The Blind Healing the Blinded

[Kai]

Continued From: Your Job is Not to Question Why....[/b][/size]

"Stay still, stay still!" said a voice, gentle but insistent. An old lioness was examining the paw of a young male.

"Does it look infected?" He immediately cringed at his choice of words, but the old lioness only chuckled. Her eyes were milky white, but unlike the young male's it was because she was blind, as evidence by the scars criss-crossed over her eyes.

"Well, I can't tell you that. But it does smell infected, dear."

Mahiri is going to kill me if this interferes with training! he thought, alarmed.

"How long have you been ignoring it?"

"I have not..." He protested.

"It doesn't get like that in a day, and you've been walking on that paw. Don't try to pull the pelt over my eyes, it's not going to make any difference." She smiled. "Now hold this here for me, I think I will soon have more work to do." She tried to put a poultice on his paw, but he was fidgeting, not eager to stick around to see who was coming. "I will twist your tail if you don't sit still, young lion."

[Narifia]

"Yes, Hamali, please do sit still for Masikitiko."

The icy, stern words had come from Mahiri, who was now standing directly behind her younger brother and the old, blind healer. She stood rigidly, covered in fast-drying blood as fresh blood continued to leak out of her numerous wounds. There were some nasty claw-marks on her back, a deep and worrisome gash ripped through her flank, and numerous scratches and cuts on her paws and legs--some with sharp thorns still lodged and protruding. She looked like the walking dead, and it only made her all the more fearsome as she glared at Hamali's back.

Byron padded up just a moment later, his face covered in blood from a powerful paw-swipe, and his throat still dripping painfully with blood from a vicious bite. They had one another's blood on them, and it was obvious from their scent that they had been in a terrible brawl.

Byron growled at the sight of Hamali and spat at him, ready to throw out a barrage of insults when Mahiri turned and silenced him with a terrible snarl and a bite to the ear. He ripped away, hackles raised, and snarled a warning to Mahiri but otherwise backed down. As much as he wanted to rip her apart right now, it was obvious that he was still shaken by the ferocity with which she had fought back earlier. He would never admit it openly, but he wasn't quite confident enough to have another go at her right now.

[Kai]

Hamali's blood froze as he heard a familiar voice from behind him.

Could this get any worse? He thought to himself before he turned around to see Byron itching to run his mouth off, Tunza not far behind them, and both his sister and Byron covered in a staggering amount of blood.

Tunza had decided he didn't feel like facing his mother's anger and disspointment much more today, so he had followed behind Mahiri and Byron. He also loved to visit Masi, they got along very well due to their shared gentle nature and love of cubs. He was no less unhappy to see Hamali than his brother was, but he was much less vocal about his feelings although the scorn was evident in his gaze.

Hamali was seriously on edge now. He tried to position himself so Masi could work but his back wasn't turned to them. He silently begged her to work faster.

"My word, I can smell rivers worth of blood on both of you. No matter how much hostility you have towards eachother, I want no more fighting here or I will get involved." Despite her age and apparent frailty, her voice had an authoritive edge that was hard to ignore.

Tunza readily listened. He knew that despite how ludicrous it may seem, it was not an empty threat. Others tended to seriously underestimate Masi and she could make good on her words when she needed to.

Inwardly Masi sighed. This anger, this blood, this hatred, these wounds... all for the sake of murdering Kivuli. She wanted so badly to tell them the truth, but she was a single voice in a sea of many. They had been raised since they had been born to hate him. What good was the word of some old, decrepit healer? It saddened her so deeply, especially because Hamali, Mahiri and Nyota were grandcubs to her.

[Narifia]

"Yes, Masikitiko," Mahiri said respectfully, her tone taking on an unlikely softness as she regarded the elderly healer. Mahiri was fond of Masi, although she rarely spent enough time with her to really be able to consider her a friend. Mahiri knew her well enough though to know that her authority and wisdom was sacred within the pride, and that she was a figure to be respected above all others; save for the King and Zengea.

Mahiri stood by and waited patiently for Masi to finish her work on Hamali. Silently, she glared at her brother chidingly; she had overheard enough of their conversation in the distance on the way here to know that he had been hiding an injury from her. To what extent the injury affected Hamali, she was yet to know, however she stood in silent observation in order to find an answer to that very question. She would not bother Masikitiko with such interrogations over her brother's condition; the old medicine lion had far more to worry about than tattling on Mahiri's little brother.

Byron let out a growl of a response to Masi and slunk off a good ways from Mahiri. He sat down and made himself comfortable, as no doubt he was not only going to have to wait for Mahiri, but the pride reject as well before he could even have his wounds tended to. His tongue flicked out absently and he licked up a droplet of blood that had been inching its way down his cheek. He flicked his tail, motioning for Tunza to come and sit beside him.

[Kai]

Tunza moved to sit beside his brother, still occasionally glaring at Hamali. Look at him wasting Masikitiko's time with his petty scratches while my brother and his sister sit and bleed. He snorted.

"There. Keep that on for a few minutes. It should help draw out the infection. I want you back here in a couple of days so I can check on the wound, and we'll see if you need a new one." Masi wanted to inquire why he had this injury to begin with. It was definetly a bite wound. But she didn't have time to pry right now, not with others waiting with more serious injuries. He was probably being bullied by another pride member, or multiple ones. It was a matter she would have to attend to later. Questioning him in front of the other pride members woudl probably not help him anyway. "Now move aside while you wait, will you dear?"

Hamali sat to the side with the poultice on his paw to wait, feeling desperate to get away from the hostile gazes set upon him.

Masi heard Byron growl and move away. Who was she to argue if he was going to let Mahiri go first? Especially with that attitude.

"You can come next, Mahiri."

[Narifia]

Mahiri nodded respectfully and moved forward a few paces to face Masikitiko. She turned slightly so that her gashed side was readily available for the medicine lion to examine. Blood continued to drizzle from the large wound.

"This one is the worst one, Masikitiko. All of the others are negligible," she said calmly and dismissively.

Mahiri, disciplined (or stubborn) as ever, kept standing in as dignified a position as possible. Her expression betrayed no indication of the great pain she was in, although the proud lioness was beginning to feel somewhat lightheaded from the great loss of blood she'd endured. She swayed, ever so slightly, from the effort of keeping herself standing erect. As she inwardly struggled to maintain composure, she kept her icy and scrutinizing gaze fixed on her younger brother.

Byron grunted a halfhearted greeting to Tunza, but said nothing more. When Byron was in this kind of a mood, he was anything but a conversationalist. He proceeded to ignore the presence of Mahiri and Hamali as he nonchalantly began to groom himself, licking a paw and washing his face clean of the blood that still trickled down it. He growled quietly with the effort of moving his head, which was putting strain on his deep neck wound. Finally he gave up and just lay down, resting his head on his paws as he continued to ignore everyone. Thus, when Mahiri swayed, he didn't notice the very slight betrayal of weakness.

[Kai]

Tunza was slightly confused. Didn't his brother just call him over? Now he was ignoring him. Oh well, it was a pretty rough fight. He just hoped Byron wasn't mad at him for the participating in Mahiri's tactic for the game.

I was supposed to try my best right? Thats what everyone wants, for me to be better at training, to be a better fighter, isn't it? How could he be mad about it? Then again... He paused, thinking back to the look in Byron's eyes when he began chasing him. he looked like he was really out for my blood there. And he was definitely out for Mahiri's. He sighed inwardly. Why did Byron and Mahiri have to dislike eachother so much? He loved them both, so having them fight like this was... problematic. He couldn't choose a side.

It would probably be easier without that stupid Hamali. He thought suddenly, gazing in Hamali's direction. If she didn't have the bad-blooded brother, maybe Byron would hate her less. His life must be so easy. No training, no pressure, nobody expects him to be a fighter. He must just laze around all day. The more he thought, the angrier her felt. He tried to put these thoughts out of his mind, simply sitting near Byron silently.

"Almost finished." Masi said after a while, Hamali still shifting nervously beside her. "This will help it heal quickly, but you need to keep an eye on it. An infection in a wound like this would be quite dangerous. If it starts to smell, come to me immediately. Hamali, you can take the poultice off now." She said, sensing his eagerness to be gone. "...And done. Try to keep it clean, and try to take it easy for a few days at least." The old lioness suggested.

[Narifia]

Byron, his head still on his paws, cast a sidelong glance to Tunza. Keeping his voice low, he said, "You know Tunz, about earlier... you did pretty well. Considering you were following that cheater's orders, I mean."

Despite all that had happened, he was actually rather proud of his brother. 'Finally he's starting to act like a real male; there might be hope for him after all,' he thought with satisfaction.

Mahiri nodded politely to Masikitiko, knowing full well how vital it was to take her recommendations seriously. "Thank you, Masikitiko. I will take care to do just as you say."

The militant lioness turned gingerly--taking care not to aggravate her wounds any further--and glared at her retreating younger brother, but said nothing more. She would have plenty of time to correct his disobedient behavior later. Plenty of time.

[Kai]

Hamali scampered away quickly. Although he knew he was going to have to face his sister's anger very soon, now was not the time.

Byron's voice snapped Tunza out of his hateful glaring. When he realized his brother was praising him, he smiled a little. He didn't like the last part of that, but he decided this would not be the best time to start an argument about his accusatory words.
"Thanks, Byron."
He was happy he seemed to be doing things right for once, at least. He really did want to make his brother and mother proud and earn their approval. It was just hard.

"I think it's your turn with Masikitiko." Tunza told Byron. "Be polite to her, okay?" he whispered. "Remember they say the healer gains the knowledge of the poultice and the poison."

He said, quoting an old saying they were taught as cubs. By learning what can heal you, a Pride Healer also knew very well what could harm you. Or, if they were so inclined they could just slip you something to give you the runs.

Masi is an exceptionally patient lioness, so the chances of her slipping something to Byron are low. he thought to himself. He really just wanted to make things easier for the old healer any way he could, and this was the only tactic he could think of right now that might change his brother's attitude toward her a little.

[Narifia]

Mahiri, holding her head high despite the pain and severity of her injuries, began to head towards her den nestled in the undergrowth not far from here. It was a simple den, dug out of the undergrowth much like the same dens most of the pride occupied. Knowing it was in her best interest to rest right now, she resigned herself to sleeping for the rest of the day as she reached her den. She settled herself down in it, rested her head on her paws, and closed her eyes. It didn't take but a minute for her to fall fast asleep, somewhat lulled by whatever poultice the wise old healer had patched her up with.

As Mahiri departed, Byron got up and stretched his legs. He winced at the pain in his still-bleeding throat, and replied somewhat haughtily to his brother, "Ah, that old hag won't do anything. I'd be more afraid of what a mouse could do to me than anything ol' Masi could do."

With that said, he padded back towards Masikitiko and asked cheekily, "I suppose it's my turn now, eh Masi?" By now, his temper had apparently cooled off. He sat in front of her, lifting his head so that she could examine him. "Little wench did a number on my throat. Using unfair tactics to catch me by surprise, mind you," he added the last part hastily, not wanting the old healer to get the impression that he was any less skilled than Mahiri. "I don't know why old Bashiri insists on mother training her. If she can't win a fight with real skills, she'll never be of any use to any of us."

[Kai]

Tunza shook his head. Even Masi could only deal with so much, and he was pretty sure her keen hearing had caught that "old hag" bit. Why did his brother insist on being so disrespectful. especially to someone who was helping him?

"King Hadhi values Bashiri's ability to interpret the signs and omens that may tell us something of use for the future." Masi said simply, keeping a polite smile on her muzzle. She didn't agree with her sister most of the time and she despised the way she had treated Kivi and now treated his son, but Hadhi absolutely trusted her word.

"And she has been right before." Masi added grudgingly as she was examining her patient. "And seeing as Mahiri has held her own against you in the past, it seems so far she hasn't been proven wrong about Mahiri's abilities." She couldn't help but add that subtle jab.

Before he could some of with some snarky retort she put some herbs in front of Byron. "Eat these while I put the poultice on. It helps for infection and pain."

Masi was telling the truth, that was the purpose of those herbs, but she had chosen the worst tasting kind she could find. As she worked, she appeared to be examining his whole body for more minor wounds, but she was preparing a little surprised for Byron.

[Narifia]

Byron bristled at Masikitiko's comment about Mahiri, but before he could respond she had already given him some herbs. Hearing that they would help with the pain, he suppressed a sneer and bent down to eat the herbs. As he greedily snatched them up in his jaws he discovered their foul taste and immediately spat them back out.

"Great Nyambi, those are rancid! Don't you have anything that won't make me vomit!?" he snapped, giving the old medicine lion a thoroughly disgusted look.

While Byron didn't exactly mean to be so disrespectful, he also wasn't watching his tone or what he was saying in the least. He was like a spoiled cub who had yet to learn anything about politeness or respecting others, especially his elders. Oh sure, he respected authority like his mother or King Hadhi, but he didn't categorize Masi in quite the same group as he did them.

[Kai]

"The best medicine is bitter to the tongue, they say." said the old lioness sagely. When she was finished looking over Byron, she smiled politely and said "You can go now. Better finish those herbs. You won't be winning any battles if your wounds get infected."

Tunza was glad they were finished. He was hoping they could leave without any more rude comments from Byron, but he seriously doubted he could resist a few more. The brown lion began to walk away, hoping Byron might be dissuaded from talking more because he was following Tunza out.
"Well, let's go." He urged his brother.

[Narifia]

Byron grumbled and sneered at the foul-tasting, half spit-out herbs he still hadn't finished that lay on the ground at his paws. With a disgusted sigh he bent down and quickly lapped the rest of them up, swallowing them as quickly as he could so he wouldn't have to taste them for very long. He gagged a bit and rubbed his mouth with a paw as a little drool slipped over his lips. He knew the old healer was right of course, but it still didn't make the herbs any more pleasant.

He shuddered a little at the unpleasant aftertaste still left in his mouth, snorted a bit, and rose to his feet to stalk off without even so much as a thank you to Masikitiko. He grunted in reply to his brother and followed, his mood increasingly deteriorating with every uncomfortable step he took... in fact, his fur was starting to feel a bit as if it were crawling. An itchy sting on one foreleg prompted him to growl and raise it to his mouth to chew on it in an attempt to get the itching to stop. When that itch was taken care of, another cropped up on his flank. He stopped and snarled as he whipped his head around to bite at it... and then he felt another itchy sting on the back of his neck that creeped slowly down his entire back.

With an outraged roar he flipped over, flopping around on the ground as if in a fit, trying in vain to stop the incessant itching! It was quite an amusing sight to behold, but Byron was confused and furious. It hadn't quite dawned on him that it was Masi's doing--the poor brute was far too preoccupied with trying to get the itching to stop to think that far!