Sanguine Cove Asking For Help Doesn't Make You Weak

@Aquene

When Oksana woke up that morning the pain in her injured leg seemed worse than normal. It seemed that this winter was harder on it than previous ones. Maybe they had been just as hard but those previous ones she'd had to just deal with it and move on. There wasn't anyone that had been able to help her get rid of the pain.

Now that she was in the cove and they had Aquene she thought maybe the healer might be able to help. The Shaman seemed to know quite a bit about healing. The crow made up her mind since it might mean the chance to not have to deal with the pain.

She left the den quietly to not wake any of its occupants. Once outside she made her way to the medical den hoping to find the woman inside. "Aquene," she called in a whisper just in case Kateri was asleep inside. "Its Oksana," she added still in the whisper.

But I put it out of my mind Long enough to call it courage To live without a lifeline

Aquene had kept herself busy between caring for Kateri and trying her best to restock stores. It was difficult, but certain plants survived the winter months and some more were fierce and determined little things that hid in cracks. She just needed to know where to look, and she needed to ration well. She had mentioned as much to Aleister in their conversation as well. They would make do; she always did… but it was going to be tight.

She was distracted by a whisper of her name, the ebony girl’s ears perking up when she saw the crow appear, stating her name. “Just a second.” She called in acknowledgement, also keeping her voice soft as she finished placing needles of scrub pine, one of the pain management strategies that would persist through the inter months due to the robust nature of firs. She made her way outside the den, concern on her features. Most of the time when others sought her out, it was for injury or concern for another. “Is everything okay?” She let that concern seep into her tone in turn.

It wasn't easy coming to Aquene for help about her leg. Oksana was so used to relying on herself for everything. In some ways it was hard for her to admit to herself that she needed help. That for once in her life there might be something she couldn't do on her own. Oksana knew it was ridiculous just like it was ridiculous to not go and ask. She didn't know if Aquene could help her, the injury might be so old and gone untreated for so long that it might just be what she had to live with. Still she held out hope until the moment The Shaman told her what could or couldn't be done.

The answer to her call was also soft which Oksana took to mean that Kateri was inside. She didn't want to wake the child so she would remember to speak quietly. The words that had reached her were asking for her patience which The crow could easily do. She sat back on her haunches to wait for Aquene to be ready to see her. It wasn't a very long wait at all when the healer stepped out into the cold asking if everything was okay. "Yes, I mean no? I'm sorry to bother you so early Aquene but I was wondering if you'd be able to give your opinion about my leg?"

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But I put it out of my mind Long enough to call it courage To live without a lifeline

When Aquene emerged, she was sitting down and the answer to Aquene’s questions brought a frown about. “Nonsense, it’s not a bother.” She would rather wolves come whenever they needed help, regardless of the time or day. The only exception to that had been right after she had given birth, when she hadn’t really been up for much company and so consumed with caring for her daughter. “Of course I can. Please, step inside. Kateri’s sleeping but we can speak quietly. If she wakes up, then she might just help out. She’s been wanting to learn about healing so I’ve started trying to incorporate her learning into any of my treatments.” She offered softly in return as she motioned with her head. It would be better to be out of the cold regardless of the cause.

“When did it start to bother you? Can you think of anything specific that has happened to cause it?” She did not know the woman’s medical history, so it was important to start with that and then work towards a treatment plan that would work for the woman.

Oksana couldn't help but think that Aquene was such a nice woman. She also consodered her to be a good healer which was part of the reason she'd come to her. "Thank you Aquene," she told the woman with a smile. "I really appreciate this." Then Aquene suggested they go inside even though Kateri was sleeping. That the girl wanted to be a healer too just like her mom. "I remember the days I wanted to be just like my mom too," she commented quietly as she stepped into the den behind Aquene.

Once they were inside the Shaman had plenty of questions for her, easy ones. It was probably best to tell her the story. "When I was a pup I slipped and fell down a cliff and broke it. Lachesis did what he could so that it would heal properly. I believe that it had but now I get such terrible pain in it especially these colder days.
"

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The young Slayer girl was fast asleep against her mothers side. Her face was buried in her fur until she felt Aquene get up. Through blurry eyes she watched her mother leave the den before curling up and tucking her head in to her side. She tried going back to sleep until her mother reentered the den. She had a woman with her and they were talking quietly. She supposed it was to keep from waking her but Kateri was already awake.

She became curious about why the woman was there when her mother started asking questions. The dark pup yawned before sitting up to listen as the woman explained she'd had a broken leg as a pup. The name Lachesis sticking out to her. Katrri looked to her mother to see what she would suggest for the woman. She knew the treatment part was coming.

But I put it out of my mind Long enough to call it courage To live without a lifeline

She smiled softly and nodded, heading inside with a faint chuckle. “She wants to be a healer, but also a fierce warrior like her father.” She offered more informatively. She listened as she started to explain, her eyes widening at the mention of her uncle. “You know Lachesis?” She asked softly, a hint of awe in her voice before she explained further. “He is my uncle… he taught me much of what I know… him and my mom both.” She explained with a wide grin on her features. In that moment, a sense of kinship formed. She was family.

“It’s not uncommon. While the injury healed, it’s impossible for it to be like it was before your fall. Especially in cold weather, the air can seep into where the break occurred. I can give you something for the pain, something routine that you can take during the winter, but also in the other seasons if you need it.” She explained as she moved towards the back of her stores. She selected scrub pine needles from the stores and brought them over carefully wrapped in a small section of deer hide to avoid getting her spit all over them. In that moment she turned to her daughter who had woken up during their conversation.

“Kateri, this is scrub pine… it treats bone and joint pain. The patient chews it and it helps to ease that pain.” She offered before smiling back at Oksana, grateful for the learning opportunity for her daughter.

Oksana smiled when Aquene spoke of Kateri wanting to be a healer and a fierce warrior. "She's very ambitious," she commented. It wasn't in her opinion a bad thing. After all she'd been the same way when she was Kateri's age. The question about Lach had come as a bit of a surprise. Most wolf's who she'd said his name didn't know the healer. "He was the alpha and healer of my birth pack and was a father to me even before my own father had left." Hell, Lachesis had practically raised and she would always be grateful to the older man even if they did have their differences sometimes. Oksana was again surprised by the declaration of Aquene, "Do you know if he's okay? I'm so glad to finally get the chance to meet someone else who knew him. You had a good teacher in him." Unfortunately she couldn't say the same for Aquene's mom cause she didn't know her. Still sje was glad to have found out that Aquene was Lachesis' neice it gave her a sense of closeness to the Shaman.

Oksana listened as the healer explained about her injury. She nodded along withbthe words understanding what they meant. Things that she'd accepted a long time ago. "Anything you can to to help," she said, "I've been going to the hotsprings to help relieve the pain but that doesn't last very long. So something routine that would keep it away would be so helpful," she said with a note of relief in her tone. Kateri had woken up by then and seed to be listening to the conversation between the two older women. Oksana watched as Aquene turned and was grabbing setting from her stores. When she turned back she was speaking to her daughter. Oksana listened too so that she would know what she woukd be taking. "That sounds simple enough," she commented, "Certainly something I can handle. If this works Aquene you might just be my hero." If the Scrub Pine really did work than she wouldn't have to live with the pain that she's had to the past four years.

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The pup took a moment to really wake up before joining the conversation. It was a surprise to hear that the dark woman knew her great uncle Lachesis. Her mother told Oksana that he was her uncle and as it turned out he'd been a father to the other woman. This was all very interesting, Kateri took it all in to remember for later. "Did he teach you about healing?" The girl asked their visitor. He'd taught her mama so maybe he'd taught this woman too.

Anyway Kateri was really interested in what her mother was saying. She felt like the dark woman might understand her plight since they'd both had dealt with a leg injury. Kateri hoped she didn't end up like Oksana though, with a limp the rest of her life. That was a scary thought in its self. She shook jet head when herother spoke to her. Showing her the plants and explaining what they did. The woman seemed clearly happy with what her mama had suggested but Kateri saw this as an opportunity to learn so she took it. "Is there anything else you could give her especially in a pinch?" She asked cause she thought that would be a good thing to know.

Aquene listened with fascination when she explained how she knew her uncle. She had been raised by him. “He is very good at that. My father once joked with him that they shared custody of me.” She offered with a smile on her features, fondness on her features as she faded into her own mind for a moment to reflect on those memories. It had been so long ago. She missed him, both of them… but she knew that they were safe, and happy. “Yes, he is quite safe. His and my Aunt Lilya’s pack is adjacent to my father’s… they essentially rule both lands together. He is doing very well, and I think enjoying the peace of retirement.” She was glad to be able to offer her at least that. She hummed and smiled at Kateri as she asked questions of her own. If Lachesis had taught her about healing, she would make a reliable woman for Aquene to request herbs from, in case she ventured on a scouting trip or something of the nature.

Anything she could do to help. “It won’t treat the cause of the pain… but it is a permanent fix. It’ll take away the pain so long as you take it regularly.” She was confident in that much. She used it to help treat arthritis pain in some of the older wolves, and in younger wolves with injuries. It didn’t dull the mind like poppy did, which just made it all the better and it grew all year around. “In a pinch, you could also give her poppy seeds but you have to be very careful with them. They are addictive, but fast acting… and they might dull the mind too, which means if she’s going to be doing something like patrolling, you do not want to give it to her.” She explained before smiling back at Oksana. “Scrub pine doesn’t taste the best, but I’ve found taking it right before eating helps the taste fade faster from the mouth.”

Aquene Slayer