[PRP] Healing Hooves (Regelus and Miriel)

[Cajmera]

Regelus stood in the middle of the river, an immovable object in the face of an unstoppable force. Although at first glance he appeared serene and at rest, closer inspection would show that he was actually straining to stay standing as still as he was. The river swirled around him, the water only a few inches below his stomach, and it swept inexorably towards the cliff's edge only a few meters away. The crashing call of the waterfall was loud, but not unpleasant, and it provided an appropriate soundtrack to the ancient struggle of beast versus nature. Regelus considered this waterfall his own personal haven and came here often to meditate, either by standing along the bank or on one of the many large boulders in the river. On those occasions, he often shifted into his human form; but today he was feeling a call of body as well as spirit. Consequently, he had taken his meditations into the river itself, a place where his small, slight human form would have no chance.

Though to be honest, he didn't know what it was he hoped to achieve today. His meditations, usually so calm and serene, were chaotic and turbulent today, as active as the waters in which he stood. He couldn't seem to reach his place of mental contentment, and that troubled him. Usually, whether or not he had felt a pull to a purpose, he could find peace and calmness in his meditations. He knew that he needed to be in the water, but nothing seemed to be coming to him now that he was there...

"Oww!" He yelped, more from surprise than pain, when a sharply point branch caught up in the current smashed into the back of his leg. It hadn't been a large branch, but as he shifted and it swept past him towards the falls, he could see that the end sported some blood. Apparently, it had been just the right size...how unfortunate.

With a sigh, Regelus turned and hauled himself out of the water. Whatever the river had been supposed to bring him, it appeared that today it had chosen to bring him a wound. How thrilling.

musicaloner7

 

[musicaloner7]

For the small filly, today was one of harvesting and concocting. The day prior was filled with weeding and tending to the two little gardens she'd managed to create from the wildflowers and other vegetation that grew in the rich mountainside that was her home. With that tended to, and taken care of, she simply had to let mother nature work the rest. The scent of rain was rather heavy in the air, and gave promise for a shower that would saturate the soil and provided the necessary aid in the gardens' growth.

Trotting about the vast lands, mostly the wooded area's, a pouch hung around Miri's neck, bouncing against her chest as she perused about the territory. Inside were already a few gathered flora stuffed safely away, a few leaves and stems peeking their heads out at the top. Pale blue eyes were attentive, alert, and constantly scanning her surroundings for anything that might be of use. From time to time she would even give pause to flare her nostrils and sniff at a collection of flowers or shrubs, only to snort and continue on her way. Today she was mainly focused on what resided near the waterfall. Very interesting plants grew there, that relied on the consistent flow of the precious water to thrive. That also meant many plants useful in the realm of healing.

Her transparent gathering of wings were folded neatly on her back as she headed on towards the inviting trickle of the never ending water source, only to twitch and lift slightly when a... strange scent caught on the tails of a passing breeze, making her go rigid, and instantly raise her head high to wuff the air.

Someone new was here...

Ears folding back slightly, she hesitantly followed the trail that was set out for her. But her body jumped as a sudden cry gave way to the air, wings fluffing briskly, and fluttering with alarm, before tightening onto her back again. What was that? picking up her pace a little, the foal finally arrived at the scene, halting abruptly when she spotted the adult male. Staring at him intently, unblinking, she took in his various features, gathering some initial information just based on appearances, and then swiftly to the injury that was able to make itself known by the lace of blood tainting the air. It was almost hard to notice, granted the stallion had a red pelt, but it was darker and stained thicker than the water that was also clinging to him.

Pressing her lips, she advanced before him boldly, staring right at his leg, and giving no acknowledgement to him otherwise. Lowering her head, she sniffed at the open wound, before pursing her lips in assessment. It didn't look too bad. Just would need some cleaning and applying of some salve.

But a more thorough explanation was required in order to make sure this was true. Finally looking up at him, her head having to crane to even meet his eyes, she gave him a flat expression, "What happened?" she asked plainly enough.

Cajmera

 

[Cajmera]

Regelus had been studying his wound with dispassionate detachment, wondering what the best course of treatment would be. It wasn't a terribly deep wound, but it had sliced rather cleanly and was still dribbling blood. It was a pity that it was on the back of his leg; such an area was awkward to reach, even if he was naturally healing type. Which, of course, he wasn't.

The roiling tumult of the river and the waterfall provided more than enough background noise to disguise incoming Soquili. Indeed, it could be argued that the river was loud enough to disguise the onset of an incoming meteor, let alone an incoming Soquili. The noise, combined with his preoccupation, meant that he didn't notice the arrival of the filly until she had marched right up to him, not only staring at him, but smelling at his leg! No, not his leg, he noted, but his wound.

Regelus was fascinated. He didn't have much in the way of dealings with foals; foals were naturally in such a state of mental and physical flux that Regelus felt them beyond need of his help. It was when they had grown and settled into their life patterns that he could truly be useful to them, and he had never considered that they would ever be useful to him. On the rare occasions when he'd come across foals in the past, they had all behaved similarly; timid, fearful, keeping a wide, respectful distance and trying not to be caught staring.

Not so this little filly. In fact, he couldn't recall ever having a Soquili, regardless of age, gender, or species, approach him so directly and fearlessly. He was intrigued, and allowed her her inspection and focus without so much as waving a wing to deter her. Instead, he watched her, noting her focus and the quick way she seemed to be making up her mind. He didn't know how knowledgeable she actually was, but she certainly acted the part.

When she asked her question, he responded in his usual level tone, not indicating even the least bit of surprise at her appearance, examination, or question. "I was standing in the river and a sharp branch or twig was swept into my leg. It doesn't hurt too badly, but it looks like it was a good nick. As you can see, it's in an awkward spot for me to reach."

musicaloner7

 

[musicaloner7]

There was a faint wrinkling to the young face's brows, when the explanation was finally given. Figures. Just as she'd suspected. With a soft snort, the filly gave a sudden turn of her attention and trotted on over to the running water that was nearby. Dipping her neck down, she gave a few deep gulps of the cool, refreshing liquid, before raising her neck back up and returning to the adult promptly.

Wasting no time, she leaned out her neck and let the water release to run down his leg, and over the clear cut. With the mix of both the enzymes from her saliva and the cleansing of the water, it'd surely assist with the healing process. Once enough was disposed of for her liking, swallowing the remaining, she looked back up to the large angei, expression still as flat as ever, "Come." she instructed, turning again to trot further away from their meeting place, and more into the wooded area. But she did stop abruptly to look over her shoulder, "Carefully." she tacked on, not wanting him to further irritate the wound he possessed.

Her bright blue eyes combed along the ground fervently, clearly in search for something, pausing from time to time to nose into the satchel around her neck, and give a soft snort once accessing her collected vegetation. The searching came to an end when, from the corner of her eye, a petite white flower was spied nestled under some overgrown ferns. Lowering down to carefully pick them out, their stems lush and abundant, she calmly waited for her patient to make his way to her, and give a final instruction, "Lay."

Cajmera

trying to get back into gaia. let's see if it works.

 

[Cajmera]

If there was anyone watching this interaction, they surely would have found much with which to be amused. Regelus was no small Angeni, and he easily towered above the filly. However, the filly showed no fear or concern, and seemed at home ordering the large stallion about. Even more amusingly, Reg continued to let her do as she would, waiting as she made her way to the river and standing still as she spit on his wound. At her command, he merely nodding his head and followed after her, making no comment at the imperiousness of her orders or her tone other than a small smile.

He wasn't sure what they were looking for, but it soon became apparent that the filly did. She was picking a bunch of small white flowers as he approached, him noting the care with which she collected each blossom. He was amused at how gentle she was being with the flowers and how abrupt she was being with him; however, he wasn't about to argue with one so at peace with her place in the world. Besides, in spite of her commanding personality, he felt nothing to make him feel any fear or apprehension on this small female.

So he carefully settled himself down onto the forest floor, stretching out the leg to give her easier acess to the wound. "Is this sufficient, or do you need me some other way?" Might as well be as accomodating as possible, given the circumstances!

musicaloner7

 

[musicaloner7]

Cajmera

She stood very still, and very patient, the only thing moving were her eyes that gave sharp blinks over half lidded eyes from time to time. Once he got himself comfortable, she made her approach, and trotted briefly around him, nosing idly at a few area's where his lovely red fur was ruffled, or aiming against the grain, or just rebelling and sticking straight up! once she made it to his front again, she gave a little nod of acceptance.

"Yes. This is fine." she stated clearly, and in her usual straight forward tone.

Looking back down at his wound, she tipped her head this way and that, the sunlight trickling in behind her to shoot its beam at specific angles when ever her head switched to a different side or position. When she suddenly stopped, she turned back to lower her head and gather up a bunch of the flowers she'd harvested. Carefully, she chewed them in one cheek, the skin bulging and fur atop of it shining lightly as she ground the herbs. Once they were to her liking, consistency wise, holding a very nice viscous state, she turned back to the injured adult. Staring at the wound for a moment once more, she lowered her head and began to lay the mixture of spit and herbs onto his cut, letting the green conceal what was once irritated and fleshy in colour. When it was thoroughly coated, her head lifted again, and she gave a soft snort, "Don't move." she added in. The mixture would need to settle and get absorbed. "Should help." she... 'explained'.

Making direct eye contact with him, she leaned in rather close for a further inspection, "Any more?" bright blues already starting to dart around his face, ears, mane, neck, chest, and the rest of him that her view could reach.  

[Cajmera]

The more he watched the little filly, the more impressed Regelus became. Sure, she was not the most soothing of temper, and thus far he didn't think she would be getting any points as far as bedside manner went. However, he had never been the type who needed or wanted his hand held. She might not be warm and fluffy, but he found her confidence and straight-forwardness refreshing and pleasant. Indeed, given the choice Regelus would prefer that any healer helping him be like this little filly; too much fluffiness could have the opposite effect of the one desired. If a healer was all bedside manner and lacked confidence, then why would Regelus be comfortable having them heal him?

So he strongly approved of the little filly, wondering as she went about her examination just what her story was. Given her youth, he would guess that she had been born in the Kawani lands. From her horn, he believed her to be some sort of Angeni hybrid, which meant she wouldn't be aligned with any specific spirit or have any 'special powers' as so many pure blooded Angeni did. However, he would never disparage the healing power of a unicorn; in their own way, unicorns were every bit as powerful as Angeni.

Perhaps her Angeni parent was an Angeni of healing, or medicine, or medicinal herbs? He could see such an Angeni feeling an attraction to a unicorn; their shared healing bond would be a powerful connection. For his own part, Regelus was content to be alone; he did not begrudge any mated Angeni their happiness, but he could not see himself ever treading down that path. He was just too...

Regelus broke his thoughts off abruptly as the filly applied the green paste to his leg. He wasn't going to lie; it was a weird sensation. However, he had confidence that it would work; the sludge was certainly doing a good job of concealing the wound, and would probably stop the blood flow. Finishing his inspection, he shook his head in response to the filly's question. "Nope, that was the only one. I'm not usually easy to injure," he said with a slight smile as he extended one silver-encrusted leg. Not only were his ornaments visually striking, they could also be very protective!

"So, what do I need to do as far as this wound goes? Leave the paste on until it dries up and falls off? Should I avoid water? If so, for how long? And are there any other special instructions I should know?" He might as well get the facts of the matter straight from the horse's mouth; having never sported this...paste before, he wanted to be sure he didn't do anything to compromise its effectiveness.

musicaloner7

 

[musicaloner7]

Cajmera

*sneaks in a late reply* 8x

Her eyes were back to focusing on the mixed substance she'd laid on his injury, insuring that it was doing its job and staying where it needed to. Thankfully, the fur around the wound would keep it from trickling off too much. And it was going to dry pretty fast. Another curt nod was given in acknowledgement to the males shape other than the treated area, turning back to start gathering up her plants again, stuffing them back into the pouch around her neck with care. Nosing them a few times to align properly, her attention was fully back on her patient, and his questions.

Staring right into his eyes with that blank stare, she nodded straight away at his first suggestion for how to treat his wound, "Yes. It will dry and fall. Don't step in any water. Don't scratch it. Don't eat it. Don't bump it against anything." she rattled off the list, pausing as though to ponder anything more... her head even tilting slightly in a mulling sort of fashion, before looking directly back at the stallion. "Be more careful next time." she concluded with.  

[Cajmera]

At the latest brusque nod, Regelus allowed himself a small chuckle. He'd never been one given to much emotion; excessive displays could be counterproductive, or even harmful, in his area of expertise. Sympathy, and a sympathetic ear, had been good enough for him over the years, and he'd done well keeping a calm demeanor and a straight face. But this was something new and different; in this situation, he was the one being assisted, not the one providing assistance. As he saw it, there was no reason for him to be so guarded, not when working with one so obviously focused.

He was pleased, if a small bit surprised, when the filly actually gave him a proper answer. As she listed off each 'don't', he nodded his acknowledgement before ending with another chuckle at 'be more careful next time.' Ah, if only staying free of injury was always that easy! Still, he gave the filly one more nod, replying solemnly, "I'll do my utmost to prevent this from happening again. It was fortunate for me to have you around to assist in this situation; the next time something happens, I might not be so fortunate."

And, truth be told, medicine and first aid were not his strong suit. His embellished silver ornaments usually served as a form of armor against certain types of damage, but there was only so much they could do! "I thank you for your help, Little One."

musicaloner7

Sorry; fritzy muses this month @@