Felltree Marsh I don't know how I'm going to win

 

Snow drifted softly to the ground; a gentleness betrayed only by the bite of the chilly air and the crackling of the frozen marsh. A thin layer of ice clung to the surface of the swampy liquid; the snow lay thick across what Yuudai assumed was usually grass. The pale man lowered his snout to the murky ice before delicately pushing a paw threw. Not strong enough to stand on, and the edge was sharp. Sharp enough to cut he realized pulling his paw away, a scrap forming along his leg.

“What your step @Hiromi, the ice isn’t strong enough to carry us. We’ll have to pick our way through.” Lavender eyes roamed, searching for the best path. It would be best to stick to the snow he decided. Making his way over to one of many fallen tree’s Yuu leapt up, making the best use of his environment.

Flakes of gossamer fell from the heavens, drifting slowly like tiny feathers being shed from angel wings. She always liked to watch them fall, how they glitters with any light that might hit them. How they could turn against anyone that was not careful, blocking their sight, or melting in one's fur to create a bone chilling cold. Luckily for her she was built for this, the snow gathering in her similar colored fur. She shook once to remove the excess wait before her gaze shifted back to her protector, her friend. The sharp crack of ice was evidence enough without his words but she always liked to hear his voice, and this time, he had warned about the very problem that his pressing had shown.

Brows furrowed as she noticed the cut that had formed from the task he had just performed, her lips parted to speak but he had began to leap onto into fallen log. She huffed, following him to the downed tree before she pressed her body smaller frame to his own. This usually worked to stop his movements. "Yuu, let me have look at that injury you just gave yourself." her voice was soft but held a demand, she gave him a smile for good measure.

The heat of her body was a stark contrast to the chill around them. Yuudai turned his head, a brow raised at her antics. It was a simple scrap, not something that would normally stop him in his tracks. But when it came to Hiromi and Reiko there was no denying them anything. They were his best friends, his family, and he would do anything they asked of him.

“It’s just a scrap, nothing to serious.” His voice was quiet, as was normal for the man, barely over a whisper. But he stopped non-the-less, offering his leg up for further inspection. He let a small smile rest on his lips, as he waited for her to mother-hen him.

He raised his brow at her, raised his brow at her! She was simply wanting to look after him, wanted to make sure he wasn't hurt any worse than it might seem. Okay, she might be a mother-hen at this point but she felt useless as they traveled. She was no longer the duchess to Reiko's princess, she was no longer the healer that helped gather herbs and treat those that might have been hurt by the queen Hime. Who would treat them now?

Shaking her head she gave him a stern yet affectionate look, trying to hide how she felt about being nothing more than a simple girl alongside a samurai. She saw the small smile and dropped her eyes quickly to his leg, looking over the raised limb with determination. Hopefully to hide the blush forming over her pale fur.

He was right, of course, it was a scratch but a long one. An aberration that mostly left the skin irritated and a touch angry. Non the less she gave it a few licks to clear the tiny drops of blood that usually accompanied these types of scratches, noting the slightly deeper part where his paw first rendered the ice. She will make sure it does heal without inflammation. Tiny and simple scratch be damned.

"It might be but you know things can go down hill relatively quickly if you ignore something as simple as this" her voice was soft, gentle like a healer's voice should be but had a tiny air lilt to signal that she was of high birth.

Truly her care and affection warmed his heart, but Yuudai wasn't known for looking out for himself, his entire soul was built to serve and protect others. He supposed it was fortunate that he had someone to look out and heal him up when things inevitably got hairy. "Thank you." He murmured, nudging the top her head head with his own.

Ear's perked, he caught the sound of something to the side. He was antsy without a pack to support them, his sense stretched and on high alert. "We should keep moving, we need to find a place to rest for the night." This territory was completely foreign to him, and he had no notion of what lurked in the dark. The sound he had caught early disappeared, and he refocused on his charge. He had no idea where they were going, or where he was leading them. But Yuudai knew they had to put as much distance as possible between them and Queen Hime. They had to find somewhere safe.

As she cleaned the scratch she thought of things that could help speed up healing on it and other would she had seen him get over the past few months. Honey was always a good one but that was not an herb nor was it easy to come by, she had to figure out an easy source for that someday but right now she was curious of the herbs that this frozen marsh might give her. Lavender was often too delicate for the winter months, for it to thrive in a garden it would need to be covered with dried grass and heavy twigs. Oh, maybe there were from calendula around here. They were hardier, and quiet pretty. 

It was then that she looked up to meet his eyes, he had heard something she was too preoccupied to listen for. She gave a nod just as her gaze fell on a frost covered orange flower that had a similar look to a daisy. Calendula!  "oh, one moment Yuu!" She said with an excited lilt to her tone. She jumped from the fallen log they were on to another one that was more broke down, the ice under it made a sharp cracking sound. This made her pause for a short moment before she lowered her frame and inched closer, the cracking came again and she stretched to clip the few blooms.

Got them!

With a soft yip and slowly backed herself up, her tail swaying and arching to help with her balance. She jumped back onto the log that her friend was on and beamed at him, okay, they could move along now!

He had already started heading for the sound of the ocean to their right when his companion spoke and was gone in a flash. “Hey! He called, raising his voice and taking a quick step toward her. His paw slipped and he teetered on the edge of the log with supreme balance. Only his training prevented him from taking a tumble into the cold murky swamp water.

“Hiromi! Come back here.” Again he called out, and just like that she was back! A confident sway in her tail, and glee full shine to her eye. How was he supposed to protect her if she ran off without him. Pursing his lips together and once again raising a brow in her direction, a common facial expression for the warrior. His two charges often winding up in mischief without him around. His eyes read, don’t run off without me.

she did not always like the taste that carrying herbs in her mouth gave her but these frosted tangerine colored blooms were not bad, as long as she did not clamp her teeth around them too hard. It did not smell as good as other flowers, instead of a sweet aroma it gave off a more musky, tree sap like scent. Earthy, slightly damp but the moist smell could have been from the ice that clung to the petals. Her nam had been called while she concentrated on getting the herbal petals but she only had eyes for the blant and ears for the slintering ice. 

When she returned to him with glee she wanted him to be happy with her find, they were a bright contrast to their fur and the snowflakes that continued to fall from the heavens. Ah but he was not a healer, he would not know that these could help make sure inflammation and infection did not set in. Sure it was a small scratch but even that can cause trouble, she had seen a fever come from a kid getting a little scrap from a thorn bush. 

Oh, oh, there was that brow raising again. It was a good find and it wasnt like she had fallen in or put herself at any real risk but she still lowered her tail in subpication. She gave him a look of apology and sorrow that he was not happy for her find. her ears lowered, pusted her nose at his neck and chin as well to convey the point he wanted. I wont run off again, I am sorry.

He held firm for a couple seconds, stiff as a rock at her apology, but soon enough his frame melted, and he gave into her touch. His head dropped a tinge resting on her own, and he leaned into the embrace.

He had no idea why she had wandered off for a bunch of flowers and he looked curiously down at the bundle of brightly coloured twigs. “Flowers?” He didn’t see the need for them, but he was often confused by Hiromi and her herbs. Although she always had a good reason and a clear explanation.

She gave a submissive whine as he remained rigged against her embrace, that seemed to help as he thawed like the flakes that settled into her fur. Then he asked. Flowers? She gave a soft chuffing sound, a replacement for laughter to prefect the damage of the stems in her mouth. He was always confused by her picked leaves, dug up roots, and flowers. For a moment she had not responded, she leaned into his touch but before long she had to answer his question. 

She gave an exaggerated nod before she gentle set the colorful blooms at their feet so that she might speak without hurting them.  "Flowers." Her tail swayed and her ears lifted before she continued, "these help with inflammation and keeps infection from forming." The healer explained, her eyes twinkling as she explained parts of her trade. At last, she was no longer useless.

wrap up?

With a head tilt, Yuudai nodded softly. He didn’t quite understand how a flower could do that but if Hiromi said it, he would believe it. Being the gentleman that he was, Yuu dipped his head down an grabbed the bitter stems in his mouth and flicking his head over his shoulder indicating she should go first. He didn’t think the flowers were needed, but he would allow whatever treatment she deemed necessary. In the meantime, he would carry her flowers for her.

wrap up

 

Before she could protest he had grabbed the bright blooms by their bitter stems and carried them in his mouth for her, she was please with how gently he held them. She gave him a gentle smile before he flicked his head in a motion that meant she was to go first, okay, that worked for her. She moved very close to the samurai before brushing the entirety of her frame against his won as she passed him, the fallen log was wide enough that she could have avoided touching him but why would she? She moved ahead with her tail swishing back and forth to both balance and to show her happiness, she looked back frequently to make sure she was going the right way. She wanted to make him proud, so she followed his instructions.