NO CURE
1251 Words
The first thing Liyana saw when she opened her eyes was Maren.
She had fallen asleep beside the bed sometime during the night.
Her neck hurt.
Her body felt stiff.
She barely remembered closing her eyes.
For a moment, she didn't remember why she was there.
Then she looked at Maren.
Everything came back.
Liyana quickly sat up.
Maren was awake.
She looked tired, but she smiled when she noticed Liyana staring at her.
“You stayed here all night?”
Liyana nodded.
Maren sighed softly.
“You're going to make yourself sick too.”
“I’m fine.”
“You don't look fine.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Maren gave her a small smile.
“That wasn't very nice.”
Liyana almost smiled.
Maren looked toward the door.
“Go eat something.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You haven't eaten since yesterday.”
“I said I'm not hungry.”
“Liyana.”
She knew that tone.
The one Maren used whenever she was trying to make her listen.
Liyana looked away.
“I’m staying.”
Maren sighed.
“You're stubborn.”
“So are you.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Maren smiled.
“I suppose that's where you got it from.”
Later that morning, Liyana went to see the healer.
He was sorting through several old books when she entered.
“I need to ask you something.”
He looked up.
“What is it?”
“Do you have anything about Lunar Wasting?”
The healer paused.
“Some records.”
“Can I see them?”
He studied her face.
“You're looking for a cure.”
“Yes.”
He didn't tell her there was no point.
Instead, he walked to a shelf and pulled down several old books.
“These are everything I have.”
Liyana took them.
“Thank you.”
She carried them to a nearby table and immediately began searching.
She read everything.
Every page.
Every old record.
Every description.
She searched for anything that might help.
A cure.
A treatment.
A herb.
A healer who had survived it.
Another case.
Anything.
Hours passed.
The books began piling up around her.
Liyana rubbed her tired eyes and opened another one.
Nothing.
She opened another.
Nothing.
Another.
Still nothing.
Every record ended the same way.
No known cure.
No effective treatment.
No recorded survivor.
Liyana stared at the page.
“No.”
She turned another page.
Nothing.
She flipped through the rest of the book faster.
“No.”
The healer watched quietly from across the room.
Liyana closed the book.
“There has to be something we’ve missed.”
“Liyana...”
“You said you've only read about it.”
“Yes.”
“Then maybe someone else knows more.”
The healer nodded slowly.
“Perhaps.”
“Another healer.”
Liyana stood.
“Another pack.”
“I'll help you arrange it.”
She looked at him.
“You will?”
“Of course.”
Liyana didn't waste another second.
She went directly to Alpha Magnus.
He was in the Alpha House when she arrived.
A guard announced her presence, and Magnus looked up.
“Liyana.”
She stepped forward.
“Alpha Magnus, I need your help.”
He immediately noticed the worry in her expression.
“Is it Maren?”
Liyana nodded.
“I want another healer to examine her.”
Magnus was quiet for a moment.
Then he nodded.
“I'll arrange it.”
“Thank you.”
“You don't have to thank me.”
Liyana lowered her gaze.
“I just... I need to try.”
Magnus understood.
“You should.”
She looked up.
“No matter what happens, you'll know you did everything you could.”
Liyana nodded.
But she wasn't ready to think about what might happen.
Not yet.
That evening, Maren watched Liyana sitting beside her with a book open on her lap.
Liyana hadn't noticed that she had been staring at the same page for several minutes.
“Liyana.”
She looked up.
“What?”
“Come sit with me.”
Liyana immediately closed the book.
She moved closer to the bed.
Maren reached for her hand.
For a while, they simply sat there.
Maren looked at her.
“You've changed so much.”
Liyana smiled faintly.
“I'm still me.”
“I know.”
Maren squeezed her hand.
“But you're not the little girl who used to hide under the blanket every morning.”
Liyana laughed softly.
Maren smiled.
Silence settled between them.
Maren looked at her carefully.
“You've become a good woman.”
Liyana's smile faded slightly.
“Because of you.”
Maren shook her head.
“No.”
“You did that yourself.”
Liyana looked down at their hands.
“I don't feel very strong.”
“You don't have to feel strong to be strong.”
Liyana swallowed.
Maren continued.
“You've always cared about everyone around you.”
“You help without being asked.”
“You keep going even when things hurt.”
Liyana's eyes began to fill.
“Maren...”
“I’m proud of you.”
Liyana leaned forward and rested her head against Maren's shoulder.
Maren wrapped an arm around her.
Neither of them spoke for a while.
That night, Liyana eventually fell asleep beside the bed.
Inside the Wolf Realm, Nova stood beside Aster.
The older wolf looked weaker than before.
Nova noticed immediately.
‘You’re getting weaker.’
Aster looked at her.
‘Yes.’
Nova's ears lowered.
‘But don’t worry, the healer would heal you.’
Aster didn't answer.
Nova stepped closer.
‘He can, right?’
Aster looked away.
After a moment, she whispered,
‘I hope so.’
Nova didn't like the answer.
She moved closer until their fur touched.
Neither wolf said anything else.
The following day, another healer arrived at the cottage.
Liyana watched as he examined Maren.
He checked her pulse.
Her breathing.
Her eyes.
Her healing.
He examined the wound on her palm.
He asked questions.
He studied the records from the first healer.
Hours seemed to pass.
Finally, he stepped away from the bed.
Liyana immediately approached him.
“What is it?”
The healer looked at her.
His expression told her before he spoke.
“It sure is Lunar Wasting.”
Liyana's heart sank.
“You're sure?”
“Yes.”
“Is there a treatment?”
The healer shook his head.
“No treatment that can reverse the damage.”
“A cure?”
“No.”
Liyana stared at him.
“What if we find another healer?”
“I understand why you want to keep looking.”
“Then we will.”
He hesitated.
“Liyana...”
“How long does she have?”
The healer looked toward Maren.
Then back at her.
He didn't give her a number.
He simply said,
“Not long.”
The words seemed to drain the air from the room.
Liyana didn't move.
She didn't cry.
She just stared at him.
Not long.
The healer gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry.”
Liyana barely heard him.
She sat beside the bed when the healer left.
Neither of them spoke.
Maren looked at her.
She knew.
Liyana knew too.
But neither of them said the word.
There was no need.
Inside the Wolf Realm, Nova curled closer to Aster.
This time...
Aster rested her head against Nova.
Neither wolf spoke.
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