[ P ] the beauty in broken things

A

soft hum passed through her lips as Nephele dabbed the last of the poultice on her smallest patient’s wing. It was a silly and childish notion, but she couldn’t bear to listen to the little bird struggle to fly. A few days had passed since discovering the small creature and she had cared diligently for it. Upon seeing the bright blue sky and warm sun the bird was trying to take off into the air and she knew it was time to say goodbye soon.

It had been a struggle since her knowledge of bird anatomy was nonexistent and her patients were usually wolves. The little nurse had done her best to keep her avian patient a secret, hiding it away from everyone outside of her family just in case they decided the bird would make a tasty snack. The thought of anything harming such a precious thing was abhorrent to her. It might have only been a few days, but the thought of saying goodbye was enough to make her tearful. She didn’t know if the bird understood that she was trying to help it. It didn’t matter if it thought she was just saving it to eat later as long as it got better.

"Almost there. Keep going," she whispered encouragement as it flapped and she heard it crash back on the ground again.

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

She hurries down the all-too-familiar path to the Fritz's residence, her materials rattling in her rucksack and an even smaller satchel swinging off her jaw in her haste. Filled with an assortment of herbs and other useful plants, the little parcel is an impromptu gift to the Professor's wife and she hopes that they'll be of use to Nephele. As she continues her walk, she wonders who she'll see; the Professor won't be home, but will any of the little Fritz's will be around? It'd be lovely to see them as well after a long while.

Spurred with excitement, she accelerates to a quicker pace, setting an even trot. While she might not be on any time limit, it has always brought her great joy to visit the clinic, so the faster she got there the better. Following the winding grass road, it does not take long before she sees the little grove, shrouded in idyll peace and serenity.

"Nephele!" she calls, albeit strangely pronounced from a string in her mouth. Poking her head through the entrance and not taking much note of who might be in, she continues excitedly, "Nephele! I've brought some things! Oh-!"

At the sight of the avian patient, she snaps her mouth shut, realising that she had just interrupted something. Emitting a loud gasp, she freezes for a second, before swiftly ducking back out. Cheeks blushing wildly, she apologises swiftly from the outside, "I'm so sorry!"

@Nephele

S

o enthralled with her small bird patient was Nephele that she almost didn’t hear the scurry of excited paws hurrying towards her. An ear twitched and she raised her head upon hearing her name. It was too late to hide the bird and pretend that she’d been merely enjoying her garden. She recognised the voice of Manon, eager and urgent to show her something that she’d brought along. Any other time the nurse would have greeted her just as eagerly, happy to have a visitor that didn’t need patching up for once. This time she felt a little worried for her bird, worried that the sudden movement might startle it.

A flutter of wings signalled that the bird had indeed taken flight, but to where? ”Birdy wait!” she called out, reaching out with her nose in hopes of brushing against a feathered wing. There was nothing. Panic began to flutter in her chest. What if it was too soon? What if the little bird got eaten? If one of her patients got harmed because of her rashness Nephele would never forgive herself. ”Manon? Did you see where she went?” she asked, obviously worried and completely unaware that the bird had flown to Manon and settled itself atop her head quite comfortably.

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck