FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

All was quiet in the world beyond the sickbed. Nocturnal creatures slept during the daylight hours but there were echoes of their revelry all around. A pungent odor poured from every room and lingered in the poorly ventilated hallway. A powerful memory was attached to that scent, causing Rhea to recall passionate nights spent in the forest ... with Lyle. But this was not the heady aroma of recently spent passions and newly spilled fluids, this was the aggression of pent up desire. Avarice, lust, greed, pride, wrath ... the frustration of unfulfilled needs ground into the bodies of strangers, screamed into wooden cages, and then left on the floor to grow sour.

"Is the Beloved Bard ... a brothel?" Rhea asked her guide, though she already knew the answer.

Anna smiled and managed to answer as if she were proud of the place. "A brothel, an inn, a tavern, and even a hospital when things get really nasty. I know you don't like it; I can hear it in your voice, but this place has done more good for the community than ill."

"I don't know about that," Rhea's thoughts spoke louder than she had meant them to, "there's an awful lot of ill here."

"Spoken like a true witch," Anna said with a slight smile. "Are your senses coming back?"

"I ... I don't know," Rhea admitted. "It's ... all so ... faint. I can sort of feel the lust and anger in the walls but only just."

"We're working on it," Anna told her with a knowing look. "Mama sent me all the way to Thyatiran to get me out of here. But what kind of daughter would I be if I just became a doctor and then never came back?"

An obedient one, Rhea thought to herself. "So you came back to help clean up the place?"

"Clean, cure, and counteract," Anna said smugly. "I prevent pregnancy, teach the ladies how to spot a bad Peter, and take care of anyone who actually does get sick."

"Doesn't that upset the church?" Rhea felt like a fool for asking and a secondary shot of guilt took her when Anna unthinkingly put one hand between her breasts. "Sorry ... I forgot."

"Yes, they were very offended." Anna nodded, but her smile refused to fade. "It's become dangerous to be a woman who knows things in Caritas. Since the occupation ... well, let's just say religious fanatics are some of the worst kind."

Rhea also touched her brand and winced as it reminded her of its stinging presence. The pair of them made it through the rest of the building in companionable silence. Rhea leaned heavily on the railing, as they went down two flights of stairs, but she was proud of herself for not needing Anna's assistance. Another two hallways brought them to a sturdy wooden door and a room that was much larger than the others she had seen.

"Here we are," Anna told her as she motioned towards a small bench. "Sit over there and scrub off the filth. I'll take care of your hair when you're done and then we can take a soak."

Rhea turned to ask a question but she choked on it when Anna pulled her sundress up over her head and then tossed it into a pile. Underclothes soon followed and Rhea's mouth moved soundlessly as her brain struggled to gather coherent words. A sturdy sentence was almost complete but it shattered when the young woman stretched.

Anna's full breasts and sturdy core were magnificent. Muscles rippled pleasingly beneath smooth and unblemished skin. Every curve she had was pleasing and Rhea had to admit she was a little jealous.

"Oh ... I'm sorry," Anna said, but she did not move to cover herself. "Does this make you uncomfortable?"

"I-uhm-uh," was all that was left of the words Rhea had gathered, and it set her guide into a giggle. The giggle did interesting things to the display and Rhea felt her face flush deepen from pink to crimson. Anna carried on for some time before she wrapped her arms around herself and began breathing normally.

"Oh dear, I'm so sorry. The ladies are going to eat you alive."

"Uh-buh-guh-"

"There's naked bodies all over this place," Anna began to explain before proper questions could form. "I grew up around it so nudity's no big deal to me. It's so cute when someone's all shy about their body. It's a good thing you got to deal with me first ... I have empathy."

"So ... uhm ... you're not going to ... uhm-" Rhea clenched her teeth and tried to think past her flustered state. What's wrong with me? I mean, yes, she's gorgeous but I'm not into girls! I'm not! Am I? Well, I've never been into girls before! So, why can't I think?

"You're going to have to get used to it," Anna told her gently and she took a couple of steps forward. Rhea shuffled back and Anna froze. "Rhea," she said a little more firmly than before, "Rhea, you need to get used to this. You'll never get anything done if a naked body reduces you to butter ... even if it's a body like mine."

Rhea hesitated before she realized Anna had just made a small joke. For some reason the joke caused her all of her tension to explode in a gale of inappropriately heavy laughter. It strained the muscles in her stomach and gave her a side-ache, but it was a glorious tonic among all of her pain and gloom. When she wiped the tears from her eyes, Anna was standing within easy grabbing distance. This caused Rhea to suck in her breath and freeze like a doe.

"I've already seen you naked," Anna confessed softly as made no sudden movements. "I've been caring for you for a few weeks. During that time I've fed you, cleaned you, changed you, and moved you around so that you didn't get bed-sores. It's the reason I'm so open with you. You're just meeting me for the first time, now, but I met you last month ... and I've spoken to you every day."

"You have?" Rhea asked with real surprise on her face.

"It's what I do," Anna told her with a shrug. "Kindness, humor, good feelings ... they're all part of the healing process."

"Because you're my doctor," Rhea said.

"Among other things," Anna admitted with a nod. "But as your doctor, I'm telling you to strip. I need to get a good look at you and make sure you're healthy. Then we both need a good scrubbing and a soak in the tub."

"I'm ... sorry," Rhea hesitated.

"It's okay," Anna told her in the tone of voice one uses on frightened animals. "I won't hurt you, Rhea. All I want is for you to get better. Once you're better, we'll talk about the possibilities of your future."

"Okay," the young witch conceded. "What are we doing for water?"

"You get it out of the faucet," Anna told her.

"What's a faucet," Rhea asked.

"Oh my," Anna commented with an amused smile, "you are in for a treat." Anna moved across to the oversized tub and turned a small wheel that was attached to the wall. A gurgling hiss resonated through the building and steaming water began to pour out of something that looked like a pump-nozzle. The hostess laughed at Rhea's expression. "It's called pluming. It's very expensive but well worth it."

"How does it work?" Rhea asked in a predictable manner.

"There is a pump in the basement that puts water into a huge basin. The water is then forced through pipes to rooms like this one. I've heard of some areas where every room has its own water outlet but that's way too expensive for the likes of us."

"Still," Rhea said as she shook her head in disbelief, "I've never seen anything like it!"

"Well good," Anna said with a smug nod, "maybe you won't get bored. Now hand me a bucket."

This, at least, was familiar to Rhea. She handed her hostess a few buckets which were filled and then set aside. Eventually the tub filled and the wheel was turned until the flow ceased. As the noise retreated, the steam raised the room's temperature and covered them in a thin layer of moisture. The patient turned away from her caretaker and was slow to slide the sweat-encrusted garments off of her. They went into a pile in the corner and then she looked down at herself. "What about the bandages?"

"I can remove them," Anna offered, but after an uncomfortable silence she added, "or you can. It's up to you, but we need to clean your wounds and change them."

"Alright." Rhea nodded, then without looking back, she undid the bandages and began to remove them. Cool air touched raw skin and hardened her nipples. Anna's presence drew closer and Rhea soon heard a washcloth being dipped into a bucket. Warm water began to drip upon one shoulder. Foul rivers cut a path of clean across oily skin. Then a stranger's hand was guiding the washcloth across her shoulder ... her arm ... and back into the bucket. One hand gripped her hair and held it up as the other washed her neck and upper back. Three trips to the bucket took care of the rest of her upper-half.

Rhea began to tense as callused fingertips settled lightly on her shoulder. "Don't be afraid," Anna whispered softly. Gentle pressure turned her to face the young woman who had nursed her back to health. Tender blue eyes told Rhea everything would be alright and then the washcloth moved. Warm water ran down Rhea's chest and she closed her eyes as the cloth dragged under her breasts a few times before climbing up and over them. A shiver of pleasant sensation stiffened them once more and she blushed.

"It's okay," Anna repeated in assuring tones. "No one can hurt you here. You're safe." The sting of wounds caused a tight gasp, but the pain did not linger. Rhea let out the shuddering breath as she let herself be washed. "You have such beautiful skin."

"Thank you," Rhea managed to whisper.

"Mine's always been so pale," the caretaker told her as she continued to speak in soothing tones. "I don't think I could ever spend enough time in the sun to turn me golden. Usually I just go red and then peel, like a lizard. There aren't a lot of men who are into that sort of thing." Anna continued making small talk as she washed Rhea's legs. Her words continued as if nothing unusual was happening and Rhea felt herself almost believing the fantasy.

Everything is okay. This is totally normal. She's so pretty ... and she thinks I'm pretty ... and I like her touching me. Everything is-

"Okay, your turn."

"Ma-muh-my ... turn?" Rhea blinked and realized Anna was no longer facing her. She was holding up her long dark hair and leaning on one leg in a manner that displayed her long flanks and the curve of her bottom. Blood flooded back to the surface as Rhea took up the washcloth and swallowed. She rinsed it in the a few times before finding the strength to touch Anna.

Strength, grace, and a gentle heat rolled up Rhea's nerves and sent her body into a confusing mixture of emotional highs. Gods and devils ... I AM attracted to women! Her eyes traveled lower ... I think ... they focused on Anna's hips and bottom ... maybe ... then she noticed the part between and her eyes fled the scene.Okay ... maybe I'm not THAT into other women.

The washing became easier after a few moments but it grew more difficult when she turned around. "Uhm ... you might need to get your ... uh ... front," Rhea admitted as the admirable figure crumbled her courage to dust.

Anne giggled softly and then took the washcloth. "It's okay; you've done pretty well for you first time."

"Thanks," Rhea muttered as she tried to look away. Anna rubbed her belly and then paused, moving the washcloth slowly over her breasts. When Rhea's attention was fully upon them, she stopped and their eyes met. Something in that stare was just as intense as Lyle's had been. It drew her back to the moments she had spent with him. The intensity of his stare, the fire of his kiss, the power in his body ... and then she remembered he was gone.

Tears began to run down her face as raw emotions began to move once more. The washcloth fell back into the bucket and Anna broke eye-contact. "I'm sorry," she said as she took up another bucket, rinsed, and then wrapped a towel around herself.

"No ... it's," Rhea stopped and closed her eyes. "You reminded me of ... of ..." I can't say his name! I just can't! "He ... died."

"Witch hunters?" Rhea nodded sharply. Anna pressed her front to Rhea's back and wrapped her arms around the other woman in a sisterly hug. "Oh, Rhea ... I'm so sorry."

"I ... haven't had the chance to ... to grieve yet," Rhea admitted.

"You'll have time here," Anna told her fiercely. "I'll keep the other ladies away from you for a while."

"I'd have to go back to my room for that," Rhea pouted. "I don't wanna."

"Alright," Anna said as she drew back, "but we need to wash your hair before we go out to face them."

"Can't we just cut it off?" Rhea groaned. "It's so snarled ... I don't want to go through the hell of making it right."

"Oh, I think I can fix that for you," her hostess told her mysteriously.

"How?"

"Do you think I got this brand because of my healing skills?" Anna asked with a smirk.

"Well ... yeah," Rhea admitted.

"My healing skills made them look my way," Anna said as she took a bottle and a brush, "but there are some other things I can do too."

"But ... the brand," Rhea protested.

"They can't destroy our magic," she told her. "The magic is in our blood, the seal can put huge limits on what we can do but they can't lock out all of the energy around us. Our bodies generate energy and if the heat couldn't dissipate our blood would boil and we'd die. Then there are the other energies in the world. Without friction we couldn't feel and without light we couldn't see. Our bodies are amazing things, Rhea, and they adjust. It's been three years since they branded me and already I've regained enough empathy to help my patients get through the worst of their fears."

"Well, yeah," Rhea protested, "but that's not magic."

"Isn't it?" Anna asked with a furrowed brow that caused her to look very mysterious.

Damn-it! Why didn't Baba Ginger teach me how to do that? Wait a minute! "Does that mean I can still use my herbs and mix potions?"

"It will be more difficult," Anna admitted as she held up one hand in a so-so gesture, "but, yes you can. Just remember, your potions won't be as effective as they once were. Medicines and herbs will work fine, but potions take a small amount of energy from us as we make them. Without your magic you'll need to rely on the life energy in the plants and in any of the tools you use. A full ritual would work but the clergy might rescind your stay of execution if they catch you drawing pentagrams and scribbling mystical symbols all over the place."

"Wait," Rhea almost shouted, "what do you mean my stay of execution? Since when does Alashir do that kind of thing?"

"Since Ephesus took over," Anna said sadly. "Get into the tub and I'll tell the tale."

A long hiss drew out of the pair of them as they settled into water that was just barely cool enough to stand. Joints and muscles softened to tolerable and it was difficult to focus on anything that was not the tub and its heat. "Where are you from, Rhea?"

"Smyrna."

"The actual Faery Woods?" Anna asked as her voice betrayed all manner of stunned emotions. Rhea could not help but feel a little smug about this.

"Yep, I'm pretty far from home."

"How did you get here?" Anna asked as her emotions leveled back out.

"Magic," Rhea told her unhelpfully. The other woman's gawking stare hardened. There was a moment of hesitation and then Rhea gave in and told the tale. Anna seemed most interested in Baba Ginger and Rhea discovered herself giving a lot of information and speaking of things she had only ever told her Baba. "It's strange having someone other than my Baba to talk about things like this. I tried telling Lyle about it, but I think I just confused him."

"He's not a witch," Anna told her smugly.

"He's not anything, now," Rhea pouted.

"Rhea," the other woman said her name softly and she put a hand on her shoulder, "you're like a refuge after a war drove her out of her home. In a very short period of time you've lost everything that you recognize, but you'll heal. If you let me help you, I'll make sure your healing is done right."

"You'll ... help?"

"For as long as you live here," Anna told her with a smile. "I swear on my power to help you recover your strength in any way that I can."

"Thank you, Anna," Rhea told her gratefully. "It's good to have a friend again."