Mint and Honey

[heartofcourage]

“They are beasts of habit.” Yasmine said as Fatin finally caved as his owner scratched his chin. “Show then a little kindness and they’ll be yours forever.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think they're at least a little more discerning. But only a little." Alex let Fatin go and looked to Yasmine. "So, how are things going with your new work?"

 

[heartofcourage]

“Smoothly so far. I’ve gotten to see my new home here on the grounds. It’s small but lovely.” Yasmine said as Alex relaxed beside her.

 

[KieranSoares]

"The homes within the courtyard walls are meant for valued people, so they're kept well. " Alex unwrapped his own lunch from a bundle in his bag. "Well... On my end, little Brogan seems to be improving. Kate, not so much. But she has three deeply dedicated people around her."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Three people?” Yasmine asked, glancing at him curiously. “The same ones from last night?”

 

[KieranSoares]

"Rissa, Qira, and Kell," Alex confirmed with a nod. "I think it's safe to say they all consider Brogan their cub. Rissa and Qira have been acting as his second parents seamlessly, and they've closed ranks to look after Kate quite neatly."

 

[heartofcourage]

“I’m sure she’ll see the light at the end of all of this.” She said softly as Alex spoke about his cousin. “Her husband won’t let her falter. They make a good team together.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"My worry is that he'll buckle under the weight of it all. He's assumed both her duties and his own, but then again, I believe Qira is taking over most of the job of the Lord Protector for him."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Whatever gets them through this. That's really all that matters, isn't it?" Yasmine asked as Alex ate his own lunch between the two drakes as she had. "As long as none of them lose site of what is important to them, then they'll be alright."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think keeping Brogan from getting any worse until we have a solution, in combination with Rissa and Qira helping them, will hold them for now. I'm hoping someone somewhere can tell us what to do. It's not often that my mother, grandfather, and I come across a problem we struggle with this much without hardly any treatment options."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I wrote to jiddo to see if there was anything anyone there might be able to do. I'm sure we'll hear back from hims shortly." Yasmine said as they spoke about the little cub that was struggling so much. "I know letters have gone out all over the place. Someone will know how to fix this."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I certainly hope so. My greatest hopes lay in China with some friends of Durban's. It's such a huge country with a long history in medicine, that I can't imagine they haven't seen something like this before. My grandfather sent a letter to his former apprentice down in Venice as well, asking for his opinion and experience. Nothing to do but wait, though, which is probably the worst part."

 

[heartofcourage]

“If anyone can solve this, it’s you.” Yasmine said with a proud smile on her lips. “He’ll forever be grateful for you.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"It won't be me, Yasmine," Alex said with a smile. "I'm not a miracle worker. No one is. If it can be done, I'll just be a cog in the grand machine, and maybe the one who delivers the cure or the lasting treatment. That's all."

 

[heartofcourage]

"You don't give yourself enough credit, Alex. You are the one that is pulling all of the information together. For a little cub. I don't know of many others that would do that for someone so young." Yasmine said, trying to make him see just how important he was.

 

[KieranSoares]

"He's family," Alex insisted simply. "Prince or no, my family has always believed that no one should be left behind."

 

[heartofcourage]

“No one’s going to leave him behind.” Yasmine said. “Too many people are invested in his life now to let him go at anything alone.”

 

[KieranSoares]

"He's a lucky cub in some ways. Rough start or no, he has some dedicated family. Brogan and Julia alone would be all he needed to get the best healers in the world."

 

[heartofcourage]

“Well, they certainly have one.” Yasmine said as she leaned in and kissed his cheek.

 

[KieranSoares]

"I think you're biased." Alex gladly returned her kiss and leaned lightly against her side.

 

[heartofcourage]

"Maybe a little. But I believe in your wholeheartedly." Yasmine said softly, her head leaning against Alex's shoulder as he leaned into her side.

 

[KieranSoares]

"To think, a few months ago, you hated that you had to come visit and spend time around me. Now you welcome me around in your free time."

 

[heartofcourage]

"Well, you weren't warming my bed then." Yasmine said with a wicked kind of grin on her lips. "That has definitely helped to change my perspective."

 

[KieranSoares]

"I suppose it has its perks," Alex smiled quite serenely. "But I'm sure that will all change again the moment you get another similar injury. Not if, but when."

 

[heartofcourage]

"I expect to be waited on hand and foot when that happens." Yasmine said with a smile as Alex teased her further. "After I broke my hand, your bedside manner was severely lacking."