Zebulun and Kulth-Ing limped back to the cave and collapsed on the cold stone floor. Sarah knelt to aid Zebulun, who waved her off. "I’m okay," he said. "Just bruised. See to the cat."
Sarah nodded and turned to Kulth-Ing. He was breathing hard. She placed her gentle hands on him. "His leg is broken. A moment."
Sarah closed her eyes. A moment passed. The three men watched as the cat’s labored breathing slowed, its eyes calming and narrowing. It drifted off to sleep.
"He’ll be fine after some rest," she said.
Davion looked down at the panther, his brow furrowed. "What did you just do?"
"A simple transfer of energy," she said, "from one place to another to shape a transformation."
"I don’t understand," said Davion.
"You may, in time," she said with a smile.
She turned to Zebulun. "Now will you accept my help?"
Zebulun nodded. "I may have a broken rib or three."
Sarah knelt and laid hands on him. Zebulun felt a strange tingle as some alien spirit entered his flesh. He felt his bones mend, as they would have over time, but accelerated. His bruises faded away.
Zebulun looked at Sarah. "The forest gives you this power?"
"The spirit of the forest," she said.
"I feel healed."
"You are."
"Good," said Zebulun, "because there’s something else I need to do. I’ll meet you back in camp."