---

Glacial sights were set upward towards the canvas painted in cerulean, blotted with white. Birds occasionally passing overhead as their assumed destination would be somewhere warmer with the encroaching autumn season just before winter would come ravaging the lands with more famine. Work in the clinic had been growing which Eko wanted to be thankful for, but in reality she knew that with the threat of war on the horizon, unfortunately meant for more trying times. Worry painted with evidence upon the crease of her brow as she took a sip of lukewarm coffee in the paper cup in one hand, a satchel of medicinal herbs in the other, slung over a shoulder. Alabaster curls were tied back messily in a make-shift bun where strands of hair still managed to escape the haphazard hold.

Her mind elsewhere but the present. She wondered if Matt had answered to the demanding draft and it left an unsettling knot forming in the pit of her stomach. It was in that moment, Ekosha stopped herself in her tracks bewildered and her cheeks flushing a soft pink hue. No, no, he’s your patient. she would try to reason with herself.

It only makes senses to be concerned because he’s your patient... right..? Ekosha cursed under her breath, bringing her freed palm to pinch the bridge of her nose as if to stave off either the evidence of wear or a forming migraine which often stemmed from the excessive amounts of caffine she took in. Moving onward, heading in the direction of her clinic, she nearly collided into a small crowd, “The hell—” she murmured under her breath, securing her satchel and cherished coffee. Standing on her tip toes she tried to peer over the shoulders of curious eyes, only to be met with fruitless defeat and swearing under her breath at her short form.

With an agitated huff, she began to pry through the small crowd of five – maybe six while others continued onward as if their curiosities quickly died down. Frost eyes searched, finally finding the rather obvious target upon the large horse carelessly meandering down the street. She took another swallow of her coffee, freckled face scrunching ever slightly because her coffee was cold now – and ultimately making her way to the stranger, following the trail of blood that too followed them.

“Hey!” she called out brazenly. “You’re causing a bit of a scene, stranger.” She placed a freed hand on her hip, tossing what little remained of her coffee in the nearest bin. “Clinics' right up ahead there to your left.” She motioned.

---

He was a man of little words she noticed. It was no bother, and if anything she was accustom to the behavior. Matthias was the same when they first encountered one another. Eko wouldn’t press on the matter. All she saw was an injured individual that needed tending to. She watched with a slower gait as he merely continued on, the horse in a lazed trot. Perhaps the equine beast was just as weary and deserving of rest. She cast harden glowers to those of prying eyes as if to give a silent demand for them to mind their own.

She would not engage right away, allowing the stranger to tread the waters at his own pace, watching the hesitation like that of an anxious child or an unsocialized dog placed in an unfamiliar setting. Ekosha took in his appeared. Unkempt, disheveled – one that did not dwell in the city settings or any communal environment. The wilds would be a more appealing setting, so what drove him here, she wondered? “Come on in,” she offered a little more amicably, gears shifting from a wandering citizen to a working physician pulling the door as she approached.

“Looks infected from the smell of it.” she motioned with a dip of her head, referring to the wound on his arm. “So it’s not going to heal properly without getting it cleaned.” Ekosha stepped out of the way, extending the invite awaiting for his reaction and if he would oblige at all. “Once you’re patched up I’ll take a look at your horse too if you want.” she offered with a slanted smile. “Names’ Ekosha, I run this clinic. Don’t worry about payment today.”

---

Waiting for him to take a seat, Eko promptly gathered the basics to clean and help stitch the wound close. An empty bowl of water was quickly filled with a flick of her wrist, a block of ice forming in a freed hand without batting an eye. She returned to her patient setting what tools and supply she gathered down on a small cart, waving away her staff to continue on their usual labors. It wasn’t the first time she tended to a patient in her lobby either. Vali. She assumed what the stranger addressed was his name before addressing the horse outside as Codrin.

“Take it you and Codrin aren’t from around here, are you?” She asked casually, “Tell me about yourself, Vali.” She initated. Intentionally so to help keep his mind off of the discomfort as she worked. She pressed the small block of ice promptly and directly against the wound with the means to reduce the swelling so she could have a better look.

Take rabbit? the queston caused her attention to break away from her work breify as she searched the rugged mans’ features. Her own expression blank, stoic. Food, The pieces then clicked together as she chuckle softly shaking her head. “Nope,” she declined with ease. It’d become easier to do whenever Matthias tried to pay her after one of his unconventional spells took hold of him. “That’s a form of payment and I already said don’t worry about it now, didn’t I?” Though she probably hadn’t had a decent meal in some time.

She’d long lost count of however many times Matt told her that coffee wasn’t food. “Lift your arm a little more, just like that.” she motioned carefully. “This might sting a little but it’ll clean the wound.” she warned before apply the antiseptic

---

Her head would tilt slightly offering an ear to ensure she was listening as she worked as quickly and efficiently to clean the wound. Woods. Came the strangers grunt. Ekosha nodded familiar with the concept of many living out in the wilds versus the city. Wolf. Her glacial sights flitted back to him without a second to beat. The wound she was tending to was already showing signs of its mending. A trait, she had learned over time, that many werewolves possessed. “That makes sense.” She shrugged nonchalantly.

Proof that she was unbothered by this fortunate or unfortunate curse he bore. It mattered not if he was a lycan, human and rare occasions a vampire ( so long as she wasn’t on the menu,) Ekosha would provide her aid wherever it was requested. Cook stew, you eat. A pale brow arched as she looked to him, disparagingly. She declined him once already and could feel the words forming once more. She never did like repeating herself.

Elk. Took down, but… at camp. "I already told you I don’t want payment.” she inisisted a little more brazenly. “I just want to help.” she huffed, reaching for the bandages to wrap his arm. “If you want to give anyone food, try the orphanage or those who have been affected by the recent battles. I’m sure they could use it more anyway.” She felt her teeth graze the inside of her cheek finding her mind wander to the whereabout of Matthias in all this. However, she quickly shook her head and shoved such thoughts back into the depths of her mind. It shouldn’t matter. Matt could take care of himself, right? Who was she to dwell on his well-being of all things?

“Can take a look at Codrin for you too if you like.” She offered. “People aren’t the only ones that need the appropriate care too,” she offered a half smile, motioning towards the wrap of guaze around his arm. “Should heal in no time now that it’s been clean and you take care of course.”