August 2021

Silverberry sighed, closed the book with a clap, and rubbed at the space between his eyes where a headache had formed over two hours ago - a headache which he'd been too involved to deal with and one which now screamed little pricks of agony whenever he opened his eyes.

He rarely got them, such headaches. Ocular migraines, actually. What irked him the most was that he pushed himself too hard and inevitably induced the condition on himself. He was a healer. He KNEW better. And yet...

He sighed again, sat forward of the chair, placed the book on the floor and his elbows on his knees to help focus the pressure, massage the heels of his palms into the ocular pressure points to relieve the bothersome ache. Yes, he knew better, but how could he not remain so focused?

He'd promised that poor cub he'd find a cure, find some relief...

Rikki was now a year old. Although he wasn't well, he was thriving in his own way. His aunt had just had yet another cub and Rikki's condition appeared to not only be aggravated by the new babe but, from the latest report from Rowi, the aunt and uncle simply weren't handling the burden of stress very well. She'd been assigned the cub's case after more pressing things kept him from personally monitoring his progression and regression on a monthly basis. She was passionate, dedicated, a bit too serious at times but had a very level head and was meticulous with details.

"Healer Silverberry," she'd said to him, concerned but straight-forward. "Their eldest told me there was talk floated around that perhaps their home isn't the best place for him."

"But it's the most stable environment he has, and he's with family," he'd protested, but really, he knew he was only feeling his failure. He was failing the poor cub.

"Silverberry... I know it's hard but perhaps they're right. He's young. He's survived this long. Have some faith he can adjust. Perhaps, with so many cubs and their comings and goings, it isn't the best environment anymore. She does have five other cubs to care for, and all of them healthy. His needs, his care, take a lot of her time and I fear for her mental well-being. Perhaps even Rikki's, too. He's only one year old but the cub can tell she doesn't treat him like she treats her other children."

"And, in your opinion, he should be moved?"

"I strongly advise it, yes."

And so he'd sat here for the last half-day, pouring over the newest medical journals, trying to find some tiny scrap of current theories or findings which might lead to a cure, a way to manage the boy's symptoms, to curb his condition, anything! It could be devastating to the child, taking him from the only home he'd ever known, knowing that he had family but they couldn't care for him. Just devastating...

He wished Silversnow were here.

Blast, what a selfish thought! Stop it! Yet, he couldn't help his own feelings. He did miss her company, her beautiful laughing face, the cute crinkle of her brows when she was embarrassed...

No. Don't wander there. Stay professionally distanced. Don't let others see his feelings, because... because he couldn't let her see them. It's just as well that she'd be stationed in the tropics while going through her healer paces. Already through Carsi-course and into Bursi... My goodness, she'd been excelling at her studies lately.

He might halt himself from thinking inappropriate things when he caught himself at it but he avidly monitored her progress and looked forward to requesting her as his secondary aid, or perhaps even his primary. Although, if he did, he'd have to explain to Rowi why she'd have to step down as his primary aid... Goodness, that'd look terrible. Look to reason. Let stay whomever was most capable and experienced. Let someone else decide next time the roster was divvied up.

He sighed again, sat back, and gave his sight a go. No pain met the opening of his lids. A sigh of relief escaped him next.

Then the pleasant wafting aroma of a hot cup of tea tickled his nose and he looked curiously toward his open office doorway as the clank of cup on saucer added to the inevitable approach. He wasn't surprised at all to see Rowi walk in with that half-smile on her face.

"Thought you might need this." she told him, offering the teacup and saucer.

The chief healer smiled his gratitude and accepted the drink, taking a long appreciative sip. "I do, indeed. You know me so well, Rowi."

She sighed. "I do. Know you well enough to tell you not to wreck yourself in your pursuit to find the cub a cure. Have you considered the fact that his condition might not be curable?"

"No, and I won't entertain the notion until all possibilities and second opinions have been scoured, attempted, or otherwise been determined unviable. Second opinions are fine but I'm not giving up on him."

She kneeled before him, as his head had dipped with his contemplative inner mood. "Silverberry... This is because of the information on his case - specifically the mental state of his aunt - isn't it?"

After a long sigh, he eyed her fully and nodded.

"What is it they teach us? We can't always fix the world in a day."

"But never give up trying." he countered.

"Know your limits." She smirked at him.

At that, he chuckled.

Rowi stood, put her hands behind her back, and her eyes drifted a moment before they centered on the lead healer. "Silverberry... Would you care to join me for dinner this evening?"

He thought about it a moment. "That would be fine. Perhaps we can hash out some more theories as to why certain types of illnesses affect Rikki more than others, or if the few other documented cases of MIS were known to hold any similar sorts of patterns, or-"

"I..." She'd started to cut him off but halted, seemed to shrink a bit, then plunged on with, "I meant a social dinner, without topics of research."

He blinked at her, his eyes going wide. "... Oh." Stupid! Was he really so blind as to've missed this? "Eh..." Bravely, he stood and looked Rowi in the eye but by the time he'd done so and still found nothing more to say, he saw the weight of disappointment settle over her.

With a sniff of a sigh of resignation, Healer Rowi Gummi straightened into a right proper posture. "I see. I apologize for my forwardness, Healer Silverberry."

"I..." What could he say? "I apologize as well. I hope I haven't done anything to, eh, lead you on?"

And that's where he found he'd immediately put his foot in his mouth, for the lady's jaw clenched and ground but she still managed to get out, "No, Healer, you've done absolutely nothing of the sort." before she turned on her heals and strode out.

Truthfully, it was his lack of showing any indicators which made her brave enough to open the subject to him. Perhaps he'd just been unaware of her feelings, or that she was attracted to him. Perhaps, or so she'd thought, if he saw her interest, he'd be receptive. Clearly, she'd erred. The farther she kept walking, the more she wanted to keep going. Perhaps... this was a good mistake. Perhaps this was a sign to move on. Put in for a transfer, get a change of scenery, time to move past thoughts of Healer Silverberry as anything but a mentor and supervisor...

So distraught was Rowi, she missed completely the arrival of several rare personages at the little clinic where Silverberry currently held his offices. In her current state of mind, in her current semi-crushed state, looking back on things, if she'd noticed she likely wouldn't have cared a lick either way.

Healer Silverberry, left at a loss in his study, still stood there trying to recover something from the unexpected turn of the evening.

That. That was why he had no wife and no cubs of his own. Gum help him, he didn't feel dense very often but that right there was one of his least-finest moments.

Although some gummies would be inclined to think what else could go sour this afternoon, his mind turned instead to the possibility of better things. How could he make this up to her but still make it seem like an act of friendship and comradery? How would they get along tomorrow and how should he greet her to show he meant no disrespect or ill intentions? Should he try to apologize again for his denseness or would that make it worse?

So caught up was he in his own inner ruminations, his guests had to rap on the door frame to get his attention.

The healer gummi was finally wretched out of his thoughts but a firm knock on his doorframe. From the intensity of it, it was not the first nor the second knock. A bit embarrassed at having missed the first several, he cleared his throat, getting to his feet swiftly. It was most unprofessional, which was something he prided himself on, not answering swiftly. As much as he hated the current faux pas he had endured, he was still at work!

So, as he stood, he was most shocked to find a group of gummies at his doorway and familiar ones at that!

"Buddi, Ursa." He greeted the two he knew personally with a friendly nod, "I was not expecting you. Please..." he gestured them in. He was about to introduce himself to the two unfamiliar forms behind them but his eyes were quickly caught by the tiny form currently cradled in Ursa's arms.

The tiny cub was dark black, black as midnight, but for a patch of brilliant red hair that had already grown enough to trail into his eyes. As was typical of Barbics, he was clothed in hide, bright red to match his hair. Content, he would occasionally stir but seemed quite happy to remain asleep for the moment. The Barbic leader looked down at her bundle, rolling her eyes. He was full of energy every other minute of the day...

Buddi stepped forward and grasped the healer's hand in a firm shake, "We're sorry for the abrupt visit, Silverberry. I'm sure we don't need to tell you how little runts" he gestured to the cub in Ursa's arms, "Seem to make their own schedule." He gave a low chuckle and let go, saying, "I know the news probably has circulated for a while but we felt you deserved to meet him for yourself."

Ursa stepped up to stand next to her son, still cradling her infant child. Though, he was growing bigger every day. Almost half a year old already!

"We had to come give our thanks in person, Healer." She said with a smile, the widest Silverberry had seen from her. She diverted her gaze down to the child in her arms, "As did he."

Taking a moment to gather himself, the healer gummi allowed a large smile to grace his face. "Oh, it was my absolute pleasure, Ursa. Though, I cannot take all this credit. You and.." he raised his eyes, finally taking note of the third adult in the doorway, "Gritti..." he said after a pause, barely comprehending that he had three of the Gummi Legends of History in his office, "are to be credited with this little miracle."

Gritti spoke out, "We owe you a debt of thanks though." He insisted.

Sensing that they would not relent, Silverberry replied, again, "it was my pleasure. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to help a family grow." He smiled down at the new cub, asking, "What title did this one inherit?"

Buddi smirked, "That's another reason we had to come in person, Silverberry."

Blinking in confusion, Silverberry was unsure how to reply until the mother spoke out, "Healer, we'd like to formally introduce you to Griffi Silverberri Barbic...one strong as the berries that bloom in ice."