[Esgallhugwen]

Esgallhugwen gazed up at the stars, but was not comforted. Something knawed at her mind, she seemed to be hearing noises but when she looked around no one else seemed to have have heard them.

And there it was again a faint wailing or crying of something that was barely able to cling on to what remained of it's life. She sat up away from the fire looking about, she caught the horses grazing a little ways from the camp; the Hobbit ponies had nestled together dozing off their fuzzy ears flickering every now and again.

But it was not coming from the horses, it came again but fainter losing it's will and strength. Esgallhugwen stood up with a jolt carefully creeping towards a pile of large rocks and stones; the camp that were still awake gave her odd and startled looks at her sudden stealthy movement and caution.

Esgallhugwen peered over the sharp edged rock, something moved, it was painful for her to watch it. She raced back over to her saddle bags and hurridly took what she needed from them, setting it by the fire.

In her arms lay a wolf cub. At first glance many would think it was dead, in fact it should have been dead, whatever kept it alive Esgallhugwen marvelled at. It was limp in her arms, half starved, and to the Elf's raging horror both it's back legs were broken.

She set it gently down in the warm blanket, beginning her work. Esgallhugwen quickly spun open the lid to her green sappy concoction and dabbed some on the cub's nose, when it inhaled the pungeant odour it would help sooth the pain. She took one dangling leg in her hands, taking care when she pulled it back to align it so it would set properly when healed.

The bone made a horrible snapping noise, everyone winced as they gazed on. She pinched the thin leg together while scooping out some of the green sap she applied it, it became thicker, she wound it up and down the whole leg it seemed to be made of toffee as she stretched it out and wrapped it round.

Esgallhugwen snatched up a white linen bandage. With great skill she bound it tight and quickly. The other leg did not make such a horrible snap but was broken in more than one place and took longer to align properly.

Some gathered around her, hearing her sing all the while to the wounded pup. The Elf took up a spoon and another jar, a bowl and her flask of miruvor. In the jar was honey and she poured it sparingly into the small bowl along with the miruvor, also sparingly.

Esgallhugwen stirred it together, as she picked up the cub like you would hold a baby and tried to spoon feed it the honey. The cub stirred but did not open it's eyes when it was fed the mixture in the bowl.

She sang to it a little while longer until it fell asleep, she tucked it in the blanket. All was settled down again and Esgallhugwen went back to her quiet way, watching over the wolf.

[ November 16, 2003: Message edited by: Esgallhugwen ]