we heal with love

The return of greeting from the small kitsune only deepened the smile in those summer-green eyes. She was delighted by his touch and it secured the creature in Hemlock’s good graces too. He was always thankful towards those that treated his bonded kindly. So he too warmed further to the idea of play - hopping around on his tiny feet in the soft grass - forward and backward and hooting. He took to the air but it was only to get enough altitude to try to flutter over the kitsune - to playfully grasp one of those tails in his talons as he had done with his other fox friends.

Distracted as she was by the game, Alysanne’s attention remained focused on the copper mare - watching the play of emotions in her eyes once they were no longer obscured by her braided mane. It was a surprise, to hear confirmation (or what she thought was confirmation) that they had both lived here once.

Alysanne mistook the accusation in the mare’s voice to be directed at her, not within. But she does not feel offended or even hurt - after all, she had no memory of the girl before her in these woods four years prior either. The mare before her must be around her son’s age - she would have surely been a filly when Alysanne had arrived here. She had been so new, at once both excited about the opportunities and faces here and dying to get back home to her family. It wouldn’t surprise her to find out there were plenty of faces from that old herd she had not gotten the chance to meet. She knew now how unstable the herds could be - ever changing their faces.

Except for Alysanne, she seemed rooted here and she didn’t know if she would ever leave. What would it take? Not wraiths, not the rumours of the Goddess’ deeds, not her mistrust in her current herd members. If none of that, then what?

Her voice was soft still, almost matching the whisper spoken by the younger mare. “I spent most of my time with Kahlua.” She offered as an explanation, speaking the words as if they were an apology. She was sorry that she hadn’t been remembered - would that make this easier for this girl? In the absence of that connection, she hoped she could still be helpful. “I’m Alysanne, or Aly, I’ve been part of the healers here.” Finally an introduction after so many meetings, accompanied by a small encouraging smile. She hardly expected it to ring a bell, of course. She hadn’t been anyone back then, just a new face among a dozen others.  

alysanne & hemlock