The wind nipped at Fay's cheeks as she moved through the close-knit village. All around her, the villagers went about their daily routines: women watched over children while washing clothes by the mill, tended to their gardens and tranquilids, or prepared their wares for the market.
The men, for their part, worked the fields or labored in trades such as carpentry and pottery. But what united them all was the warmth and sincerity in their actions. Fay called out, offering cheerful greetings, and returned the warm smiles and waves of everyone she passed.
"Fay, dear, you always seem to arrive just when I need you," an elderly woman remarked with a warm smile as she spotted the girl approaching her porch. "My arthritis has been especially bothersome today," she added with a soft wince while rubbing her hand, then her eyes twinkled, taking in Fay's new outfit. "And I must say, those clothes suit you perfectly. You look absolutely lovely."
"Do you really think so?" Fay asked, her voice bright with excitement as she twirled, the fabric of her dress spinning gracefully around her.
"Of course," the woman affirmed, her eyes gleaming with affection. "You truly look like an angel."
As opposed to the bare feet and rags that Fay wore before, the girl now stood wrapped in a beige, fleece-lined poncho cloak. Unlike the long cloaks she had once known, this one tapered gracefully at her waist, allowing her to move with ease. Beneath the hooded poncho, a white dress with delicate layers of ruffles peeked out. Her legs were adorned with cozy, cream-colored leg warmers tied with petite red ribbons, perfectly complementing her red shoes.
Fay's cheeks flushed pink. "Thank you," she murmured. "Oh, here's the ointment you ordered," she said, coming to a stop in front of the woman's rocking chair. "Lefahne wanted me to mention that extra Soothecap Mushroom has been added to the salve to help with your inflammation and swelling. She also included more Lunarfrost Lily to ease the pain, but… she did stress that you should try to exercise regularly to lose a little weight."
The elderly woman accepted the salve with a sheepish smile, then offered a basket of freshly baked treats. "I made a batch of my nan's famous cookies," she said proudly. "They're the best in all of Lunarel!"
Fay smiled innocently as she accepted the gift. "Lefahne also mentioned that, in the event you try bribing us with sweets, I should tell you it doesn't change the fact that you need to exercise."
The woman's eyes widened in surprise, followed by a sheepish cough as she muttered under her breath, "Lefahne, that vixen."
Fay giggled at her response.
Then the woman cleared her throat. "This old body's been worked to the bone over the years, but I'll give it my best. Thank you, Fay."
With a warm smile, Fay waved as she turned to leave, the basket of cookies gently cradled in her arms. "I'll see you next time, Mrs. Ashbi—and thanks again for the cookies!"
***
"Hang in there just a bit longer, boy," a middle-aged man uttered softly as he tenderly ran his hand through the fur of his loyal canine companion. "I'm sure she'll be here any minute now."
The Bearhound whined weakly.
"Mr. McLean!" Fay called from a distance.
"Speak of the devil."
Breathless, Fay rushed into the man's yard, a vial of green potion already extended in her hand. "I'm so sorry for the delay," she apologized, glancing down at the hound too weak to even lift its head. "I should've come here first before stopping by Mrs. Ashbi's."
McLean nodded as he quickly poured the liquid into a wooden bowl. "Her place is on the way here," he replied, his voice steady despite the urgency. "And I know she's been suffering for quite some time. She deserves some relief."
"So, what happened?" Fay asked, her voice tinged with concern as she watched the once-vibrant hound weakly lap up the elixir.
McLean's gaze darkened as the memory resurfaced. "We were out hunting and foraging this morning when ol' Sal here decided to snack on some poisonous mushrooms."
Fay's eyes widened in alarm. "Oh no."
The man nodded grimly. "Yeah. Fortunately, I noticed in time before he ate too much."
Fay softly ran her hand over the resting canine, her thoughts briefly drifting to her own companion. "He'll be alright," she reassured with a gentle smile. "Now that he's been medicated. The potion should force him to regurgitate the mushrooms that were ingested, and then work to neutralize the poison left in his system. After he's thrown up, just feed him plenty of water to keep hydrated. Then, after twenty-four hours, he should be able to digest food again. Just don't start off with anything too hearty, kay."
"Thank you," McLean replied, his expression clearly softening with relief. "Make sure to convey my gratitude to your parents as well."
Fay's eyes widened at the mention of that. While she wouldn't dare go as far as to consider Lefahne and Zurrel her surrogate parents, time had undoubtedly melted away the awkwardness that once lingered between them, slowly weaving a quiet sense of belonging in its place.
***
After completing the last of her deliveries, Fay returned home to the familiar and welcoming warmth of the residence that also served as an apothecary. Outside, Lefahne could be seen carefully tending to the flora inside the greenhouse. A temperature-regulating magic circle hummed softly, ensuring the survival of even the most tropical flora that wouldn't survive the harsh winter otherwise. The plants were essential, providing a wide variety of ingredients for the potions they crafted.
Inside, Zurrel was hard at work. Between assisting customers and maintaining the shop, he was skillfully synthesizing a variety of brews, powders, and ointments, ensuring their stock of remedies remained well-supplied for their patrons. Though the work was demanding, both he and Lefahne found deep satisfaction in their craft. It was a labor of love, one that bound them to the very essence of their shared purpose.
"Fay, welcome back," Lefahne greeted warmly as she entered the shop. "Did you manage to get everything delivered?"
"I did."
"And Mrs. Ashbi?" Zurrel asked, a knowing grin spreading across his face. "I take it she wasn't too thrilled about the exercise suggestion?"
Fay giggled softly, a warmth filling her chest as she looked around the home that had become her sanctuary, a place where she felt truly at ease for the first time in a long while.
Lefahne and Zurrel had presumed her demihuman heritage, noticing the way she instinctively concealed herself, and they understood the deep trauma that came with it. They never pressed her, instead allowing her the space to reveal herself in her own time, at her own pace.
Though Fay had not yet opened up fully, they had seen small changes. Her warm smiles, the soft words shared during their quiet moments together, and her increasingly comfortable interactions with them all spoke volumes. They didn't expect to heal all her wounds overnight, but they were content with the progress, knowing that, little by little, they were helping her feel safe enough to begin healing. For them, that was more than enough.
"Ohyah?" remarked a middle-aged woman as she entered the shop, a curious eye sweeping the room. "And who's this charming young lady? Did you two manage to find yourselves a lovely little helper while I wasn't paying attention?"
"Lugene," Lefahne greeted warmly. "It's good to see you. And yes, Fay is the newest addition to our team. She's been a tremendous help."
"Is that so?" the woman replied with a sweet smile, turning to the little girl. "Fay, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Fay gave a shy wave, then leaned in slightly to whisper, "Who's that?"
Zurrel leaned in, as well, his voice low. "Her name is Lugene Kaelmont. She and her husband, Rue, operate another apothecary in the city. We sometimes trade medical supplies and equipment during emergencies."
"So, what brings you by today?" Lefahne asked.
"I'm just returning some supplies I borrowed last week," the woman replied, lifting a basket. "Business has slowed down a bit, so we've had the time to restock and return what we owe. But I must admit," she added, her eyes scanning the shop where customers browsed the shelves, "business here seems to be thriving."
Lefahne flinched at the mention, an uncomfortable smile tugging at the sides of her lips. "It's just a brief surge," she explained, trying to downplay it. "I'm sure things will settle back down soon."
"Well, if there's one thing that hasn't slowed," Lugene replied, her tone turning more serious, "it's the influx of addicts who have been pouring in for help."
Lefahne's expression became grave. "I agree. Merely offering help won't suffice anymore. The problem needs to be dealt with at its root if there's any hope of bringing this to an end."
Zurrel's frown deepened as he glanced down at the powder within his mortar. "All we can do now is hope that once the war is over, the government will finally step in and dismantle the dealers' network."
An uncomfortable silence settled over the room before Lugene knelt in front of Fay, offering a gentle smile. "We should save this conversation for another time," she said kindly, giving the girl's head a soft pat. "We're making her uneasy."
"Forgive us, Fay," Zurrel muttered, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment.
Lefahne mirrored her husband's sheepish expression. "I'm sorry as well. Like Zurrel said, I'm confident everything will settle down once the war is over, so try not to dwell on it too much."
"There's absolutely no need to burden yourself with these adult thoughts just yet," Lugene reassured softly, her voice gentle. "Do you enjoy helping out Lefahne and Zurrel with the shop?"
Fay nodded, her expression a little more relaxed.
"Good," Lugene smiled warmly. "Then just keep doing your best and don't forget to have fun, alright? Since both apothecaries share supplies during emergencies, I'm sure we'll be crossing paths more often."
"Okay," Fay nodded again.
"In that case," Lugene continued, offering her hand with a smile, "I'm looking forward to working together, Fay."
Fay's smile brightened as she shook the woman's hand. "Me too."