Fyre

4

Night//Wynd Camp

After talking with Nixi, Adrianna had stopped by the Healer's building to arrange some herbs she had picked earlier, and to put back the medicaments that Nixi did not take. She did that to put her troubled mind in ease, and it worked, yet only slightly. In annoyance she remembered that she had taken the stash of certain herbs with her to her hut, so in order to place back what Nixi didn't take, she'd have to do that in her hut. It was very late in the night, a time where she would normally be sleeping, so she left the Healing stronghold and walked down the lantern-lit path to her place of rest, still carrying the small plants. Adrianna was about to walk into her hut, when a clear voice called out to her.

"Stop right there, Adrianna."

Before Adrianna even turned around, she knew it was Milikra. No one else in Wynd quite matched her cold, clear, confident tone.
Besides Nixi, of course.

Adrianna stopped, closed the door to her hut, and turned around to face the Leader of Wynd, who was illuminated by the grass lanterns by her feet that were placed along the edges of every path in the campsite. Adrianna attempted to keep her voice steady, and she held her hands behind her back. "Y-you need something, Milikra?"

Milikra had her arms folded across her chest, and she was standing in a relaxed yet powerful position. Alike Nixi, she gave off a strong aura that intimidated Adrianna every time they had spoken- which wasn't much. The Leader of a clan does not normally bother the Healers, or other young people who weren't even considered adults yet. The only times where it was necessary for Milikra to seek out Adrianna one-on-one were during times after a huge battle, where Adrianna and her mentor were busy preparing the ailments to heal and save the lives of the wounded. Even then it was a conversation directed mainly at Adrianna's mentor, the only mother figure she had ever known, since her real mother had died from a sickness when she was very young. Milikra had only spoken to just Adrianna once after that- a simple saying meant to comfort her in the time of loss after her mentor died from a dragon attack. Everyone knew Adrianna wasn't ready to be the sole Healer of Wynd- but there were no others remaining until the next transition.

Milikra nodded. "Yes, I wish to speak to you."

"Of course. What is it?"

Milikra gestured subtly over to the hillside where Adrianna had came from. "I noticed you talking to Nixi over there, some time ago. I was wondering if you could tell me what it was about?"

Adrianna went pale, and hoped that it wasn't visible in the darkness, or that maybe the light of the torches above her hut would cover for her. She swallowed nervously. "I- gave her the normal medicaments- to be taken right before and during a complicated mission."

Milikra nodded again as if that satisfied her, but she still seemed unconvinced. "I see. You're a good Healer. Now, may I ask, did she take those herbs?"

Adrianna was then immediately thankful she had placed her arms behind her back right as she saw Milikra- and she shifted them further away from Milikra's line of vision. "She did."

"Really?"

"Yes. I gave them to her, and she accepted them. Then she walked away to the forest."
Adrianna wasn't sure why she was covering for Nixi- maybe she was scared at what Milikra would do if she had found out what they had truly talked about. In horror Adrianna realized that if she had shared the truth about their conversation, not only Nixi would most likely be punished, but possibly her as well- since she had not denied Nixi's statements and protested against her.

Milikra's face was unreadable. "Alright. Is that all what happened?"

Adrianna struggled to come up with something quickly. "Well, we talked for a bit. She asked me how I was doing without Sylvia, and I said that I was coping okay, I think, and then she just tried to give me some comfort. After that she thanked me for the herbs, and then she left. She warned me to stay vigilant- because, well, because, danger lies everywhere- she said something like that only because she was worried about me, I think."

"Danger lies everywhere..." Milikra mused. "To what do you think she was referring to?"
Milikra put emphasis on the 'you' in that question- as if she was no longer concerned about Nixi's loyalty, but was now questioning Adrianna's.

"Probably, um, the dragons? About how they can still be lurking within our territory, and when I'm out gathering herbs, they could attack me now without Sylvia to protect me?" Adrianna responded swiftly, as if it could mean nothing else.

Milikra smiled, looking more relieved. "Yes, that is true. As always, you'll have to be aware of your surroundings. If you still feel uncomfortable going out on your own, there are always people in Wynd willing to join you."

Adrianna let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. "Y-yes, thanks Leader."

Milikra seemed to just now notice the overall nervous and shaky demeanor of Adrianna- or perhaps, Adrianna had just done an excellent job of covering it up until this moment. "Relax, young one. I was merely curious. You do not need to worry about anything."

Milikra smiled that reassuring smile she always gave Wynd- and Adrianna relaxed slightly.
"Good night, Leader," Adrianna said, and quickly backed into her door, and slid inside the hut. At the same time Milikra dipped her head slightly in farewell, and strolled down the path, toward a small collection of Wynd Defenders, probably to discuss with them the plans for the nightly patrols.

As the door closed, Adrianna slid down the wall, instantly tired.

What is going on? She thought to herself. She had never questioned the actions of Milikra before, never doubted Wynd before, never had been this worried before.

In the back of her memories, Nixi's eyes seemed to stare right into her. Maybe it just was because of what Nixi had said, and Adrianna was just shaken, and everything would return to normal soon.