Chapter 56: David's Healing Touch

The infirmary was a flurry of activity as David moved from bed to bed, his hands glowing softly with healing energy. The latest training session had been particularly intense, leaving many wolves with injuries ranging from minor scrapes to more serious sprains and breaks.

"Easy now," David murmured, his touch gentle as he eased a young wolf's dislocated shoulder back into place. The wolf whimpered, then sighed in relief as David's healing power soothed away the pain.

As he worked, David couldn't help but feel the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. With the threat of war looming, his skills as a healer were more crucial than ever. But would they be enough?

A commotion at the infirmary entrance drew his attention. Two wolves burst in, supporting a third between them. David's heart sank as he recognized the injured wolf – Sarah, one of their most promising young fighters.

"What happened?" he demanded, quickly clearing a space for her.

"Training accident," one of the wolves panted. "She zigged when she should have zagged. Caught a nasty blow to the ribs."

David's hands moved swiftly, assessing the damage. Multiple broken ribs, internal bleeding – it was bad. In the past, an injury like this would have taken weeks to heal, time they didn't have.

Taking a deep breath, David closed his eyes, reaching deep within himself for the well of healing power he knew resided there. He had been pushing himself harder lately, trying to expand his abilities, but he had never attempted anything on this scale before.

As his hands began to glow, David felt the familiar warmth of his healing energy. But this time, he didn't stop at the surface. He pushed deeper, visualizing the damaged tissue, the broken bones, willing them to knit back together.

The strain was immense. Sweat beaded on David's brow, his hands trembling with effort. But slowly, miraculously, he could feel Sarah's body responding. The bleeding stopped, the bones began to realign.

When he finally opened his eyes, David found the infirmary eerily silent. Every eye was on him, faces etched with awe and disbelief. Sarah blinked up at him, her eyes clear and alert.

"How... how do you feel?" David asked, his voice hoarse with exhaustion.

Sarah sat up cautiously, then broke into a wide grin. "I feel... amazing. Like it never happened. David, how did you do that?"

Before he could answer, his vision swam. The room tilted alarmingly, and David felt himself falling. Strong arms caught him before he hit the ground, and he looked up to see Jessica's worried face.

"David? David, can you hear me?"

He managed a weak nod, trying to push himself up. But his body felt like lead, drained in a way he had never experienced before.

"I'm okay," he mumbled. "Just... tired."

Jessica's eyes narrowed with concern. "You've done enough for today. You need rest."

As she helped him to a nearby cot, David could hear the excited whispers spreading through the infirmary. Word of what he had done would soon reach the entire pack.

Once he was settled, Jessica perched on the edge of the cot, her voice low. "David, that was incredible. But also reckless. You could have seriously hurt yourself."

David managed a weak smile. "Had to try, Jess. We need every advantage we can get."

Her expression softened. "I know. But we need you healthy too. Promise me you won't push yourself like that again without backup."

He nodded, already feeling sleep tugging at him. As he drifted off, David's last thought was of the pack, of the battles yet to come. His newfound ability could change everything – if he could learn to control it.

Hours later, David awoke to find the infirmary quiet and dimly lit. As he sat up, he was surprised to find James sitting nearby, his face etched with concern.

"Welcome back," James said softly. "How are you feeling?"

David took stock of himself. The bone-deep exhaustion had faded, replaced by a humming energy just beneath his skin. "Better," he replied. "Different, somehow."

James nodded. "What you did earlier... it's changed things, David. The pack is talking. They're calling it a miracle."

David shook his head. "Not a miracle. Just... an evolution, maybe. Of what we're all capable of."

A thoughtful look crossed James's face. "Do you think you could teach others? Expand our healing capabilities?"

"I can try," David said. "But James, there's something you should know. When I was healing Sarah, I felt... connected. Not just to her, but to everything. The pack, the land, even the shadows lurking at our borders. It was like I could sense the balance of life itself."

James leaned forward, his eyes intent. "What are you saying, David?"

David took a deep breath. "I'm saying that this war... it's not just about us versus them. It's about the very balance of nature. And if we're not careful, our actions could have consequences far beyond what we can imagine."

A heavy silence fell between them. David could see the weight of this new information settling on James's shoulders, adding to the already immense burden of leadership.

Finally, James spoke. "We need to talk to Jessica. And Elara. If what you're saying is true, we may need to rethink our entire approach to this war."

As James left to gather the others, David stood, stretching muscles that felt both familiar and strange. His newfound power thrummed just beneath the surface, eager to be used.

But with that power came a new understanding, a glimpse of a larger picture that both awed and terrified him. As he made his way out of the infirmary, David couldn't shake the feeling that they were standing on the precipice of something monumental.

The coming days would test them all in ways they couldn't imagine. But for the first time since this crisis began, David felt a glimmer of real hope. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together, with every tool and ability at their disposal.

The true test was yet to come. But they would be ready.