As she walked through the dense woods, the soft rustle of leaves and snapping of twigs beneath her feet served as a soothing melody. Wren breathed in deeply, feeling the crisp air fill her lungs. She loved days like this, where the warmth of the sun peeked through the canopy above, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor.

Her eyes scanned the underbrush, her trained gaze picking out the familiar shapes of the herbs she sought. The healer's basket, woven from sturdy reeds, hung from her arm, already half-filled with an assortment of leaves, roots, and flowers. She was a small-time healer, but her knowledge of the natural world was vast, and her remedies were sought after by the villagers.

As she rounded a bend in the path, the cabin came into view. It was an old, weathered thing, its wooden boards gray and worn. She smiled, knowing that her feline friend, a scrappy calico cat named Meko, would be waiting for her inside. She pushed open the creaky door and stepped into the dim interior.

The cabin was musty and quiet, the only sound the soft hum of flies buzzing around the windows. Her eyes adjusted slowly to the darkness, and she made out the shape of Meko. Strangly as she approached the cat, Meko's ears perked up, and she stood up, her fur fluffed up in agitation.

Meko's eyes were fixed intently on something, and Wren followed her gaze to the figure slumped against the far wall. Meko's tail twitched back and forth, and she let out a low, warning growl. Wren's heart quickened as she took in the sight of the stranger.

Wren's heart quickened as she took in the sight of the stranger. He was a man, dressed in dark, travel-worn clothing, and his face was pale and clammy. A faint sheen of sweat coated his brow, and his eyes were sunken, his pupils constricted.

She rushed to his side, her hands moving quickly to check his pulse and breathing. He was barely alive, his heartbeat faint and irregular. She knew she had to act fast.

With a swift motion, she turned and ran from the cabin, dashing back through the forest as fast as her feet could carry her. She didn't dare look back, fearing what she might see. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her breath came in ragged gasps.

She burst through the door of her small cottage, slamming it shut behind her. Her hands trembled as she rummaged through her shelves, gathering various herbs and potions. She knew she had to work fast, or the stranger would be beyond saving.

As she worked, Wren's mind whirled with questions. Who was this stranger? What had brought him to their forest? And what kind of poison had he ingested?

But for now, she pushed those questions aside, focusing on the task at hand - saving the stranger's life.