Herbalists' Cache cen

Caan can be freely skipped btw, just squeezing him in here for reference.

War was an unholy thing that most children would only hear of in the grimmest of bedtime stories and the most cautionary of nursery rhymes.

It is Caan's lot in life that he would be among the misfortunate few that witnessed it first hand. Not that he hadn't tried.

He had been a good boy, hadn't he?

He stayed quiet as the voices rose outside, tucked away amongst the bodies of his siblings. Innocent eyes uncertain in what was seen. He didn't fuss when he was first lifted gently in Ishmira's jaws. Not even when he could see his mother and father. How he wished to be let down and wobble to them both.

Caan only starting crying at the flash of bared teeth. A scream that was cut short as he was jerked along with the sudden start of Ishmira.

Each step sent a jolt through him. When the older girl was thrown to the ground, Caan yelped as he was sent down with her.

He was beneath her when he felt it. The drip of something warm and metallic onto to him. The boy knew little of blood at this stage in his life, but it caused something within him to stir.

Caan curled as tightly as Ishmira was let him, his eyes screw shut so he couldn't see. He wouldn't see his father spill more of Ishmira's blood. He wouldn't see the collision of his parents.

He would stay quiet, his body trembling like a leaf as he held his breath. Each passing second an eternity as he waited for it to stop.