Treatment
Anxiously, Stoneshine waited outside the closed door of the room Azalea and the Healer were in. They were inside the Healing center in Sanctuary. That morning, Stoneshine woke up very early and flew to and from Sanctuary to get help to move Azalea. He had collected two Healer assistants and a stretcher. The stretcher was needed due to Azalea’s left wings being completely scorched and withered. The skin membrane of her smaller left wing had holes through the char. Silent tears had run from the SilkWing’s eyes and she kept her face scrunched up in pain.
Stoneshine couldn’t help but feel as if this was all his fault. His brain knew that it had been Honorbringer that breathed the fire, but his heart told him Honorbringer was only there because of him. Another guilt was wrapping itself around him: he hadn’t told the Healer about Honorbringer or that he had seen where he fell. The thought that he might still be alive plagued his mind. Not because he was worried about Honorbringer coming after him, but because if the NightWing hadn’t died from the lightning, or from the fall, Stoneshine could have saved his life but didn’t. And then the images of the fight would flash in his mind and his pulse would pound in his head. He really needed a break from the non stop anxiety attacks plaguing his past few days.
The Healer— an old, large SandWing— stepped out of the room, shutting the door very quietly and carefully behind her.
“Will she be alright?” Stoneshine fretted out loud to the Healer.
“The damage was mostly to her smaller left wing, as you could probably see. Her larger wing had less burns of less severity. The chances of her flying again are good.” Stoneshine let out a breath he had been holding. “Though, she might have to relearn to fly without her small wing, the chances of it being paralyzed due to nerve damage is likely. I’ve never treated this type of injury on a SilkWing before, so I can’t make any more predictions.”
“Thank you, thank you,” Stoneshine said, almost crying from relief. “Can I see her?”
“I gave her a tranquilizer sourced from the Rainforest, so she’ll be out for a few hours. After that, though, you should be fine.” Stoneshine gave another round of thanks and the SandWing hurried off to treat more patients.
Stoneshine opened the door to Azalea’s room and walked in. There was a soft red, orange, and yellow rug made of wool on the wooden floor. A window on the wall opposite the door made the small room appear larger. Sun shone through, making the rug look bright and welcoming. A vase of radiant yellow flowers sat on a small side table adjacent to the low bed Azalea was sleeping on. The bed was a large blue cushion with a wide white blanket covering the surface. Azalea was sound asleep, though her antennae twitched when Stoneshine walked closer to her. He couldn’t help but grimace when his eyes landed on the white, bandaged wing gingerly placed on top of the rising and falling body.
“I’m so, so sorry, Azalea. Will you ever forgive me?” The pink dragon’s face didn’t change. She looked at peace. Stoneshine was glad the tranquilizer got rid of the pain, even if it was only for a little bit. Exhaustion suddenly weighed on his scales, drowning him. So much flying and so little sleep had occupied too many of his days. His eyelids began to close on their own accord, and the MudWing-NightWing decided to stop fighting and let them. In the sun, Stoneshine laid down and curled his tail beneath his talons. The sun warmed his back and pulled at his consciousness. Stoneshine didn’t want to sleep, he just wanted to rest. He felt as if he needed to guard the sleeping dragon to his right. Against his will, the sun succeeded and the warmth lulled Stoneshine to sleep within a few heartbeats.
“Stoneshine?” The sleeping dragon heard his name through the slumber's haze. He slowly opened his eyes as he tried to recall where he was. His memory flooded his senses and he jumped up. “Azalea!”
“Shush! There are injured dragons in here who have just been tranquilized, you know,” Azalea joked. Stoneshine raised his talon to his mouth as he said, “I’m sorry,” looking embarrassed. “Are you alright? Sorry that was a stupid question, are you in pain?” Stoneshine asked.
Azalea scrunched her snout and thought for a moment. “I think the Healer, Saguaro, gave me something for the pain. It only feels like a dull throbbing at the base of my wing. I can’t feel my wingtips or the membrane.” Her forehead furrowed. “Is that bad?” She sounded nervous, understandably. This was Stoneshine’s moment to comfort her this time. “I’m sure everything will turn out fine. The Healer… Did you say her name was Saguaro?” Azalea nodded. “Saguaro said that you should still be able to fly!”
The SilkWing’s tense muscles released and she let a long breath out. Stoneshine continued. “In case you missed it last night, I’m pretty sure Honorbringer got struck by lightning. We should be safe now.”
“That’s… good,” Azalea said, seeming as uncertain about celebrating a dragon’s death as he did. “Do you know how he found us?”
“No… I have no idea.” Stoneshine felt a lump in his throat. He cleared it and changed the subject. “Do you… Do you want me to let Saguaro know you’re awake?”
Azalea began to shake her head but stopped and pressed her talon against her temple. “Actually, could you get me some water?” She spoke hesitantly, like asking for help was paining her.
“Anything you need,” Stoneshine replied, a gentle smile displayed to hopefully reassure his friend.
He walked down the hallway that led back to the main office. The last door on the right opened and out came the Healer. “Ah! I was just going to check up on you two. Is your friend up yet?” Saguaro talked while she put an ointment bottle into the satchel hanging from her neck.
“Yeah, she just woke up. I’m getting some water for her… er, do you know where I can find some?” Stoneshine swallowed loudly. Internally, he beat himself up for sounding so awkward, especially to a dragon who’d been so kind and helped them.
“Yes, yes, to be expected. Come this way.” Together the two dragons winded their way through a few more halls past the main office until they reached a room at the end of a hallway. Inside the room there were provisions of all sorts. There was medical supplies, plant seeds and soil, blankets, food, and a large tub of water. Saguaro took a cup off of a shelf and dipped it into the tub. Crystal clear water filled the cup. When the SandWing lifted her talon and handed the cup to Stoneshine, water dripped onto the flooring in a path leading from one dragon to the other.
“Thanks,” was all that the hybrid could say.
“Let’s head back to your friend, I have to talk to her and ask you two a few questions,” Saguaro said. Stoneshine’s stomach dropped, though he didn’t know why. It was just going to be a couple questions, no reason to freak out, he told himself. But all the same, he knew the Healer was going to ask about the fight that caused Azalea’s injuries. The whole walk back to Azalea’s room was filled in an awkward silence as Stoneshine fretted. His mind raced like it always did, wondering if the SandWing was mad at him, if she was going to yell at him, if Azalea was going to get kicked out because he did something wrong. He hadn’t done anything harmful, though, he knew. He knew it was his head but he couldn’t stop it.
Back in the room filled with orange light from the setting sun, Saguaro stared at Stoneshine and the pink and teal SilkWing.
“Let me be blunt. Your injury,” the SandWing nodded at Azalea, “is very severe. And by the looks of how friendly you are to this dragon, I doubt he’s the one who did it.” The silence grew and stretched, warping in the air. Or at least, that’s how Stoneshine would have described it. “You two haven’t given me your names yet. I need those and the story of how your wound occurred.”
Azalea cleared her throat. “Well… I’m Azalea, and…” She looked expectantly at Stoneshine. He wanted to speak, he wanted to say his name, but he couldn't. He opened his mouth but no sound came out, as if he was hatched without a tongue. “This is Stoneshine,” Azalea continued. “I would tell you what happened, but I think it’s more of Stoneshine’s story to tell.”
His face flushed. Both of the dragons in front of him were staring, now. He felt their gazes on his scales like lasers. He had to talk about his mother, who allowed her brother to assassinate her son. He had to talk about how it felt with a claw in his neck. He remembered how the tree branch felt, pressing into his throat, closing his airway. Everything was too much, too much, too much! He closed his eyes, slumped to the floor, and wrapped his talons across his head.
Voices from Azalea, or maybe Saguaro, were quiet. They sounded far away, as if Stoneshine was sinking underneath a wave, going deeper and deeper into the cold abyss. Warmth radiated onto his talons. It brought Stoneshine back to the present. The skin underneath his scales was clammy, and his heart still thumped, loud enough he was sure the others could hear it.
“Dear, are you alright? Here, this might help,” Saguaro said as she moved his arms away from his head and dabbed something on his temples. A strong scent tickled Stoneshine’s nose. It smelled like a combination of lavender and lemon, with a hint of wild grass. Images of long grasses waving in the wind under a bright sun and cloudless blue sky shoved their way past the violent memories.
“There you are,” the Healer sniffed with satisfaction. When she was sure Stoneshine could hear her, she told them about a new program coming to the Healing Center in six days. “It comes from Queen Ruby’s personal healer. The whole SkyQueendom is trying out a new healing technique where they touch the mind instead of scales. It’s quite fascinating for healers all across Pyrrhia, really. I’m sorry dears, I’m rambling. I can’t help it. Even though my bones are old, Healing makes me feel like a young dragon… Much like yourselves.” She took a breath. “In six days time, a healer from the SkyQueendom is coming here to give a lecture on calming ‘Mind Frights’, as they like to calm them. The focus of the lecture will be on war afflicted anxieties, but I’m sure whatever you are going through can apply.
“I have other patient’s I have to check on, so I’ll leave you two be.” Saguaro left the room, shutting it with her barbed tail on the way out.
“I’m- I’m sorry,” stuttered Stoneshine, standing up.
“Why are you sorry?” Azalea asked, tilting her head.
“My brain wouldn’t work and then it worked too much, and ugh. I messed everything up!” He began to pace the small room, which only took a few steps in each direction.
“Oh Stoneshine, you messed nothing up. There was nothing to mess up. All you did was make a mistake. You’ve been through a lot, more than what you’ve told me, probably. It’s understandable. But… maybe this lecture will be helpful? I think you should try it,” Azalea told him.
He looked down at his talons. “I want to.” His voice was quiet. “I want to,” he said with more conviction. “I don’t want to live my life like this, haunted by my past, the war, and my family.”
“I’m proud of you,” Azalea said. “If you need to talk to somebody before the ‘Mind Fright' lecture, I’m here.” She smiled.
“So you don’t think I’m a useless mess-up who only brings bad things?” Stoneshine asked, bringing up half a smile. Azalea burst out in a laugh. “Clearsight, no. I think you’re wonderful.” Butterflies came alive in Stoneshine’s stomach. He brushed away their presence, thinking it must be hunger.
Hunger. Food. The MudWing side of him woke up and began to scream at him. His stomach rumbled. Definitely different than the butterflies, but Stoneshine was already sidetracked. “Wait… Why are you supporting me?! Moons, I’m going to get us something to eat. You,” he said as he poked a finger into Azalea’s arm, being careful to not bump her wrapped wing, “need to rest, heal, and focus on yourself.” Azalea let out another laugh, just like the fairy sound he heard back at the Waterfall the first time they went.
“Yes, servant, go bring me a feast,” the SilkWing joked. The two dragons shared a smile before Stoneshine left the room once again.
In the week leading up to the lecture Saguaro had promised, Stoneshine was left to his own devices. Once Azalea was released from day and night watch, she had gone back to the orphanage during the days. He had not gone with her because she had told him to stay. She told him it was because she knew he was nervous around the dragonets and… because the dragonets reminded her of her brother. She wanted to spend some time with them, alone. Stoneshine did not argue with that. He didn’t know how it felt to have siblings, but he did know what it felt like to want to be alone. Though, it did hurt that the only dragon he knew was spending time away from him. He really, really, tried not to look into a deeper meaning. Azalea was his friend. Logically, Stoneshine knew she wasn’t going to up and leave him. But still… he couldn’t stop himself from wondering. And, the moments they had had together there in the Healing Center and the clearing were so wonderful. Stoneshine always felt like he was in a nice, warm puddle of mud after a talk with her.
So that’s how he found himself sitting alone in the Healing Center’s main office. Dragons rushed by, going to and from patients, or patient’s themselves getting help. They were all in their own worlds. Stoneshine had to wonder if any of them had just escaped death.
A dragon cleared their throat very close to Stoneshine. Coming back to reality he turned his head to look at who it was. It was Saguaro, who towered over the sitting MudWing-NightWing. “What are you doing, just sitting here all alone?” she asked.
“Azalea has been working at the Orphanage, and I have nothing else to do. I can move, if I’m in the way. I just find the Healing Center to be fascinating.”
“Does Healing interest you?”
Stoneshine shrugged. “Maybe. It looks like magic: Sick dragons enter and healthy dragons leave. How do you do it? Must be magic.”
Saguaro laughed. “It’s far from magic, dear. Come, I’ll show you how to make the remedy I put on your temples the other day.” It was less of an option and more of a plan Stoneshine had to follow. He didn’t mind, though. Making decisions had always been hard for him, he was always worried about choosing the wrong option.
Saguaro collected materials from the supply room and Stoneshine watched. Then, she led him to the room next door. There was a long table scattered with tiny bowls and vials. The SandWing set the plants and lemons she had gathered down on the table. The space was a tight squeeze with the large table and two dragons, but with wings tucked in very close to their bodies, it was manageable.
“The first step is to peel the lemons. Can you do that as I prepare the water for boiling?” Saguaro asked.
“Um, sure,” Stoneshine said, praying that he didn’t mess up a simple job such as peeling. The SandWing shuffled around the table to a fireplace in the back wall that StoneShine hadn’t noticed. She placed a cauldron full of water on a hook inside the fireplace and breathed a very small spark into the wood. Flames began to spread on the logs, beginning the heating process.
The scent of lemon wafted into the air, pleasing to Stoneshine’s senses. His sharp claws sliced into the tough lemon skin and tore it away from the pulp. Stray juices stuck to his talons, sticky to the touch. Next to him, the old dragon took a jar containing something white and scooped a cup of it into a bowl. “Coconut oil,” she said. “Traded from SeaWings.” She extended a talon to Stoneshine, who put the finished peels on her palm. “Decent, but with practice you can avoid puncturing the lemon.” Stoneshine expected his face to heat with embarrassment, but it didn’t. The way the Healer spoke was matter of fact and blunt. There was no judgment hiding in her words.
Saguaro placed the peels into the bowl and went over to the fireplace. She placed the bowl delicately on top of the water. “Now, we just need to collect the oils from the grass and lavender. Then, we combine the three and pour the liquid into vials.”
The two dragons worked together, Saguaro in the lead and teaching Stoneshine. They grinded the grass and boiled the lavender, collecting the oil from each plant. When they were done, Saguaro handed one vial to Stoneshine. “Here, for your Mind Frights.” Stoneshine accepted the blunt kindness with a smile.
“Thank you for teaching me, I really enjoyed it.”
“You could be my apprentice for a few more days, if you wish. I need the extra help, and I could teach you more about the art of Healing. You already have a knack for making mixtures, I wonder what else you could be good at.”
Stoneshine felt honored. A dragon with experience wanted him around , and to help , nonetheless. He agreed right away. Over the hour that he had helped the SandWing Healer, he noticed that his anxieties completely disappeared. For him, the medicine was not what was in the vial, it was what it took to make the contents.
The next two days leading up to the lecture, Stoneshine followed around his mentor. He listened to dragons complain of coughs (they got prescribed a special tea), and watched dragons with scrapes and bruises get ointments and bandages. A couple dragons even came in with sprained ankles. There was never a quiet hour.
Finally, it was the day of the lecture. Azalea was off at the orphanage, again. She really enjoyed her time there, helping the dragonets do their schoolwork and playing games with them. At nights she would go on and on about Irbis and a few other dragonets. Stoneshine would do the same about Healing. He treasured those night-time talks. The night before he had even told Azalea about some of the stuff his mother had done to him over the years. Their conversations were raw and they would talk until the moons were high in the sky.
A male SkyWing walked into the garden, which is where the lecture was being held. He had a kind aura about him and he smiled at every dragon he met, even smiling at Stoneshine, once. During the lecture he talked about the causes for mind illnesses: trauma and genetics, and how to deal with them. The Healing techniques were the main focus of the talk, including breathing exercises (which reminded Stoneshine of what Azalea had done with him that night in the alley) and counting techniques. He left the garden feeling prepared for his future, ready to defend himself against any Mind Fright attacks.