Dawn's New Path

Chapter 15, Abilities of Pride Healers

   The next day Willow was awake early. She wanted to hear more of Dawn's stories as soon as possible. However Dawn had already left to hunt according to Dusk, so Willow asked her to tell her something else about the pride.

   "I guess I'll talk about healers' abilities," Dusk said. "Most healers used herbs to heal wounds and illnesses, but some had the strange ability to spontaneously heal patients by using their own energy. It was basically transferring energy from the healthy healer to the ailing patient. Some healers could speak to smaller forest creatures, and sometimes they even had a familiar. This was helpful because they were safer with a familiar than they were alone, and healers were often out alone."

   "That's strange," Willow replied. "Why would the healers be out alone?"

   "All healers had reasonably good battle training, and they had abilities other cats didn't," Dusk answered. "In fact some healers were trained to go into battle to heal fighters on the spot. That required extensive training in both battle and healing skills. Some healers actually had no gifted healing powers and were never trained as battle-healers for such reason. Battle healers had the strongest healing  powers and often a strong familiar to back them up in battle. They lived a dangerous but greatly respected life. That's all I have to say."

   Dusk got up and walked outside. She padded down the broken sidewalks opposite the way Dawn went. She curled up in a sheltered spot between two collapsed buildings where part of a board was overhanging it. The space was just big enough for her to fit, and she at some point fell asleep.

   It was around sunset when Dusk woke up. She calmly padded back to the abandoned house. When she got back she found that Dawn was already back.

   "Ah, Dusk where have you been all this time?" Dawn asked.

   "I just needed time to think outside," Dusk quietly replied.

    "Well Willow asked you about the pride earlier right?" Dawn inquired. "Is that why you needed to think?"

   "Part of it yeah, but that wasn't all. You've been scenting it too lately, the scent of humans approaching this place, haven't you."

   "Yes Dusk you're right. I have, though I doubt we need to worry."

   "I need more time to consider this."

   "Get some rest Dusk."

   "I will. Don't worry about that."

   So Dusk went to the torn up bed she always slept on to rest. She didn't fall asleep until long after Dawn had hopped up next to her. The next morning though they would find trouble.