From Bane to Balm

[Crue Sarish]

?The herb with the large, flat, dark green leaves could be made into a tea for those suffering from breathing issues. Use sparingly.?

Crue put her pen down before she placed the note and the bundle of herbs into a cupboard. She?d only encountered the herb once among the mongoose healer?s stores and was largely unfamiliar with its side-effects. ?I really hope it doesn?t kill someone.?

?What was that?? a voice asked from the doorway.

Crue looked and saw a shrew standing a few feet away. ?Nothing! I?m just writing down a few things about less common supplies.?

?Why would you need to do that??

?Oh, just in case.? She looked up from her work. ?Could you ask Mister? Captain Rosequill to come here to the infirmary? I will look at his arm now.?

?I think ?e?s a bit busy, ma?am.?

?He can spare a few minutes. Tell him I won?t let him sail otherwise.?

The shrew sped off and a few minutes later, her friend walked through the door to the makeshift infirmary. He looked tired, just as tired as she was. She pulled out a fresh bandage and brought over the yarrow poultice she had left.

?Can this wait, Miss Crue??

?Mister Rosequill, I need to speak with you in private.?

?Can it wait ?til we?re underway??

?I?m afraid not.?

?Let?s make it quick, then.? He sat down on the table and let her tend to the wound Blade had inflicted.

Taking a deep breath, she announced, ?I?m sorry, Robert, but I won?t be coming with you.?

Robert blinked a few time before asking, ?Come again??

?I? I said that I won?t be coming with you.? She gently spread the poultice over the cut before adding, ?Hold still!?

?But we need you! We have some beasts still recoverin? and there?s no one who could fix ?em up better than you!?

?The beasts coming with you will recover with rest and decent food. Some of the slaves here aren?t going to survive for long, and I can?t just leave them.? She paused for a moment, thinking about the beasts she?d seen outside. Former slaves reveled in their first tastes of freedom. Surrendered pirates were rounded up, their faces a mixture of relief at having been spared and trepidation toward what would befall them now. Mongooses rested after a long day of hunting, while others kept a wary eye out for any signs of danger.

?Robert, when we first left Port Hearth, we had a crew of strong, healthy, optimistic beasts running after the dream of ending piracy. This crew you?re leading now, you?re leading them onto a battlefield against overwhelming odds. Blade is probably not going to take any of you alive, and even if you somehow manage to defeat him and his army, you?ll likely be closer to home and can find healers to patch up your wounded. If we?re honest, having me around won?t make much of a difference this time.?

Robert sighed, rubbing a paw across his forehead. ?It would make a difference, Crue, but if you have your heart set on staying, then that?s your choice to make. We may not be back for a while, though, and you?d be stuck here. And if we lose, Blade may come back!?

?I know. If I can help the mongooses dismantle what Blade built here, perhaps I can prevent him or someone else from getting a hold on this island again. Then,? she squared her shoulders as she confidently stated, ?when you come back, you?ll have a more welcoming reception.?

?Well then, heh heh??

Someone cracked open the door and called in, ?Rob, we?re laggin? be?ind, mate!?

The hedgehog held up a single finger, calling for one more moment before he turned back to Crue. ?Are you sure you won?t change your mind?? When Crue shook her head sadly, he sighed. ?Then I hope to be seein? you again soon, Miss Crue.?

?Me, too. Stay safe, Mister Rosequill.?

Rob turned back to assist the crew and Crue made her way off the Phantom. As she descended the gangplank, she heard his voice call out, ?Listen up, Crue!?

She turned and looked up, wondering what else her friend wanted to tell her, but he was not in her line of sight. He continued talking to those on the ship, and she turned away before murmuring, ?Oh, ?crew?!?

She and a small group of mongooses loaded as many of the gravely injured into a dory, planning on rowing them back toward the village rather than take them to the dismal infirmary back in the mountain. Once the mongooses were underway, Dekeft and Laika walked over to stand next to Crue. The left side of Laika?s face was covered in blood, eliciting a gasp from the healer. Crue opened the satchel to pull out a small strip of cloth and a small jar of clean water. ?Let me look at that.?

?Ees fine, Crue,? the Second Hunter assured her, waving a paw in dismissal. She turned to her husband and flashed him a grin. ?Eet es a sign of a kood hunt!?

?It?s the sign of a stubborn mongoose!? Crue retorted and reached toward Laika. ?Let me look at it.?

Laika gently grabbed Crue?s wrist. ?You hef keered for every beastah t?is dey. I can keer for myself while you rest.?

Crue gave up and sat down on top of a nearby barrel. She wasn?t completely finished with her day?s work, but with the battle over and most of the injured out of immediate danger, exhaustion fell on her like a heavy shroud. As she was wondering how she?d manage to stand back up again, she heard the sound of canvas unfurling and the flutter of wind playing with the sails.

?Crue!? Dekeft exclaimed, ?T?ey leave wit?out you!?

She watched the sails, dark shadows against the night sky. ?I know. I told them I was staying here.?

?Vat??

?I told Rob that there?s a great deal to be done here now that Blade is gone. The sick and injured to care for, something to be done with the pirates who surrendered? and??

?And vat??

?..And there were a few reasons I didn?t tell him.? The two mongooses sat down to listen. The image of Rindclaw clutching Tooley's hat flashed through her mind before she stated, ?In the last few weeks, I?ve faced every fear I?ve had. I?ve become friends with better beasts than I had any right to hope for, and lost as many of them as my heart can take.?

Crue felt her throat tighten, but this time she had no need to stop what inevitably would come. ?I never used to believe in miracles, but somehow one managed to sneak up on me. Through everything that?s happened, I?ve felt more at home than I have in a very long time. Despite my lowly status as Shuga?s slave, you and your people treated me like a member of your tribe. I was more than just among you. I was one of you.?

She took another jagged breath before confessing, ?And one other thing I didn?t tell Robert? was that I? can?t watch any more of my friends die! I just can?t!? An ironic smile crossed her face. ?I used to worry about people taking my possessions, but spending the last few weeks with nothing to my name,? she looked at the mongooses, ?my friends are all I have left, and if I lose one of you, I don?t know what I?d do.?

Laika put a paw on Crue?s shoulder, but had nothing to say. Dekeft looked out at the Phantom as it made its way slowly out of the harbor. He asked, ?Eef t?ey not come bek, Crue, how will you know??

?I won?t.?

?T?en you will be ef t?e tribe unteel t?ey come bek.?

?Thank you, Dekeft.? A few moments later she inquired, ?Is there? a god that will watch over them??

Laika turned toward her, the mongoose?s left eye appearing even wider under the blood that covered her fur. ?I t?ought you deedn?t pray to t?e gods.?

Crue shrugged. ?I might have a reason to start.?