Chapter 74: The Journey for Life
Selka, Lyra, Tala, Nyra, and Syra sat in a tight circle around the dead fire pit, the silence between them thick and heavy. Selka’s shoulder was tightly bound with mashed Whiteclaw herbs, the healing plant stinging against her skin.
Beside her, Lyra looked far worse. Her young body was covered in green herb paste and rough leaf bandages, covering the numerous, deep claw marks she had taken while fighting for her sister and the Witch.
Tala slowly broke the suffocating silence, her shaky voice barely a whisper. "What... what will happen to the Witch?"
Selka stayed entirely silent. She said nothing, her heavy eyelids drooping as if she lacked the emotional strength to even look up at her daughter.
Elder Syra reached out, gently caressing Tala’s trembling shoulder. "It will be fine, child," she murmured, trying to offer comfort she didn’t fully feel. "We did everything within our power... we successfully stopped the bleeding from her torn arm, and we sealed the open wounds with the finest Whiteclaw herb paste."
"But..." Elder Nyra interrupted, her old eyes staring blankly into the cold gray ashes of the fire. "But she has lost far too much blood. Her fever is burning hot. We have to... we have to find a way to refill her blood."
"We have tried everything," Selka added, her voice hollow. "We forced her unconscious body to swallow the fresh liver and rich inner organs from the hunts so her body would get the strength to make blood. But it is not working. Her body is losing blood faster than it can replace it. She needs something that can force her body to recover quickly. If we cannot find a way... she might never wake up."
Hearing this, Tala broke down, hot tears slipping off her cheeks and dripping onto her knees. "If only... if only the two of us had gathered our courage sooner and attacked just a few seconds earlier..."
Elder Nyra immediately patted her back, her voice firm. "It is because of you two brave pups that the Witch is even breathing right now. Do not be so harsh on yourselves."
Suddenly, Selka abruptly stood up, her posture instantly shifting. The crushing despair in her eyes was completely gone, replaced by a fierce, unshakable determination.
"I am going to ask for their help," Selka declared.
"Hmm? Mother?" Lyra murmured, wincing as she shifted her bruised neck.
"I am going to march into the open territory and meet with the all-mighty rulers of the plains," Selka stated, her voice echoing with authority.
"Mother?!" Tala and Lyra gasped in synchronized shock.
Selka raised her hand sharply to silence them before they could protest. "Only the ancient Elephant Clan of the plains are blessed with the knowledge of the Red Root. The Red Root only grows in the Golden Grasslands and only the Elephant Clan knows how to harvest it safely."
"But going to the all-mighty Elephant Clan...!" Elder Nyra murmured, her weathered face paling at the sheer danger of entering the territory of giants.
"That root is the only thing that refills blood faster than anything else," Selka said, turning her back to the dead fire and looking out toward the vast plains direction. "And I will bring it back for her."
"We will come with you, Mother!!!" the hunter pack members barked in loud unison from behind her, stepping into the light of the clearing.
Selka turned around slowly, her sharp gaze sweeping over them. "No. You are the strength and spine of this pack. The Alpha is heavily injured, and now he is completely devastated because his mate has fallen unconscious. In my absence, you must protect this territory. Do not stay paralyzed by grief. Hunt for the pack! I will be back within a few days."
"Mother..." they all murmured, their ears pinning back.
One veteran hunter stepped forward, his tail low. "But at least take a few of us with you. Why must you go on a solo journey into the open plains?"
"Going to the Elephant Clan with a whole hunting party will not look good," Selka reasoned smoothly. "I am going there to beg for their help, not to attack or invade. The message must be perfectly clear, and my solitary presence will show our absolute sincerity."
The hunters looked among themselves, understanding the wisdom in her words, and nodded in reluctant agreement.
Selka turned toward Kael’s den, throwing one last command over her shoulder. "Take care of each other." Her gaze softened as it shifted directly to Lyra and Tala. "And do not blame yourselves, you two."
With a heavy stride, Selka walked into the dim shadows of Kael’s den. He was still sitting rigid beside Nuan’s unmoving, leaf-wrapped body. The exact millisecond Selka’s foot stepped inside, a deep, defensive rumble vibrated violently from Kael’s chest.
"Treat her here, in my den! No one takes her away from me!" he growled, his bloodshot eyes flashing in the dark.
"No one is taking her away, Kael, but stop acting like a stubborn idiot!" Selka snapped back, her voice firm. "Eat. You cannot just stop eating. Get your own body healed as fast as you can so something like this never happens to Nuan again."
Kael’s jaw clenched, but he said nothing, his eyes dropping back to Nuan’s pale face.
Selka let out a soft sigh. "I am leaving the territory. I am heading out of the jungle and into the open plains."
Kael’s ears instantly perked up, his head snapping up to look at her. "Mother?"
"I am going to ask for help from the all-mighty Elephant Clan. I am going to bring back the Red Root for her," she said.
Kael forcefully pushed himself up onto his feet, his muscles tensing. "I’ll go!!"
"Sit down, kid," Selka ordered, her tone leaving absolutely no room for argument. "You are not healed either. Stay with the pack. Stay with Nuan. Guide the clan and take care of your mate alongside the elders. Keep feeding her slowly—the juices from fresh livers are best. And keep her clean daily. Knowing her, she will absolutely hate waking up covered in sweat and blood. Just keep her body warm and leave her injured arm completely untouched."
Kael stared at her, the fight draining out of him as he realized she was right. "You are going all alone, Mother?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly.
"Yes. I will be back as soon as I can."
"Can you really hold out on such a long journey, Mother?" Kael asked, a deep wave of worry washing over him.
Selka let out a dry chuckle. "You almost starved to death in just four days when you were a lone wolf, but I survived for months as a solitary predator before I ever met your late father! I know how to handle the wild." She turned on her heel, preparing to shift.
"Be safe from the lion prides and the hyenas, Mother," Kael said in a low, intensely worried voice.
"I am going to head directly for The Golden Grasslands," Selka said, looking back over her shoulder. "It is summer now, so the elephants must have headed there in search of the deep water reserves. Do not worry, I won’t be interacting with any dangers greater than myself. I am not a reckless fool like you."
Selka flashed him a rare, confident smile, stepped out of the mouth of the den, and vanished into a thick poof of grey smoke, sprinting toward the edge of the jungle at maximum speed.