O Mistress Mine, Where are You Roaming?

"Looking for?" Althea felt blood drain from her face despite all her efforts to remain composed. She didn't want to be found by anyone; she had resolved long ago that the safest place for her to be was in memory.

"You have to be. You're a Healer. I can see the marks above your wrapping. You have to be the one they're still looking for."

Althea made a move to cover her ankle before realizing how foolish that would be; he'd already seen the twisting, floral mark above her wrappings.

Seeing her frightened expression, the man opened his arms to show he wasn't making any movements against her and that he had nothing to harm her with. "Please," he said with that calming tone, "I promise I'm not here to hurt you. I wasn't tracking you; I was just resting by this tree. Please don't run away. Please."

Althea didn't move to run, and she struggled to keep her muscles tensed to run, but his gentle voice and demeanor fought to relax her. What was that about him? Something old, something from long ago she just couldn't put her finger on.

"My God, you really are! I can take you there, they need you. We need you! I can't believe it, but you are here. And we're so close to ... I mean I could get you there safely." Galen went on with hope and excitement growing in his eyes. But then he saw that the more he spoke, the more she looked like she was going to be sick or scream.

"Look," he said as he lowered himself to sitting slowly and gracefully in a sign of peace, "my name is Galen. And I promise I mean peace." Galen fully relaxed again against the tree. He knew this hill was safe from Immortuos, and he knew the nature of a Healer. He was confident he was in no danger.

Althea took note of his goodwill gesture and relaxed muscles. She relaxed her own upper body in good faith. Though if he made a move, her legs were still grounded in the earth ready to dodge and run. "I'm Althea."

Now that Galen was relaxed on the ground, he heard the music in her words. Healers were noted singers to call forth magic from the air and earth with their songs, and Galen could hear it now. He closed his eyes very briefly to savor it; he'd never heard something so simple that could brighten the soul so much. He gestured her to sit, "Please relax. I'm sure that ankle is still needing rest, and I come to this tree often and can assure you it's safe. Please, Althea." It was not in the nature of the Healers to distrust, Althea was different. What was her story? Galen couldn't help but be curious.

Something in his eyes, or was it the aura she sensed around him, she decided that she could trust him enough to sit down where she stood. She was curious too. He had command of some kind of Magic; he had to. She just couldn't pull from her knowledge of long ago well enough to remember. That was a frequent problem, and it was troubling. She'd find out somehow.

"You said someone is looking for me?" Althea was still worried about this. "I'm really nothing out of the ordinary, nothing special, just a Healer."

"Nothing out of...?!" Galen checked the urgent shock and confusion in his voice. He resumed being calm and composed and began again, "Nothing out of the ordinary? Nothing special? Althea, you're the first Healer I think anyone has seen in a year, since just after the Mist. You may very well be the last one left."

The last one left.

Althea felt all emotions at once: shock, sadness, fear, memory, all at once to be a terrifying jumble that hit her like a falling tree. She was physically taken aback, and had to catch herself with her good arm on the ground beside her. She didn't know any specifically, not for many years, but they were all still of her blood and of her art. And she just couldn't fathom within her heart or deepest nightmares that she would ever be the last.

"I'm sorry. I should have been kinder than that. I really am. Were you close with them?" Galen's eyes were turned down. He was truly saddened and ashamed from the hurt he could feel from her and the pain she couldn't hide in her eyes. Of course she couldn't know, and he chided himself for pouring those words out like a child who didn't know any better.

"No, I...I haven't...I..." Althea had a hard time putting form to her thoughts. Her heart and her head were hidden in fear and in sadness. "I mean, I've been...away...since before the mist." She felt there was more she should say, but the harder she searched for the words, the more elusive her thoughts became.

Galen was curious about this. Healers usually were based with people in a village or town, some group that needed caring for in sickness from time to time. And usually there were more than one, and she had no one? But he could still see sorrow on her face that ran deep. "I'm still sorry." But it was more than sorrow from his words; he could see the year of isolation and wandering in her face. Healers were often sheltered and very much treasured. Not as soft and sheltered as Enchanters who were guarded like delicate gold, but Healers worked in their huts mostly out of the sun, coming out only to forage for the needs of their trade. But her skin was darkened from a life outside of a home or village and under the sun, and not just from the time of Immortuos. She had been wandering for longer than that.

The words registered from far away, and she responded, "Thank you," more out of habit than of conscious thought. The logic of it sank in; it was a very real possibility that she were the last. She had often thought how a Healer could survive a world like this. The Immortuos were clever and tireless driven strong in their anger and vengeful hatred. The Healers were with the sick and injured, helping at all costs…even if they were the cost. The truth of Galen's words began to sting. What would be of her blood and Magic now? And how long, in good conscience, could she hope to dwell in hidden secrecy? She had a duty now more urgent than ever, if she were the last. But how could she ever hope to combat any of the growing suffering on her own?

She was quickly being overwhelmed by every thought and terrible imaginings that came without end. She tried to keep control, but her terrors and sorrows were coming without mercy, as steady and as assuredly as the coming of night. Before she registered her despair, the tears were already beyond her face and onto her neck and into the earth. There was no crying at first, just the tears that flowed as freely from her eyes as breath from her lungs.

She could not see through the tears to register Galen moving to her. He couldn't help but be drawn to the suffering in her soul that radiated outward. He was not afraid of it, not hesitant at all, but moved as he always had towards the suffering to comfort. In slow and graceful movements he was close enough to touch her, though he didn't. He just lowered her head to watch the ground as she did. Just to be in the same space so she did not suffer alone.

He began to speak words so old and ancient she didn't quite register them from the breathing of the earth. Before she heard words, she felt him speaking. She felt the embrace of her mother, smelled her grandmother's cooking, saw the glow of her father's eyes, felt the silk coverings in the room at Court that she would wrap herself in and dream the sweetest dreams. Her negative energy that had been held back in her sorrow broke forth like an avalanche. She was surprised at her body shaking with sobs, but not ashamed and oddly comforted.

And she still heard and felt his words. Not songs as there was no melody, but it was still something as beautiful as music. She looked up and saw him still looking down and speaking his ancient and calming words. She stopped her crying, her grief melting into comfort. It was not gone, but it was now a part of her in a way that she felt control over. It was unlike anything she had felt in over a year.

But then she did hear music. It was music from the very earth. And birds! She could hear birds! Birds were seldom around, and when they were they never sang anymore to hide from Immortuos. But they were there in the trees and signing. She felt out with her legs and arms into the earth and felt its calm. She hadn't even noticed a rabbit burrow on the side of the hill as she ran up it last night, but there was a huddle of rabbits at the hill's edge now.

Leporem!

"You're a Leporem, aren't you?" Althea said having finally realized what he was and why he was able to sooth and charm with just his words and presence.

"I am, yes," Galen said without raising his head.

Leporems were not easy to detect. They were not of a specific bloodline like the Healers, Enchanters, or Eros. Instead they were rarities within all bloodlines. Leporems had the ability to charm animals, earn their trust and endear them to the Leporems dearly. There wasn't much use for Leporems, at least not in the same way as say a Healer. Domesticated animals were easy enough to work within their labor requirements in a village, and those not domesticated were for hunting, and charming an animal to their death was considered taboo. They had many friends as they were naturally charming, and no one every bore resentment or animosity towards a Leporems, it just wasn't something to demand status of.

Althea had never known one before. She thought maybe she may have known one in the past and never knew it; Lepormen's didn't go around boasting of their skills. But now having sat across from one and felt the indescribable effects of their skills, she knew now she certainly had never met one before. He was even more beautiful now than the mere surface features (which were quite handsome), but he had a purity of soul that was almost intoxicating and irresistible.

Despite how guarded she had forced herself to become, she imagined what his touch would feel like. Would she feel this calmingly assured in an embrace with him? Would it even be possible to feel safe in an embrace again?

She was amazed that she could even contemplate such thought, even for the briefest moment, in a time like this. Knowing in her heart who would be looking for her, how could she imagine softness from anyone ever again? But as Galen looked up at her at last with his eyes brown and truly peaceful in intent, she thought of the good in another human being for the first time since she had made herself disappear.