Snippet #1646215

Nathaniel, kind as he was, offered to help Caramel carry the man immediately. And as they walked over Caramel could sense that Nathaniel had concerns, perhaps he thought she had already made up her mind? Well in truth she had, she could smell the scent on him, and she knew that he would have to put down. But it wasn’t good to let Nathan know that just yet, as he was a sharp person who would be curious as to her precognition of the man’s condition.

“They have been acting strangely lately…and who knows? Maybe he fought only one lycan? Maybe he was strong enough to fight it off…who knows.” She assured him, smiling sadly, rarely was there such good luck. There were candles burning in the herb room, special candles that she had made a mixed herself. The slight smell of mint cleared the nose, and the incense that she lit gave off a smoke that naturally fatigued a person. The vial holding the burning stick was always placed next to the patient’s head, so as to help calm them. This incense was of her own making, and her own secret that even the Red Cap knew nothing of.

Her attention turned to the man as he answered Nathaniel. “That’s alright dear.” She cooed, the bells in her hair jingled quietly, emitting her calm voice to put him at ease, she had no desire to end his life while he was in a panic. Whenever she could, she liked to lull the doomed into security, so at least they could die having felt trust and safety. Such a thing only added to her own agonizing guilt, but it was what made her patient’s ordeal easier, and that was all that mattered.

However her initial response didn’t calm him down, he seemed to know what she was looking for. Her eyebrows knitted together in worry as he stripped, she was usually the one to do the stripping. It the patient stripped themselves and saw that they had a bite, they usually became erratic. She placed a hand on his bare chest, pushing down firmly but gently, she could feel his quickened heartbeat, and see his quickened breath. “Calm down, breath…my job is not to harm you…” She held his gaze in her own soft one until he remained still. She was thankful she was so good at this, rarely was anyone capable of freaking out when in her presence. Of course the incense helped tremendously too.

Her fingertips traced lightly where she needed to examine, only his chest was injured however. She was deeply surprised to find that no bite was decipherable in his skin, not unless you closely examined one of the slashes, and no one save her would see that, especially not when his torso looked so covered in gore. Dried blood everywhere, he was a bit of a mess. The Red Cap entered and Caramel paused as she asked her silent question. She had two choices, either reveal the bite hidden in the gash, or keep it a secret and hope for the best. She could blame it on the slashes hiding the bite, she could hope that he would retain his senses, she could hope. And how she wanted to hope, too much death already for one day; or rather too much hurt. “Nathaniel, could you fetch me some boiled water? I’m going to clean him up.” Nathaniel’s cue that the man was ok, and she no longer needed him present.

“He needs medical attention, but he has not been bitten.” She looked him in the face, to see his expression. “You’ll be back to health in no time Mr…your name?”