The younger healer shot up from her seat, knocking Serena back in the process. Her hands curled around the cool metal, steadying herself.
Everyone was unsure of what to do, of the next move to make. For all they knew, the Ambassador had just rushed across and wasted medicine.
"Ah-" the younger healer looked between the light green paste on the floor and Serena.
On the bed, the injured wolf groaned. His leg twitched, and he twisted with discomfort. Edith broke the moment, swiftly moving to his side. Her hands moved with purpose as she adjusted his limbs and murmured soothing words to him.
She glanced at Serena with a confused expression, her mouth hanging open.
To her left, Elder Cedar and Darius walked closer, taking in the scene. Serena bit her lip and stepped aside. Saying a fly made her rush and spill the medicine onto the floor would be such a far-fetched lie.
"I am sorry, but I could not just watch her apply that paste."
The young healer finally looked away from the floor, her wide eyes glancing toward Edith like a child awaiting judgment.
"It was Ashroot. He said his knees were burning up, he begged me to do something," she explained in a rush
Serena knew how strict things could be in an infirmary. These were people’s lives, and even a small mistake could make their pain worse.
"What is going on?" Elder Cedar asked, drawing closer.
Serena glanced at Darius, who looked as confused as the Senior Healer. He folded his arms and stood off to the side. What had possessed Serena to do what she had done? he wondered.
"The paste was too light," Serena said. "Ember’s Kiss should be much darker. If it’s not prepared right, it can cause more swelling."
Ember’s kiss was a nickname for Ashroot. It was a root herb that had to be soaked in hot water for long periods before it was ground into a paste, which was then placed in boiling water to soften the fibers and give it the characteristic dark green color.
The process was simple but had to be done with precision, or the medicine could worsen the swelling it was meant to treat. In some extreme cases, it could induce itching.
Serena had knocked the bowl from the healer’s hand in an impulsive effort.
Edith moved over to the other side and inspected the paste. It had truly been underprepared. She rose, sighing, and looked at the younger healer.
"How long was this left to sit?" Edith asked.
The young healer looked down at the bowl, then back at her senior. She clasped her hands together to avoid drawing attention to how terribly they shook.
Serena felt for her. Here this young girl was, put on the spot in front of an Elder, Alpha, and, worse- an Ambassador from a different pack. Making a mistake and being corrected by a diplomat who had come to "inspect" the pack.
The young healer hung her head and answered in a wavering voice, "I grabbed the bowl from the shelf in a hurry. He kept complaining that he could not bear the pain."
Edith shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose. "And if you had used this on him without checking, would that have helped him or harmed him?"
Serena took a step forward. "She’s young," she said gently. "She didn’t know better."
Edith let out a sharp breath, turning away. "Intentions don’t negate outcomes, Ambassador." Her tone was clipped, but not cruel. "Still... you’re right. She didn’t know."
Serena looked toward the younger healer, who gave her a sheepish, grateful glance before lowering her gaze again.
Serena pressed her lips into a thin line. The regiment here in Ironshade was rigid, but she understood- these were people’s lives, after all.
She saw Darius in her peripheral vision as he stepped forward and gently drew her away from the pair.
"It would be best to leave our healers to their business," he said in a hushed tone.
Serena looked at him and stepped away from the situation before she fanned the flames more. She imagined Edith would have found it embarrassing to have an Ambassador correct her subordinate in such a public manner.
Elder Cedar flashed a smile in Serena’s direction and shook her hand firmly. "Ambassador," he greeted.
"Elder Cedar," Serena said, returning his smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
"I am glad to see you here. It will raise the spirits of the wolves." Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novel·fire·net
"How is little Naomi?" she asked, her voice softening slightly.
Cedar laughed. "She’s fine. She’s with her mother at home."
Serena nodded, and silence fell among the three. Serena nodded once, her hands folding loosely in front of her. She kept her chin high and her eyes forward, deliberately ignoring Darius’s steady glances. Livia’s words kept ringing in the back of her mind.
Edith scolded the healer in a hushed voice before she joined the group, greeting Cedar and Darius with small bows.
Serena did not miss the way Edith kept glancing at her strangely now and then as they completed the round of visits at the beds.
Finally, they reached a quieter wing. The corridor stretched long, sunlight spilling in from narrow windows. The beds here were sparse, most of them empty save for a few slumbering wolves.
"Ember’s kiss," she echoed, turning to face Serena. The two men exchanged glances and watched the exchange with expectant faces.
"Yes, that was the medicine, was it not?" Serena asked. She wasn’t mistaken, unless there was a new discovery among the anti-inflammatory pastes.
"You must be so knowledgeable," Edith said, and her tone was that of someone trying not to sound too impressed. "How you even caught that and moved into action, I wish some of my girls were like that."
"What do you mean, Edith?" Cedar asked all of a sudden.
"Oh, Ember’s kiss, that’s Ashroot’s nickname. All trained healers know that."
Serena bit the inside of her cheek and gave her a tight smile. With Edith, it wasn’t a problem. Serena was from a faraway pack, and it wouldn’t be strange for her to be familiar with healers.
But to Darius and Cedar, this would seem strange. How would a rogue, who had supposedly lived in a pack outside her life, know that? Healers had formal training, and calling the herb by its nickname would raise alarm.
Darius quirked a brow at her, and Serena laughed, touching Edith’s shoulder briefly. "Oh no, I heard the name in passing," Serena said, trying to cover up.
"Yes, you knew the shade of green that meant it was ready, no?" Edith said with a small smile.