Maybe Next Time

Aurelia couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter at Caedes' words, amusement glittering in her bright cyan eyes. "Well, well, aren't you full of surprises?" she drawled, shifting her body to try and find a more comfortable position against the rough, rocky floor. "You should tell that to the rest of the pack." The tension in her body eased slightly as she settled down, her fur bristling against the cold stone. Somehow, despite his gruff exterior and standoffish demeanor, Caedes had a calming effect on her. It was a rare thing.

As he delicately extended the jar towards her, she regarded it with a sharp gaze, taking in every detail of his face before shifting her attention to the dried herbs within. The tantalizing scents of Guelder rose and Raspberry leaf wafted up to her nose, making her nostrils twitch in anticipation. "Thank you," she murmured, a rare glimmer of true gratitude shining through her usual facade of nonchalance. With a graceful touch, she accepted the jar from him and carefully tucked it away into one of her well-worn satchels.

Aurelia's eyes sparkled with interest at Caedes's mention of their earlier conversation, her gaze following him as he gracefully crossed the den to his workbench. His movements were fluid and precise, "I remember," she replied, shifting her body to fully face him. She couldn't help but be drawn in by his intense focus and the allure of what he held in his grasp - a set of sharp stonefish spine needles. Despite the discomfort and exhaustion that had settled into her bones, Aurelia found herself unable to resist the growing curiosity and excitement sparked by Caedes's proposition.

Her voice was laced with deep curiosity as she leaned in, her eyes narrowing as she studied the intricate design of the needles. With a mixture of anticipation and skepticism, her expression revealed the unpredictable nature that made her so intriguing. She seemed to hold all the secrets in her gaze, daring anyone to try and figure her out. "So, do you think you've finally unraveled it?" she asked, her tone filled with playful challenge.

Aurelia took the needle from Caedes as he carefully offered her a look, her expression thoughtful as she turned it over in her paw. "Interesting," she grumbled, the word half-lost in a sigh. The undercurrent of pain in her voice was clear, though she made no move to show it on her face. "Seems like something worth trying." Aurelia handed the spine back to him, a glimmer of interest flickering in her cyan eyes. "Do you know how reliable it is? Would it be a first resort?" she added, her tone lacing with grim intrigue as she reclined back against the wall of the den and closed her eyes. There was an unspoken challenge there, a test of his skills and knowledge, but also a rare display of trust, however begrudgingly given. “I suppose if you found someone desperate enough, there wouldn’t be much to lose?” She finished in amusement, looking for any sort of recognition in the other healer.

"Aurelia Veratti"