Bahati

The morning after the hunt, your side throbs with a dull ache. You've lost your balance and fell during the hunt, nothing too serious but enough to serve as an annoyance. It was one of the reasons why you declined Avanor's invitation for a morning patrol, opting instead to rest in the safety of one of the dens.

The warmth in there is comforting, but it fails to dull the throbbing sensation in your side. Resigning to the fact that you won't fall back asleep, you decide to take Avanor's advice and seek out Naqila for some healing.

The sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground as you emerge from the den. The pride is awake, cubs play-fighting in the clearing, while the lionesses begin their morning grooming rituals. Your gaze scans the area for a healer, but it's only when you turn to leave the den's vicinity that you spot a new figure.

A young jaglion with a similar coat to Naqila's, but with more faintest spots, crouches by a boulder, mixing herbs with skillful paws. It must be Bahati, Naqila's daughter.

You approach her cautiously, not wanting to startle her. The cubs' merriment masks your steps, and it's only when you're a few feet away that she looks up, her blue eyes wide with surprise.

"You're the guest," she says, her voice unsure, but not unfriendly. She rises to her feet, dropping the pestle she was using and wiping her paws on a nearby leaf. "You've come to see my mother?"

"Actually, I was hoping for your help," you admit, wincing as you shift your weight, trying to alleviate some of the pressure from your aching ribs.

A frown creases her brow as she circles you, her eyes grazing over you with professionalism beyond her years. "This is recent," she mumbles, "Come, sit."

You comply, lowering yourself to the ground as she rummages through her herbs. Her tail flicks back and forth impatiently, a trait you notice she shares with her mother.

"Here," she says, handing you a chewed-up mixture in a leaf. "Chew this, it'll help with the pain. You should be fine in no time."

You oblige, grimacing at the bitter taste but trusting her judgment. Already, you can feel the numbing sensation spreading throughout your body.

"Thank you, Bahati," you say sincerely, "I'm in your debt."

"Think nothing of it," she says, her cheeks coloring ever so slightly. "My mother has been raving about you since you arrived."

Somehow, this admission makes you feel self-conscious, and you can't help to wonder what Naqila had told her about you.

"Well, I should get back to my duties," Bahati says, indicating the discarded pestle and herbs. "Rest for now. And if you need anything more, don't hesitate to ask."

"I will," you assure her, watching as she returns to her task.

You decide to take her advice and rest, settling down in a spot of dappled sunlight. The pain in your side recedes, replaced by a drowsy contentment. Your eyelids drop, heavy with fatigue, lulled by the sounds of the jungle around you.