with an injured paw and then going without rest caring for the Glen wolves. It was true what they said, that medics themselves made for the worst patients. 

"What are the medicinal properties of the plantain leaves?" she inquired, watching him dig up a small nest in the snow. The tingling in her injured paw was now fading to numbness as it cooled. Once he indicated he was ready for her, she would settle into the nest and allow him to administer his treatment.

The over large brute's rumbled as he worked "Have you have a fever yet? Or did I misinterpret?" He finished clearing the space and offered for her to lay down, as she did so he sniffed her paw thoroughly, though it was clear there was infection aside from the lingering sulphuric scent, but he realized if might not be as bad as he thought. "I cleared the snow so that I can offer my body heat or push snow against you depending on your bodies needs throughout the night."

Vein moved away and took up one of the prepared leaves and set it right next to her paw, he examined the oozing wound and frowned "I will have to remove the scab so that my poultice will work to it's best ability, I don't have much charcoal so I don't wish to waste it" He looked up at her waiting for permission, his rich tones filled the air again as he worked on distracting her before attempting to remove the scab "Oh and Plantain leaves are a common plant, but they have compounds in them that help reduce inflammation, and promote wound healing, and some ability to stop further infections.  The charcoal will help draw the infection out quickly, though your paw may throb as it's doing so I'm hoping plantain helps reduce the swelling in your paw and perhaps reduce the pain, though if the pain gets to much I might be able to find something in my caches to help with that if you want."

"No fever yet," Lane confirmed. She expected that the wound probably looked a whole lot worse than it was, since the hot water had drawn the infection up to the surface. 

He mentioned sharing body heat throughout the night, and Lane's brows raised in surprise. Surely that wasn't necessary..? She barely knew this guy. A teenager through and through, Lane's heartbeat fluttered nervously at the mention of sharing body heat with or sleeping next to any man outside of her own family. She was sure this guy was professional and everything, but like... still. You know. 

"Uh.." Lane felt her face flush as she tried to search for some way out of the situation.

He mentioned removing the scab, which distracted Lane from planning out her escape. 

"Oh I'll get it," Lane piped. It would be much more efficient for her to remove her own scab, since Vein probably would have taken extra lengths to try to be gentle, make sure it wasn't hurting, et cetera et cetera. She began chewing deftly around the edges of the scab, working her way in toward the center until it was completely removed. As she worked, she listed to Vein's mini-lesson on plantain leaves and charcoal. 

Once she was done, she held the affected paw out to Vein in a silent gesture for him to go ahead and do his thing. There was blood, but not nearly as much as when she had pulled the splinter out originally. 

"Nah, pain is fine," Lane assured him. She was no sissy. She'd been walking around on this puncture wound for weeks, after all.

Vein did not notice her inner turmoil, He was a healer through and through he hadn't even considered any uncomfortable emotions, He used everything at his disposal when it came to healing and if his body would work in a pinch then he'd use it.

"No fever is good, that means I will not have to monitor your temperature all night then, I might be able to make a few poultices to get you through, Once we draw the infection out I can use some some comfrey to help speed the healing, but comfrey helps a wound close quickly enough it could trap infection inside the body if we are not careful to draw it out first."

Vein picked up the poulticed leaf in his maw carefully and with practised ease, smoothed it over the wound, holding it there for a moment with his paw until he was sure the initial stinging would ease, he didn't want her pulling away and the poultice to go flying he didn't have so much as to make a whole bunch.

"In a few hours we'll take this off soak your paw in the hot water and then again in the snow before we re poultice it with the other leaf." He nodded confident in his treatment plan. "Tomorrow I'll make the comfrey poultice and you'll be right as rain in a day or two more"

The large brute moved back to his portable caches and busied himself tidying up his tools, once he was satisfied that everything was in it's place he lay close by the female "How did you get that wound Lane?" He berated himself for not asking sooner, because it might have changed his treatment plan, though not so much that this first step would be any different.

Lane nodded. She was relieved to hear that the temperature monitoring thing and all that came with it would be unnecessary.

She nodded again. She was familiar with comfrey, although she rarely used it to treat surface wounds for the exact reason that Vein described. It could be tricky to get the timing right. Vein seemed like he knew what he was doing, though.

"Okay," she agreed to his plan, watching as he deftly applied the fist poultice. "If you leave the supplies, I could do those things on my own. I don't want to hold you up any longer." It was likely that Vein would want to stay and see the treatment though himself; that was often a pride thing among medics. But she thought she would offer him the out, if he was pressed for time.

"I stepped on a wooden splinter-- or more like a shard, I guess. Over in that burned-down forest." Lane nodded toward the Heartwood. "The shard was in pretty deep, and some guy helped me pull it out... he said he was a medic, but I dunno about that.." Holland had been on the opposite of the spectrum from Vein: he travelled with no supplies, at least from what Lane could tell. And especially compared to Vein's near-overattentiveness, Holland's attitude toward her wound and its treatment had been downright apathetic.

His deep timber rumbled "I'd like to stay with you while the poultices are in use if you don't mind, I'd not feel good if you ended up with an abscess due to inadequate care, those are far more painful.”

He grimaced at her story, “I’ve seen those healers before nothing but field hacks,” His shook his head in disgust “who could leave a patient before they are nye almost healed”

His white ears perked up “burned down forest you say? There are lots of herbs that grow after a fire and lots more things that are useful after a fire, where is this forest?” His tail beat upon the ground, Perhaps the directions to the forest would be the only payment he’d desire for his services

He wanted to stay. Lane nodded; she had expected as much. 

She nodded again as he shared his thoughts on Holland's "treatment." She'd had similar thoughts herself. It was good to know Holland was not an example of how every self-proclaimed healer behaved in these parts. 

To be fair, it was probable that Holland had simply wanted to save his time, effort, and supplies for his pack. The Glen had been through a difficult time, to say the least. Lane was lucky that Vein didn't feel similarly, if Vein even had a pack.

"Oh, over there," Lane directed, nodding toward a dark spot on the horizon. "Just follow the edge of the river gorge south. You can't miss it." After seeing firsthand how handy the charcoal was with infection, Lane was planning on paying the Heartwood a visit herself.  

"So where are ya headed after that? Back home to a pack?" Lane asked conversationally. She might as well hear this man's story, if they were going to be here for a while.

He was not in a pack due to the back date, he had been trying to join a pack in this area before it dissolved which is why he was here. Since then he joined another but his story will not match his tag :)

“We have time to spend before I we can change the poultice, I suppose my story will suffice to pass the time.” Vein smiled though he turned his head to note the direction she indicated and took the time to memorize the directions  He turned his attention back to her and scented the air trying to scent it there was any change in the smell of the wound.

“I was guided here by the gods and thought to join a pack near here however that pack seems to have disappeared of the face of the teekon wilds, Now I believe though the gods wanted me to find this place but where I must go is west of here. I don’t know why, however, I am sure I will find out during my journey and if I need to seek more guidance from the gods, I will find a place to do so.”

Vein watched her expression carefully as he spoke of gods, most wolves spurned him for his beliefs, his rich voice becoming deeper and more passionate, “Do you believe in the gods, Sweet one?”

As Lane was swiftly given an earful of what the gods wanted and where the gods guided Vein, she was almost instantly sorry she'd asked. She was more or less a captive audience, so she nodded along, trying not to give away what an absolute load of bull she thought all that was. She knew that others really took all this religion stuff to heart, but she had never quite been able to get there herself. She didn't understand why so many otherwise sane, logical, rational wolves went all gooey in the head when it came to spirituality. 

"Um.." Oh boy, he wanted to know what she believed? Lane tried to think of a way to let him down easy. He had been nice to her after all, and he had called her Sweet One. Don't think that one got by her for a second. 

"I think my gods are very different from yours," Lane answered diplomatically. "And I'm not sure what gave you the idea I was sweet," she added, desperate to change the subject. She quirked an eyebrow questioningly. Was Vein flirting with her? What was it with this place that seemed to bring out that side of men?

Vein chuckled softly "You have not drawn my blood and have been a good patient, I would say you are sweet, However, even if you had drawn blood; if it were done in the right way I'd still consider you sweet. The gods do desire blood sacrifices from time to time and it is harder to get your own blood."

He paused collecting his thoughts wondering why she was concerned for the pet name but unperturbed "Truely Lane, why I called you sweet, was your willingness to help me and the fact that in that moment I had forgotten your name. I will be more careful moving forward"

He offered her a congenial smile and respectful bow of his head though he flirted a little bit, the truth was he was unskilled in the way of lovers, that and the only thing he loved was healing and the gods themselves, he had never had a female or a male for that matter and did not think of other wolves much in that manner. Although his mannerisim's did copy the wolf whom raised him an alpha who bred with all his females like a harem and did not allow the males any lee-way in that regard. So his flirtations were truly innocent, not that the bulky male that could possibly just take wanted should he actually desire it would inspire calm.

He stood slowly and indicated the hot springs "Let's dip your paw in the spring for about 5 minutes then put it back in the snow for the next change, I'd like to get more charcoal on it before we rest for the night."

I'm going to write a fade for this so that we can close up and use it for trade claims. Thanks for joining!

Oh, for fuck's sake. The man had taken the bait and rolled with her change of subject, and yet the conversation still ended up back on these gods of his. Lane stared for a long moment, trying to absorb what he was oh-so-casually telling her about fucking blood sacrifice. She quickly averted her gaze, realizing that she had stared a little to long. 

He then delivered what sounded like an apology. 

"Nah, you're good, I was just wondering," Lane reassured him quickly-- perhaps too quickly. He seemed to be truly regretful that he might have offended her, and now Lane herself was also being a bit more careful not to offend him. You know, in case he got the idea he wanted to make a blood sacrifice or something. Granted, the man seemed like he was a great medic. Knowledgeable, attentive, caring... but Lane was really having a hard time moving past the blood sacrifice thing. 

"Sure," she agreed to the treatment plan, again very quickly. She practically flew over to the pool, relieved to put some space between herself and Vein. She would follow his instructions for now, continuing to make small talk and when she could, steering the conversation away from the gods and what they may or may not desire. 

Once they settled down for the night and Vein was asleep, Lane slipped away. He wasn't bad company, but she didn't want to be hanging around in case these gods of his gave him any ideas about what rituals might call for the blood of a maiden, or some shit like that. No sireee. Nope. Lane noped right out there, just as quickly as her three good paws would carry her back to Firefly Glen.

When she returned to ice the paw in the snow he tended to the wound replacing the poultice.

He was content with silence and rested between small talk, and somewhere in the wee hours of the next morning he'd  replace her charcoal poultice with the Comfrey poultice before taking his leave, She would heal easily now, with no more intervention needed on his part, Maybe one day he'd chance upon her again.