Karima still watched with a great deal of wariness, but the male made no comment. He wondered, idly, if she felt him still a threat. If she did, it would not behoove him to press the issue, just as it would not serve him will to force a wolf with astraphobia out into a fierce summer storm. The thunder would only serve to increase their worry and validate their fears, and interrogating the young woman would only lead her to believe she truly had a reason to mistrust the healer. She claimed she was attacked, after all – whether this fact or fiction did not matter. It was not his to judge.

Humming softly, the man bobbed his head. “Not to worry, friend. Most wolves have not been trained in healing or botany – I do not expect most to be able to select their own herbs,” he rumbled, assuring the youth as he stretched his limbs out. Briefly he shook his coat out before surveying the lagoon’s shore. After a moment, he noted what he sought, and began to set out at a slow walk. They were in no hurry, and Karima had been struggling before they’d met. “This way,” he encouraged, padding down the shoreline for many, many wolf’s lengths before they reached a cluster of plants.

There, he halted, and waited for the woman to join him. “This is Hellbore,” Veho explained, reaching out to nose the light green plant. Its small leaves tickled his nose and he drew back, allowing the female room to inspect the plant herself. “This is one that you eat. But you must only eat a small amount – once in the morning, and once at night. Any more than that, and it will make you sick. Do you understand?” he asked, watching Karima. If she did, he could proceed with instruction – if not, he would repeat.

“Yes, I am telling you to eat a plant,” Veho replied patiently, a smile upon his eyes. It probably seemed odd, to a wolf who’d never been injured or ill before. Depending on the pack in which she’d been raised, her healer may have employed different methods – or perhaps she’d been born as a loner. None of this was his business, and for none of this he would cast judgment. Instead he only leaned down and nudged the plant once more, trying to encourage the young woman that it was not, in fact, as weird as she might have feared it to be.

At least Karima was honest with him, though, and the older wolf allowed himself a small huff of laughter, shaking his head. Precious girl, he thought, ears pricked. “Hellbore will dampen your pain,” he explained, “and will also reduce any swelling. As I cannot find any fever or smell of infection, I do not think you need anything else.” It was as simple as he could make it – he did not make her a paste to apply or a cocktail to mix. Eat a bite in the morning, and eat a bite before bed, and she should be satisfied.

Tail swooshing, he rumbled softly. “I was taught by the medic in the pack I was born into. There was also a human among us that did much the same for his people. I also took upon myself to study each of these plants – I understand what they should do, negative and positive both. So when I say just a bite in the morning and a bite at night, I mean what I say,” Veho rumbled softly, tipping his head. “This should suit you fine. Unless you have any other question…?”

“I suppose it does. We can’t all be daisies, my dear,” Veho chuckled softly. He really shouldn’t find amusement in the young woman’s unhappiness, he knew, but rarely was he met with such obstinacy. Occasionally wolves were suspicious, but were they truly opposed to the medicine man’s methods, they had usually taken off by this point. Otherwise, his patients generally opted to go along with whatever treatment he recommended (rarely did any of them have prior knowledge on such matters themselves) with few complaints. Perhaps it should irk him, grate on his nerves, but where others might have seen arrogance or brattiness, the gray wolf saw uncertainty and fear instead.

It is not mine to judge.

Only once he did witness @Karima take a bite of her plant. She chewed, chewed, chewed, and swallowed. Or rather, that was what she wished him to believe. Poor girl, he thought, finally allowing himself that knowing smile. He had two sisters, once. More recently, he’d cared for puppies and yearlings – she was not the first one to try for that trick. She shook his head and reached forward to bump her muzzle.

“If you wish for the herb to do you any good, you must actually swallow it,” the man murmured, tail swishing behind him in good humor. Veho was no fool, but he was no baron either. “But that is for you to decide. I have given you all the advice I can offer. If you truly find it so offensive, do not follow it. How you heal is for you to decide,” he murmured, bowing his head. There was no more he could do for this woman. It was time to collect the items he’d come to the lagoon for in the first place, and return to his home. “I wish you luck and health, Karima. Farewell.”

Exit.