"You're a natural at that," Katerina says, watching Emma use a mortar and pestle to crush a clove of garlic into a small quantity of vinegar. Emma smiles at the compliment, pleased at her progress under Katerina's expert tuition. When the garlic is completely liquified, she places some cloth over the bowl to act as a filter and carefully pours the concoction over Derek's severed wrist. The strong smelling brown liquid runs freely across the open wound, acting as an efficient defense against infection, and collects in a large bowl on the floor. "I'll send the girls out tonight to get some more rosemary," Katerina says, picking up the bowl of discarded garlic vinegar. "It's a very good antiseptic; and it should work a lot better with the comfrey." "Will they have to go far?" Emma asks. She dries Derek's wrist with a towel and covers it with a padding of bruised comfrey leaves, just as Katerina taught her. "The girls are quick, but it's a very long way," Katerina says. "They won't get back until morning. Rosemary doesn't grow well in the Wasteland. I normally keep a large stock of it handy, but I used it all up treating Tracy." She walks over to Tracy's bed and looks down at the woman's bruised and battered body, comatose since the night Lucistra assaulted her. She caresses Tracy's young face, in truth only a few years younger than her own, now sightless in one eye and missing all but a scattering of teeth thanks to Lucistra's brutal attack. Katerina runs her hand gently over Tracy's shaved scalp and checks the dressings on the numerous deep gashes on the back of her head. "Do you think....do you think she'll come back?" Emma asks, her voice tense. "Who, April?" Katerina asks. Emma nods her head. Katerina sighs and sits on the edge of the bed, taking Tracy's hand in hers and stroking it. "I don't know, Emma. I think she truly forgot who she really was. It must have been a huge shock for her when Derek reminded her. Put yourself in her shoes. Imagine you had just found out you are a Goddess, once disgraced and banished, and that now the time had come for you to redeem yourself." Emma fell silent, staring sullenly into Derek's sleeping face. "I think she just needs some time," Katerina says. Notes: I feel like I've been away from Renderosity for a lifetime! Over the course of the last month I've been alternately sick and busy, and all the while blessed with (or suffering from?) an impossible crush on a beautiful girl that simply will not release its vice-like grip from my heart and mind. Thank goodness for the healing power of all the wonderful art you talented people share us. Thank you! Credits: Morphable Bed 2 by Alexander Kroener (free) Bowl by ? (free) Side Table by Richard T (free) Sassy 2 Hair from DAZ D20 Gear by Bobbie25 (DAZ) Station 57 by secretheart (DAZ) Jeff by Spectre3 Francesca from ZS3D Katerina's hair by Koz Empire Dress from RDNA Tracy by Dark_Whisper