And it'sx my whole heart, xxweighed and m e a s u r e d xxxxxxxxxxx i n s i d e And it's an old scar, trying to bleach it out

It had been some time, since she had been.... Home.

Upon a rocky outcrop amongst the various trees, roots twisted and knotted around the stones and around an opening that was once a badger sett, dug out and widened by various inhabitors over the years. The above foliage that formed the structure, an African maple and a small pine tree, twisted oddly together. The pine stood tall, and yet the broad leafed maple had grown to curve around it's needled comrade. An odd but spectacular site. A perfect place to call home, and the witch once did. But now she has elsewhere she hoped to be, for the safety and growth of her beloved Svetka. And so, she was just here to gather her remaining herb stores and pay her respects. Perhaps another would be blessed enough to find this and call it home, someday. Perhaps if she ever meets another in need, she would lead them to this place, so they may rest.

The lioness stepped forward out of the shadows she had been waiting in, the light of the setting sun casting a warm but soft glow over the forest as she ducked inside, quickly gathering the remaining things she had left safely within. She felt a sudden longing, and a deep ache in her chest. This was where she had rested the first time with her first love, Nonoyo. And where she confided many times with her closest friend, Alexon, before they to would share dreams. And her daughters, Amalia and Medison, she would tell them stories late into the night until they drifted to sleep, and even though the witch had much to do in the night, she would dally, and take care to watch them rest. And then Svetka..... Her newest piece of heart. Here reaper. The others were long gone, passed and ripped away, but Svetka was still there. And there would be others.

She was willing to offer her entire heart to anyone who needed it, and now that is what she would spend her life doing. Giving her heart to make the lives of others less painful. She didn't want anyone else to have to feel the anguish she had felt in these passing years.

Tucking the last of the herbs away in little pouches made from dried prey stomach's, she fasted them to her haunches with vines assorted into a makeshift utility belt, she ducked back out of her former den, squinting slightly at the remaining light still remaining in the sky. She stopped, taking in a deep breath. In that moment, she felt unpleasantly alone.

@Cordi

who's a heretic now?

code by loki - art by Aurora

Cordi shouldn’t be out by herself - let alone outside the reaches of the brook. She knew something was wrong with her and that something was out to claim her. Even though she knew her family would prefer her to rest, to hopefully “get better” the teen knew it wasn’t to be. Her lungs felt worse by the day. It was made apparently by the hare cough that wracked her young frame now. The sound was deep and wet. She could taste the iron on her tongue just before she spat blood onto the grove’s forest floor. She made no effort to be quiet, unaware of @Arachnae nearby as she stood to look at the evidence of her death sentence.

ART BY YUMPY, CODE BY LARS

And it'sx my whole heart, xxweighed and m e a s u r e d xxxxxxxxxxx i n s i d e And it's an old scar, trying to bleach it out

Her few moments of peace of mind were broken to the sound of harsh coughing, followed by a metallic scent permeating the witch's nose. She knew the scent all too well, after all. Head whipping around, red and blue gaze spotted the hunch form of a young crimson coated lioness. Immediately, fear began to develop in her chest. A child that smelled of blood? No, never good.

She hated to rush towards those who weren't familiar with her, especially cubs since they surely should know stranger danger. But she could barely contain herself from springing towards the young one. Strained, she crept forward at a forced average speed, crouched lower a bit with a deeply concerned smile on her maw. Hello little one.... My name is Arachnae. I am a cleric and a healer. I can see you don't seem to be feeling too well.... Do you mind telling me what's wrong? She didn't know if the cub already knew she was sick, or what it was, but a good way to begin finding out was to find out what was wrong. She could see splats of blood on the ground, but as dusk began to settle more shadows over the world, details became herder to see without invading the cubs space.

@Cordi

who's a heretic now?

code by loki - art by Aurora

Cordi was shaken from her stare down with the blood spot that the soil seemed to take ages to claim by the arrival of @Arachnae. Her bright teal eyes lifted to look at the stranger who was kind enough to introduce herself. I-I’m Cordi. She answered with some hesitation. The Brook cub was not familiar in the dealings with strangers. Lots of things are wrong. Everything felt wrong. It made her angry really. To be dying now. To have been born dying way more literally than many tend to mean. She didn’t know how to explain it - how she knew the shadow monster was the reason why.

ART BY YUMPY, CODE BY LARS

And it'sx my whole heart, xxweighed and m e a s u r e d xxxxxxxxxxx i n s i d e And it's an old scar, trying to bleach it out

The child introduced herself back, the sweet voice tinged in a sadness and resentment the woman did not understand yet, but it made her feel more agony for the girl nonetheless. Her response was heart wrenching, Arachnae taking a deep steadying breath before moving in closer. It's wonderful to meet you, @Cordi. I may be able to help you, if you'll let me. She offered, a soft smile of reassurance appearing on her maw. She didn't seem to be wounded externally, from what she could tell. She was afraid the blood that was in front of the girl was related to the coughing that had caught her attention. Are you hurt, at all? Are you able to breathe okay? I could hear you coughing. Did that blood come from that? She asked, guilty for having to ask the child so many questions. But it was important she knows what symptoms she needed to treat.

Being closer, she could smell the undeniable scent of Vermeda on the cub. She wondered why she was away from home, if she was sick, and if any of the healers in her pride knew. The pride was under Valour control, a family she respected deeply. She could only imagine they were worried for her.

who's a heretic now?

code by loki - art by Aurora

Cordi could hope for help. She was torn between accepting the hopelessness or letting this lioness do what she could. You can try if you want. She opted to simply agree. Even if it was merely comfort. Some relief was better than being winded from walking ten steps. No, I’m not hurt on the outside. She answered, looking from @Arachnae to the spot on the ground. No, I don’t breathe great. My lungs are…bad. At least. To put it lightly. I cough blood more often than not. It hadnt always been that way, but it was that way now.

ART BY YUMPY, CODE BY LARS

And it'sx my whole heart, xxweighed and m e a s u r e d xxxxxxxxxxx i n s i d e And it's an old scar, trying to bleach it out

+5 Clean out your herb stores - (2/2)
+5 Create a potion with a specific use - (0/2)
+5 Tend to a cub’s childhood illness - (1/2)

It was horrible to hear a child sound so defeated, without a shred of hope. Just compliance. She moved forward more, relieved at least for her permission to help. Regardless, she would help her at least feel a little better. She confirmed there were no physical injuries, and that her lungs bothered her tremendously, the coughing of blood being an often occurrence was of great concern. It seemed this was going on for a little while now, then. She did not know of many conditions cubs got that involved coughing blood and surviving. She hated to think it. About how long has this been happening, little one? Does your parents know, and have you received any treatment from anyone else yet? She asked, before dipping her head down to level with the red cub. Do you mind if I listen to your breathing, miss @Cordi? The witch requested.

who's a heretic now?

code by loki - art by Aurora

A few months now. I used to just get winded and tired easily. The crimson cub would explain. She would opt to sit now, a mostly not graceful drop to her haunches in front of @Arachnae. My fathers know. It was kind of hard to miss when their child collapses and has an episode. I get herbs sometimes to make breathing easier. Sometimes she forgot to take them. Cordi just wanted to play and live. You can. I'm sure it sucks. The cub hardly noticed the wheezing sound but some days it was the most annoying thing to hear.

ART BY YUMPY, CODE BY LARS

I am the lethal enemy of your light My maw calls you into the abyss

+5 Create a potion with a specific use - (1/2)
+5 Tend to a cub’s childhood illness - (2/2)

Time. So much time had passed. It started with just her breathing, and now she coughed blood so much.... Ah. The witch was almost afraid to put her onyx colored ear to the cubs chest, to listen to the sounds that may await her within. But her fathers, they were aware. Did they know how.... Harsh the outcome seemed? Fear, she hadn't ever felt such fear to chest someone over and she lowered herself closer to the young girl with her permission, a pointed ear softly pressing against her chest.

The sound of her breathing was horrendous. She didn't even have to ask for a deep breath, she could hear the wet, smacking crackling sound as air fought to get in and out of her lungs. Oh..... She whispered, and in the moment, she could not stop a few years from running down her cheeks. She couldn't let her see them. Just in case.... She didn't know yet. Quickly, the woman stood, turning away from the cub to rustle through the bags of herbs attached to her haunches, silently sniffling away the thoughts of fate that swarmed her head. No, the important thing now was to give her relief. I'm going to do my best to make you feel better, @Cordi. I promise. Would her best.... Be enough?

A turtle shell was pulled from one of her bags, set in the ground to have herbs piled within. Crabwood and gum acacia sap, nibima leaves, and lotus bean seeds. A short, fat stick like a pestle was pulled from her supplies, using her jaws to hold the stick and crush all the ingredients into a lumpy, odd colored paste. To help with the bitterness, the witch added a bit of crushed sugarcane, mixing it together one final time before taking a deep breath and pushing the turtle shell towards the red cub. This should help your breathing feel a little more clear, and less.... Wet. Arach stated gently.

art by Rabbit - code by loki

Cordi had a suspicion. No regular lion felt close to how she did on a daily basis. She was stubborn (why else would she venture from the brook?) but not stupid or oblivious. The weight of you're dying had yet to fully settle or be completely accepted yet. @Arachnae would lower her ear and press it against the fluff of her chest. The lack of <>hmm seems okay or any real positive inclination would tell her that it did indeed suck. The lioness would offer her a promise and Cordi gave her a simple small smile. Okay. Relief would be nice, but she didn't believe in a perfect cure.

Though she did watch with interest as various herbs were brought out and placed in a shell. The end result was a mush of herbs that would be offered with the idea of it helping her lungs feel clear. Bright eyes looked at it slightly skeptically, but it really wouldn't hurt. Unless it was poison but Cordi didn't think that way of others. She leaned down to begin to lap up the paste. Her masked features made a face at the taste, the sugar cane helped but ultimately it was not her favorite thing in the world to consume. Blegh. She finished, smacking her jaws together at the after taste.

ART BY YUMPY, CODE BY LARS