Checkmate

Opening Move

"Well, well, well." 

As I watched, she emerged from the dwelling and carefully navigated her way down the tree, till she was in front of me.

"Lio." She came into my arms, planting a slow and gentle kiss on my mouth, before pulling back to look at me. "This is an unexpected surprise."

"A good one, I hope." I murmured, looking down at her.

"Very good." She murmured back, reaching up to kiss me again, briefly this time and then snuggling into my arms for a tight hug. "What brings you here this time?"

"I need a Healer." I kept it brief, I knew Diora wouldn't ask any questions. She lifted her head and looked up at me, yellow eyes narrowed, and then disengaged from the embrace, heading up the tree swiftly and was back down moments later with a familiar kit bag.

We made our way back to the grove where I'd left the four of them waiting. As we entered, he rose and I saw his eyes widen as he caught sight of my companion. I smiled to myself. I was so used to her, I'd forgotten how exotic she would appear to Clanfolk, with her braided black and white tresses, bright yellow eyes and pattern of vines clearly visible on the skin of her neck and wrists under her tunic. 

"This is the Healer?" The other not-so-injured male said in disbelief.

"This is Diora Bee." I replied, as she inclined her head in greeting.

"But she's--"

"NonClan." I confirmed. "And as good, if not better, than a Clan Healer. Let her look at your friend. Please."

"Let her." The injured male spoke, his voice thready, face pale. "At this point, I'd quite happily let a ferret examine me if it could stop the pain."

Diora chuckled.

"I would hope I'm better than a ferret." She said, approaching him and setting down her kit bag. "What is your name?" She opened up the bag, unfolding various compartments and then looked up at him enquiringly when he remained silent. "Ah. Another nameless Clanmale, then." She glanced at me. "The company you keep, Wolfman."

I would have responded to the quip, except I didn't miss the swift intake of breath from their leader or the start the other three gave. I frowned.

"Wolfman?" He asked, a little sharply.

"What I call him." She jerked her head in my direction, as she examined the injured male's eye. "He growls a lot."

"I'm surrounded by wildlings." I said solemnly, making her laugh.

"You'd better not mean me, aftara." She said, reaching for a clean piece of cloth and daubing it with fluid from a bottle before wiping away the encrusted blood from the wound. We fell silent, watching as she worked to clean the wound with great care. I hazarded a quick glance in the leader's direction, at exactly the same moment that he turned his head to look at me. Caught, I nodded and hastily turned back to watching Diora.

He did not.

I felt his gaze on my face for a good few minutes before he turned towards Diora and his comrade. I exhaled softly. 

Why weren't those eyes a nice dull brown? It would have made things a darn sight easier.

Diora was just finishing up when I heard the familiar songbird's warble and within moments, Jax had emerged into the grove. I glanced at him and he gave me a brief nod before focusing his gaze on the scene in front of him.

"How's he doing, Healer?"

"He's going to need some heat treatment." She looked up at him and smiled in greeting, she'd met Jax once before.