be the lightning in me

The purple woman, Emersyn, if Io had heard correctly, stood and was ready to do what needed to be done. The tiny fae appreciated her enthusiasm, but she gave the lady a gentle pat on the leg. “Sit back down. Reserve your strength. Keep him awake. I’ll return shortly.” With that, Iolaire’s tri-colored form disappeared into the long grass. Yes, she had things that could keep the fae going, but she didn’t carry those sorts of things around with her. Those were all back in the big old skull that she called home.

Thankfully, when Iolaire died and came to this afterlife, her trusted satchel had come with her. The small dame had it packed full of well organized herbs, plants, concoctions. A plethora of items for a plethora of ailments. Indigo hadn’t collected what she needed and so it was a good thing that this part of her demeanor hadn’t changed between worlds. Who knew when she would even come back to this place? If she came back at all, that was. The little wolf shoved as many of her acquired belongings into the pack before glancing to her mouse. Hmm… snatching it up, she shoved the rodent in her mouth, gulping it down as she moved back towards her waiting nephew.

Io parted the grass for a third time, coming into the clearing beside the river. Seating herself beside Emersyn, she dipped her lithe little paws into the pack, rifling through its contents before bringing out a set of pressed leaves. Peeling them carefully apart, she offered one to the purple woman. “Eat this.” It was a mash of natural stimulants coated in honey. The sweet substance helped the otherwise tangy and earthy herbs to go down. The leaf that they were stuck to wouldn’t hurt the girl any.

While Io waited for the energy to go zinging through Emersyn’s body, she set to work on crafting a travois. With a jaw bone that she’d turned into a type of saw, Iolaire hacked down two relatively evenly grown saplings. Quickly, she stripped them of their little branches and leaves, leaving them bare. Again she dug into her pack, pulling out a section of braided rope that she’d made herself. With practiced paws, she fastened the two saplings together. Between them she placed an old deer pelt that she’d been using as a blanket all this time. Io fastened the pelt to the poles with well placed little holes. Next she crafted a sort of harness for Emersyn, careful to pad the strap that would go across the young woman’s chest to prevent her from injury. All of this came so easily to Iolaire. Crafting, healing, taking charge. It was as easy as breathing.

With the pole drag crafted, now they had to get Indigo onto the fur. Io placed the drag beside him as close as she could manage, one pole resting against his spine. Lifting one white toed paw, she patted Indigo’s purple cheek. “This might hurt a bit, my boy, but once we’re done, you’ll be able to sleep all the way home.” Wherever home was. “You just have to point us in a direction.” Nodding to Emersyn, Io planted her paws beneath Indigo’s big body and gently worked to slide him into the travois. His wounded side was facing up and she gave him her herb filled pack to use as a pillow.

Hooking the woman into the harness, Io shot her a somewhat crazy little grin. “Shall we?”