drunk on the good life

Her chest was hurting from how hard she was heaving out her sobs, but she could mostly hear the lady speaking. She tried to listen, over the sound of her heart pounding in her ears. "Oh no, it's alright! Really, it's fine. I'm sure it will grow back, it's like a plant you see?" It would grow.. back? Weird. Her heaving sobs began to subside, leaving only wet sniffles in their wake. That, and the occasional hiccup. All of the sudden, the strange lady was looming next to her. She was looking at the dead.. mushroom. Only it wasn't dead. Sleeping? If it wasn't dead, it must be sleeping.

"Besides, if you wanted to gather it for medicinal purposes you'd have to break it off anyway. These plants were put here by a great and wise spirit to aid us. Although I don't think this one is for helpful medicine." What? The lady's words didn't make any sense. She understood helpful spirits, and wondered if perhaps they were tricksters after all, playing with the young pup's fragile heart. The other words didn't make sense. Med.. icinal. Medicinal. She sniffled pitifully. What did that mean? "What's med.. mEH.." This was a hard one. A shaking breath was pulled in, and then out. "Mediss.. Medicinal?" Whew! Finally, it sounded right. What did it mean, helpful medicine? Was there a different kind? "For helping? I wanna help!" Excitement wormed its way into her heart, and she found herself trembling with glee. She gazed up at the woman for a moment, wondering what she knew. So much, she was so smart. She knew what the mushroom was, obviously she was smart!