Lion Head Mesa If I hear one more "Just be patient"

Days had flown by. Akashingo was still in mourning. Sokha wasn't quite sure what to do with it all. She had not known the Queen Satsu. How would tears come for a woman she did not know? Ramesses had dealt with a great loss, but how could she relieve his pain? 

All thoughts aside, now she had something new to worry about. Her body... it felt, off. Stiffness, warmth, aches, tiredness. None were ever symptoms she'd experienced before; but then, she had never fallen ill. 

Whisking quietly through the palace halls, she sought out the chambers of @Tavina, the woman she knew to be somewhat of a healer. Part of her regretted visiting, as Tavina had likely been mourning and also searching for answers to the Queen's death, but her gut was persistent. Something like this wouldn't happen out of the blue.

Towards the end of the hall, Sokha sounded a small chuff, asking to see if the woman was here.

tag for ref!

her potion had not worked for @Maegi. she had stabilized the woman and seen her eventually go to pharaoh. pain relief and her own presence were offered to the alabaster noble, but tavina wouldn't press her for a plan b on what to do until she herself was sought out.

today she was in demand again. "lady sokha," the sesh greeted, inviting the mazoi into her pristine little examination room. "what can i do for you?"

Approaching further once granted entry, Sokha nodded in greeting.

I apologize if my presence is an intrusion to your work, but my instincts bid me pay a visit. This past day or so, I haven't quite been feeling myself. I figured it couldn't hurt to stop by and see if you could assist in any way. Frowning a bit, the sandy mazoi shuffled her paws, slightly embarrassed. She had never liked admitting when she didn't feel well. It reminded her of being a child, as it seemed a childish thing. Tavina, as well as others, may not have thought so, but these were different people.

"not at all. that's what i'm here for. please, come sit."

she directed sokha to sit on the single bed in the room: a shelf of stone jutting from the wall and covered neatly with a skin. "now, tell me your symptoms. how long have you been feeling off?" tavina began her examination as she asked, sniffing delicately at paws, mouth, and ears.

Chuffing in thanks, Sokha placed herself where directed.

Nothing too dire, I'd say... warmer temperature than usual, bodily aches, tiredness, a bit of throbbing in the head. Hasn't been going on for much more than a night or two. It was a bit hard to point exactly the time it had begun, but a few nights seemed close enough. She'd slept through most of them anyhow.

"you are a little warm," tavina confirmed. "i'm glad you came to me sooner rather than later."

she was about to dole out a prescription when something occurred to her. "lady sokha, have you gone into heat yet this year?" tavina asked with the directness of a medical professional who does not care about shame.

She looked to Tavina with an amused grin. I was near to talking myself out of it. As a child, I rarely got sick.. I would often tease that I was immune to illness.

The query caught her a bit off guard, but she made haste in finding an answer. I believe it was closer to the end of winter, maybe even after... not too long after I joined Akashingo. Was the assumption even a valid one? No, it was better to wait for Tavina to say it herself. She could be wrong. Surely it was only a cold.

"as we get older, our bodies change and unfortunately, do weaken in a lot of ways."  tavina rocked back on her heels. "you would know if your heat arrived, lady sokha. even if it was your first."

she studied the other woman's face, looking at her irises now. "i am going to suggest a mixture of dandelion root and wild honey. the root itself is very bitter, the honey will help."

she turned around and began to rummage, wondering if the noblewoman would offer more information.

Sokha simply accepted the words given to her, thinking no more of her condition than she'd already spoken. It was likely a mere cold, or precisely what Tavina had suggested — aging.

As the woman rummaged, the mazoi watched with a curious gaze. Herbs had always fascinated her, but she'd never found the time, nor the proper teacher to learn. 

How long have you been a healer, generally speaking? 

"all my life," tavina said, thankful that her back was turned so sokha could not see the grimace she made as she chewed the dandelion root.

"when i was very young, my uncle showed me how to dissect a mouse. not only eat it or crush it, but lay its body out and see how its organs locked into one another."

she turned round now, molding the chewed root against honey stuck to a wide leaf. this she set at sokha's paw. "since then i have been vitally fascinated by the body's processes."

the woman had very lovely eyes, she decided, though it would have been inappropriate bedside manner to ever suggest this.

"All my life." The sesh answered. Sokha was in awe. How could anyone have had such a talent for so long and yet still be content with it?

Your uncle must have been a fine teacher. If Tavina knew so much, it drew out the question of just how skilled her mentor was, or had been.

The mazoi peered down upon the mixture given. Without prolonged hesitance, she pressed a firm paw to the edge of the leaf so it did not shift. Her tongue then slid across the surface, collecting the bits. It wasn't the most pleasant taste, despite the base of honey, but it wasn't difficult to bear through the seconds it took to consume.

Once finished, Sokha slid her tongue along the rims of her muzzle to rid of any sticky remnants. Thank you, She offered with a small, polite nod.

"he was a lot of things. not all good. but a fantastic tutor he was." she watched patiently as sokha took the medicine, then gave a nod of encouragement.

"very good. in about half an hour that will start to work. i want to see you back here this evening and tomorrow morning as well. we will do three doses of that and see if more is needed after." she studied the pretty mazoi. "is there anything else you need or would like to discuss, lady sokha?"