|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:44 pm
Gerda was having a tiring day. Although sick herself, the dark lioness never shirked her duties as a Healer. And there were so many duties these days, so many ailing lions to visit. Her own illness seemed almost to come and go. Today it was tolerable, but she could tell that if she didn't take some rest soon she would end the day racked with pain.
The dark lioness lay down in the shade of a stunted tree, sighing with relief as she settled to the ground. She almost wanted to sleep ... but if she slept now she knew she would awaken too groggy to finish with her rounds. Just a rest, then. Just to catch her breath. She would do her patients no good if she wore herself down. Gerda sighed. Tonight she would sleep, feverishly perhaps. Would Jozo notice? She supposed he would, but deep down she suspected that his real worries lay elsewhere.
Thinking these somewhat melancholy thoughts, the lioness sat quietly.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 8:42 am
Haruma had asked several adults politely where to find Gerda the healer. They had directed her this way, then that, and now she finally saw the dark lioness sprawled under the tree. That must be her.
She approached slowly and quietly from one side, not wanting to disturb her if she was resting. But as she drew closer, she saw the Healer's eyes were open, even if there were wrinkles of weariness around them. She came closer even slower. "Healer Gerda, ma'am?" she asked hesitantly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:21 am
Though she wasn't sleeping, Gerda's eyes had slipped half-closed with tiredness. She didn't even notice the approach of the cub! She blinked, coming fully awake when the cub spoke to her. The dark lioness wasn't alarmed (who would ever harm her, here in the heart of the pride?) but she was slightly startled.
The brightly colored cub was strange to her, although Gerda thought she had glimpsed her before. She tried to smile for the little one, though her heart was heavy. She had never treated this cub before, but she thought the worst. "Yes, little one?" Gerda asked softly. "Are you in need of help?" Gerda hoped that wasn't the case, though she couldn't imagine what else the cub would want. Why else would a cub seek her out, if not because it was ailing?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 9:41 am
"Yes ma'am," Haruma answered promptly and politely. She had no idea the worn out Healer thought perhaps she was seeking her out for healing. "I need your help to learn how to be a Healer." She wasn't one for much small talk, apparently, and came straight to the point. "I want to help the suffering lions, and do good for the pride." She might just be a little thing, but the seriousness and sincerity in her little face was unmistakable.
"I met your mate," she explained further, "and he told me you might not mind me asking questions." She certainly hoped this was true. Gerda didn't look like a grouchy or surly lioness, but even the nicest person could be annoyed with a child's questions. "I promise I won't get in the way," she added hopefully, sitting down in a patch of dusty ground.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 11:14 am
The dark lioness looked taken aback for a moment, and then a slow smile spread across her muzzle. So the little one wanted to be a Healer? "We always need more Healers," Gerda said, smiling kindly at the cub. The cub seemed a little young to be beginning training... but Gerda liked her enthusiasm. More than that, she liked the fact that the cub wasn't hurting.
"I don't mind questions," Gerda continued. It was kind of Jozo to direct this cub to her. Both of the pair loved cubs. "What are you called, little one?" If Gerda had heard the cub's name, she couldn't recall it at the moment. So many of the poor little things seemed to come and go.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:33 pm
"My name is Haruma," she supplied obediently. "My brother and sister and I were rescued not long ago." Her expression fell a bit. It was strange to think they'd been rescued to come to a place of illness, but to her that was more sad than wrong. "The pride rescued us from starving, and now that I know how sick others are, I want to help." She looked a little self-coincious about voicing her next thought. "It's like I can rescue those who rescued me. Sort of."
She then took the time to really look at the lioness. Something was.. off. She hadn't yet been near any who were showing signs of sickness, and she caught on rather quickly that this lioness was not in the best of health. "Maybe you could use my help?" she asked humbly. "I could bring things to you so you don't have to fetch them." It was a simple enough task, she figured, but might help if Gerda was often as tired as she looked now. She hardly ever felt as young as she actually was. The world weighed heavy on her little shoulders, banishing the innosence of chubhood, along with the light-hearted view of life that normally accompanied it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 4:27 pm
Gerda was glad that the little cub had been rescued, but that she'd been rescued from starving was sorrowful news. Also sorrowful that they'd been brought to a place of death ... but Gerda supposed that a chance at life was better than none. "I'm glad you and yours are safe, Haruma," Gerda said.
The offer to fetch things actually brought a gentle laugh from the dark lioness. Such a young one, and already so caring! Gerda rose to her feet, hiding the difficulty it gave her. "You needn't bring me anything. I'm doing well. I just need to rest from time to time." She smiled down at the little cub, thinking. It would be nice to give Haruma some little task, something that would make the cub feel proud and useful, but Gerda hesitated at the thought of taking a cub on her rounds. She didn't want poor Haruma to witness anyone hurt or dying.
"Would you like to help me find some herbs?" Gerda asked. "Your sharp eyes would be a great help."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 5:01 pm
Her alert eyes brightened at the mention of something she could do. She padded nearer the lioness, tail swishing eagerly. "I can," she said quickly, then paused for thougth. She blinked several times, glanced around, then back up at her teacher. "What are herbs?" she asked openly. She saw no reason, being so young, to hide her ignorance. Don't so wouldn't accomplish anything, and then she'd probably have to stop helping... or not..helping. Whatever.
"If you tell me what to look for, I'm sure I can find it, Healer Gerda," she said more formally, soberity and excitement warring in her face. Taking care of her sibs was an important job to her, but it felt as if she was leaving something else undone. Her young heart, pricked by the plight of her pride, needed something constructive to contribute, even if she was "just a cub." It warmed her and bolstered her confidence that the healer was willing to give her a task instead of brushing her off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 12:56 pm
Gerda had never taught a young one before. She had a soft spot for cubs, though, and she was touched by the cub's interest. The dark lioness was not nearly experienced enough to take on an apprentice, but she could definitely share a thing or two with the little one.
"Herbs ... well, they're plants that can help us," Gerda said slowly, wondering how to explain. Plants generally weren't a major feature on most lions' diets. "Some plants can take away aches and pains, or soothe troubled stomachs. You have to be very careful not to use any plants you don't know, though," Gerda added. "Too much can hurt rather than help."
She didn't think it responsible to urge the cub to go out and experiment with plants, but there was one that was very easily identifiable. "I know where a few aloes grow, nearby. Aloes are quite safe."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 03, 2010 8:27 pm
She listened attentively, eyes wide and only her tailtip occasionally moving. She internalized the information as best as she could. Herbs were plants that help. Not all plants help. Too much herbs can hurt. Don't use plants you don't know. Well, that was easy enough, considering she didn't know any. Oh sure, she trotted over/by/through all sorts of plants, but she had no idea how to tell which was a helpful herb and which wasn't.
Which led to this aloe plant. "If you can tell me where to look, and how to tell which plant it is, I'd be happy to bring you some," she answered sincerely. Here at last was something she could do! "May I see how it is used after I bring it back?" She had risen to her paws, willing and eager to set to the task offered to her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 3:54 pm
The cub's eagerness delighted Gerda. Her own cubs might have been like this, so bright and willing to learn. It was a sorrowful thing for Haruma to be so worried about others at such a young age, but if she kept her determination into adulthood Gerda thought she would be a force to be reckoned with.
The dark lioness smiled at Haruma. "It's just a little ways away from here, in that direction." She gestured with her head, nodding towards the plants growing not far away. An energetic cub could easily be there and back in just a moment. "There's a sandy patch of earth with some grasses and aloes growing. The aloe has long, fat leaves, as big around as your tail. The leaves have little rows of spikes all along the edges. They're not very sharp though, they shouldn't hurt you." Gerda had been looking out for her aloes for a while now. They had been the first medicinal plant she learned of as well, and she was very fond of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 7:51 am
She listened attentively, trying to commit to memory the description the Healer gave. She nodded seriously to show she understood. "Yes ma'am, I can do that." She turned and bounded in the direction indicated, her eyes sweeping the area for the sandy patch. She found one and discarded it quickly, as it had no grasses. She found another that had grass, but nothing else.
It wasn't long though before she spotted the correct patch of sand with grass and, lo and behold, the odd plant! She'd never seen one like it before. She examined it closely without touching it at first. Yes, those leaves certainly were very fat! They barely even looked like leaves, in fact! Remembering her teacher's words, she pulled her tail around with a forepaw to compare with.
She then peered close at the spikes. It wasn't that she mistrusted Gerda, but she cautiously reached one forepaw to poke the spikes with a toe. They were a little stiff, but did not hurt. Satisfied, she pawed at the fat leaf, leaning on it slightly. As she suspected, it didn't exactly tear loose like a normal leaf would. Instead, it snapped wetly, and oozed a green liquid. She eyed it warily and picked up the leaf by the tip to carry back to her teacher, placing it at the Healer's paws. "Is this the right one?" she asked, though she was certain it was. She'd done just as she'd been instructed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 06, 2010 8:12 pm
The cub was very quick, quicker than Gerda would have been. The dark lioness noted that the leaf was indeed an aloe, and the cub had carried it with great care. Such care in a cub! Gerda was indeed impressed.
"See that goop that oozes out of it?" Gerda asked. Of course the cub had; that was why she'd carried it so carefully, no doubt. "If you have a scrape or an itch, you can smear that goop on it to take the hurt away and help it heal." She smiled, her amber eyes crinkling at the corners. "If you eat a little piece of it, it can help an upset belly." Gerda laughed softly. "There's no poison in aloe, so you can't hurt yourself with it."
It wouldn't do to show Haruma anything dangerous, but there were plenty of innocent plants for her to practice on. The Healer rose to her paws with a soft sigh. Time for her to be about her rounds. "I must attend to my duties, Haruma, but I'd be glad to show you more any time you like." Another smile, a modest one. "I'm not the wisest of our healers, but I will be happy to show you what I know."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 7:29 pm
A smile lit the cub's eyes as the information was passed on to her. It was good to know getting some in her mouth wouldn't hurt her. And now she knew a way to help her siblings if ever they got a little hurt. They wouldn't need their 'mother' so much if Haruma could take care of all of them better, right?
She bobbed her head and took a few steps backwards to give her teacher room to move. "Thank you, Healer Gerda," she intoned sincerely and somberly. "I can hardly wait to learn more." She lacked the cubbish exhuberance one would expect of a child given a special favor, but it was clearly heartfelt. "I'll come back another day. Maybe I can be of more help then." It was both suggestion and hope, rolled into a single sentence.
With this, she turned and padded off, tail swishing thoughtfully behind her, making the stripes on her tail ripple and blend together. She had much to consider and mull on. This definitely did appeal to her, and she was of the opinion that the more she learned, the more she'd want to do it when she grew up. With a last firm nod of her chin, she broke into a bounding run, returning to where her siblings were likely playing. Time to check on them!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
