RP:A Therapeutic Stop in Sage

From HollowWiki

Part of the Time Heals All Wounds Arc


Part of the Magic, Madness, and Mayhem Arc


This is a Healer's Guild RP.


Synopsis: After a horrid accident with an undead dragon, the witch Lanara makes her way with Tiberius to Kelay. Both of the two agree that they need to stop in to see Lanara's friend Penelope at the healer's hut in order to continue their journey home. Penelope shows off her gentle and patient non-magical healing skills and Lanara suggests that the herbalist should open her own healing practice after training more within her healing skills. Penelope is intrigued by the idea of her career, but not necessarily getting back on the search for a companion train like Lanara, Yerrel, and Ruari suggest.

Kelay Healer

It’s about two hours after the dragon encounter in the jagged shaft, when Tiber and Lanara enter Sage Forest, still bickering about bats and who would be cooking dinner. Both seem to be grating on the other’s nerves, as the witch is feisty and argumentative since it was –her- fault that the adventure went awry, and the lycan is Catalian and grumpiness is in his nature. As much as they argue like an old married couple, their chemistry remains like that of two lovesick teenagers, as they know just when a statement goes too far or are careful not to show too much affection in public. It’s both sickening and adorable. Nearing the comfort of Yerrel’s Hut has the witch slowing her steps and leaning heavily against Tiber’s side, as she had lost a great deal of blood and is in immense pain. Chocolate hues seem to dim slightly as she lifts her head to peer up at Tiber, and in a pleading voice asks if he would mind dropping her off at the healer and heading to get ingredients for dinner. “Look… You can come back in an hour or so, I promise not to run off this time without you. My friend Penelope works in there and she will have me stitched and bandaged in no time. I trust her with my life, and I can use some time to clear my head, as I’m sure you can, too.” Eventually the lycan agrees to fetch some bath salts, massage oils, groceries, and what not, and after walking Lana to the door of the clinic, they part ways. Lanara limps into the center and nearly collapses, as she had been down playing her injuries for the past few hours. A pained look sweeps through the area as she softly calls out, “Penny? Are you here?”



The hut is empty, but Penelope is quick on her feet as she hears the bell to the hut go off as she chops wood for the fireplace. She drops the axe and the wood tumbles. The girl scurries around the corner to the hut wearing black pants, hiking boots, and a baby blue sweater. Ruari and Yerrel are busy planning in the shop next door. With Lionel’s supply for the hut, they needed to make sure they organized well. They also had some budgeting to consider due to the gold offer, too. As the herbalist walks to the door of the hut, she instantly sees Lanara in tattered clothing and almost collapsing to the ground. The human is brisk and catches Lanara before she completely topples over. “I’m here,” she says, almost worried, but she remains as calm as she can for the witch. One rule of healing, remain calm for those who are in shock and in pain. “Let’s settle you in,” the woman would try to duck her head under the woman’s armpit in order to give her support. If this works, they would hobble over to a cot where Penelope can start to get a better look at the woman. “Lanara, what happened to you?”



Lanara sighs in relief when Penelope rounds the corner and offers an arm to lean on, which is a good thing, because the witch feels weaker with each passing moment. “Penny. Thank the Goddess!” As she carefully sits on a cot, she tries to shrug out of the blood soaked cotton tunic, followed by the remnants of her shredded shirt so that the healer could assess her injuries. Lana’s back feels as though it’s severely damaged and when Penelope looks at her injuries she would see seven separate gashes, four of which will need stitches. The others likely need cleaning and a bandage, though the worst gash would require some expertise. It’s about two inches deep, on the center of Lana’s spine, just below the clasp of her bra. The stalagmite she was tossed into had pierced her flesh and as she slid down the wall, the rock dug into her body, making the length of the wound about nine inches. “It was... A dragon. The Adventurer’s Guild? I’m a member, and we were up at the mines in Xalious… The beast came out of nowhere, picked me up by his tail, and hurled me against a rock wall. I… I lost a decent amount of blood, but I don’t think anything is broken.” Lifting her head, Lana studies the pretty healer and gives her a small smile, “As much as I would love to stick around, and I know you will advise that given my condition… But, I really can’t. Tiber promised me a bubble bath, a cooked meal, and possibly some cuddles and kisses, if I play my cards right.” He didn’t promise the cuddling or kissing, but Lana could be convincing. And it’s obvious she will need waterproof bandages, as well as something for the migraine. “Oh! Some rocks fell on my head, too… I don’t think I need stitches here, and it stopped bleeding, but maybe we can clean it up?” Just above her brow is a slender scratch, the skin slightly raised as inflammation was settling in. “How have you been?”



Penelope helps Lanara lower onto the cot. Penelope insists on helping Lanara get out of the shredded shirt, but only she will use medical scissors. “I’ll get you a new shirt. I’m sure you don’t want this one,” the shirt is cut through and the healer is assisting the shirt off. The girl gently places her hands on Lanara’s shoulders to turn her gingerly to a different angle, so her moss eyes can get a better view of the gashes on Lanara’s back. Four gashes are noted. Simple fix. The other two injuries are closer to abrasions. Her eyes then trace to the nine inch gash down her spine. Teeth clenched down, but easy enough for Lanara not to see. “A dragon? You people make my job harder every day, though… I would do the same. I can see that your back is just oozing, though it seems to have slowed down. I’m glad you’re okay, dear. You are definitely strong. I’m surprised you made it from Xalious to here. I’d be in so much pain and I’d be bawling,” she admits, though she would not actually know. She had never been severely injured. Well, the plague, but that was illness. “Nothing looks broken, but… you took a major blow to the spine. I’m glad you’re moving, but there is a lot of debri that I’m going to have to get out, but first, I’m going to have Yerrel take a look.” The thought of Lanara leaving has the herbalist frowning and her eyes skim over the small scratch above her brow. “Women and dudes, I swear. He better be taking care of you, sweetie because I will be so mad if those wounds don’t get addressed later on and they become infected,” she rises from the cot and moves to the door. “Yerrel!” She hollers, and the echo moves to the next cabin over where the door is propped open. Penelope then moves to the corner of the hut to clean her hands before touching Lanara’s back. “Good for the most part. Just picking up some new hobbies,” combat, for one. Before she has time to even mention her love life, that was not a love life, Yerrel steps in. The healer and the herbalist exchange of a few words before he moves to look at Lanara. “She’ll need a magical mend, though you need to get the rocks out first. Call me when she is clean. I’ll seal the bigger one. Be careful to not dig too deep with the tweezers. Don’t wanna dig too deep and accidentally nick her spine,” he then pivots out of the hut. Reassuring.



Penelope looks at Lanara. “I promise you that man is overly careful. You’re in good hands. Yerrel has been teaching me non-magical surgical skills for about a year, but I know you’re on a time crunch. I don’t really know how to use my magic, so I’m going to have him seal you at the end for that big wound…” The druid admits. The woman then moves to grab some supplies for the witch’s wounds. A salve of some sort, an alcohol solution to cleanse her wounds, cotton pads, gauze pads, an antibiotic salve, medical tape, tweezers, a small tin container, and a stitch kit. “So, things with you and this Tiber guy, huh. Getting pretty spicy? Ooo, is he a good kisser?” She tries to distract Lanara from her wounds. In the meantime, she is pouring alcoholic solution on a cotton pad. “It’s going to sting just a bit.” The wounds on her back would likely burn and bubble. The wounds may throb, but the pain would slowly start to fade back to the original pain Lanara felt.



Lanara lies on her stomach in her bra and torn trousers, as though all of her modesty had flown the coop. It was a good thing that the clinic was empty because she just may die from embarrassment! She’s pleased to see Penelope, despite the fact that she’s in immense pain, and manages the smallest of smiles as she speaks into the pillow. “What sort of hobbies?” Yerrel enters the scene and Lanara cringes as he assesses her injuries, as she didn’t know this man, and then he had the audacity to nonchalantly state that if Penelope wasn’t careful she could end up paralyzed. “Thanks for the comfort, Doc.” Muttering into the pillow again, Lanara waits until he leaves the room and tries not to laugh as Penny reassures her that all would be well. “If you can’t cure me, just kill me, huh?” The alcohol hits her back and the witch is now biting the pillow as pain is everywhere all at once for several moments, before it fades to a dull ache. Tears sting Lana’s eyes but she tries to focus on thoughts of the lycan, “Tiber is… Imperfectly perfect? Sometimes, I think that he’s over the moon about me and that we are growing closer! Other times, I feel that he pushes me away, or that he’s not attracted to me in the least… We are working on getting to know each other, I guess?” Lana smiles, despite the pain she feels as Penny is cleansing the area before she begins to extract the debris with surgical tweezers, “He kissed me once… It was short and sweet. Then I kissed him a few moments later and it lasted a few kisses… It was… Wow. I saw fireworks!” Not that she’d tell Tiberius that he gave her butterflies and she saw stars and was obviously falling hard for his grumpy self. “Sometimes I’m afraid that if I say or do something wrong that it will just end, that he’ll realize I’m not the witch he thinks I am? I… I have a dark past, Penny. A lot of scars that aren’t visible. I just think that Tiber deserves perfection, and he’s the first man I’ve been into where I don’t feel that I’m good enough.” Wow. This was very deep for Lana to be confiding already, but the Catalian drove her crazy. Plus, her emotions were all over the place after being manhandled by a reptilian beast and thrown into a wall! “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to go into all of that… But… He’s addicting. And I’m staying at his place until I find my own for a bit, so things are heading in the right direction. I think.” The man was unpredictable and she didn’t know what to expect, or if he’d even come and claim her once she was all healed! “I know –some- healing magic, but of course I can’t do squat about my back injury as I can’t even see it… I could show you some things, sometime… I mean, if you wanted? Just enough to warm or ice an area, or if you needed to learn anything about healing crystals or runes. My sister, Talyara, she’s very knowledgeable too!” Smiling as the pain eases some, the witch turns her head so that her cheek rests on the pillow, “Have you and Lionel had your date, yet? Do you have any fun plans for Yule?” Chatting was making the witch forget the pain that she was surely feeling as pieces of rock are removed from her flesh, and from the burning of the alcohol.



The herbalist shakes her head. “There will be no death in this hut tonight,” Penelope was soothing in her voice. The woman dabs the abrasions to get the dirt and skin clean. The woman would then move to the lacerations. This would hurt worse, but the herbalist would remain calm and go at Lanara’s pace all the while listening to Lanara’s banter about Tiber. “Lady, you’re beautiful. Maybe he is just… closed off. Maybe he needs to be re-opened,” the healer shrugs. Gods know that the herbalist knew. The woman manages to clean all the open wounds that need stitching and mending, but she waits to stitch Lanara up for those four wounds. The biggest one was going to be the trickiest one. Before the girl grabs the tweezers, she opens a yellow-looking salve. “I made a numbing solution out of winter poppies. This will help numb the wound in your spine while I tweeze out the pebbles and dirt from the harshest looking avulsion. Just prepping you. It’s sort of Yerrel’s rules. Pretty basic routine.” She dips a finger in the yellow salve, the salve is goopy. Like jelly with little yellow flakes. The woman then begins to generously apply the salve around the wound. The girl slides to grab the tweezers and the small tin platter. The tweezers lean forward and she begins to pluck out small pebbles and place them in the platter with a soft ‘clink’ noise. “Ooo, so he did kiss you. Well, at least the lips are worth it, huh?” She seemed like she was on auto-pilot when she talks about the kissing. She always enthused for others. What were fireworks? Well, kissing fireworks? She continues tweezing into the raw flesh of the witch, occasionally apologizing when the healer causes the woman pain. “Love is scary, Lana, saying something wrong is natural, and it’s easy to just… accept it, but it’s all about communication. I think you are putting too much pressure on it all. Sometimes if we try hard, it gets even messier. It’s best to just be natural. Yourself. I mean, he did kiss you and want to try it out with you. He wanted you for you,” she observes. The woman then halts her tweezing and gazes around to look Lanara in the face. “We all have a past. Dark or not, you are you. Besides,” she says with sincerity while moving back to finish moving the debri out of the woman’s back, “Perfection means different things to people. You may be the most perfect thing that he has ever seen. Though, I get it. You’re feeling vulnerable, and he just needs to get his ass to give you more reassurance. You should ask him from time to time, it doesn’t hurt.” The woman would then rest and place the tweezers to the side as she finishes pulling out the last jagged pebble. How was Lanara even handling this right now? Oh, right. Numbing salve. The herbalist then beams at the thought of magic. “Really now? I would surely approve of that. I would be thankful, actually. It’d be extremely beneficial for my patients,” she nods. “I met Talyara, she seems lovely. Perhaps… I can try to seek her out.” The woman would then reach for the stitch kit. “Yerrel will finish mending you big wound. For the meantime, I’ll stitch you up.” The girl is busy getting the needle driver ready to suture the witch before her. “Oh, date?” Penelope seems thrown off. “Err… no, actually,” she keeps the conversation short on that. The woman was fickle and being swallowed up by doubt again which was fine. The girl had been content by the simple conversations with the warrior. They kept talking about dates, but not going on them. “Might go get a tree with Ruari for Yule. Perch it in the hut to give the patients a little festive cheer. What about you?” She pierces the needle through the skin of the woman and begins to weave the needle through.



The witch remains as still as possible, groaning against the pillow and clenching her jaw when the tweezers graze the open wound, causing a stabbing sensation to travel the length of her spine. “I never thought to put poppies into a salve! Back home, we would give the milk of the poppy to those that were near death… So they weren’t exactly aware of their pain? And giving too much would move them closer to the Otherside.” Still, she doesn’t protest as the numbing agent is rubbed onto her skin, as it would help keep some of the pain at bay. As Penelope offers her reassurance concerning her love life, Lana’s cheeks flood with crimson, as she wasn’t used to compliments and hadn’t expected her new friend to provide exactly what she needed to hear. “Th-thank you… I don’t think he would give me any sort of clarity if I asked…” Tiberius was a stubborn lycan, very set in his ways, and they had just gotten to a place in their relationship where lines of communication were open. But the heavier topics, or ones that hit closest to home? It would take some time. Thankfully, the last of the debris is removed and the sewing kit is brought into view, so thoughts of Tiber are pushed to the side as she clutches the sides of the cot for impact. This would hurt, even with the numbing salve, but not as much as the words that reach her slightly tapered ears concerning Lionel. Had the warrior backed out of the date? What there something wrong between the pair? She doesn’t pry, although she’s curious as to how quickly Penelope tries to change the topic, and she offers an encouraging smile over her shoulder. “You are incredible at mending wounds, Penny. I can’t really see your work, but you have a gentle touch, and you are excellent at keeping your patients distracted and calm.” Lana pauses as the healer mentions that she gets to select a Yule tree and decorate it for the clinic, a modicum of envy in her mind. She had –tried- to convince her ‘roommate’ to let her put up a tree, but that’s hadn’t gone over very well. Catalians. Can’t live with em and can’t live without em! “So… Ruari? He’s handsome! And he’s a healer, too, right?” Her words hang in there, hinting at the notion that there could be something ‘romantic’ in the cards for the two. Celebrating holidays together was a thing that couples did, and Ruari was often in the company of Penelope. “The patients will love a Yule tree! You could get some poinsettias to place around the waiting room, too. Just make sure that no animals nibble on the leaves, as they can be poisonous… I don’t really have any plans for the actual day of Yule, but this weekend my sister is having a little get together at her cottage up in Frostmaw… And after the holidays we can start your lessons! I’m happy to help in whatever you need…” Making sure that Yerrel isn’t within earshot, the witch lowers her voice, “Have you ever considered opening your own medical practice, Penny?”



The woman did not mean to make the woman wince and groan while moving tissue around, but what had to be done, had to be done. “I’ve heard of milk of the poppy. Never actually created it yet. Yerrel and I have been fiddling with different ingredients. I just play around and read from time to time. I’m going to have to find a book for that one. That might be a –great- replacement right about now, eh?” Though fast forward, the need point is in and the thread is weaving throughout the skin of the woman while the other hand is using the tissue forceps to close the skin carefully in a clean line. Her skin would pull up and then form together with the thread which left a tight loops in a row across of each laceration. There is a small release of a breath when Lanara lets go of the topic of Penelope’s date life. Talking was easy with a man. Dating? Not so much. The healer gives a bright smile at the compliment from the witch. “Well, I’m glad someone thinks so,” though, word had it, she was one gentle and patient cookie. She took time in her work. “It may take long, but I want people to have minimal scarring. I want them to feel… beautiful and that they survived with minimal remembrance of the pain that was there.” As the woman proceeds to each gash, she keeps her smile at a minimum. Less distraction. Her tools seem to come to a slow as Lanara mentions Ruari. Her cheeks flood, for it was not like that. “Ruari has been my friend since we were kids. We’ve always jumped in together. So, before you say anything else—no, Lana,” she manages an actual laugh at that one. Nice try. Penelope was as fickle as they come. “He’s sad because he sort of had the hots for you. Told him about this Tiber dude. Ruari isn’t happy, but he will live. I made sure of it.” She has a knowing smile. “So, just know if Tiber doesn’t work, Ruari is drooling over you,” she snickers with that small little giggle she had. She continues her craft, and soon enough, she places her equipment down after time goes by. She takes time to shake her arms out since they were so still and stiff from all the mending. “I love poinsettas. Mostly the cream-colored ones. They’re soft to the eye, though your little party should be fun! You’ll have a blast, I’m sure. Just bundle. During Yule, a lot of accidents tend to happen, so I’m going to be swamped, I’m sure.” The holidays were always messy for people. “I’ll make sure that I send word to you about… magic. I would be… content. Relieved, actually.” The girl then reaches for the antibiotic salve and dabs her finger in the mixture. The ointment globs on each gash and scratch, though she leaves the bigger wound up to Yerrel to mend. “I would be crazy if I haven’t thought about. A girl can dream. I have a vision for the whole set-up and everything. The place would not only be for healing, but also for mental healing, physical therapy, all of it. It’d be a private practice, though… well, Yerrel can only offer me so much, so I take what I can get,” the girl explains. "Takes funding that I don't necessarily have, although Lionel has supported our hut, as of late. It's more for Yerrel to do what he will." The herbalist then reaches for the gauze to place over each gash except the longer one. “Time to get Yerrel, and don’t worry. He’s taught me everything. He’s a very careful and gentle man. Stubborn and wise. He’ll mend that flesh beneath.” She rises to give the man a call out the door.



A soft sigh escapes Lana as the final stitch is knotted and the remaining string is sliced off, and she moves her arms to her sides as they are beginning to fall asleep. Penelope’s voice is soothing, her touch is gentle, and she works with an ease that most healers aren’t able to achieve in their lifetime. The girl would excel in her journey as a healer, and if she were able to secure a clinic of her very own, business would be booming! Not that Lanara wanted anyone to get sick or hurt, but it took illness and injuries to keep a clinic thriving, as well as donations. Thinking about this, she quirks a brow and cranes her neck to lock eyes with Penny, “If you’re serious about this… Why don’t you continue to learn all you can? Maybe a little of the funding that Lionel is donating here? You can store away… Say ten percent? And when you feel that you’re ready, you should throw a charity ball! Open up a clinic maybe a town or two away, so you aren’t competing with Yerrel? Or you can specialize in a different type of medicine or healing methods. The proceeds from the ball or event can fund your new business!” Lanara is all about seeing others achieve their dreams, as it took her little sister to make hers come true, with the animal sanctuary. “I have connections, too! Khitti can help with the catering, The Backstreet Bards can perform, and I can assist with any decorating or advertising you may need. You can even have some stations set up, to test ones hearing, sight, reflexes, height and weight, that sort of thing!” Lana’s brimming with excitement for Penny, though when the topic turns to Ruari, she cannot help but chuckle. “I –thought- there was something about him at the Green Fairy! He was blushing a bit, and when we hugged he sort of didn’t want to let go?” She laughs again, “He is easy on the eyes, but I think he’s a little too boyish for my taste. And if he’s not your type either… Well, if Lionel doesn’t whisk you away on a date anytime soon, I think I’ll just have to play Cupid.” There’s a twinkle in her eye as Penny cleans her hands and prepares to call for Yerrel, “My friend Gordyn would –love- to meet a pretty lady like you! And he will take you to the finest restaurants!” Five star restaurants only, in fact! “He’s a sweetheart!” At least when he’s not screaming or throwing food that doesn’t meet his expectations.



Penelope lofts a brow at the witch and her suggestions. Learning more was always the dream to success. The girl was career-oriented in every degree. Lionel’s funding could be requested for the girl to pocket from Yerrel. She could be honest with Yerrel. The old elf always wanted the human to grow and bright as she could. She was on her way. Her hands were gentle, and all she would need to learn is some more surgical ways, a little magic here and there, and she would become what she always wanted to be. A true leader and clinician for her own practice. The thought lingered in the front of her mind. “That really is not a bad idea,” beat. “And you would help me?” Well, that was already confirmed. Lanara seemed to almost be bouncing out of her cot. The old elven man then appears to take a look at Lanara and he looks at Penelope in a peculiar way. Right now, their lips would zip as the herbalist gives the witch a hesitant gaze. The herbalist would have to plan the specifics before proposing her idea to Yerrel. The elf then speaks to the witch. “Okay, love. This is going to be like the young ones say, a piece of cake,” he gives the girl a wink in a wise way. The herbalist on the other hand is now on to washing her hands quickly and then moving back over to reach out to hold Lanara’s hand. The healer wanted the witch to trust her and while Yerrel is providing his healing remedies, Penelope continues the conversation. The room sort of lights up with a faint blue hue in the meantime. “He is sort of a boy, isn’t he?” She laughs as she is thankful Ruari Erickson is not in the hut, though the laugh cuts short. “Cupid? Lanara, no, I don’t know if that’s the greatest idea—“ she is cut off by the enthusiasm of a name of Gordyn. Finest restaurants? The girl looks wide eyed and sort of shakes her head in hesitation. “Really, Lana, save the energy. I don’t think I’m ready for that. My last relationship was sort of… complicated, and well, I don’t want to waste his breath.” Excuses. The healer had seen darkness in her days of love, and not to mention, she was skittish. A flake. The girl did not even know if she wanted to settle with another. A family? A home? The thought was foreign. Familiarity was with her hands that mended and protected from the worst which most scenarios were predictable. Love was unpredictable. The light produced Yerrel is weaving in and out and eventually Lanara's flesh is sealed and clean beneath, save for the raw and fresh skin the lay atop of the woman’s spine. Penelope would have to cover that too which she momentarily moves away from Lanara to patch her up in the same way as the others. Antibiotic salve and waterproof gauze.



Of course Lanara would help Penelope, in anything that she asked for assistance, and she gives a slow nod as the movement hurts her back. She was going to be so sore come tomorrow, from all that crawling around in the mines, smashing into a rock wall, and hiking for hours up and down a mountain. And that doesn’t even include all the energy she expels when bickering with Tiber! “I will help you with whatever you need, Penny… If I had the coin, I would help you in that way, also.” Her words are sincere as Lanara valued honesty and didn’t see much value in material items. All of her gold went to her animals and into adventures that she planned with friends, though she did seem to spend an awful lot on hosting extravagant affairs. Thankfully, all of her designer clothes came at a discount, since she used to model for Kreekitaka, and every now and again would help to host one of his shows or oversee the happenings at one of his boutiques. That crustacean had pinched her hips one too many times in the fitting room and Lana had eventually decided that being a bikini model, as well as a dancer, entrepreneur, and businesswoman wasn’t all panning out. There was only so much time in one day! Yerrel returns to the room to magically mend the wound, and Lana’s eyes widen in fear, as she didn’t like being touch by those she doesn’t know well or trust. Just because Penelope vouches about his experience doesn’t mean that the witch will relax, but the healer is holding her hand and talking about Ruari and Gordyn and it’s enough to keep her distracted. The healers may note that the witch shivers slightly and the apprehension in her expression is palpable, likely because she was harmed by hands that promised to hold her as if she were a precious artifact. Lana squeezes Penny’s hand and smiles through a clenched jaw, “Nonsense. I’ve had two failed engagements, and do you see me shying away from love? I’m scared too, knowing that Tiber can just decide I’m not worth the effort, or that I’m too broken, or he can just abandon me for no reason. Men are more fickle than women, cheating is all too common, and it’s so hard to find a love that surpasses all your past loves… But, that’s why we’re here, are we not? And Penny! You are a healer, not only of the body, but also of the mind. I’ve seen how you reassured me here today, how you tended to Lionel’s fears, and how comforting you were with Linken at the party. There is only one thing left to heal since you have the body and mind covered… The heart! So… I think you need to put yourself out there a little. Even if it’s only casual dating!” Secretly, she doesn’t see Penelope and Gordyn walking down the aisle, but maybe the chef would be kinder to the realm if his heart melted. Plus, Penny needed some practice being social and getting back into the scene, and Lionel seemed to be taking his sweet time. Worst case scenario, they’d have a good laugh over the strange date! The glow in the room fades and Yerrel is about to leave, so Lana slowly shifts to look at the elder elf’s face, “Thank you for healing me, Sir. It was very kind of you, and I appreciate it, truly.” The waterproof gauze is carefully applied to her wounds and she smiles, knowing that Tiber would be here any moment. “I told him to pick me up a shirt and pants, so I’m hoping he brings me something that fits. You know men!”



The healer was appreciative all the same. Any help was valuable to the herbalist. Someone could give Penelope a piece of thread and she would be thankful all-the-same. Honestly, with the closet Penelope owned, the girl would have the ten percent in no time. She liked clothes, let us be honest here. Though, it was a collection of pieces over time, and she normally sold her old threads she did not wear and replaced them with fresh ones. Lanara opens up about her two failed engagements, but Penelope still does not budge, although she convincingly pretends to. “Brave, you definitely have a bold heart for such a thing,” and then the witch then goes on the rant on how Penelope Halifax, in fact, needs to heal. Heal her heart. The thought of casual dating. What was the harm? What, she had been kissed by a couple other guys beside Linken after him: Jesse and Lionel. Plenty of men lined up to take the woman out as well. What was the harm in just testing the waters? The thought made her sick. Yerrel then looks between Lanara and Penelope, but his wise gaze settles on the witch. “I’ve been trying to get Miss Halifax on her toes for a long while, now. She can’t just hang out with an old man all day,” and the redness fills the freckled cheeks of the healer. Yerrel continues, “Also, it was no problem. No harsh movements, and Penelope will give you some salves for pain relief,” the man then moves out of the hut again to give the girls privacy. Penelope had never gotten girl time, he figured he better leave while he could. The healer then looks at Lanara again. “You trust him with your attire? Brave, girl,” and on que, Tiber is poking his head through the doors. Some exchanges are given briefly, and the herbalist has a small knowing grin as Tiber hands her the dreadful Halloween costume. “Apply this antibiotic salve three times a day, and the other salve two,” she would hand them out to Lanara. “The second salve is the same one I used for numbing in case you are in too much pain.”



Lanara doesn’t feel that she has a brave heart, more like she’s been broken so many times; she hopes that it pays off in the end. She needed a match that had a rough past, and they could be the missing glue to put each other back together again, and live happily ever after. Was that even in the cards? Tiberius looked as though he swallowed a bug when she casually mentioned relationships labels, so the witch isn’t sure if he’s even the type to ever speak the ‘L’ word or want to settle down. Oddly, she never thought about long term until this moment, because the two of them were in such early stages of their relationship. The gears are turning in Lana’s head, and she’s realizing that she –could- imagine a life with the lycan, of course after they had gotten to know each other better. He’s already a bit of an addiction, and frankly, she’s starting to miss having him around. It’s only been a little over an hour, but there’s a void, where there wasn’t one before. Just wait until Lana moves out of his apartment! Penelope starts to speak but she’s cut off by Yerrel, and both women look a little surprised at his assessment of the healer’s love life. A slow smile is on Lana’s face as she looks Penny in the eye and sits up, carefully stretching her arms, “I don’t mean to pry or make assumptions… I just use my intuition a ton and it has never steered me wrong. I can sense that you crave companionship, and that you aren’t one to put yourself out there so much, as you are a little shy. There isn’t anything wrong with being single, and companionship can come in –many- forms! Look at me!? The majority of my friends are animals! Either way… I do think it’s a good idea to live a little, and explore what life has to offer. Outside of the clinic. Yerrel is right! It will be good for you, and even if you decide you want to be independent and just have an occasional date or girl’s night out, at least you will have more experience than curing people of their sickness and mending their injuries.” Lanara smiles gently, hoping she isn’t offending her new friend with some sisterly advice, but the words fall naturally from her lips. It’s as if the Goddess deliberately intervened and was using the witch as a vessel to reach Penelope’s ears with words of wisdom! Tiber enters the clinic, with a few bags of groceries, and as Lanara accepts the dress and turns away he has the nerve to snatch some cocoa butter from a shelf. Ever the rogue! After changing into the witch costume, and muttering how Tiber will need some healing when she’s through with him, Lana carefully goes over the instructions of the salves and gives hugs all around. Yerrel seems like a nice fellow and they are both elves, so their embrace is brief but meaningful. Ruari seems to have shown up moments before Tiber, and he’s grinning from ear to ear as the pretty witch pulls him in for a random hug. However, it’s the healer that gets the longest embrace of them all, and Lana whispers in her ear as she gives a gentle squeeze, “Penny… Let’s meet for that spa day at the start of next week! We both can use a day to unwind, I’m sure. Thank you for healing me… Isn’t Tiber handsome?! Wish me luck! And I’ll be sure to mention you to Gordyn!”



Penelope blinks at Lanara’s assumptions, and although the herbalist was not seeking in romantic love, she was wanting some sort of loyalty in companionship. Someone to confide in that made her feel more alive than the typical days that passed her by. “You’re not wrong,” is all that is said to the witch and the one phrase could be taken however Lanara chooses. Either way, Tiberius is there, Ruari is there, and well, it was time for departure. Mr. Erickson sure does look a little disappointed as he stares at his handsome competition. What did Tiber have that he had not? Blonde hair? Charming golden eyes? What about dark thick black hair and icy eyes? That was slick right? All these thoughts race as Lanara pulls him into a surprising hug. As the witch embraces the woman, though, the healer slowly and gently wraps her arms around Lanara and refrains from grazing her back too much from the hug. “You take care of yourself,” and Penelope is eyeing Tiberius strictly on this one. “A spa day sounds nice, and…” she trails and looks at Tiberius. “He has nice eyes, I guess,” though the small ‘I am watching you’ expression lingers on the man. The girl then pulls back from the embrace, looks the weakened woman over and gives a half-hearted smile. “You better put those dang salves on!” She then would grin and nod the woman off in a small parting wave. “Don’t mention me to Gordyn,” she says in fake chipper because, really, that was a disaster waiting to come. As the lycan and the witch leave, Penelope turns around to look at the two men with knowing gazes. A digit is raised at each of them. “Don’t even start it,” she would warn the two, but Ruari, like always, dances around with teasing delight. “Ooo, better get a new wardrobe for those hot dates lining up at the door,” the herbalist rolls her eyes and moves onward.