Grinding Joints [Justice]

To say his only sister sounded and looked grouchy would be spot on. Perhaps an understatement. He knew why—this place held the same memories she abhorred. But he also had good memories that overshadowed the losses. Seeing Aurielle and Aramis born and growing up in the first sweet seasons of their pup-hood. Helping Sterling heal from her fall in the ravine.

Lessons with Aurielle and her intense interest in his craft, even if her life-path lay in fighting and leadership. And the simple pleasures of making something that would help others. Justice had refused to remain here after their mother’s death, and so, she had missed these memories. Although, he knew she had a deep aversion to motherhood, so they might not have resonated as strongly with her.

He gave a rueful smile as he stated, quite dryly, “My fighting skills are lacking. So I’ll leave it to you to whip me into shape with as many bites and bruises as you like.”

She didn’t take her leave, and he commended her tenacity to stay in this place she so disliked. As he pulled the bowl back from the fireside and glanced into the contents, he hummed thoughtfully, then asked, “Could you bring me some Calendula petals, please? They’ll be shriveled, orangey-gold strips and smell pleasant. I’m thinking of making this into a burn salve. The packet they’re in is also tied with pattern-dyed sinew—purple, black, Blue, black, white.”

He nodded at the pile of herb packets across the room. He’d been having Kayode get them, but if Justice was going to stick around, then she’d be getting to help, and would be getting a healing lesson from it in the process.