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As soon as Marissa heard the word 'ill' she was back into her wagon, searching for plants that could quell fever. She found foxglove in her travelling chest, dilaweed in the cupboards, and grabbed all ten jars of various crushed herbs, which she kept under the bed for emergencies.

"I've got everything I know of," Marissa said, her forhead creased in worry. "Kale won't mind if I leave him for a bit. Shall we go back to Oqaia's wagon so I can work?"

Marissa hurried to Oq's wagon and entered without knocking; she knew she was expected.

"Oqaia, hello, I've brought everything I have. I know you're somewhat versed in these things, as well, I thought I might check with you before I start anything remedial." Marissa paused, arranging select jars and pots and arranging them out on a table. "Since it's fever, I was thinking foxglove tea to calm her temerature, and then podding some card thistles and boiling the Fullonum's Heart." She stopped, reminding herself to speak in layman's terms.

"Er, the feathery bit on the inside, it's keeps a nice syrup."

Oqaia blinked in surprise, and was tempted to nod and say 'of course'... but this was no time for trying to fit perfectly into this machine. "I'm sorry, Marissa, I really don't know anything about herbology. You could be giving her grass and I'd trust you. Please, whatever you need to do. ...Do you need any supplies from me? I have pots and a mortar and pestle... supplies, if not the herbs themselves."

Without turning, she reached out and gave Lesh a comforting squeeze on the arm. The wagon was small, and she knew the woman would be standing right there, hovering protectively over her daughter.

Marissa nodded. "I understand," she said, "And pots would be helpful, thank you." She took the needed supplies and began to work. "Shy, will you set water boiling?" she asked gently; she figured the mother would take comfort in busying herself. Taking the blunt end of a cooking blade, she beat the foxglove pods in a clay bowl until they had powdered completely. Turning to where Leshya'e was working, she dumped the powder in. "Wait until it turns a sort of cloudy pink color, and then let me know," she instructed. Taking a handful of card thistle, she laid them in a line on the table.

Marissa faced a predicament: Time versus caution. She knew if she waited much longer Anzeka's condition would escelate, but she also knew that if she did this wrong that her treatment would be of no use at all. Sweating a bit, she began to slice down the seam of the plant pod. Its sides were prickly and hard to handle. When the pod was finally split down the center, she held it over another pot.

In one swift movement, Marissa seperated the severed halves, where a slippery brown liquid dripped out. She then flew to the water pump and wet a rag, which she draped over the pot before ten seconds had passed. That was good. If card thistle syrup was left dry for more than half a minute, it would dry and loose all of its usefullness.

She repeated this process over and over, waiting for word from Shy as to when the tea finished.

Marissa nodded; perfect timing. She had just finished collecting the juice from the final thistle pod. Picking up the pot and swirling it around a few times so to even the consistency of the mixture, she carried it over to Leshya'e. "Please stir it while I pour," she instructed gently. Tipping the pot so that the liquid within it slid into the tea, she watched as her concoction turned steadily from pink to muddy brown. She thanked Leshya'e quietly and put the stove fire out.

Marissa surveyed the liquid, which had just begun to boil and was now calming. She knew is wasn't a pleasant medicine to take, and stuck her hands in her pockets in contemplation. Her fingers brushed something, and she smiled the tiniest bit. Bringing forth a sugarcube from her skirts, she dropped it into the tea. It fizzed and dissolved. It wouldn't help much, but it would do.

She transfered the mixture into a large mug she found in Oqaia's cabinets. "Give this to her," she told Leshya'e. In whisper-tones she added, "She won't want to take it- it's vile stuff. But it should help wonders- just make sure she drinks it all." She handed the cup to Shy.

[Shall we finish up? =3 If you have any more in mind, don't hesitate to go on. : )]

Marissa wiped her brow as she watched Anzeka obediently take her medicine. "Good job darling, it's icky but it should get you feeling better right away," she said with a smile. Pausing, the girl decided it was time to pack up her things. She put her jars and tools into her leather rucksack and heaved it over her shoulder.

"The fever should start going down in a few minutes...she might feel cold for a bit but that's just the ill running its course." She smiled to the wagon's inhabitants. "I'm glad I could be of assistance," she said, turning to leave.

"If I'm needed, you know where to find me. I should go wake Kale from his nap."