It was a good thing that I was without a travel companion; I was certain they would have bashed my skull in by now with the amount of complaining leaving my mouth.

Ever since falling into that dark hole that led down to those underground caves, my front left leg had grown stiff and was typically swollen so badly I could barely even walk on it. Some days, I tried to tough it out and either hop along on three legs or drag it behind me, but that usually just made it worse. I knew better than to do such foolish things, but what else was I supposed to do? Just stand around and hope somebody came to my rescue?

Well, whether I was standing or almost literally dragging myself across Helovia, nobody ever did come to sweep me off my feet. I was just glad those horrible wraiths were gone, at least to my knowledge, and none had ever advanced upon me.

In an attempt to better my mobility, I had searched not very far and not terribly wide for some poor, deceased creature, following the most putrid of scents in hopes of finding something. Eventually my searching had brought me upon a recently deceased doe, her corpse already touched by the teeth of predators and the elements of mother nature. It had been a grisly sight that made me want to lose my lunch at once, but thankfully as an equine I simply couldn't do that, and with great concentration I had used what remained of the body to craft a splint reached from knee to fetlock. The support that it provided was enough to allow for a steady pace, at least for a little while, and minimal trotting.

"Why couldn't I be born a flesh crafter?" I mused aloud to myself as I walked, winding through tree after tree and nearly bursting into tears every time I knocked the leg against a too-big rock or a rotting tree covered in moss and grass. "Or... something," I added with a mighty huff as I overcame yet another maze of downed trees, and as all four feet found purchase on clear, level ground, I came to a halt and pressed my right shoulder into a hefty redwood, shifting the brunt of my weight into it and lifting the injured limb in an attempt to alleviate the throbbing pain.

For a while I would stand there, merely to catch my breath and wish away the pain that had plagued me for more than half a year. I knew that I couldn't stay all day, however, as this forest was thick and ungodly deep, and I couldn't fathom just how utterly frightening it must be at night time. Just a few minutes, that was all I needed... and then, I would be off to anywhere but here.

@[Kiara]

"talk"
F I N N
to coax the darkness into light

An ear flickers as it tunes in to something just ahead of me, and as unfamiliar as I was with these woods, I straightened where I stood and turned my head ever so slightly so that I may have a better view. For a moment I saw nothing, only heard someone or something approaching, but just as my heart began to beat against my chest like a drum and will me to turn and get away, another equine appeared. Relief washed over me, especially when I noticed that this spotted stranger was no lumbering giant like the rest I had met so far; we were the same size!

Excitement sparked in my warm brown eyes and I took a step closer, regretting the action almost immediately and surely making a fool of myself as I hissed and lifted the injured leg up off the ground. "Aaah..." I breathed out as the appendage stung and throbbed in protest of any further movement. Carefully lowering it back down so as the tip of the hoof was only barely touching the ground, I looked back to the mare as she introduced herself as Kiara, medic of a place I've never heard of. At her side is a still smaller, younger version of herself, except this one sports a horn and exclaims as to what the contraption is around my leg.

A smile slowly pulls across my face; oh, how I adore children.

The spectacle set before me of the colt drawing back and looking to his mother in a worrisome fashion is heart-warming, and he quickly rights his maybe-wrong and introduces himself as Adelric. "And I am Finn," I say in reply with head dipping down briefly in a sort of bow, remembering this time to actually introduce myself before parting ways with my company like when I had met Midas way back when. My eyes shift to Kiara then, that smile slipping only slightly as I speak next. "I do suppose I could use a spot of help... I made an act of sheer folly falling into this hole some time ago, that led into this rather strange cave. Cut myself up pretty bad."

Then, I look to Adelric, my smile quirking back to life as I could finally address the young lad's question. "So I made this," I say, tucking my chin to motion at the splint encasing my swollen left front leg, "'Tis a boot that's supposed to brace and strengthen the leg. On most days, it works pretty well, but... Only when I've not walked far." And by God had I been walking far lately.

My eyes shift back once again to Kiara, thankful that I can look upon her without tilting my head completely back and gazing at her neck more than anything. "You said you're a medic, aye, Kiara? Do you think you could take a gander at it? Perhaps I could repay you and little Adelric."

"talk"
F I N N
to coax the darkness into light

Where I had come from, magic was a rare thing indeed, and those who did have it were often gifted with the art of craft, much like I had been. Oh, sure, we had healers, but everything had been based off the healing properties of herbs rather than magic. The concept was difficult to grasp; how did it work? Was it permanent? What all exactly could it fix? Everything?

Within a few moments, I was given at least one of my answers as the spotted mare allowed her eyes to fall shut, looking as though she was trying to focus. I remained quiet, not wanting to break her concentration, and watched with wonder and amazement as vines and water sprung from beneath my left front leg, wrapping around and constricting it. Instinct told me to jerk away and high-tail it out of there, but this lass was here to help me, I reminded myself, and I'd not make a complete fool of myself if I could help it, nor make her work even more difficult.

It felt good, I realized, as the magic seeped through the skin, soaking into the scars and seemingly sucking the ache and lasting pain right out of the limb. I exhaled a heavy breath, like a work horse who had just had his load taken from his back, relief flooding through my very core.

Soon, the earthly fingers of her magic faded and let loose of my leg, and it was only when Kiara asked of its well-being that I shook myself from my contented state and looked down to inspect the limb. No longer was it swollen, and though there's still a small scar running down the front of the cannon, it didn't throb, it didn't ache, it didn't hurt. It didn't hurt! "Wow-ee, Kiara!" Comes my exclamation as I drop the leg to the ground, moving it about and stamping the hoof against the ground to assure that it really was alright, and it was. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! How could I ever repay you?" With energy restored, I toss my head up into the air and do a single spin, rear-end popping up in my glee to finally have complete mobility again before facing them once more, a wide grin spread across dark lips. Now, nothing could stop me, at least until another hole found my foot.

Little Adelric looks just as amazed as I, and even he seems not to know how his mother's magic works. The question is one I yearn to know as well, and I look on at the mare with wonder. "Yes," I speak up as Kiara offers a nuzzle to her son, "How does it work, ma'am, if I may ask? I've never seen anything of the sort before. It's... it's absolutely spectacular!"

My eyes fall back upon Adelric then, noting the way that the boy looked at me, shifting his weight where he stood before looking to the black panther standing at a distance, then to the boot discarded just feet away. I can't fathom what exactly the youngster wishes to ask, but it's obvious it's something, perhaps about the boot itself? Only when it's appropriate to do so, not wishing to interrupt Kiara, I drop my head to the ground, press my nose into the boot, and scoot it closer to the colt for him to see. "You may look at it, Ade, I don't mind." I pause as I lift my head, quirking a brow at the young boy and hoping I hadn't managed to upset him, "May I call you that?"

"talk"

@[Kiara]
F I N N
to coax the darkness into light