Under weather

[Terra Sadler]

Winter usually brought colds, but this winter had brought a particularly nasty bug to the Sadler home. Normally, Terra could hand the sniffles, but it was Myra was worried about. The toddler did fairly well, and was a trooper, but this time she was crankier then usual. Demanding to be held, and she was a bit to warm for Terra's liking. 

A trip to Auntie Mimi's was in order, she'd decided. Namid had to have some sort of medicine to help with the runny nose and the child's fussiness surely. Even if she didn't, Terra would be glad for her friends company, as would Myra. 

"Alright Munchkin, we're gonna go to Mimi's and then come home for a nap, alright?" She said crouched in front of the toddler, as she tugged her little hat down over her ears. "Mimi?" Myra asked, instantly brightening. "Yes, we're going to see Mimi." Terra smiled, using a handkerchief to wipe her daughters runny nose, and then wrapped her little cloak tight around her. Once Myra was dressed for outside, she put her own bluish grey cloak around her shoulders, and put her mittens on. She grabbed a blanket then, and wrapped it around Myra before scooping her up. "Oooh, your getting big." She groaned slightly, adjusting Myra on her hip. She would have let her walk, but Terra didn't want to be out all day. Not when there were mystic attacks showing up all around Teronna as of late. The village might have been small, and slightly off grid, but that didn't mean they wouldn't possibly be touched my the chaos either. 

She closed the cabin door behind her and then began the walk to Namid's cabin. It was just outside the village. Namid was a bit of a recluse, grumpy even, but Terra had taken a liking to her when she came here two years ago. She'd been her first friend here, and had been her midwife. Now Terra tried to come out and visit at least once a week with Myra. 

Her boots crunched against the ground and she could see the plumes of smoke coming up from Namid's chimney. Once as the door, Terra knocked, and then held Myra closer to the door so she could knock as well. "Mimi!! Uo-ome?" Called loudly, causing Terra to chuckle. 

Namid

[Namid]

Even here, even now, two years after being chased out of her last home, a hard knock at the door still made Namid flinch. She was always expecting them to come again, and she worried that the third time might be the charm for the king's men. The littler knock that followed this one, however, put her worries to rest for now. She'd know that little hand anywhere.

A rare smile lit the healer's face as she set aside her mortar and pestle and came to the door, then quickly ushered mother and child into the warmth of the cottage. A fire crackled in the haphazard-looking fireplace, and the spicy smell of yarrow mingled with its woodsmoke charm.

"Come in, come in. Terra, you warm-up, I'll take the little one.

Without thinking, she scooped little Myra out of her mother's arms and was already checking her over before Terra even told her something was wrong with the girl. It was a simple habit for Namid--this child meant more to her than any patient before, held her stone heart in those chubby little hands of hers. She tugged a handkerchief from her pocket to wipe the girl's nose, then pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. Definitely a fever.

"Munchkin, how's your tummy? Does it hurt?"

The little girl shook her head, and Namid kissed her forehead. "Good girl."

She rounded on Terra next, peering at her. She saw the same telltale redness of her nose, puffiness near her eyes, and a flush in her cheeks. "Terra-Lynn Sadler, why didn't you come to me the moment you felt ill?" she demanded, with Myra on one hip, and her fist on the other as she looked sternly down at her one and only friend. "You know full well I'll take care of you any time."

[Terra Sadler]

As the door opened, Terra was more then willing to hand off Myra. She was getting bigger much to her own disdain. She had wanted Myra to stay a baby forever. With her large brown eyes and long lashes, she'd been a beautiful baby, and she was turning into an even more beautiful child.

She went to the stove and started rubbing her hands together while she heard Namid speak to her daughter. It warmed her heart how close and attached Namid had become with the child. Terra certainly counted her blessings that Myra could have another consistent role model to look up too. Namid was the perfect choice, unlike some people...

Could she blame him? She certainly wanted too. She knew Ciaran tried, but he wasn't consistent. She never knew if his last visit would be his last. He'd originally set out to just leave her here. She'd been terrified when he'd shown a few months after Myra's birth, afraid he wanted to take her from her. Something Terra would have fought tooth and nail over, but instead, he'd wanted to be around. However, it was only when he could sneak away. When the situation suited him, and when he felt like it. Terra often wondered if he only showed up because he remembered they existed. Out of sight, out of mind... It broke her heart to think a man she had once loved, and probably foolishly still loved, could so easily forget about her and the child they'd created.

She turned her head to look at Namid, only to find the other woman glaring at her. Looking like a stern mother herself, Namid certainly fit the picture with Myra on her hip. Terra couldn't help but smile sheepishly before she straightened. "I thought I could handle it..." She went on to say. Terra was almost painstakingly independent and only ever relied on what she could do herself. She'd only ever met disappointment in her life, and she had found the only one she could count on, was herself. It was a constant battle for her, to remember that there were people like Namid, who wanted and were willing to help. "I know, and that's why we're here. Besides, we missed you." She pointed out. "Right Myra?" She asked the toddler. "Mimi!" The little girl said in agreement, reaching up to pat her chunky hand against Namid's cheek.

[Namid]

I thought I could handle it…"

Namid raised one eyebrow.

"I know, and that's why we're here. Besides, we missed you." She pointed out. "Right Myra?" She asked the toddler. "Mimi!" The little girl said in agreement, reaching up to pat her chunky hand against Namid's cheek.

Namid sighed. She couldn't stay mad at these two. "Oh alright, you win."

She snatched the hand that was patting her cheek and kissed Myra's cute little palm. She couldn't help but love this sweet little child. Even someone who mistrusted the world as much as Namid wasn't immune to the innocent beauty of childhood.

"Alright, hold the babe and I'll get you two taken care of." She passed Terra her daughter and then grabbed a bundle of dried yarrow off the rocking-chair near the stove along with a stack of laundry. "Sit, sit. You both could stand to warm up and rest a little."

While her little adopted family sat down to do as she said, Namid bustled around gathering up the things she'd need to help them. A tea with echinacea, lemongrass, mint and honey would soothe their sore throats and help clear their sinuses for right now, but she also planned to send them off with some fire jelly as well. Hmm. But with a little one, hot peppers wouldn't do.

While the kettle boiled, she turned to the shelf and plucked a jar of the ginger-fire jelly off the shelf.

"Now, this part the little one might not like. It's ginger, lemon, and honey, but it's strong. Try to get as much of it in her tea as she can stand, but you can probably get your own stronger." She glanced at the jar and a flash of a smile whisked across her face. "Myself, as a child, I liked to just eat the stuff with a spoon. My eyes would water like hell, but I liked the way it burned." She shrugged. "Guess I've always been a little touched in the head."

[Terra Sadler]

Terra rose and came over to take Myra. holding the toddler on her hip, she sat down on one of Namid’s chairs and placed Myra in her lap. Her daughter leaned back against her, resting her head against her shoulder while she sucked on her thumb.

Out of habit, Terra rested her cheek on top of Myra’s head as she started to slowly rock her back and forth. Her dark eyes watched Namid as she moved around, gathering up whatever ingredients she needed, and Terra smiled softly. She felt exhausted and very much so wanted a nap, but her mind wandered to the chores that needed to be done at home first before she could rest. She thought of the upcoming trip she wanted to take as well, which she knew was going to anger Ciaran if he learned she’d left. But...He wasn’t here, and she never knew when he would be back. She wasn’t just going to pause her life and wait for him when he felt like visiting.

She pulled herself back to the present when Namid started to give instructions about medicine, and she found herself sitting up a bit more so she could pay attention. She nodded at her, finding a smile crossing her face as Namid told her what to do. “I wouldn’t say your touched in the head.” Terra said with a grin, and shake up of her head. “You’re just a fiery woman inside and out. It’s what I like about you.” She told her. Honestly Namid was their little guardian angel, and Terra was sure she wouldn’t have survived without the woman. Not only in brining Myra into the world, but the friendship that had come after it.

[Namid]

Namid laughed at her friend's clever turn-around of what she'd said. It was pretty damn accurate.

"I like your style, Terra! You're right, I am fiery." She laughed again and winked at her friend. Fire could be so many things--a welcoming hearth, a torchlight, a forest fire… It gave life and it took it, it healed and it hurt. So too could she. It was just that most people saw the forest fire--only Terra and her little one saw the hearth.

The kettle whistled, drawing her attention, and she turned quickly to get that ready next. She mixed a hot cup for Terra, then took a smaller wooden cup and added some room temperature water for Myra's. To each cup she added a generous spoonful of honey.

The clear smell of the tea steamed through the little cottage, clearing her sinuses too, and she chuckled quietly to herself. She didn't do things by halves around here.

She brought both of them their cups, and after making sure that Terra had hers firmly in hand, she crouched down to help Myra take a careful sip of hers.

"Can you drink the whole thing, little miss? It'll help your cute little nose feel better." She 'booped' the child on her nose and grinned.