The Art of Healing

Quote:The morning found Mercianne in high spirits, and as she trailed along the path through the woods that was slowly becoming familiar she found herself smiling for no particular reason. It was not a bright, bubbly smile, nor was it vibrant in any way. It was quiet, calm, and kind, a gentle curve to her lips that spoke of a happy, contented heart within. She walked with a soft tread, her fluffy tail relaxed against her legs and swaying with her every step. Even her head was not lowered or held in an outright submissive posture, but remained level with her shoulders, only lowering when a particularly interesting scent drew her attention to the forest floor. The warmer weathers of spring were starting to make their appearance, but despite their best efforts snow still covered the ground, creating a definitive trail in her wake as she meandered along the path. Other steps of footprints joined hers here of previous wolves walking the same trail, but they were presently gone, having made the trip well ahead of the timid wolf.

Which was, for the time being, completely fine with Merci. Accustomed to being left to her own devices, and after recently gaining a new acquaintance and possibly - and hopefully - a new friend, she welcomed the quiet and stillness of isolation, finding in it a peace that could not be found with company or had in the presence of another. It was soothing to her gentle soul, and she was grateful to once again enjoy it.

Her brown eyes scanned the forests around her curiously with the intent of spotting some small game to prey on. She was not quite hungry yet, but she knew her body well enough to know when she ought to hunt in preparation for a future hungry spell, which she could feel on the way. But still with plenty of time before that hunger became a noisy ache, there was no rush to her gait, no hurry to her step, and no apparent determination about her cause. Instead, she took in the scenery, making note of where, once spring fully crept into place, lovely flowers might bloom, where small critters might move their dens, and where she might like to visit at a later date.

As she moved, she found herself becoming increasingly interested in the vegetation around her and slowed her step to get a better view of them as she traveled along, becoming distracted from her original intent. Shrubs and stalks and creeping greens seemed to grow heavily through this part of the forest, surprising within the cold but perhaps hardier than the rest. Where they simply normal plants, or was there any significance to them? She had seen on one occasion another wolf peering at the plant life with rapt attention, even pulling some of the weedy looking foliage and taking it with them when they retreated. She had often wondered what might have been the cause for it, what the importance of them could have been, but now that she gave it a little more thought she almost felt she had an answer. Healing. Only in the eyes of a healer would a plant have a different meaning than something that the prey fed on. But what were those meanings?

Steps stopping without her fully being aware of it, the timid wolf paused amid the forest and stared to her left, regarding the plants with a curious, wondering stare.

-- mercianne