silver beneath the surface

Ellara winced with each pinch of the ants' jaws, the pain sharp, but Atreyu's occasional reassuring smiles kept her grounded. She focused on those moments, drawing strength from her friend's calm presence. "You're doing great," she managed to say, her voice tight with pain but filled with gratitude.

Atreyu's admission about practicing on pig skin made Ellara chuckle despite herself. "First time for everything, right?" she said, trying to keep her tone light.

When Atreyu placed the last ant, Ellara let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you, Atreyu. I’ll take good care of it." She could see the concern in her friend's eyes, mingled with the pain from her own wound. "Now, let’s take care of you."

Carefully, Ellara shifted to examine Atreyu’s ear. The cut was deep, and blood still trickled from the wound. She gathered some clean water from the nearby river and herbs from her satchel, her movements precise despite the throbbing in her shoulder. "This might sting a bit," she warned gently, using the water to clean the wound.

Ellara worked quickly, her focus entirely on Atreyu. She used a piece of sheepskin cloth to press against the wound, helping to stem the bleeding. "Hold this in place for a moment," she instructed, looking into Atreyu's holographic eyes with a reassuring smile. "You were so brave. Just a little longer, and we’ll both be on the mend."

[ 1/3 Healed a wound or ailment, or prescribed a treatment ]