[TOW] Crushed Dreams

Ever since feeling better enough to walk around, Aelfric had been pacing restlessly near where Aesa was being held while healers from all three packs worked tirelessly to save her life. Aelfric was told under no uncertain terms that Aesa may not make it as she had lost a lot of blood by the time he managed to pull her to safety. Aelfric was frightened, distraught and terrified. His sister's life was on the line and, if she let go, Aelfric would have no close family left. He still has family, of course, being a Lumiere with extensive heritage and living family members, but Aesa was his closest family member aside from a few cousins he didn't talk to much due to them being rather busy. Aelfric didn't want to lose her.

This morning was no different. Aelfric was restless and hung around the healer den Aesa was in before the sun even began to come up. He made sure to stay out of the way of the mesana and other healers but otherwise he did his usual routine of sticking around the area, watching as healers went in and out with herbs and other supplies to treat injured patients.

Eventually, a wolf emerged from the den and approached Aelfric. He recognized this wolf vaguely - he knew they were a mesana of Volaires, so a packmate, but he didn't know much else about this wolf. They glanced at him.

"V'ejoux. Aesa's brother, correct?" they asked.

"Yes. I'm Aelfric. V'ejoux." Aelfric said.

"Yes, Aelfric. I have news, good and bad, about Aesa. Can we take a walk to discuss?"

Aelfric's heart dropped a bit. He inferred the good news may be that Aesa might survive, but the bad news made him nervous. He gave the mesana a nod and they began to lead him away from the healer's den through the tephen moors.

"I'll start with the good news. Aesa is making a good recovery and she will live, she improves every day and we've managed to keep the wound from getting infected." the Mesana said. Aelfric sighed in relief.

"Thank you, i... it means so much. I can't thank you and the other healers enough." Aelfric said, sitting down. The Mesana glanced at Aelfric.

"Now for the bad news... well. The muscle damage the at the site of the wound is very severe and its become apparent almost immediately as we try to get Aesa up and moving. She has severe trouble with movement that doesn't seem to improve. I feel its enough to say that... she will never be a Voliel again."

For the first time in a while, Aelfric felt tears well in his eyes. That was much worse than death to Aesa! She would be crushed to hear this! Aesa already wasn't doing well mentally and now... something ruins her dreams and she had no control over it. Aelfric wanted to blame himself for not being there....

"...she'll be destroyed..." Aelfric said.

"I've heard of how passionate she is about her Voliel rank, that's why i took you in private to tell you. I feel she would take it better if she heard it from you when she is feeling better. I do think she may be able to make the journey home with some help, but otherwise i can't see that scar allowing her to do strenuous activities once its fully healed due to the damage." the Mesana said.

"...I know Aesa like the back of my own paw, she would probably flip out no matter who told her... but i'd be the only one to be able to console her, i'd think." Aelfric said. "Thank you... for telling me. I'll make sure to let her know about it as soon as appropriate... maybe after we get home as i doubt she would be able to go back to her duties by then anyway."

"Definitely not." The mesana said, "its going to take a while before she can do much of anything, but it'll heal."

"Thank you again for saving her." Aelfric said "it means a lot... and thank you for telling me all this."

"It's no problem, i should get back to helping other patients now. I'll update you if anything changes."

"Thank you. V'lieu."

"V'lieu"

the two wolves would part ways, and for the first time since the end of the war, Aelfric would head somewhere that is not the healer den that Aesa is being kept.