The tranquil clan pt1

In the cool shadows of the cave, where the glow of the gems peeked through a leafy canopy made of plants that grow here in the underground, four reos padded along in silence. Cailu, the leader of the group on account of him being a haedian, kept his nose low, following the faint scent of wild mint and thyme. Behind him followed Jeon-e, a bulky vayron whose dark coat reflected the light shining in the cave, and whose nose kept itching from the strong herbal scent after hours of travelling in damp caves, Mer, a speedy vayron with good reflexes and keen eyes and Valentine, a quiet but dedicated hunter, quick on his feet and also with keen eyes.

 

The four were going forward with the mission from the Elder, tasked with finding the origin of the instabilities below Vitalus and in the course of their journey, possibly meeting with the Mother, head of all the clans mentioned by Cailu. Their next target after the Brutes was the Tranquil Clan, a social group of haedians who lived in this area of the caves, where the energy felt calm and the herbs were plentiful. They had heard, in their time with the Brute's clan, that the Tranquil Clan possessed wisdom and skill in healing, something needed both under the ground and above it, in these times of unrest and where the earth kept trembling and fracturing unexpectedly, and for sure appreciated by clans such as the Brutes who focused so much of their life on strength.

 

They padded in silence for some time until a soft rustle reached their ears. Jeon-e halted abruptly, her eyes scanning the underbrush. A slender, grey and pink haedian was crouched down, the head among the wild mint, carefully nosing through the soft green leaves. Her eyes were intent, her nose moving with delicate precision as she plucked the leaves and set them in a small pile at her paws.

 

“Hello, may we interrupt you?” Jeon-e said, stepping forward cautiously. The haedian raised her head, her pink eyes watching them with curiosity, big and innocent.

 

“Hello,” she replied softly, tilting her head. Her voice was gentle, as calm as a breeze over still water. “My name is Pyrri. I am a leader of the Tranquil Clan.”

 

Jeon-e stepped closer, her body posture relaxed. “We’ve traveled from the Brute's clan territory. We seek an audience with you, if you will be so kind to entertain us. Did we meet you at the wrong time by chance?”

 

Pyrri gave a small smile, dipping her head. “What are your names, land dwellers?” Her gaze was warm and knowing. “You do not bring me disturbance, the contrary maybe, if you have time to spare, our encounter shall be fortunate. I am gathering herbs for a feverish clan mate. He injured his leg, and the infection has worsened.”

 

Valentine’s ears perked up, and he took a step forward. “We can be of assistance. The healing arts are not our strength, but we are fast and have eager paws. My name is Valentine”

 

Pyrri considered this, then nodded thoughtfully. “I’d welcome the help. We need several types of herbs for this remedy, and some are difficult to find.”

 

"Tell us what to look for, and we will be your hands. My name is Jeon-e, the liliac reos you see is Mer, and I'm not sure if you already know Cailu? Perhaps you're already acquaintances?"Jeon-e said.

 

Together, the five reos set off deeper into the caves, following Pyrri’s knowledge of the cave’s hidden treasures while discussing their life on the surfaces and how different they are from the life below it. She led them to a shaded grove where white flowers shone in the ground, the blue of the gems in the cave a fake night sky that accentuated them immensely.

 

“These flowers bring down fever,” she explained as she carefully picked the delicate petals with her teeth, setting them gently onto a flat stone by her side. “Be gentle with them; they bruise easily.”

 

Mer looked at them and smelled them before beginning to sniff around. "Should we search for more of them by the smell? There aren't many in this area"

 

Pyrri gave a soft chuckle. “Yes, please. It would be a great help, as well as some of these herbs" She took some herbs from her sachel and placed them on the ground, waiting for the other reos to smell them before storing them away. "The herbs are pretty common, but the flowers are scarce, they get picked as soon as they bloom since their unfortunate colour makes them both beautiful and way too easy to find.” She continued to gather the flowers, and the rest of the reos followed her example, picking them with care.

 

Jeon-e’s mind, though focused on the herbs, kept drifting to Pyrri. Her calm confidence and careful attention to the forest’s plants were unlike anything she’d seen beforehand in the underground, both from the Brutes' clan but also from the Forgotten's clan. The way she moved was graceful, her every step intentional, her presence calm, as though she belonged with nature itself.

 

As they gathered, the scent of the herbs began to fill the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of moss and dampness and giving peace to the senses. Valentine’s normally stoic face softened, and he took a deep breath, seeming at ease in the fragrant cave.

 

Once Pyrri was satisfied with their collection, she turned to the group. “That should be enough. Let’s return to the clan and prepare the remedy.”

 

The five reos moved as a group, carrying the bundles of herbs back to the Tranquil Clan’s gathering place. It was a serene, sheltered area, where sunlight filtered in through the gaps in the cave, making the reos realize they were closer to the surface than they thought, and dappled the cave's floor with shifting patches of gold instead of the monochrome blue they had experienced until now. Here, they found the fevered haedian lying in a soft nest of moss. His fur was matted with sweat, and his breathing was shallow.

 

“This is Eiron,” Pyrri whispered. “He is one of our best gatherers. It pains me to see him in such suffering, he cut himself trying to reach a rare herb on a jagged rock.”

 

Jeon-e’s expression softened, and she approached the feverish reos with a gentle look in her eyes. "Hopefully the herbs we've gathered will be enough to help.”

 

Pyrri spread the herbs across a flat stone and set to work, crushing the herbs and the flower petals with a round, smooth stone. “The herbs will ease his pain, while the flowers will bring the fever down. There is also mint in the mix, that will help with his breathing.”

 

She worked deftly, using her teeth and paws to grind and mix the herbs into a fine paste. The other reos watched her closely, mesmerized by her skill. Valentine stepped forward to help, gently pressing the herbs as Pyrri instructed, careful not to bruise them further.

 

Once the paste was ready, Pyrri turned to Eiron. “Hold him steady, please.”

 

Jeon-e and Mer moved to Eiron’s side, gently pressing their bodies against him to keep him from moving too much. Pyrri leaned in close to Eiron and spoke to him. “This may sting a little, but it will significantly help while the infection runs it's course.”

 

Eiron’s feverish eyes opened, filled with gratefulness and trust. Pyrri took the paste in her mouth, applying it gently to his injured paw, which was swollen and oozing a faint, sour-smelling liquid. She worked meticulously, coating the wound with the herbal mixture until it was covered completely, while Eiron struggled in Jeon-e and Mer's hold, the sting making him uncomfortable.

 

As Pyrri applied the last of the paste and a minute passed, Eiron let out a soft sigh, the sting having gone down in pain, his body relaxing under Jeon-e and Mer’s steady presence. Pyrri then brought a small clump of mint leaves close to Eiron’s nose, letting the scent fill his nostrils. His breathing deepened, becoming steadier, as the herbs began to take effect and the mint in front of him gave him relief from the cloudy mind his fever brought.

 

Jeon-e gave a small smile, her eyes shining with respect. “You take great care of your clan, Pyrri.”

 

Pyrri looked up, her pink eyes warm. “Thank you, Jeon-e. Healing is as much about intention as it is about herbs. Everyone in the clan knows these healing techniques, it's the base of our clan's knowledge.”

 

The reos stayed by Eiron’s side as the afternoon wore on, the sunlight softening to the golden glow of early evening. They watched over him in shifts, making sure he stayed comfortable, and adjusting the paste if it began to dry. Slowly, the fever began to ebb, and Eiron’s breathing grew calmer.

 

Jeon-e took a moment to speak with Pyrri, who was watching over Eiron with unwavering attention. “Your clan is lucky to have you. You care about them deeply and they trust that you'll be there for them when they're in need.”

 

Pyrri met his gaze with a humble smile. “Every clan has its gifts, Jeon-e. Ours is the bond we share with each other, but I have a feeling that is a strength your group also shares, am I wrong? It's a strength everyone should have in order to protect this world of ours”

 

Jeon-e nodded thoughtfully. “Perhaps this is the beginning of something greater than just a meeting. A bond between haedians and vayrons, perhaps?”

 

Pyrri’s smile deepened, and she nodded. “A bond rooted in trust and care is one that cannot easily be broken.”

 

As night began to fall, Eiron stirred, his eyes opening with more clarity than they’d had all day. He looked around, blinking to shake off the drowsiness of the fever and looking around, taking everyone's appearance in.

 

“Pyrri?” His voice was hoarse, but the fever was gone. “What happened?”

 

“You had a nasty fever,” Pyrri replied, her voice gentle. “But these reos here helped me collect herbs for you and apply the remedy. You’ll be back to your old self soon enough.”

 

Eiron looked at the unfamiliar reos with a grateful nod. “Thank you, all of you. I hope it wasn't too much trouble.”

 

Valentine dipped his head. “We helped willingly, it's our duty to take care of each other, even if we aren't from the same clan, or even the same species.”

 

The five reos sat together as the cave settled into a quiet hush, the darkness of the night letting only the gemstones in the caves shine in all their beauty. Here, a sense of peace engulfed them all, and their eyes were free to roam on the delicately carved sigils in the rocks, something they'd have to inquire about after a full night of sleep.