Jade Fern Grove his heart was trapped in a cage

as his offer hangs in the air between them, brisbane takes the opportunity to drink from the creek himself, feeling the cold water's progression from his mouth all the way to his stomach. he laps from the creek's surface until his thirst is stated, which conveniently fell right after she answers with 'ok'. he swipes his tongue across his jowls to collect the stray droplets of water as he turns so that he faces her and draws nearer. it's the first time brisbane gets a good look at it — what was left of her tail was far from a good state, possible stewing infection aside. never once had warwick or karratha ever returned to him in such a state; but the wolf packs of stormvale coast knew better than to invoke brisbane's ruthless 'justice'. fuck, someone really did a number on ya. he observes under his breath as he inspects the wound after she, rather defensively, adds that she couldn't feel it or reach it.

the good news was that he'd seen his mother patch up worse and those wolves lived to tell the tale. he didn't have his mother's skill ( from lack of practice beyond anything else ) but by attribution he appeared to have witchdoctor's affinity for it. good news is that as long as we can take care of the infection that's settin' in you'll live. the words don't feel like an empty platitude to give her some peace — there's something about her that's hearty, believed in part because of the fact that she's managed to survive this long without anyone tending to the wound.

moss is sterile, if i pack the wound with moss it'll clean the wound of infection and the best news is there's plenty of moss around here, the corner of the non-ruined side of his mouth quirks up light-heartedly, just as he would approach any wounds his siblings often came home with. there was a favorite quote his mother liked to use when treating wounds — she'd used it on him as she treated his freshly tattered muzzle: you'll be better before you're married — but he's always thought it was cheesy and he refrains from using it now because they are strangers. yarrow would be better to use but i don't remember seein' any. of course he hadn't exactly been looking as he'd made his way through the grove either.