Frost Lingers

Her father was so much better than she’d dreamed. She’d been so nervous walking beside her mother to meet him, so terrified that he’d not want her, that he might not accept that she was his get. Her mother, though, had been so very right. Paladin had accepted her with a fierce pride and love that took her breath away, and filled a place in her heart that she’d not realized was empty. Everything clicked into place, and talking with her sire felt so natural.

He didn’t mind that she had a love for wandering that might mean she’d be traveling abroad from Valhalla for days at a time here and there. He was steadfastly proud of her goals to become a great healer. And he wanted to be the one to give her her first Nomad marks. It hadn’t taken much thought for her to accept his offer. It was a moment no father should miss out on, and she knew her mother’s husband wouldn’t begrudge Paladin his chance to make up for the time he’d spent being a father without knowing about it.

She liked that he was direct and well-spoken about their craft, and as they walked, she picked his brain on various methods of wound treatment until they reached the stream, following it into the woods to a calm, quiet spot in the water. It had frozen over during the night, and the layer of snow that had fallen hadn’t melted from this shady spot. What was the lesson to be, she wondered?

Pawsteps turned both heads and Paladin called out first. Legacy smiled brightly at the timber-marked woman, sapphire and amethyst gaze twinkling with her usual friendly confidence as she greeted after Paladin spoke, “Hello, Audra, I’m Legacy, Paladin’s daughter. I’m new here, too.”

Her black and silver tail waved, thickly fluffed with winter hair as she took a seat beside her sire, black-backed ears perked as she glanced between her father and the other small woman, hoping Audra would join in, and eager to see what her father had in mind.

She had her suspicions, but she still wanted to hear the lesson from her father’s perspective. Perhaps he’d have his own take on using ice in healing.

Word Count: 374 | Total: 1223

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think