Shattered
08-12-2017, 01:40 AM
Padding along the edge of the lake, Sterling made note of the differences in the territory since her last visit. With the change in seasons, this place had really come to bloom, and she was sure she'd be able to find the plant her acquaintance had shown her back then. Only now it would be flowering, and she would try to remember the scent of the roots so she could identify it when she found it. She'd never really considered an interest in herbs before, but since the time she'd met Paladin, she had grown a curiosity for the skill of healing, although she still wasn't certain she'd pursue it seriously. She'd always imagined herself as a hunter like her mother, or perhaps even a fighter, someone who would defend the wolves of her pack. But ever since the raid, her thoughts had been restless, and she'd been bombarded with questions from her own mind that she wasn't sure she could answer. Not only was she plagued by uncertainties, she had also become aware of the lack of healers in Talis. She'd received care for her wounds immediately after the raid, but hadn't had any follow-up since then and she hadn't seen the supposed healers around. Her wounds hadn't healed yet, and she could feel the sting of infection trying to set in.
Before the raid, she'd been so sure it was exactly what Talis needed to do in order to thrive through the harsh drought and fires they'd experienced at home; but after seeing the reality of it - the fear of jumping into a battle she hadn't truly been prepared for, and seeing her pack mates injured - she wasn't as certain as she'd been. Her own father had tried to keep her and Jade safe, and his injuries made her cringe, a pang of guilt in her belly every time she saw him. She'd played a role in ensuring Talis went through with the raid, and she'd voiced her opinions loudly at meetings. Not only that, but she'd spied on another pack to try to find out if they had the resources that Talis needed. She doubted whether they'd really needed to fight another pack, and she wondered if it would have just been easier to ask for help. After all, Dragon had family in Celestial, didn't he? That was something that now struck Sterling as odd, that their leader had had no qualms with attacking a pack that housed his own relatives, when they could have chosen any other pack to raid.
Deciding she'd needed a break from her thoughts and the day-to-day life in Talis, Sterling had left to explore on her own, and she'd remembered that she was to seek out these plants in the spring.
At least, her acquaintance had suggested it to her, and she saw it as a good excuse to get away for a while. Of course, she was nervous about coming here - after all, if she was caught by any of the wolves in the pack neighbouring this lake, she knew she might well be in trouble. Yet something else in her pushed her to come, and she almost hoped she would meet Paladin here again. Why? He would be angry. A pang of guilt hit struck her belly, ears folding back when she thought of the generous sharing of information he'd offered her when she'd met him. Had she repaid his kindness and trust by attacking his pack mates? This was where she wrestled with her thoughts. After all,
this was the danger of making friends across pack borders.
And yet, here she was, hoping for reasons beyond her comprehension, that she might come across the boy that had so kindly shown her how interesting the skill of healing could be. And there he was.
She paused in mid-step as she saw him amongst the taller growing brush by the lakeside, as he pulled one of his carrying hides off of his back and leaned toward something of interest. He seemed pre-occupied, and she was sure he hadn't noticed her yet. Her tail drooped, hanging listlessly between her hocks. He was probably collecting herbs so that he could heal the wounds of his pack mates, some of which she may have caused. Sighing to herself, she nearly turned around and left, but home was a long ways off, and she'd come all this way for a purpose. So, slowly, she padded toward him until she was about 20 ft. away from him. Her head low and a wave of anxiety flooding through her, she dared to call out to him, unsure of what would happen next. "Paladin,"
her voice rang out weakly, her emerald eyes resting upon him as she waited for him to notice her,
nervously anticipating a response from him that she wasn't sure she wanted to see. But, if he was angry, she was sure she deserved it.
Before the raid, she'd been so sure it was exactly what Talis needed to do in order to thrive through the harsh drought and fires they'd experienced at home; but after seeing the reality of it - the fear of jumping into a battle she hadn't truly been prepared for, and seeing her pack mates injured - she wasn't as certain as she'd been. Her own father had tried to keep her and Jade safe, and his injuries made her cringe, a pang of guilt in her belly every time she saw him. She'd played a role in ensuring Talis went through with the raid, and she'd voiced her opinions loudly at meetings. Not only that, but she'd spied on another pack to try to find out if they had the resources that Talis needed. She doubted whether they'd really needed to fight another pack, and she wondered if it would have just been easier to ask for help. After all, Dragon had family in Celestial, didn't he? That was something that now struck Sterling as odd, that their leader had had no qualms with attacking a pack that housed his own relatives, when they could have chosen any other pack to raid.
Deciding she'd needed a break from her thoughts and the day-to-day life in Talis, Sterling had left to explore on her own, and she'd remembered that she was to seek out these plants in the spring.
At least, her acquaintance had suggested it to her, and she saw it as a good excuse to get away for a while. Of course, she was nervous about coming here - after all, if she was caught by any of the wolves in the pack neighbouring this lake, she knew she might well be in trouble. Yet something else in her pushed her to come, and she almost hoped she would meet Paladin here again. Why? He would be angry. A pang of guilt hit struck her belly, ears folding back when she thought of the generous sharing of information he'd offered her when she'd met him. Had she repaid his kindness and trust by attacking his pack mates? This was where she wrestled with her thoughts. After all,
this was the danger of making friends across pack borders.
And yet, here she was, hoping for reasons beyond her comprehension, that she might come across the boy that had so kindly shown her how interesting the skill of healing could be. And there he was.
She paused in mid-step as she saw him amongst the taller growing brush by the lakeside, as he pulled one of his carrying hides off of his back and leaned toward something of interest. He seemed pre-occupied, and she was sure he hadn't noticed her yet. Her tail drooped, hanging listlessly between her hocks. He was probably collecting herbs so that he could heal the wounds of his pack mates, some of which she may have caused. Sighing to herself, she nearly turned around and left, but home was a long ways off, and she'd come all this way for a purpose. So, slowly, she padded toward him until she was about 20 ft. away from him. Her head low and a wave of anxiety flooding through her, she dared to call out to him, unsure of what would happen next. "Paladin,"
her voice rang out weakly, her emerald eyes resting upon him as she waited for him to notice her,
nervously anticipating a response from him that she wasn't sure she wanted to see. But, if he was angry, she was sure she deserved it.