Crooked Teeth

Rain wheeled around, tail raised while Fauldr dashed between his companion and the lioness with a low teeth bearing hiss, his body low to the ground and his arms striking threateningly at the ground. Rain had just barely heard the large cat’s request over his golden companion’s rancorous defending but it was enough to assure him, at least temporarily that she didn’t intend to kill them outright. “Fauldr, relax” He commanded, his eyes never leaving the lionesses.

“Maintain Eye contact.” The words whispered in his mind although he wasn’t quite sure who it was that had given him that warning when dealing with cats.

With a physicians eye he looked the lioness over, the smell of ash and singed fur still clung to her which his sensitive nose could detect even at a distance. “Lamb’s ear wouldn’t do well in this weather.” He said simply, righting himself and wearing a façade of confidence that he didn’t feel. “And while it’s good for scrapes and scratches it wouldn’t do well at all with burns.” He explained. Fauldr continued to glare at the cat even as Rain stepped in front of him, shielding him in case the lioness decided he was being too rude. Without looking at his assistant Rain turned his nose slightly to regard the baboon. “Would you mind harvesting some of that plant I was just inspecting?” The baboon continued to glare but begrudgingly he turned to regard the fox glove and began carefully picking the bulbs.

“If you want to treat burns you’ll want to use animal fat and aloe or…” He trailed off and took several nonchalant steps backwards before judging he was a safe enough distance from the cat’s reach to turn his back on her. He walked over to the pool at the base of the trickling water fall, his head turned downward before he snapped his head forward and withdrew a shimmering trout.

With little caution, far too enthralled with discussing healing he approached the lioness again placing the trout down in front of her. “This is what works best.” He grinned. “A trout’s flesh is moist, and the scales provide some protection against the elements, unlike salves or gels.” He explained. “They’ll need to be changed frequently however and you’ll need something to bind the fish skin to the wound. My companion will happily demonstrate.” He then turned his attention to Fauldr who was glaring once again, but this time at Rain. With a dejected flap of his lip, the baboon moved from his task of gathering foxglove to inspecting the ivy vines that climbed over the trees surrounding the falls. He gathered several and picked the leaves away before rolling them into fibers and twisting them together until he had fashioned a rope. With the single most cynical face the dog faced ape was capable of Fauldr presented his creation to the cat one hand raising the coil above his head while the other gestured to it.

speaking Thinking   You