Realm of Wolves

Healer

Keylyn left us to get ready for the party. Nymera didn’t exchange any pleasantries. With her eyes still locked on the floor, she made her way over to the tub located in the far left corner of the room. A few minutes later running water is heard. 

In the silent room with nothing else to do i stood in my spot and watched the girl. She was making an effort to not look or face my way under any circumstances. She went as far as backing up and then squatting down to retrieve an object she has dropped instead of turning around and picking it up. Every move she made was calculated.

Something odd on her shoulder caught my eye. A red  angry bald spot. Once I noticed the bald spot I began noticing others. The worst of it was on her ankles, eating away at the skin and hair.

“Nymera” 

Immediately the girl fell to her face. 

Surprised I involuntary took several steps back. Why did she do that?

“Nymera why are you on the floor?” I asked

“You called my name I must have done something wrong.” She answered

“You did nothing wrong Nymera stand up”

Nymera didn’t not move. Her eyes darted around widely in confusion.

“It’s okay, you can stand”

Slowly Nymera got to her feet. Not wanting to scare her away I continue to remain in my position until Nymera was standing completely. Once she was on her feet I took a step forward. Nymera flinched. I stopped moving. 

“I’m curious about the rash on your feet.” I said pointing to the rash on her ankle.

Nymera clasps her hands together and looked down. “It appeared in several staff members a few months ago. I started showing signs of the rash only a couple weeks ago. It’s starting to spread. Chimeras are becoming anemic and dying.” 

I nod my head in understanding. “Do you have healers to get that looked at?”

Nymera shakes her head. “Healers won’t treat us.”

“Who looks at you when you’re sick?” I asked genuinely concerned.

Nymera looks at me puzzled. “No one my lady, we either get better on our own or we don’t.” 

“Have a seat.” I told her gesturing to the bed. “I can take a look at that”

Nymera gaped “No No its fine”

“I insist” I said with a tone of finality

Without further protest, Nymera turned off the faucet and crossed the room towards the bed. She looked lost for a moment her hands fidget clasping and unclasping her white linen dress. She started at the bed a moment. She quickly scanned the room for other sitting alternatives. Once she realizes there were none she slowly sat on the bed.

“Good” I nod my head.

I placed my wooden box on the bed next to her. Under all the creams, herbs, teas, and seeds is another compartment. In here held the tools needed to perform first aid, do surgery and even set up a mini laboratory. I take out the microscope and put it on the floor. Next I take a scalpel and a glass slide.

“I’m going to do a skin scrape” I told the girl “In order for me to do that i am going to scrape some skin cells from your ankles onto the glass and look under the microscope. This should tell me whats causing your rash. Ok?”

Nymera nodded  

I kneeled down in front of the girl and with the scalpel gently scraped some skin unto the slider. Satisfied with my skin sample I prepared the slide for viewing under the microscope. 

For a world that very young it’s weird that they have a microscope yet depend on wolves to pull carriages. The castle has modern comforts like running water and electricity. But the roads of the city are narrow and inefficient. And where are all the humans?

Coming into focus I can see little mites darting around on the glass slide. She and several other staff members have mange. A skin disease where mites burrow into the surface of the skin and feed on healthy skin tissue. These mites however are different for wolf shifters than it is for domestic animals. These mites are only found on shifter species. Also they are so rare that for a shifter to contract mange would mean that someone intentionally infected him or her. But in this case this world is entirely made up of shifters mange might be a common occurrence. I do know however that it is highly contagious. Meaning any wolf that came in contact with an infected shifter needs to be treated right away.

“What is going on?” 

Asai walked in wearing a simple white and Ivory tunic vest with matching paper bag pants. He holds what i assume would be my dress for the party. However…

“We cannot go to the party” I told him

“And why not?”

“Nymera and several other staff members are infected with mange and it’s highly contagious. Since we have been exposed to the mange we risk infecting others.”

“How do you know its mange and not an ugly rash?”

“Come look for yourself” I told him pointing at the microscope.

Asai raised an eye brow but obliged. Getting to his hands and knees he peered into the microscope. 

“Okay… I see little bugs”

“Those little bugs came off of Nymera’s ankle.”

Asai looked up at Nymera’s ankle then back into the microscope. He got to his feet and began pacing the room.

“Mange? How did she get mange”

“Why don’t you ask her” I suggested

Asai stopped pacing then sharply turned to face Nymera.

“Ask her nicely. Don’t spook her” I said    

Asai looked at me curiously then turned back t Nymera. But before he could ask her a question Nymera spoke up.

“My rash showed up a few weeks ago but it has been among the waitstaff for a few months now.”

“Who had it first?” Asia asked

“Jai but he died”

“Died?” Asai asked shocked

Nymera nods her head

“My lord what is going on?” Keylyn asked entering the room

“Keylyn, send a message to my brother and the castle that we have a mange out break. We won’t be attending the party and will be beginning quarantine today.”

Keylyn looks at Nymera coldly, before bowing his head at the prince and scurrying off.