Sephtis

38. Agony.

Eleutheros steps into the shallow waters of the stream, stooping low, and cupping his hands to bring the water to his lips.  He drinks deeply. As he straighten he gasps in agony. Every time he moves the wounds down his back bleed afresh. He removes his boots, belt, and his torn, bloodied tunic, throwing them all on the rocks near the stream.

"Dressed like a brave warrior for his forbidden venture in the sunlit hours, only the battle is done and I my body is more broken then it has ever been. In truth, my wolf-woman, I would rather face an entire village then that wolf of yours."

"I admit, his teeth and claws are more lethal than the looms of women, and the helpless cries of the young."

He gazes at me steadily, his look unreadable. Then he begins washing himself, and the water sounds peaceful as it is freed from his hands, and trickles down his body.

"Do you really despise us all that much?" He asks. 

"I pity you," I reply.

I sit on a rock and crush the healing plants I have gathered on our way. I press the leaves gently, and out of the corner of my eye I see Eleutheros sitting in the stream, groaning as the water runs over his wounds.

I tear wide strips from the hem of my dress, and wash them in the streams waters, then enfold the bruised leaves in them. I don't not have enough for all his cuts, but the bad ones on his shoulder and back I can bind.  He comes out of the water, washes his tunic, and drapes it on a sunny rock to dry.

" I understand now, why you enjoy these hours of light so much. The warmth is delightful, and you look well within its glow."

I duck my head, not sure what to say.

"So what are your medicines, my healer?" He asks teasingly. 

I am relieved at the change of topic. "There are purple flowers for healing, black berry leaves to stop the bleeding and mousewart leaves to stop the foulness of wounds." I say, "though I am unsure if they will be effective, for that poison needs to be drawn from your body before you can heal on your own. Stand up, and hold your arms straight out beside you, so I can bandage you."

It is a strange feeling, being so close to him, being so close to his nakedness while I bind his cuts. I have been so long with the wolves that I had forgotten what it was like to touch someone else's skin, and I, had forgotten what he was like.

"I have dreamed of closeness like this," Eleutheros says, as if he reads the thoughts that weigh on my mind, "but I had not reckoned on the blood and hurt. My plans are sorely put in check."

"So are mine," I say, and I cannot help but return his smile, for it has warmth in it, and wickedness.

"What are your plans for the morrow, Sephtis?"

"I plan to go hunting, with the wolves."

"And what do you plan to hunt? The great elk? Or the mighty boar?"

"Neither, we plan to hunt the mighty field-mice."

"Field-mice?!" Eleutheros laughs, "that is what the mighty wolf hunt? The meek field-mouse?"

I feel my brow furrow, "Laugh all you desire, but the wolves do us a great service. Without them, the mouse numbers would be to great, and your wheat stores would suffer tenfold what they do now."

He is silent, thinking, and I take a thinner bandage and tie it around his head, covering his eye. He slips his arms about me, and when I am finished he kisses my hair, my forehead, and my closed eyes. I turn away before his lips find my mouth, and hand him his tunic. He puts it on without a word, following with his belt and its empty leather sheath.