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I detect the smell of ash and burned wood, and something else. Peering into the darkness, I watch for any movement, searching for any sign that this cave may already be occupied by someone or something else.
When I am satisfied that there is nothing, I cautiously enter, holding Luna close to my chest. The sound of the nearby waterfall grows faint as we venture deeper, replaced by the dripping of water echoing throughout the cavern. The air damp and oddly warm as well, and I notice the remains of a campfire further in.
My nostrils flare at the scent of another, but it is faint. Whoever was here, they have been gone at least two or three days. Fortunately for us, they left a stack of kindling and larger branches to make another fire, along with a firestone to ignite the wood.
Soft light filters in from outside, but not enough to illuminate the entire cave. My eyes quickly adjust to the low lighting as I explore the back of the cavern. The ceiling is so low I have to bend down to walk.
“It’s warmer here,” Luna remarks. “What do you see?” she asks, reminding me that she cannot see in the dark as I can.
Moist air clings to our skin, and as we walk further in, I discover the source. “A small pool.” As I gaze into the crystal-clear water, it appears big enough that we could use it to bathe, but still shallow enough to touch the bottom.
Light mist swirls across the surface, and as we move closer, the stone floor heats beneath my feet. “You should be warm here while I start a fire.”
Luna nods, and I carefully set her on the ground. She quickly draws her knees up to her chest, and my heart clenches as she blinks, unseeing into the darkness. I know she’s still shaken from what happened earlier, and she has every right to be. She nearly drowned.
She is hurt, and yet, she does not complain. But then again, Luna has always been this way. She is strong, and she is brave.
I also know that she hates the dark, and so I make a point of talking to her while I work on making a fire. “Once I am finished with the fire, I will search for some herbs to treat your wounds,” I explain. “I noticed somecavoin the woods that I can use to make a poultice. It should help with the healing.”
I’m so thankful that I paid attention when we were younger. Luna cut herself on a rock once and I observed as the healer treated her wound with a poultice made from cavo leaves. My kind rarely need the help of a healer unless a wound is severe.
It doesn’t take long for the kindling to catch and even less time for it to spread into a roaring fire as I stack more branches on the hearth. I turn back to Luna. Her legs are still drawn up to her chest and her chin is resting on her knees.
I drape her wet clothing on a large rock nearby for it to dry and then kneel down beside her. She lifts her gaze to mine, and she appears so vulnerable in this moment it nearly breaks me. “Are you sure we’re safe here?”
I nod. “I scent no one nearby.” I turn my gaze to the cave mouth. “I must gather some herbs to treat your wounds.”
“I’m fine,” she says, but as I gaze at her forearm, the raw angry marks on her skin suggest otherwise.
“I will not go far,” I promise.
“Mal.” She grips my forearm. “Please, don’t go.”
My heart clenches. “I have to.”
“No, you don’t,” she counters. “I’m fine.”
I glance pointedly at the claw marks on her arms and the ones on her side. “No, you are not.”
Clenching her jaw, she lowers her gaze to the floor. “I’ve had worse,” she says. “Trust me. I will be fine.”
My brow furrows deeply. “What do you mean you’ve had worse?”
She shakes her head softly. “Never mind,” she murmurs.
I wait a moment for her to speak. When she does not, I head for the exit. The sooner I leave, the faster I can return to her. “I will stay close to the cave,” I reassure her.
She nods, but does not look up at me.
Makingsure to stay within sight of the cavern, it doesn’t take long to find what I need to treat her. Quickly, I make my way back to the cave. When I enter, she startles slightly before relaxing again.
Grinding the leaves between two rocks, they form a medicinal paste. I rip a strip of fabric from her still drying gown and dip it into the water to cleanse it. Carefully and methodically, I begin treating her wounds, starting with the ones on her arms before moving to her torso.
She remains still as I work, and I keep my touch light and efficient, trying to make her comfortable. I know she is embarrassed to be without clothing and I want her to know that this is not about anything but tending to her.
Luna is my mate and I want only to care for her and protect her. Each puncture wound fills me with fear. I nearly lost her. My inner wolf is growing restless. The desire to get Luna to the Vale—to safety is overwhelming. If I thought she could stand the journey, I would carry her the entire way. But she is hurt, and she needs to rest for at least one day before we continue.
When I’m finally finished, I check on her clothing. Her sleep gown is dry, but her robe is still damp. I move back to her side and hand the gown to her, and she quickly slips it back on. She rubs her hands up and down her arms, and I know she is still cold, despite the clothing and the fire.
