10

Mika, Theo and Devion were finally getting close to the Silver Mines settlement. Mika was getting excited for finally reaching his prize. It only cost him two trolls, and three mermaids, and a boat. They padded up to the trail leading to the east side of the village. *Alright guys lets do this.* Mika shifted back to his human form and the other two followed. Theo passed around their pants and shirts. "Where is the drop location exactly?' Mika said as he managed to pull his pants over his sore legs. "At the tavern." They looked on, this settlement was much bigger than the last few they had passed. "Which one?" Devion asked absently. A slight breeze picked up bring the different scents from within the settlement.
"Not a big deal guys, smell that?" Mika grinned. "We can follow that. Split up."
The men dispersed nonchalantly sniffing their way around town. mike had caught on to the wolf's scent. It smelt sweet, like magnolia flowers, and crisp water. Female. His mouth watered at the sensations it was stirring in him. He went down the main road, the scent was faint but it was recent. He went to a small cabin were a skinny man worked away treating people. He stepped in asking the older man if a woman had come by seeking assistance. The skeleton looking man looked up behind two glasses that magnified his eyes, “Yes sir, some girl was seeking a healer. She was highly impatient. I had other more pressing patients so I sent her on." Mika growled his displeasure, “Where?" he said through gritted teeth. The mans huge bulbous eyes blinked behind the glass, “to the witch on the far side of town." Mika left abruptly following her scent. Theo, Devion had already traced back her scent to Mika. "She went to see a witch. One of the companions maybe hurt. I do not smell blood on her scent."
Mika knocked on the door, forcefully. The wood panel shaking under his strength. No answer. Mika went to pound harder when a older woman's eyes peered from behind the boards. They gapped as she realized what stood at her doorstep. "Go away wolf. I wont help you." Mika growled his disapproval. He could also smell she had mountain ash oil she'd open from a bottle. More than likely to protect herself. Mountain ash oil was a poison to werewolves. it slowed our healing abilities when put on wounds, if we ate it could poison us like cyanide to humans.
"I don't want you witch I am seeking a girl." Mika said sternly.
"Yes she came for herbs." The woman answered. "you better not have given her mountain ash!" He snapped.
"Nnn, no no I only gave herbs, I gave her nothing more." the woman said shakily from behind the door. Mika could taste her fear through the door. "Didn't they work?" Mika looked back confused unaware of her early dealings with Ari, Mika pressed on, “I don't know what you gave her or if she is alive. I need to know what you were treating, fast."
"I gave her herbs for blood poisoning, she said her friend had a infected wound. I told her to give her the tea. I really did try to help. I swear it!" she cried. Mika heard the truth in her words. “I believe you witch, pray they are okay." and he departed her door without a sound. Theo looked back as he heard the wooden door creak open and a short older woman cautiously step outside. She was still holding a brown bottle of mountain ash oil. He grinned, she was terrified of them- good.
They raced following the strongest scent line back through the west side of the wood line. Mika could smell the various scents of horses, humans, and the wolf's scent on the road. his only focus though would be to follow her scent. From what he could tell there was only one wolf that had gone into town and had left. His heart dropped had he lost some already? Was he already a failure?

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Back at the cabin night had already fallen. Ari made it back to Talia to find she was coated in sweat and talking non sense. "Don't let them get me. They are coming." she cried. Ari placed cool rags on her head trying to help ease the fever. She tried to get Talia to drink the tea the witch had given her. It took a few tries to finally convivence Talia to drink and not throw it across the room. The first time she screamed "You wont make me obey!" she'd snapped.
"Talia, its me Ari I am here to help you, please drink. For the baby." she said calmly, but all Talia heard was, “I’m here for the baby." she trashed some more. Ari was trying her hardest to be gentle but that was quickly becoming a liability. Talai was forcing Ari to strap her to the wood table for fear she'd hurt herself or the baby. "Talai I am gonna have to do something you aren't going to like sweetie." Ari bite her lip. This was not going to be pleasant. She'd boiled water and laid out her different knives. She needed her skinning knife and long bladed knife she would use to seal the wound when done since she didn't have a needle or thread. She laid her long blade in the fire.
"Ok big stick." Talai wailed so loud the house felt like it rocked. Ari's attention zeroed in, and she was lost in the removal of the dead rotting flesh that threatened Talai "I know sweetie, I'm sorry." she grimaced as she scraped away. At some point Talai either lost consciousness from the fever or from pain. Ari was not sure. Fresh blood was beginning to leak out of the wound, but it was slow and not spurting, both good signs Ari thought. She steadily continued scrapping trying to be kind to Talia and not put any undue stress on her or the baby.
Ari was broken out of her concentration when the sound of a wolf howl broke in the distance. This brought Talia around and she began thrashing and screaming again. "They are coming!" she screamed bloody murder. Her wails and cries seemed to spur the wolves outside into a frenzy. Ari was almost done she just needed to close the wound. She reached for the long blade in the fire when the door splintered open. There stood a massive grey wolf with piercing blue eyes. He was growling ready to attack with those knife length canines. Ari stood strong, holding her skinning knife in one hand and her red hot long blade in the other. She gritted her teeth ready for the fight.