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    wahmbulance Chapter #6 wahmbulance


    Unlike Crowprint, Snaketooth and Naia had to duck their heads to avoid getting their hair snagged into any thorns that were lurking somewhere in the archway. Naia’s feet were sore and her arms grew tired from supporting Bearprint on her back for so long, but Naia was determined to match Snaketooth’s speed. She wasn’t going to let her minor pain get in the way of the urgent medical care that Bearprint obviously needed.
    In a few heartbeats, Naia was out of the archway and into a sun-dappled clearing as big as an auditorium, filled with busy people. A woman and children who appeared no older than 5 years old, paused from their playing and eyed Naia with curiosity as she power walked by. Some men sitting around a rather large campfire, weaving something Naia could not see, stared suspiciously and muttered urgently at each other. Though she tried to pay them no mind, Naia could feel their eyes burning into her back despite carrying Bearprint. I know I’m a foreigner but you all don’t have to stare my down like this!
    Snaketooth lead Naia down through another tunnel; this one with less thorns. A quick rush of air blown past and, a sickeningly sweet smell of mixed herbs and medicines wafted in Naia’s nose. They emerged into a relatively dim chamber which was nearly as large as a master bedroom. The walls and shelves were made out of a kind of soft cream colored clay.
    “Go lay Bearprint on that bed over there. I’ll be with him shortly.” Snaketooth hastily replied before disappearing behind a curtain of lichen.
    Naia sat on one of the six beds and eased Bearprint gently off. Relaxing on the bed reminded Naia how exhausted she was from today’s ordeal. And when she ran her hand across the cover, she realized the spread and the pillows were made entirely out of brown bear fur. It felt delicate and smooth to the touch.
    Crowprint seemed to agree for he flopped down on the bed next to Bearprint. “Sure feels good to be back in bed, doesn’t it Bearprint?” Crowprint let out a mighty sigh. “How are you feeling? Does your eye hurt?”
    “I should be the one asking him that.” Snaketooth reappeared with some bandages and a handful of herbs Naia couldn’t identify. She and Crowprint retreated from the bed so that the mage can work more efficiently around his patent. “Are you in any pain at all?
    “Not sure.” Bearprint replied. “My whole body went numb a while ago. I can’t feel a thing anymore…Am I going to be alright?”
    “Nothing some comfrey and bandages won’t do. You’ll get better in due time.”

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    Naia watched Snaketooth work in silence from a nearby bed. After a brief inspection from the mage, Crowprint had already left to return to his ‘apprentice duties’, whatever those were. She thought about exiting the chamber and explores Kokiri Tribe’s camp but, the thought of all those mistrusting eyes of the tribesmen crushing down on her, convinced her otherwise.
    The mage gave Bearprint some black seeds he calls, Poppy seeds, to eat and in moments he fell asleep. He then asked Naia to retrieved some plants with large leaves and small bell-shaped purple flowers of the second top shelf off the far wall, which Naia was soon informed was ‘Comfrey’. He then crushed the fat black roots of the plant in a stone bowl with wooden cork into a poultice before spreading over the wounds and bandaging the boy up.
    Now finished with his task, Snaketooth turned to Naia. “I believe this band over Bearprint’s missing eye belongs to you, is it not?”
    Naia was somewhat slow to react to this. “I didn’t think it was a good idea for it to be left open like that.”
    “It might have become infected if you hadn’t. Those it bothers you that it’s in his possessions?”
    “It’s fine by me!” Naia hastily replied. “I was just using it to hold up my pants.” She peered at Bearprint, sleeping peacefully and couldn’t suppress a giggle. “He kind of looks like a pirate with it on though!”
    “Pardon?”
    “A pirate? Terror of the sea?” Snaketooth seemed even more confused than he had originally been. “You know…sails the great blue on a giant ship?”
    “…I still don’t understand.”
    I can tell. Naia felt silly trying to explain something as childish as pirates to a grown man. She later decides to drop the subject all together.

    “You are not from around this land.” Snaketooth concluded. “After all of the outsiders I have met many before you, only one person matches the clothes similar to yours. You must have gone beyond the Great Oak.” Beyond the Great Oak…
    “…! Oh! You must mean the Underwood Tree-that’s what me and my folk’s calls it back home.” This could be Naia’s chance to finally get home. “Can you tell me how much you know? How do I get back…”
    Naia trailed off as Hawkeye marched into the chamber but, someone else walking behind him. “Hawkeye tells me that there is a spy in our midst and that you let her in, will you care to explain Snaketooth?”