Healing - The Hot Springs

Hypnos and Khione made the long, arduous journey from their home to Alurik in search of Setina’s Hot Springs. Both of the tokotas had been aching and in pain for some time, but due to their constant get-up-and-go nature, neither of them had the time to stop and rest and heal. It took the begging of their handler Daelin to get them to make the journey to the hot springs that were lauded as a place to heal yourself; both physically and spiritually. Khione’s head had been throbbing for what felt like months, and Hypnos’ old injuries in his hind legs were beginning to cause him trouble again.

They made their way to the shadow of Ravarri where the hot springs were nestled. They avoided the bath houses that charged admission fees in favor of going to one of the wild pools. Neither Khione nor Hypnos were too keen on mingling with tourists or the locals. Too many strangers stressed them out and they were here to heal, not have their anxiety tripled. They walked past pools filled with other tokotas that were swimming and splashing in the natural hot water. They passed by Old Benevolent, at a distance, and watched it erupt. It sent a geyser of water hundreds of feet in the air that dissipated into steam and mist. The mist settled thickly around their paws and clung to their pelts.

The duo found a secluded hot spring near the edge of the treeline. Hypnos waded in first and relished the feeling of the hot water on his aching joints. It was just enough heat to make him pant, but not enough to burn him or make him uncomfortably warm. Khione followed in after him and sat across from his companion. The steam from the hot spring opened up his sinuses and cleared his head, immediately dissipating some of his headache. They sat in comfortable silence letting the waters work their magic on their injuries. Occasionally, Hypnos would open his eyes and shake his head to keep from dozing off. Khione watched the trees sway in the wind and observed some of the tourists in the other hot springs as they got up to shenanigans.

“So, how’d you get injured?” Khione asked as he looked back at Hypnos.

Hypnos cracked open one eye and regarded Khione silently for a moment. He took a deep breath and huffed it out his nose. “It’s a long story. I forget that you’re new to the pack. I’m surprised you haven’t heard,” Hypnos said.

“I’ve heard things,” Khione said plainly, “I would just rather hear it from the source. Words get twisted from person to person. Only you know what really happened.”

“I’ll tell the story only if you tell me how you banged your head,” Hypnos said.

Khione splashed his paws in the water and shrugged. “That sounds fair,” he said.

“Fine,” Hpynos said. He sank deeper down into the hot springs, letting the water wash over more of his aching body. He wanted to dunk his head under, but he thought he’d save that for last before they left. He didn’t think he could relax too much with water in his ears. “I was on a hunt. I stumbled across a bear cub. I didn’t smell it until I was right up on it. I scared the poor thing half to death. It let out this terrible wail,” Hypnos said.

Khione nodded along, only half listening as he sank his own body deeper into the water. Instead of waiting like Hypnos, he dunked his head under the water and kept it there for a moment, keeping just his ears and the very top of his head above the surface. He could still hear Hypnos tell his story that way. Hypnos rolled his eyes at Khione and continued on.

“Well, when a baby bear cries, his mother isn’t far off. The mom came crashing through the trees right behind me. Slammed me against the trunk of an oak. Brought her paws down right on my hind legs. I don’t remember anything after that. I just know I’ve been living with the aftermath ever since,” Hypnos said. He stretched out one of his back legs. The bones and joints popped in several places. The hot springs remedied a bit of the pain, but he would always live with a mild ache for the rest of his life. He still couldn’t run as fast or for as long as he used to. Hypnos splashed water in Khione’s direction. “Your turn. Spill.”

Khione resurfaced so he could speak. Water dripped down his face and into his eyes. He spit some of the water out of his mouth before speaking. “Would you believe me if I told you I had a rock dropped on my head while I was exploring?” Khione asked.

Hypnos squinted his eyes at his companion in suspicion. “No, but I have a feeling I don’t even want to know the real story,” Hypnos said.

Khione laughed and splashed Hypnos with water. The two broke out into a friendly water fight, dunking one another under the water and wrestling, their injuries hurting less and nearly forgotten.