Endless Night

The woman hadn’t fully expected the boy to reply to her. After all, she was, as he’d thought, a complete stranger to him, a stranger who had no business sticking her nose where it didn’t belong. But, she also knew she’d never live with herself if she didn’t try something to help, both as a healer and a grandmother of 5 pups a little younger than him. When he did reply, she only felt her chest tighten further. It was clear he was deep in the clutches of depression, his forest green gaze hazy with sadness even under the bright, oddly colored moon above them. It seemed appropriate that it would bathe them in blue to represent the feeling that seemed to emanate from him in waves. But, she was a stranger and he was too far from Ashen to become a regular patient. But, even then, there was something she could do for him.

The silver woman turned and dug into the medical pack she had strapped to her back, blowing away the buzzing purple fireflies that floated around in what felt like droves. From within, she dolled out a few servings of Salvia and Lavender, wrapping them neatly in individual bundles before turning back to the boy. She got to her paws and placed them in front of him, hesitating a moment before gently covering one of his white paws with her own. There, beneath the frozen falling star sky, she offered another grandmotherly smile that crinkled the corners of her silver gaze. There was no judgement there, nor pity, but simply a profound understanding of the weight of the sadness that encapsulated him. She’d been through it herself. “I’m sure the Gods have heard your wish, but they need a little help sometimes to make their blessings work. I offer you Salvia and Lavender, easily gathered around this canyon. They may help ease your mind and reinvigorate your appetite, though be careful with the Salvia. I know you may feel alone, Shin'ainaru hito*, but should you ever need a listening ear, you may find me in Ashen in Boreas.” It was an offer with no strings attached, nothing that he’d need to feel pressured to uphold, but to know that someone was there if he needed it. It was all she could muster, but she hoped he would understand that.

* Shin'ainaru hito= dear one