Growing Pains

It was absolute hell. Cairo had forced himself the whole of the way from Valhalla, after letting Aurielle know where he was off to, to the hot springs here in the east. He’d had to stop, many times, as the pain that was in his very bones, and every muscle, sent him staggering to the ground, curled in the snow, until the worst had passed.

He’d had some hope that the heat of the water in the springs would help. He didn’t really want to cloud his mind with the stronger pain-killing herbs Paladin had to offer. Steam billowed ahead, and he gave a quiet, hopeful groan of relief. Finally, he was there.

It was glorious, in all its sulfurous stench. He staggered and collapsed headlong into the hot water with a splash, twisting and throwing his head above water and resting his chin on the ground outside the pool. His ears drooped slightly, and he went very still, glad to be at the end of his trip. He was aware of Loshir slinking to an area out of sight—Aurielle must have asked the cat to follow her apprentice. The mountain lion was visibly displeased to have been following a young wolf instead of his actual charge, but Cairo was grateful for the guardian.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think