Loneliness eats at one's heart slowly. Life is always better when a friend can be found to share it. But being a healer makes you encounter many folks of all walks of life along the way. Hugin knew this better than anyone. He just hoped he could find a friend to share his time with before his own life came to an end. A busom companion, someone to confide in in ways and about things White Raven would never understand. Perhaps in healing he would find such a friend? 
     Hugin was feeling impish, and impatient. He longed to follow an unbearable itch that pulled him towards someone who was in need of healing. He couldn't say how, or even why they did, but he could feel it deep down in his bones and White Raven was taking hell and forever to get her bony butt astride so they could fly! It truly was unlike him to be so impatient, but he couldn't help but to feel driven to find the one in need.  
    White Raven could feel his impatience, but

     'Lavinia? What happened to you?'  Alban asked in a surprised tone as his companion came into his cave. Ever since he'd been applying himself studiously to the practice of magic, he'd finally tapped into the power of telepathic communication. He had long learned the common tongue of Lavinia's kind, and now he was able to actually 'speak' directly to her, instead of merely having to communicate through body language alone. It made communication so much easier now that he was able to respond with more than just a nod or shake of his head.
     Now he looked at his companion, who was looking wet, bedraggled, and thoroughly humiliated. He cheeks still held a tinge of color, and she refused to even look into his eyes. If she wouldn't even look at him, she must be ashamed indeed. When she sat down with her back to him, he snaked his head over, and rested it beside her.
     'What happened?'  He prompted,