The Storyteller

Chapter 2: The Healer

Meredith sat up. She had been lying on a small mattress that was supported by a frame of dark, sturdy wood. She was in a small, wooden hut with a grass curtain for a door. A candle was flickering on a small table and a sweet fragrance wafted in with the breeze. Her head throbbed slightly and one of her ribs were aching. A sharp pain in her right arm made her flinch and she lay back down.

'Good. You're awake.' An accented voice quietly said. Meredith turned her head. It was a young, blond woman with icy blue eyes. She was wearing a cloak short brown cloak and a long, orange dress that came down to her ankles. One of her ears was adorned with a long ear ring that hung down to the bottom of her chin. Meredith couldn't quite make out what it was.

'What is your name?" Meredith asked. 'How did I get here?'

'My name is Tilumai. It means 'Peace' in our tribe,' the girl said. ' I am the healer in my village. One of our hunters found you. Amua was his name. He would like to see you when you are well. There were massive foot prints all around your body. You are very lucky to have not suffered worse injuries.

'How long have I been here for?' Meredith questioned. 

'About two weeks,' Tilumai answered. 

Meredith sat up again, her rib sending a stabbing pain through out her chest. She couldn't help but give a small cry of pain. Two weeks. I was supposed to be gone for 2 days! Mel... I promised...

'I have to go --' 

'NO.' Tilumai interrupted. Then she said in a softer tone, almost a whisper. 'Look at you. You can hardly crawl and you are wanting to run. You remind me of someone I thought I knew.' Her voice caught on the last few words and Meredith thought she could see tears in her eyes.

'I have to get back!' Meredith swung her legs over the edge of her bed and tried to stand. Her legs failed her and she collapsed, hitting the hard packed, dirt floor with an 'OOmph.' 

Grabbing Meredith by the arms, the blue eyed woman lifted her up and with a practiced ease, she gently sat her back down on her bed. 'You're not ready for that quite yet Meredith. Give it another few days and we will see.'

How did she know my name? Meredith thought. She was about to voice her thought but was interrupted by a knock on the door frame.

'You just lie still for a moment and I will see what it is,' Tilumai instructed Meredith. 

Pulling the grass curtain away she greeted the visitor. Meredith looked up. She saw a tan, muscular man - about 18 she guessed, with light brown, shaggy hair. His brown eyes twinkled and he smiled at her. 'This is Amua. He was the one who rescued you.' Introduced Tilumai. 'Amua, this is Meredith.' 

'How's my patient going Tilu?' asked Amua. 

Tilumai smiled, 'It will be a few more days until I know for sure but she is well on the way to recovery.' 

Amua grinned, 'I'm sure you will be fine. It's not often that we get visitors in our humble village. Has-' He hesitated. 'Has Tilumai told you yet?'

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Authors Note:

Hello readers! If you have managed to get this far, well done. I will try and finish another part soon. You will have to be patient with me. =P

If you liked it so far, feel free to vote etc.