Willow

Willow woke from a nightmare with a start, breathing heavily against painful lungs and surveying the area around her. All was quiet. Those that had searched through the night or had come through early that morning were taking the opportunity to sleep, exhausted from the day's horrors. As she sat up and stretched, a group of men quietly entered the clearing, covered stretchers held between them. Willow looked away from the burnt remains of a hand, holding down stomach acid and bile.

Willow found Felix had curled up beside her, a little closer than just friends usually would. But as Willow stroked a lock of hair out of his face, it reminded her he was only fourteen. She had seen horrors in her twenty years, and it had left her a harder woman, a little less likely to allow others into her heart. As Bearer, Felix couldn't be like that though. Willow didn't believe any of this supposed future would happen and her own future still weighed heavily on her mind, but if some great miracle did happen and the Bearers succeeded, Felix would have to be open and caring with people.

But for now, he was a child and as he slept it was bleaker than ever. Forcing herself to her feet, Willow daintily stepped out, searching for food, and finding the embers of a fire, but no one was cooking. The bags of food were nearby. It wouldn't be enough to feed all who had made it out. Reaching into her pocket, Willow returned her possessions to their original size and pulled her unstrung bow and her rough quiver of arrows. She settled to restringing it, using a nearby tree for assistance.

She tested it a little before calling out to one of the men on watch, letting him know she was going hunting.

She watched the sunrise as she moved silently through the forest. She came across some birds and managed to shoot two before they scattered. Ensuring they had died, Willow shrunk them down and placed them in a bag slung over her shoulder. As she continued along the way she also foraged, finding some wild herbs and vegetables. She was genuinely surprised and overjoyed to find some Wasps Stripe, a rarer herb useful for mass healing. Willow grabbed as much as she could find.

Finally, she spotted some deer tracks, freshly made in the soft soil. Stalking them a short way, she took aim and fired before rushing over to the felled beast, quickly finishing the job. Now she ran into a dilemma. Even shrunk down, this doe would be too heavy for her to carry back to camp alone.

Luckily enough, a group of scouts happened upon her, and they helped get it back to the fire spot. Smiling at the guard, she asked, “Did any pots make it out?”

The man nodded, pointing at a bag near the burnt ashes.

Some of the kitchen workers had awoken by the time Willow returned, overjoyed when they caught sight of the bounty Willow had brought back. They set to work making quick work of the meat and setting up for a filling if not particularly tasty meal. Willow set about preparing the Wasp’s Stripe, being the only person with any knowledge of the herb.

She was interrupted only once, Felix flying into her person so roughly she was left sprawled on the ground.

“Don't just disappear like that!” Felix demanded, voice muffled.

Willow stroked his hair soothingly. “I wasn't far. In a couple hours we should have some stew. It won’t be the best, but it should fill some bellies.”

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Felix nodded, sitting back. Willow knew he was embarrassed by his outburst and so turned to other topics of discussion. The others, seeing the tension, hid private smiles and aided in making Felix feel more comfortable.

In the late morning, people woke, and methodically, Willow served every grey, emotionless soul. Word spread quickly, and soon there was a lengthy line waiting. Those waiting grew restless quickly, and it forced Willow to send Felix to keep everyone in line, the combination of exhaustion and hunger making people harsher and rougher tempered than usual.

Felix performed admirably, his status as Bearer coming in handy as he moved along the line, chatting, soothing and cajoling. Willow was proud of the progress he had made. When she had met him, he would never have been able to perform as well as he did now. His help allowed her to surreptitiously replicate the stew. If anyone noticed, no one said anything.

When Edward came by, having heard the gossip, he thanked her sincerely, perhaps the only one with the knowledge to guess what she was doing to feed so many. He looked on in concern, seeing her growing exhaustion, face pale and deep dark circles bruised under her eye, beneath her sanguine smile. Willow had nodded gratefully.

Finally, hours later, it seemed they had fed all, and she finally allowed the spell to recede back behind her shield and sat, cradling her own bowl of stew. The remaining stew in the pot faded away.

The rest of the day, Willow and Felix assisted those who needed it. The Wasp's Stripe had done its job, and many people wondered at the quick healing they were witnessing. Willow explained to several people, describing the plant to some so they could use it, if necessary, as well as the risks involved. Word had spread, and many thanked Willow for her thought.

Willow spent many hours seeing to the minor hurts. The Healers were flat out trying to keep up with the number of critically injured, so Willow had seen to those with more minor ailments. Things like the small burns most had could be left to themselves and regarded as a minor injury, but if left alone and untreated they often became infected. This was something Willow aimed to avoid at all costs and by the time evening approached Willow was tiring quickly.

It was growing late in the afternoon when a panicked shout went through the clearing and Willow rushed over to the incoming stretcher. The body was set gently behind a privacy screen and Willow froze upon getting her first proper look at the damage.

The left leg was completely mangled as was the left arm. Ribs had likely been crushed, possibly the hip too. Whoever this was an older woman. She forced herself into motion. Checking for pulse and was shocked to find a pulse still faintly beating below her fingers.

Screaming for Rose, Willow’s quickly pulled away to reach for the knockout solution.

“I’ll do my best,” Willow murmured. “See you when you wake up.” Willow felt a featherlight squeeze, the pale eyes meeting hers momentarily before the woman fell under.

Rose arrived and Willow ordered her to prepare herself. Quickly, she stepped outside and called for a soldier to fetch Jonathon.

When he arrived, Willow had the unfortunate task of explaining Agnes’ condition to the already shaken man. She left him with the messenger and re-entered the tent.

With a deep breath she began

#

Once completed, Willow was looking forward to bed, stumbling her way towards the sleeping area. Felix found her quickly and seeing her fatigue had clasped one of her hands to keep her steady. However, before she could reach her sleeping space, a messenger met her.

“Your presence is requested by the Leader for an Elder's meeting,” the messenger explained. He too had large burn marks, and a carefully wrapped bandage over one eye.

“Felix,” Willow turned to him. “You can come with me. Remain silent, however. Listen carefully. One day, you might lead such meetings.”

With that, they followed the messenger to the edge of the camp, away from curious ears.

Edward seemed a bit miffed she had brought Felix along, but Willow refused to be cowered and he remained silent. Willow nodded in approval; if he wanted the boy to be a leader, he needed to allow him to witness what leading entailed.

Before anyone else could speak, Willow ploughed ahead. She’d spent her day ruminating over the attack, the cause and the results and she had come to an unhappy but necessary conclusion.

“Felix and I must depart as soon as possible.”