Chapter Text
Chapter one
The ever growing darkness of Nyx had encapsulated the sky signaling to the overworld that night had come once more. With that the forest came to life, an owl hooting in the distance, the scattered steps of geckos on the forest floor, and the whizzing sounds of bats flying around could all be heard if one held their breath and paid attention carefully. Being careful and observant was second nature for someone like Melanie. The roads and forests posed many great dangers and if you wished to survive these were skills you would need to obtain if you travelled as much as she did. Any tradesmen or healer could tell you as much.
If she had been any wiser, she would have set up camp a few hours ago before sunset when she came across an older couple in a cottage with her wolf Orion. They were in need of help, needing a medicine that could help their bedridden son but they could not afford to go into a local town to buy any sort of remedy for their son's fever. The poor boy had been going in and out of consciousness all day before Melanie had arrived. She came knocking on the cottage door to see if she could fill her waterskin with the well on their property and before she knew it she had commanded Orion to wait and was inside their home.
The older couple was worried that the boy would not make it past spring, and with how the boy was shaking and groaning it was beginning to look like they were right. Oddly enough these are the kind of moments Melanie lived for, for anyone who she came across that was in need of a healer. She would get to pretend that they were her friends or her family even if it was only temporarily. To be in a home where she was free to talk and laugh with others, maybe have a meal with them too if she was lucky and no matter how short of a stay it was. It always made her happy to give another person a sense of hope.
The boy's health was now her priority before anything else. She made him chamomile tea and let lemon balm leaves steep in one of the family's clay jars of wine. She instructed the older couple to keep him warm until he was no longer quivering and to make sure they put a fresh cloth soaked in water on his forehead every hour for the next two days. The boy would need to keep drinking the tea and wine until after the fever breaks. She gifted the family a small amount of saffron to use in cooking to try and evade the illness from spreading. The family was very kind to her, they made her laugh, shared their bread with her, and let her fill her waterskin. They offered her lodging but she politely declined stating she must make her way to Arcadia for more supplies. After saying a quick blessing for the family of the house before leaving. She called for Orion to follow and set out for Arcadia once more.
Technically she did not lie to the older couple; she did have to make her way to Arcadia and only had two more moons to go. Though she may have omitted the true reasoning on why she was leaving so soon. Just like her father if Melanie was around a mortal for too long eventually something was bound to go wrong. That is why she became a travelling healer and why she is on the road every few months, keeping her head down, and never really talking to anyone. She had grown a reputation when she was younger due to that inflicted curse upon her and she never wants to relive it ever again. Though time and time again she would catch herself longing for what she could not have… companionship. How ridiculous it is to be able to heal anything but old age and yet kill anyone that might even begin to love her.
Luckily for her the power to heal others with her mind and hands was not the only thing she inherited from her father. The art of music was something she could always enjoy especially on a warm night like tonight where the gentle winds already began to sing to her. She got up from where she was sitting to go grab her lyre and yet it was no longer sitting where she had placed it while she was setting up camp for the night. Her heart began to race. The lyre was gifted to her from her grandmother to remember who she is and where she comes from. Now it is gone and she can no longer think straight.
NO where could it be? Where could it be?
She was storming around through her camp picking up clothing, rummaging through her bags, and shaking out her makeshift bed.
Could I have left it at the cottage? There's no way! There is absolutely no way!
She could have never left it at the older couple's cottage; she never even took it off her person or at least she doesn't think so.
I swear I left it here by this tree. Could someone have taken it? No, I would have been able to hear them! Wouldn't I have? I will just have to make my way to the cottage by first light.
With a large huff she slammed herself back down onto the ground laying on her makeshift bed by the small fire made earlier in the night. Taking deep breaths slowly to try and ease her nerves. While Orion got comfortable and laid down next to her.
It is not gone.. Everything will be okay… I just need to sleep..
She did not realize how exhausted she really is until this moment. Her eyelids feel heavy and her body aches from weeks of travel. She craves the moment she can sleep in a bed again. With that her vision goes black and she is out like a light.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hermes always preferred nature over cities and towns. The Forests and Mountains are great for hiding and playing tricks on travelers. Plus it was a favorite pastime of his to tease and mess with Artemis in her own territory. Though today was just like any other day, well that was until something or someone rather caught his eye. A young woman with long wavy black hair and olive green eyes. She smelt of herbs and had a lyre secured to her belt, a wolf followed just behind her but she did not seem afraid.
Ahhh a travelling disciple of Apollo, how fun! I have not gotten the chance to play the lyre in quite some time!