Long Road Back

The woman's song had spoken of pain, of hardship, of loss and longing. So much could be said, and heard, when no words were being spoken. Even the body spoke leagues about the state of a wolf's mind. Those who were burdened with stress, or with sadness, tended to be less healthy. Sickness befell the mentally ill more easily. Twig was not necessarily an open book, but it was clear the woman had suffered something.

And Ara had offered to help. Not to take the pain away, but to help her relax. Silently she went over the things she could find for her. Lavender was an easy one, and could help soothe anxiety and bring quick sleep. Many other herbs could relax the muscles, often easing the tension of the body and thus allowing the mind room to relax. But, rather quickly and matter-of-factly, the woman brushed off her offer for help. For a long moment she was silent, staring, eyes having adjusted to the darkness that now cloaked the land. Still, she was but a dull silhouette of a wolf; she dared not approach further.

It was not often that Ara felt excessive anything, let alone anger -- but the woman seemed far more rude than she was used to, and Ara felt annoyance bubbling within her chest. An emotion so unfamiliar to her she hardly knew what to do with it. Even she was not the best with strangers, often finding it difficult to find the words she wanted, but she had never denied the help of someone so kind to offer it. "I never said you couldn't," she said sharply, the fur on the back of her neck bristling suddenly. "Just because you can do something alone doesn't mean you ought to." Irritated, the child would turn slightly, searching the dark horizon for a place to flee if she needed to. Even the sky was dark, mirroring the slight irritation she felt brewing in her very core.