The Venomous Angel

She is, I think, a good student. In the least she is studious and I find myself inclined to take pleasure from her company, a truly rare thing for myself. I am defensive of what is my own, especially those techniques of healing I hold no wish to share among others. Eden had learned quickly that I did not value others intruding upon my space, my fangs having found the shoulder of the little female whom had dared to interrupt my work and yet Little Samia I have decided may well be worth the effort if she continues to remain impressive in the fashion she has already displayed. I continued to watch her as she waded into the water, eyes of sunset and violet observing her motion as I requested she fill the turtle shell with salted water, nodding to my earlier explanation. After all, it can be hard for those of our profession, especially when young, to understand that there are many whom would harm rather then heal. She would learn in time, experience by far the best teacher, a shock sure to come to her the first time she truly saw a wolf after a battle with blood and fur and organ strewn about. Ever delightful.

She moved to do as asked, placing the shell back upon the bank, my own far longer limbs wading back towards her. Her size, it would seem, would be something of an issue. She would grow surely and yet she would never be large, I would have to see about having smaller supplies made up for her if she was truly destined to continue to pursue this most noble of art forms. She seemed suitable so far and yet this was decidedly too early to truly decide if she was worthy altogether. She turned back to myself as I approached, coming to stand beside her own as a simper of sorts traced my lips.

“You, Little Samia, have just created your first medicine. Simple isn’t it? What you have before is a foolproof cure for indigestion. Most healers will prescribe a concoction of grass, fresh water and rest for indigestion. Grass soothes the stomach and when eaten in large enough quantities will result in, well, throwing up and removing from the gut the source of the disturbance. In most cases that is probably fine- but in severe cases, emergency cases or when poisoning has occurred there is not time, young one, for you to have you patient eat a meadow full of grass in the hopes they will throw up the poison or bad food. Have them drink this. All of it. They will throw up in a matter of seconds I assure you. It is simple, easy and readily at your disposal. It will make them thirsty but do not allow them to drink fresh water right after- it disturbs the gut. After a short rest though, they may.”

It was a basic lesson, decidedly so and yet why not teach her how to do something within her capabilities to do? There was no use teaching her complicated concoctions if they were outside her skill set to create and use. One step at a time and this is a decent enough step.

“You may keep that turtle shell, I shall hunt for another. Do you have any questions about what I have just told you? The only stupid question is the one you don’t ask.”

What? It’s true. You’ve never learned anything if you didn’t ask. If she had no questions I would simply move on to the next lesson for tody.