Tuesday: The Healing Process - Ivy's Medicine
Ivy Mae paced back and forth beside the river, trying to calm the nerves that had wound tight in her chest. Jas’s injury was worse than she had hoped, and the stress of it all was beginning to wear on her. She couldn't help but feel a weight on her shoulders, but she wouldn't let that stop her. Jas needed her, and Roman needed her to stay strong.
"Just breathe," she whispered to herself, crouching down beside their makeshift shelter.
Jas was still groaning in pain as Roman prepared the area to set the arm. Ivy Mae pulled out her medicine pouch—a small, weathered leather bag that had been with her for months now. She opened it slowly, carefully selecting a few dried herbs that she had gathered from their travels. Lavender, chamomile, and a few leaves of something stronger that had helped her in the past.
She smiled softly, remembering how she'd learned about these plants from an old woman in one of the villages they passed through. Ivy had become skilled in crafting medicinal salves and tinctures over the past few months. This knowledge, combined with the calming effects of her pot stash, helped her cope with the daily stress of survival.
She pulled out a small joint, her fingers lingering on the familiar texture of it. She’d always carried a bit of the herb, ever since the early days of their journey, when everything seemed too chaotic to face sober. Today, it was going to serve a different purpose—something she’d learned to do in the quieter moments when they needed relief.
"I need this," she muttered, lighting the joint and inhaling deeply. The smoke filled her lungs, the familiar calm spreading through her as she exhaled into the cool air.
"Here," she said to Roman, offering it to him first. "You’re gonna need this too. We’ve been through a lot today."
Roman hesitated for a moment, then took it from her with a nod. He inhaled slowly, the stress of the day easing a little in his shoulders as the calming effects began to settle in.
Ivy Mae turned back to Jas, who was visibly trembling in pain. The joint had already begun to work its magic on her, and she felt a little more grounded now. She reached into her pouch again, grabbing the herbs she had mixed earlier.
She sat beside Jas, gently brushing their hair back from their forehead. "I’m going to help you with the pain," she said softly, her voice steady. "Trust me."
Jas nodded weakly, their face pale with exhaustion. Ivy Mae ground the dried herbs together, mixing them into a paste that she gently pressed to the swollen area of the injury. Then, taking a deep breath, she reached into her pouch again for the final touch—a small vial of oil she had made from a wildflower found near the river. It was soothing, anti-inflammatory, and would help with the healing process.
She placed a few drops of the oil onto the paste, pressing it carefully into Jas’s skin. The scent was fresh and earthy, a comfort in the chaos of the moment.
"That should help numb it," Ivy Mae said, her voice full of reassurance. "But I need you to stay still while Roman sets it. We can’t do this without you holding steady."