//------------------------------// // Injuries and Encounters // Story: The Young Warrior: Ocellus's Path // by Melody Song //------------------------------// Thorax led them through the thinly spread trees, most barren despite being late summer. It was this way due to the Hive’s presence, Ocellus knew this. The throne that drained the magic of their enemies combined with their own natural love draining had ruined any hope of proper vegetation in their territory. For a moment she envied the soldiers who went out to war. They at least got a chance to see green leaves on trees, and other wonders Ocellus only dreamt of. She should know. Her parents had told her stories of the things they had seen. That is, before her mother went out hunting and did not return. Her patrol had been attacked by a Tatzelwurm. Ocellus’ father had passed away not long after, due to an infected wound. Ocellus had still been a warrior apprentice at the time, and they had left behind her siblings, two little nymphs now only three years old. Ocellus was glad they were in the care of the nursery drones, she couldn’t imagine having to raise her siblings herself. “Ocellus! Hurry or you’ll be left behind!” Cilia called back to her, and Ocellus blinked, realizing she’d been slowing down, lost in her thoughts. “Sorry!” Ocellus cried, rushing forward to keep pace, her hooves pounding on the sandy ground beneath her. Encouraged by Cilia’s cry, the nymph franticlly caught up with her mentor and the younger of the two Princes, heading to the aid of the elder Prince. —-------------------- “Here!” Thorax stopped at last, coming to stand beside a young nymph Ocellus recognized as Apex-discipulus, the lucky youngling who Pharynx-dominus had chosen to apprentice. Laying on the ground, trying and failing to stand, was Pharynx-dominus himself. Ocellus noticed that one of his hind hooves was slightly swollen, and there was a thin indention in his chitin, likely where the snare trap had been. Cilia strode over and placed a hoof on Pharynx-dominus’ shoulder, forcing him down. “Lie still or I will not be able to help you, Pharynx-dominus.” she told him briskly. “Thorax is overreacting, Cilia-medica, I’m fine.” “You’re fine when I say you are.” Cilia snapped at him, and for a moment Ocellus forgot that Cilia was actually the same age as Pharynx-dominus. He glared at her, but lowered himself down. “Good. Now, Ocellus, come here and help me diagnose the injury.” “Careful!” Thorax called, stopping Ocellus as she tried to move. “That’s where the snare was.” he told her, pointing at the base of a tree she was about to step by. “Good eye my Prince, we don’t need another hurt changeling.” Cilia remarked, beckoning for Ocellus to steer clear of the trees. Ocellus trotted over, cautiously skirting each tree. Once Ocellus had reached her, Cilia knelt down to observe the injury, Ocellus bending her knees to join her, as she was a rather lanky nymph. Cilia gently poked Pharynx’s injured hoof with her own hoof, and he let out a hiss. “Good, it’s not broken.” Cilia said simply, then turned to Ocellus. “What do you think, Ocellus-discipula?” “U-Um, w-well…” Ocellus examined the hoof. “There’s a little bit of swelling, but since Pharynx-dominus was able to feel pain when you touched it… I’d assume a sprain.” “Precisely.” Cilia commended her. “Now, what do we do to treat it?” “Um… make a poultice of comfrey and wrap his hoof?” “Good. Anything else?” Ocellus looked at the ground nervously, thinking. “...Water soaking and poppy seeds?” “Yes. Though with the poultice, water soaking most likely won’t be needed this time. Poppy seeds are proper treatment, but only if he consents to them, of course.” Cilia glanced at Pharynx. “I’d rather keep my head clear, if it’s all the same to you.” Pharynx said gruffly. “Very well then. I’d recommend getting some just to help you sleep tonight, in any case.” Cilia told him. “Ocellus, the herbs?” Ocellus pulled some comfrey out of the herb baskets, and Cilia took it. “Good. Now, while I make a poultice, find some cobwebs to wrap his hoof.” Ocellus nodded and walked carefully over to the trees, finding some cobwebs in the roots of one of the trees. She carried it over just as her mentor finished applying the poultice to the injury. Ocellus offered her the cobweb, but Cilia shook her head. “How about you try?” she suggested, and Ocellus gulped nervously, before leaning down and stretching out the cobweb. Pharynx seemed to understand what she was doing, he carefully lifted his leg slightly so she could wrap the cobweb around it. Ocellus wound the cobweb around his hoof, careful not to smear the poultice. She finished after a minute, securing the cobweb by tucking it in around the edges. “Good job Ocellus-discipula. Pharynx-dominus, how’s that?” “Fine.” He said, sitting up and carefully standing. Ocellus noticed that he seemed to favor his injured hoof, limping slightly as he walked to his brother and apprentice. She glanced at Cilia, who gave her a gentle nod, telling her she had seen it as well. “I would recommend returning to the Hive for the day, Pharynx-dominus.” Cilia said. “I have an apprentice to train.” Pharynx replied sharply. “Surely there are some things you could teach him without needing to put too much tension on your hoof.” Cilia retorted calmly. “It will heal by tomorrow if you rest it.” “Fine.” Pharynx grunted. “Thorax, take Apex-discipulus back to the Hive. Cilia-medica, a word?” Cilia nodded, then turned to Ocellus. “Wait here Ocellus-discipula, we’ll only be a minute.” Ocellus nodded in understanding, gathering up the herb baskets. Cilia and Pharynx disappeared a little ways away in the trees. Ocellus began lifting herbs up in her magic, she might as well begin to sort a few of them while she waited. “You did really well.” Thorax’s voice caught her attention, and she looked up at him. “I did?” “Yeah.” Thorax said, pausing in front of her, allowing Apex-discipulus to climb onto his back, which he either ignored or didn’t notice. “You remembered that stuff really well. I can hardly remember the Hive’s layout.” “Oh… thank you…” Ocellus whispered, and Thorax smiled. “No problem. You’re going to be a great medic.” He said it to her so sincerely, optimism in every word, Ocellus couldn’t help smiling. “Thorax, I told you to go ahead.” Pharynx-dominus said sharply as he and Cilia returned. “I thought you might want a little help, you’re limping.” Thorax said “I can handle it, Thorax.” he told him sternly, flicking his tail at his brother. “Let’s go.” “Y-Yes Pharynx.” Thorax said, following his brother away. As they passed the two medics, Pharynx-dominus looked over at Ocellus, giving her a brief nod before continuing on. “Oh, you’ve begun sorting the herbs, good work.” Cilia noted, and Ocellus nodded. “Come along, let’s continue looking for some more for a little while and then head back.” Ocellus smiled slightly and stood up. The two began heading off through the trees. Cilia glanced at Ocellus. “You noticed how Pharynx-dominus was limping?” “Yes.” Ocellus said, ears folding back. “I didn’t mean to draw attention-” “No, Ocellus.” Cilia stopped her from continuing. “Observations like that are good for a medic, it can mean the difference between a sore throat or pneumonia.” Ocellus nodded in understanding, and Cilia rubbed her back with a hoof. “You have the makings of a great medic, Ocellus. You simply need more confidence. The talent and natural ability of memorization are there, the calm nature is there. You only need to learn to be more sure of yourself.” Ocellus nodded again, before following her mentor through the trees in search of more herbs. As they walked, Ocellus thought about what her mentor had said. Confidence. How was she supposed to learn that?