The morning sun streamed through the windows of Luna's clinic, casting soft golden light onto the pristine counters and shelves lined with carefully organized herbs and vials. It had been a week since Luna had returned to Silver Hollow and reopened her family's clinic, hoping to rekindle the legacy her mother had built so lovingly. Yet, each day had been the same. Not a single person from the village had walked through her door. Instead, she caught their glances in the marketplace, and whenever she passed, whispers trailed behind her. Some cast her sidelong looks of curiosity; others held something more pointed, like distrust.
But Luna was no stranger to the judgment of the villagers. After all, she hadn't exactly left Silver Hollow on the best of terms.
Yesterday, she'd baked cookies using her mother's old recipe. The process soothed her, stirring up warm memories of her mother's laughter and the comforting aroma of fresh treats filling their home. She had shaped each cookie with care, smiling at the thought of her mother's gentle hands guiding her first attempts, softly encouraging her to 'add a bit more love.' As she sat in the clinic eating one of the cookies for lunch, a bittersweet ache settled in Luna's heart.
She heard a soft knock on the door. Luna looked up, surprised to see two young children, no older than five, she guessed, standing in the doorway, clutching a small, round rabbit with soft, well-groomed fur. They were twins, a boy and a girl, both with the same striking black hair and purple eyes. They looked nervous.
"Hello there," she greeted them gently, standing up and offering her warmest smile. "What brings you two here today?"
The girl, clutching the white rabbit protectively, took a tiny step forward. "Our bunny is sick. Can you help him?" Her voice was small, but there was an urgency in her eyes that reminded Luna of herself at that age, always so concerned about the well-being of others, especially animals.
"Of course," Luna replied, feeling her heart soften. "Why don't you both come in and sit down? Let me have a look at your bunny."
They walked in cautiously, glancing around the clinic with wide eyes before settling on the bench she gestured toward. Luna approached slowly, not wanting to startle either the children or their pet. She crouched down to their level and held out her hands. The girl handed her the bunny, her small fingers brushing hers with a hint of hesitation.
"What's his name?" Luna asked, gently examining the bunny. She noticed its nose twitching and a slight tremor in its tiny frame. It was a bit rounder than expected, its belly plump from overfeeding. "Snowball," they chorused, then giggled.
"Well, Snowball is a very good name for a bunny," Luna replied with a soft chuckle. "Let's see if we can help him feel better, shall we?" The children watched her with hopeful eyes as she examined Snowball. She noticed his pale gums and sluggish movements. It seemed they had been overfeeding him, which likely contributed to his discomfort.
"Bunnies shouldn't eat too much at once," Luna said gently. "A little bit of food at a time is best for him. You can give him smaller portions and make sure he has plenty of fresh water."
The children nodded, their faces brightening with understanding.
After giving them the advice, she selected a small jar of dried chamomile from her shelves and mixed it with warm water.
"I'm going to give Snowball a few drops of this medicine, and he should feel better soon," she assured them. Snowball wriggled a little, but Luna held him gently, soothing him as he took the herbal remedy. When she was done, she handed him back to the children, who held him carefully, looking relieved.
"Thank you, Miss Healer," the girl and boy exclaimed, their faces breaking into radiant smiles.
Luna smiled softly in return, feeling an unexpected warmth spread through her chest at their words. "You're very welcome," she replied kindly. "Take good care of Snowball, and remember, just a little food at a time, alright?"
The children nodded eagerly, their faces lighting up with gratitude. "We will!" the boy said, his eyes sparkling.
The girl looked up at Luna, curiosity shining in her wide eyes. "I'm going to be a healer like you," she said with a determined smile, her hands gently cradling the now sleepy bunny. "I want to help animals, just like you helped Snowball."
Luna's heart warmed at the girl's words. She crouched down to their level, giving her an encouraging smile. "That's a wonderful goal," she said. "It takes kindness and patience, but I'm sure you'll be an amazing healer one day."
The boy nodded enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling. "I will help too," he said, "but I can't be a healer. I have to become like our father."
Luna raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the boy's words. "Like your father?" she asked gently, her curiosity piqued.
The boy's face took on a serious expression as he nodded. "Yes," he said, his voice filled with quiet determination. "Our father is strong. He protects our village. I want to be just like him, to protect people."
Luna smiled thoughtfully, sensing the boy's sense of responsibility and the love he had for his father. "That's lovely. You two will do great," she said warmly.
The girl, still holding Snowball, looked up at Luna with a shy smile. "I'm Emma," she said softly.
The boy stood a little taller, puffing out his chest proudly. "And I'm Ethan," he added, his eyes bright with enthusiasm.
Luna smiled warmly at the two children, touched by their enthusiasm. "It's nice to meet you, Emma and Ethan," she said kindly, standing up as she introduced herself. "I'm Luna. I'm glad I could help Snowball today."
She reached for the plate of cookies that had been her lunch. "Would you like some cookies?" she offered with a smile.
The children's eyes lit up, and they eagerly took one each. Emma bit into hers first, her eyes widening in delight. "This is delicious!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with surprise and happiness.
Ethan nodded in agreement, his mouth full. "Yeah, these are the best cookies I've ever had!"
Luna chuckled softly, pleased to see them so happy. "I'm glad you two like them," she said, watching as they enjoyed the treat.
"Ethan, Emma." A deep, familiar voice cut through the gentle moment, making Luna's heart skip. She glanced toward the doorway and saw Zane standing there. His expression was a mixture of sternness and relief as he looked at his children.
"Father!" the twins cried in unison, hopping off the bench and running toward him, though Emma kept a protective hold on Snowball.
As the children ran to him, Luna felt a wave of realization wash over her. These were Zane's twins. Their dark hair mirrored Zane's, but their warm purple eyes must have come from their mother.
Zane crouched down to their level, his voice stern yet filled with concern. "You both must tell an adult before you two go anywhere," he scolded gently. "Your grandmother was worried sick when she found you two missing."
The twins nodded, looking down in guilt. "Sorry, Father," Emma said softly. "Snowball was sick, so we brought him to Miss Luna."
Zane's expression softened a bit as he took in Emma's sincerity and the way she cradled the bunny protectively. He sighed, running a hand through his hair, clearly relieved that his children were safe. "I understand," he said, his tone gentler now. "But next time, make sure someone knows where you're going. Understood?"
"Yes, Father," Ethan replied, nodding earnestly, and Emma echoed him with a quiet, "Yes, Father."
Satisfied with their response, Zane stood up, but his gaze shifted toward Luna. There was something colder in his expression now, a distance that had never been there between them before. He looked at her as though she were a stranger, someone he had no connection to.
"Thank you for helping them," he said, his tone cool yet respectful, a formality that struck Luna as new and unfamiliar. "I'll pay for the treatment. How much do I owe you?"
She glanced at the twins, who were still watching her with admiration and gratitude, their eyes shining. A wave of tenderness washed over her as she realized how much they must have meant to him. Her heart softened. These children were a part of him, a living connection to the boy she once knew. They were innocent in all of this, unaware of the weight of history between their father and her.
Luna cleared her throat and met Zane's gaze, her voice gentle but steady. "Five coins should cover it," she replied, the words sounding foreign as they left her lips, a professional distance she hadn't expected to feel with him.
Zane reached into a small pouch at his belt, counting out the coins before handing them to her. "Here," he said, placing them in her outstretched hand. "And thank you again, for everything."
Luna accepted the payment with a small nod, tucking the coins into her apron. "You're welcome," she said quietly. "I'm glad I could help."
With that, Zane guided the twins towards the door, but not before they turned back to give Luna one last wave, their smiles warm and grateful.
Zane, however, did not meet her gaze. His expression remained closed and unreadable, his eyes fixed ahead.
After they left, Luna exhaled slowly, letting the silence settle in the clinic. She stood there for a long moment, her mind racing with thoughts of the past and the present. Zane had moved on. He had his family, his life, and it seemed as though he had buried any trace of their shared history.
His coldness stung, yet the sight of him with his children had touched her heart. There was a kindness in him, though perhaps not directed toward her, that reminded her of the boy she had once known so well.
The memories of their time together, so vivid and raw, still lingered in her mind, though she had long learned to keep them locked away. She wondered if he ever thought of her, or if she had become nothing more than a fleeting shadow in his past.
Over the next few days, word seemed to spread about Luna's kindness to the Frostclaw twins. Though most villagers still kept their distance, she noticed the whispered conversations taking on a different tone when she walked through the village. The mothers who had once eyed her with suspicion now offered faint nods, and the children would smile shyly when they caught her eye.
One morning, as she tidied up the clinic, Luna heard soft knocks at the door. Turning, she saw an elderly couple standing in the open doorway.
"Good morning," Luna greeted them, setting aside her broom. "How can I help you both?"
The couple exchanged a look, then the woman stepped forward. "We were wondering if you could take a look at my husband's knee," she said. "It's been troubling him for a while now."
Luna nodded, gesturing for them to come in. "Of course, please have a seat, and I'll see what I can do."
The couple shuffled in slowly, the man's steps careful and stiff, clearly affected by the discomfort in his knee. They sat down on the wooden bench, the creak of the old wood echoing as they settled in.
Kneeling in front of the man, Luna carefully examined his knee, noting how his muscles tensed as she gently pressed against the joint.
"I think I can help," she said, her voice soft yet confident. "It looks like some swelling and tightness in the muscles. With a little treatment, you should be able to move more comfortably."
The elderly man looked at her, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Really?" he asked, his voice tinged with hope. "The neighbor's pack healer said I'd have this until the day I die." His wife nodded in agreement, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
"When he has pains, the healer just gives him a salve," she added, her eyes flashing with frustration as she looked at her husband. "It's never worked."
Luna met the wife's gaze with understanding. "I see," she said, nodding gently, before standing up.
The couple watched as Luna moved to the small table nearby, where she had laid out a variety of herbs and tools. She carefully picked through the dried plants, selecting a few with strong medicinal properties. The smell of crushed lavender, peppermint, and a hint of sage filled the air. She ground the herbs together in a small mortar, adding a bit of warm water to create a thick paste.
"Here," she said, turning back to the man and gently applying the herbal poultice to his knee. "This will reduce the swelling and ease the stiffness in your muscles." Her hands moved with practiced care as she wrapped the poultice securely in place using a cloth she had brought with her.
Luna then took a small jar from her bag and handed it to the wife. "This is a soothing balm," she explained. "Rub it gently on his knee at night, and it should help relieve the pain. It's made from the roots of elderflower and wild mint from the forest."
Finally, she pulled out a small bundle of dried leaves wrapped in cloth. "This is a tea for relaxation and to help with circulation," she continued. "Boil a handful of these leaves in water for a few minutes, then have him sip it slowly, twice a day."
The elderly man gave a slow nod, clearly grateful. "Thank you, young one," he said, his voice full of sincerity. "I haven't felt this hope in a long time."
His wife smiled at Luna, the hardness in her gaze softening. "We'll follow your advice," she said, her tone warmer now.
Luna nodded as the couple stood up, the elderly man slowly rising with the help of his wife. They exchanged a brief, grateful glance before turning toward the door. The wife gave Luna a soft smile as they left, and the man gave a small wave, both offering their thanks one last time.
Over the next few days, more villagers began to trickle into the clinic. Word of Luna's healing hands and gentle nature spread quickly, and the villagers, once wary and distant, began to appreciate her as a healer. The skepticism that had once clouded their eyes faded, replaced by trust and gratitude. They no longer viewed her as the girl who had disappeared, but as the woman who could mend both body and spirit.
Her clinic grew busier with each passing day, filled with villagers seeking help for ailments both small and serious. From sprained wrists to deep bruises, and even long-standing aches from years of hard labor, all came to Luna, drawn by the promise of care and relief. With each patient, she worked tirelessly, offering not only her healing expertise but a quiet reassurance that helped to ease their fears.
As Luna's reputation grew, so did her bond with the villagers. The once distant faces now looked to her not only for physical healing but for comfort and guidance. They trusted her, and slowly, she became an integral part of their lives.
Through her work, Luna wasn't just mending bodies; she was strengthening the ties between herself and the people around her. Her heart swelled with purpose as she saw the impact she was making, not only in restoring health but in fostering a deeper connection with the village. She had found her place, not just as a healer, but as a trusted figure within the village.