Ouroboros Spine quiet brook

Seal quickly went to work. Her deft handling of the plants showed that the young woman had been studying hard. Quickly, she assembled two bundles. One bouquet garni of chamomile, willow bark, and lavender and one compress of herbaceous dandelion and candula.

“Chew this one,” she instructed before Ajei began her harrowing story. “It will relieve pain.”

Then, Seal gingerly dabbed the compress onto her friend’s scabbing and open wounds. For the worst cuts, she let the herbs linger a bit longer.

Through it all, she did not turn her attention away from Ajei. Bridget had taught her that to listen was just as good as any medicine. It was important to be present.

“You’re amazing, Ajei,” Seal commended. “I ken your mother would be verrae proud of you.”

She fell quiet for a moment in companionable silence as she treated Ajei.

“I didnae realize your ways were so different from the Sunshine people,” she remarked. “Your hunting journey… was your path to womanhood?” she asked.