Painted Flowers

Chapter 11 - Home

Layali continued pondering to herself after that fateful discussion with her Dreamwalker the previous night, so wrapped up in her own thoughts that she hardly winced when Feoria pulled the vines a little too tightly around the leaf bandaging on her shoulder. It was utterly silent in the medicine cave, save from the echoing birdsong outside. Layali turned her head to the peculiar hole that gaped in the rocky ceiling, watching the oxpeckers fluttering from tree to tree, silhouetted against the midday sun. She felt Feoria's curious eyes on her, but the apprentice healer continued her work without a word.

As Feoria stepped away from her patient and began cleaning up the supplies scattered across the floor, a voice sounded from the cave entrance, bringing Layali out of her head. As she turned to see who it was, she recognized one of the other yearlings she had seen around camp, one that stood out among the rest. Ducking among the handing lichen at the mouth was Kichea--a shy, dainty female, small in stature like Layali but not quite as short as Feoria. She was a pretty dog, but might have been more so if it weren't for the leaves and vines covering half of her face, concealing what Layali could only gather as an injury so terrible she dared not show it to the world. Her right ear, which could not be hidden by bandages, was shredded and barely resembled an ear at all. The eye that could be seen sparkled hazel in the sunshine.

"Feoria?" Kichea began in a delicate voice. "I think my bandages need to be reapplied, can you help me?" Noticing that Layali was there, Kichea held a paw up to the leaves on her face that seemed to be peeling off a bit, shielding them from the other dog's view. Despite her timidness, she was never unfriendly when acknowledging the outsider. "Oh, hi, Layali! How's the leg doing?"

Layali smiled at her and opened her mouth to respond, but Feoria beat her to it. "Can't you apply them yourself yet?" she growled. "I'm your healer, not your nursery maid."

Kichea didn't seem fazed, but was a bit quiet as she replied. "I mean, yeah...but you do it a lot better than I ever could." She looked at the ground, running a black paw through the sand bashfully. "I could never weave those pretty flowers into the wrappings like you can..."

Feoria rolled her eyes, but there was the slightest hint of affection. Gently, she gestured for the one-eyed dog to step inside, but turned her back to Layali. "You're done--now get out," she told her bluntly. "I have other patients to attend to."

Layali rose to three of her legs, gingerly testing her injured one to see if it could support her weight. She felt relieved when there was no sign of the fiery agony she had gotten used to over the weeks. She would be in walking condition in no time.

Layali waved a tail in goodbye at the other yearlings as she made her way towards the exit. "See you around, Kichea! And...thank you, Feoria, really. My leg wouldn't be doing this well without your help. You're a better healer than you give yourself credit for."

Feoria's eyes widened a bit, as if she was surprised to hear genuine gratitude. Layali had been feeling guilty about her complaints, and wanted the mamoyo to know that she really did appreciate her.

"You're welcome," Feoria said softly, quickly turning again to help Kichea.

Just outside the healers' cave in the center of the camp stood Kwasi, sporting his necklace made of sharpened bones and fangs with his tail held high. Surrounded by him were a group of other dogs, wagging their tails and pacing energetically, each one of them focused entirely on their prince. They looked as if they were preparing to leave, and Layali picked up on Kwasi's orders as she limped past. His deep voice sounded booming and authoritative, and ever since Layali had met him that first night she came to the Pack of Falling Ash, she would do her best to stay out of his way.