Your friend in the dark

Kiyo had been spending much of her time pondering over the strange bacteria and fungi that had popped up across the land, glowing like they hadn’t previously. The woman knew many fungi for their properties and their appearances, a requirement for any skilled healer because if she were the mistake one for another, it could lead to the death of her patient. She’d been taking samples from each area and comparing them, testing them by washing them, drying them, burning them or using a mouse or some other small creature. Perhaps the last one was a bit cruel, but it was a far better option than testing it on a wolf or one of their companions.

She’d decided to make a trip out to the Rio Grande to collect more samples, knowing that fungi typically grew along moist areas, of which a river was perfect for. She moved in the darkness, a lamp hanging from her jaws to light her way and her medical pack strapped to her back to house her collections, though she almost didn’t need the lamp. The moon seemed to grow more and more massive by the day and brighter as well, lighting up the areas that weren’t covered. But, the covered areas that were constantly in the pitch were the best places to find what she was looking for, so it was best for her to take it just in case. Aki, her Akita, trailed at her hocks, ever the watchful helper.

The pair settled along the bank, shedding their packs and beginning to set up camp for the evening. While the lady would have preferred to be in her warm pelts in the Palace, she didn’t want to chance the trek back at that time.