Allura helped Flora to walk as they made their way towards the nearby town, and Rune slept soundly in his sash.

“Where do you live?” Allura asked in an effort to take her mind off the pain filling her side.

“Well… Nowhere really,” Flora answered quietly.

“You’re not from the town on the edge of the forest?” Allura asked as she glanced at the young girl.

“No… My town was near the ocean,” Flora revealed while staring at the ground.

“That’s rather far,” Allura remarked as she tried to keep herself from prying.

“No one noticed I left… I lived at the orphanage, and I hid for a few days to test it... Nobody came looking.” Flora answered as her voice faltered. “So I left… Being alone in the wild seemed better than being alone in a crowd.”

“I see, I’ve been on my own for about a year now… Well, not really, I’ve had Rune for as long as I can remember.” Allura smiled softly at the sleeping sloth and Flora glanced up to her, becoming ensnared by her eyes.

Allura’s eyes were colored like the pale petals of lilac but stood vibrantly against her porcelain skin and the dark purple hair that framed them as it cascaded just past her shoulders.

“How did you get that scar?” Flora asked curiously as she pointed to the one next to her left eye, and Allura hesitated.

“Oh- Look! the town!” Allura chimed, and Flora looked forward to find the simple houses of brick and stone lining the road ahead. “First things first!” Allura smiled. “We find the Doctor, and have them take a look at your ankle, alright?”

“What about you?” Flora pressed.

“Let’s get you taken care of first,” Allura smiled sweetly, and Flora looked away with color finding her cheeks.

The two made their way into town, finding the streets full of people that made their way in and out of shops while carrying idle chatter with one another, but the two injured girls moved through unnoticed.

Flora looked around in wonder at the tall brick buildings that held balconies with blooming flowers while Allura stayed focused on the path ahead, and they soon came across a building with a red door. On the door was a symbol, painted in white, of a snake wrapped around a stave, and the phrase, ‘May Sanocuro Watch Over Us’, painted above.

“Here we are,” Allura hummed, pushing open the door as a bell chimed softly overhead, and she helped Flora in.

“Just have a seat and I’ll be right out,” a male voice called out from somewhere deeper in the building.

“Alright,” Allura replied, glancing around nervously before helping Flora to sit on one of the chairs that lined the warm beige wall.

A desk with several papers scattered upon it sat on the other side of the room. On the corner of the desk stood a small snake statue made from jaguar stone that sat as an altar with a cone of incense burning upon, lightly scenting the room with pine.

“Why are you so nervous?” Flora pressed.

“Because the Doctor might kick Rune out, and I can’t leave him on his own, and I don’t want to leave you on your own either,” Allura answered quickly in a hushed tone.

“Ehnhhhh,” Rune whined from the sash.

“Shhh,” Allura replied as his clawed hand slowly reached up to hold onto one of her locks, and she let out a heavy sigh.

“Don’t worry,” a man hummed from behind her, and she spun to find a gentle smile with soft blue eyes framed by warm brown hair. “I won’t ‘kick’ him out,” he chuckled as he stared down into her eyes. “What can I help you with?”

“My sister got her ankle stuck in a bear trap,” Allura answered fluidly. “I’m worried it’s broken,” she added as his eyes flickered to her side.

“Is that all?” he questioned, and she nodded with a polite smile.

“This should be adequate,” she hummed while handing him a small coin purse that jingled slightly as he took it.

“Why do your foolish ideas always make their way to my shrines?” the God of Healing groused.

“Very well,” he chimed and began walking towards the back room. “Come with me.”

“To be fair,” amusement lit Larsolis’s voice, “all foolish decisions limp their way to you eventually.”

Allura quickly helped Flora to her feet and the two followed after the doctor.

“You could just ignore them, they did not pray to you, after all, Sanocuro.” Larsolis teased the God of Healing.

“I’m Doctor Alaunus by the way,” the doctor hummed as they entered a well-lit room and he motioned to the table in the center of the room. “Have your sister sit up there,” he added as Allura helped Flora onto the table, and he moved to the sink. “When did this happen?” he pressed while looking over his shoulder to Flora, but she just nervously looked to Allura.

“Early this morning,” Allura guessed while Alaunus grabbed a bowl and filled it with warm water from the sink before placing a clean cloth in it.

“Where were your parents?” Alaunus asked as he moved a chair in front of Flora and rolled up her pant leg.

“Asleep.” Allura answered with a sheepish grin. “You see… I convinced Flora to sneak out with me to play in the forest, but then everything went wrong,” Allura added before biting her lip and nervously gripping her other arm. “Please, just help us! If I take her back hurt… He… he’ll…”

“It’s ok, I’ll patch her up,” he assured her as he began cleaning Flora’s wound, causing her to hiss in pain and Allura quickly took her hand.

“I know it hurts but it’ll help,” Allura spoke softly as Alaunus glanced between the two of them.

Alaunus was just about finished treating Flora as the front door banged open, making the two girls jump and the doctor sighed.

“What was that?” Allura pressed as she looked to the door they had entered from.

“That’ll be my master, Doctor Curo.” he sighed before shaking his head and offering a gentle smile as he finished wrapping Flora’s ankle. “You’ll be happy to know that your sister’s ankle will be fine. She just needs to keep it clean, and change the bandages daily.” Alaunus informed Allura.

“That’s a relief,” Allura breathed as Alaunus smiled, “So, no break then?”

“No broken bones, just make sure she stays off it as much as possible.” he smiled, and Allura nodded before helping Flora down.

The two made their way back to the entrance to see a tall man with onyx hair, and bright yellow eyes. The man stared down at the two and locked eyes with Allura while blocking her path to the door.

“Alaunus.” the man called out while continuing to stare down at Allura.

Allura’s mind ran blank as she focused on the man, and the air became difficult for her lungs to draw.

“Ye-Yes Master Curo?” Alaunus asked as he popped his head through the door.

“Why did you not treat both of them?” he pressed as Allura grew tense.

“She only had money for her sister, I’m sure her parents will bring her back for treatment,” Alaunus explained.

“You, sit down there,” Curo ordered Flora while pointing to a chair, and Allura clenched her teeth.

“I’ll be back later,” Allura interjected.

“Give your ‘sister’ your pet to hold, and come back with me,” he ordered as Allura paused.

“Ehnhhh,” Rune encouraged, and Allura continued to hesitate before reluctantly giving in. She carefully pulled off her sash, and placed it around Flora along with her quiver that held her remaining arrows, and broken bow.

“Allura...” Flora whispered and Allura gave her an assuring smile.

“I’ll be right back,” she assured Flora.

“It’s going to be a while,” Curo grumbled, “Make sure to elevate your foot, and Alaunus, get her some ice, and set up the guest room will you?”

“Sir?” Alaunus questioned.

“Just do it,” he sighed while ushering Allura back into the other room.

“Take off anything covering wounds,” he ordered as Allura watched him carefully.

“What do you want in return?” she pressed as he gave her a curious look for a moment before looking through a cabinet over the sink. “I don’t have money.”

“I don’t care for your money,” he grumbled as her eyes narrowed, and her mouth opened. “Don’t even bother saying what you are thinking, I do not care for that either. As my brother would say, all life is precious, and if you keep running around like that you will die. Your lies will not protect you from infections. Now take off your pants and lay on your side.” he ordered, and she hesitated before complying. “Good,” he hummed as he moved over to her and placed a tray holding a bottle of alcohol, a needle, and some thread, next to her.

He gently laid a hand on her head and her eyes grew heavy as a deep exhaustion filled her, carrying her into a blissful sleep.

"Well brother, you deemed her worth saving,” Sanocuro breathed, “I’ have done what I am willing to.”

Allura’s eyes fluttered open at the sound of a tray being placed in a sink.

“I cleaned all your injuries and sewed them shut. However, they were jagged so you will have scarring. Do you know how to remove stitches?” Curo asked as he moved back to help her sit up, and she slowly nodded her head. “Good. This is for you,” he hummed while handing her a small bag. “There’s bandages and ointment inside. Apply the ointment whenever you redo the bandages, and you can use that ointment for any other cuts you may suffer in the future as well,” he ordered. “Change the bandages at least once a day. If you tear your stitches, you are to come back, got it?” he pressed, and she nodded. “Good, make sure you either come to me, Alaunus, or take them out yourself in two weeks.”

“I’ll pay you back,” Allura replied.

“Don’t worry about it,” Curo sighed. “The spare room is set up for you, and your sister. I want both of you to stay, and rest for a few days,” he added as Allura looked to the floor. “You do not need to pay for anything, child, it is a gift.”