The fall
1123 Words
Selene woke the morning after her encounter with Grey, her mind still churning with questions. The strange warrior's cold grey eyes haunted her thoughts. She knew he was lying about being a simple mercenary.
She could feel it in her bones.
She sat up slowly, surprised by the sunlight streaming through her window. It was later than she expected. Her body ached, but her mind was clearer than it had been in days.
"I can't remember the last time I slept so deeply," she murmured, stretching her arms above her head. Her muscles protested, but the rest had done her good. Her body had needed this.
Needed to stop.
Needed to heal.
She spent the morning in her small healing sanctuary, preparing new batches of medicine. The familiar rhythm of grinding herbs and measuring powders soothed her. The scent of lavender and chamomile filled the air, calming her restless wolf. She worked methodically, her hands steady, her mind focused on the task at hand.
By afternoon, she was ready to return to the training grounds.
---
The training grounds were quieter than usual. Most of the warriors were resting after the morning drills. Selene settled onto a cot, arranging her supplies, ready to treat whoever needed her.
As she treated the wounded warriors, she noticed something odd.
A group of warriors were whispering among themselves, casting furtive glances toward the border. Selene approached casually, pretending to check on a soldier's bandages, and overheard fragments of their conversation.
"... a strange wolf was seen near the border last night..."
"...scent was wrong. Not rogue. Not pack..."
"... Alpha's been informed..."
Selene's blood ran cold.
"Alpha ?"
She excused herself and made her way toward the border, her heart pounding. Could Grey be connected to this? Was he not just a mercenary, but something more dangerous?
She searched the area where the strange wolf was seen, but found nothing. The forest was silent, the only sound the rustling of leaves in the wind. She crouched down, examining the ground for tracks, but there was nothing.
No scent.
No footprints. Nothing.
As she turned to leave, her foot caught on a tree root. She stumbled, crashing to the ground. Pain exploded through her knees as they connected with sharp rocks.
Selene hissed through her teeth, inspecting the damage. Her knees were badly scraped, blood seeping through her torn trousers. She limped back to the manor, each step sending fire through her legs.
Back in her chambers, Selene treated her wounds herself slowly, cleaning the gashes, applying healing salves, wrapping them in clean bandages.
The pain was manageable, but exhaustion weighed heavily on her. She lay down on her bed, closing her eyes, and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
---
Morning light streamed through the window. Selene blinked awake, her knees throbbing.
Her knees were still ached, but the bandages held firm beneath her gown.
She limped slightly as she tried to sit up, but it was manageable.
"I couldn't even sleep well through the night. It's really a terrible thing to be in pain,“ her wolf murmured.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Healer Ashcroft? I've brought your meal."
Selene looked up carefully. "Come in."
A young maid entered with a tray of fresh bread, fruit, and tea. Her hands trembled slightly as she set it on the table. Selene recognized her—the same maid she'd collided with yesterday, the one hiding something behind her back.
"Thank you," Selene said, studying the maid's pale face. "What's your name?"
"Lily, Healer." The maid curtsied, her eyes darting nervously. "Is there anything else you need?"
Selene shook her head. "That's all. Thank you, Lily."
The maid hurried out, clearly eager to escape.
Selene ate slowly, her mind wandering about Grey, the strange warrior. The mysterious wolf near the border. The maid's nervous behavior.
A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in," she called.
The door opened. And Selene froze.
Grey stood in the doorway, his grey eyes unreadable. His scarred face was expressionless, his posture guarded.
"Healer." He stepped inside, closing the door behind him. "I hope I'm very much welcome here?"
Selene's heart pounded.
Her wolf stirred with warning. She gripped the edge of the bed, forcing calm into her voice.
"Why are you here? And, of course, you are welcome."
"Thank you, healer."
Selene beamed.
Grey was silent for a long moment. His grey eyes searched her face, looking for something she couldn't name.
Then the door opened again. Lily entered with a pitcher of hot water.
"I brought fresh water for your wounds, Healer—" The maid stopped, her eyes widened when she saw Grey. Her face paled. She nearly dropped the pitcher.
Selene frowned. "Lily, are you alright?"
"Y-yes, Healer." Lily set down the water, her hands trembling.
Grey touched his head.
As Selene turned to reach for a towel, Lily quickly pressed a small note into Grey's palm.
Grey's expression didn't change. He slid the note into his pocket without a word.
Lily hurried out, her footsteps echoing down the corridor.
Selene turned back, missing the exchange entirely. She picked up the towel and wiped her hands, oblivious.
"Grey," she said, her voice firm. "I asked you a question. Why are you here?"
Grey's grey eyes studied her for a moment. "I wanted to check on your knee. I heard you fell at the border."
Selene blinked, surprised. "How did you know I fell?"
"People talk." His voice was flat. "You're well-known, Healer. People notice when you limped."
Selene's suspicion deepened. But she said nothing. She watched him carefully, noting the tension in his shoulders, the way his eyes kept flicking toward the door.
"Can I come see you in the afternoon?" he asked, calmly.
Selene's jaw tightened. "Why?"
"I want to see you again." His voice was neutral, giving nothing away. "I have... questions. About healing."
Selene didn't believe him for a second. But she nodded anyway. "Yes. I'll be here."
Grey's eyes flashed with something—relief? Gratitude? It was gone before she could read it.
"Thank you, Healer." He turned toward the door. "I'll see you soon."
He left, closing the door softly behind him.
Selene stared at the closed door, her mind racing.
What was that about? Why did he really come here? And what was he hiding?
She looked at her bandaged knee, grimacing at the pain. She had more pressing concerns right now. She needed to focus on healing herself, regaining her strength.
But the questions lingered.
Who is Grey really?
What does he want?
And what is he hiding?
Selene settled back against her pillows, exhaustion pulling at her. Tomorrow, she would find answers.
Tomorrow, she would uncover the truth.
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