AN: All recognizable characters are owned by their rightful owners.

Another AN: Sometimes there will be chapters rated M, but I'll always say on an authors note so you have the chance to skip!

Once again stuck in the apothecary, which, once again, was still boring. I had asked my parents if one of them could take today's shift, but no. I was getting surprisingly invested in my maths homework when someone rammed the door open, panting on the entryway. I jumped up from my spot and raced over, seeing who it was.

Arian Hawthorne stood hunched over as I anxiously looked him over for an injury. He straightened up and I stepped back when he spit out "You need to come with me, Shasta's been bit!" Something cold coiled deep in my stomach, but I steadily asked "By what? When? How far away is he?" Arian hurriedly replied with "A wild dog, couple minutes ago, in the woods outside the fence."

The feeling in my stomach grew as I tore through the carefully piled herbs and stuffed the ones Shasta would need in a small knapsack, along with many rolls of gauze. Arian ran ahead of me as we tore through the merchant district, the Seam and steadily approached the fence. He stopped to listen for less than a second before skillfully sliding under, urging me to do the same. I paused for a moment, thinking of the trouble we could get into. But I let those scruples go as I followed him into the forest we were forbidden to enter.

We must've gone at least half a mile before I spotted Shasta under a tall pine tree, bow knocked with an arrow held tensely in his scarred hands. Despite the intensity he held the weapon with, when he turned I saw his steel grey eyes were glassy and unfocused. "Why'd you bring her here?" He asked confusedly "She's too pretty to get all dirty." If this was any other situation, I would've blushed from the compliment. But i didn't.

I knelt beside him and examined the bite on his calf. The wound was still bright red, and the skin surrounding it looked tender. Not too much blood loss, but enough for him the disoriented and dizzy. I quickly got the herbs out of my bag. Lamb's ear for strength, which I forced him to swallow. Poppyseed to raise his melatonin levels and help him sleep. Horsetail, which should be mixed with water in to a poultice to treat infection and stop bleeding, but due to the circumstances I had no hesitation as I started chewing it to put on his would. Shasta hissed in pain when I first put it on, but closed his eyes in relief as the combination of herbs started doing their intended purposes. I wrapped the wound in gauze while he was out of it.

I leaned back on my heels and let out breath I didn't know I was holding. The sky was an inky blue so dark it was almost black. For the first time I realized Arian was still here and turned to face him "He should be fine," I eyed Shasta "When he's competent, remind him to take it easy. Doctors orders." Arian nodded his head, and stooped to pull Shasta's arm around his shoulder.

I rushed forward when they both stumbled for a second, and slung his limp around my shoulder not occupied by the knapsack. Arian glanced at me, and for a moment I thought he was going to smile, but he didn't.

How we made it to Shasta's house was beyond me, but we did. It was dirty and cramped, like every other house in the Seam. When we made it to the front door, Arian bluntly stated how Shasta wouldn't want me in his house without cleaning or something first. I felt a tiny pain at that, but understood. Arian offered to walk me home, as it was well into the night and this wasn't exactly the safest area to go walking through. I waved the idea off, and told him I would be fine.

"Isla?" Shasta's voice broke the silence of the situation as I was about to leave. I turned to his side, and he gave a pained smile, and a rushed "Thanks." I grinned back "How could I leave a damsel in distress?" His smile became less forced, and I zoned in on the dimple I hadn't known he had.

I bid them both a goodnight, and as I started home I realized two things.

One, I would have to get more herbs.

And two. I truly admire Shasta Everdeen.