The Wandering Doctor

A break in the woods

Night fell on the small town of Salix, simple houses circling the stone walls of the towering silhoute that made the University of Salix. Stores were closed, people returned to their homes, the only sounds heard were the bugs chirping and rustling of leaves in the forest.

The doctor sat on her room, writing down the daily activities on her diary right after making the list for the next, just like it always was, and always would be. She stretched her arms above her head, everything was in place, everybody was resting, it was finally her time to have a break. She got up from her chair and left her bedroom, picked up a book from the shelf at the living room before going downstairs.

Downstairs where the clinic was, no one had rested there for a good while, wich was good, people were healthy and she could focus on those who sought after her, even if it felt quite lonely not having anyone to check on constantly, she took a deep breath, work was much and she was alone, she would enjoy her nightly break without focusing on more work.

She walked down the corridor, just beside the stairs, the one that led to more rooms and eventually to the back door, back door that gave access to her small garden, fresh vegetables were the best for her patients after all, but that was not her focus today it was what came after, the forest.

Hiding in the woods was something she was awfully used to, she had lived in one for almost four years once, altought it wasn't exactly because she had a choice it teached her much and turned the tall trees into a safe place for her. She walked towards a small clearing in the woods with a pond, climbing onto one tree close by, she sat on a branch and leaned against the plant's body.

The view was nice, she could watch the movement from were she sat, her favorite to focus was the animals coming to drink or rest by the roots, squirrels, deer, even an owlbear, rare by these parts, she wondered what it did there but she wasn't allowed much time to think when a groan from bellow got her attention. A man, long dark hair that barely covered his pained expression, holding his side, blood seeping in the fabric of his shirt, leaking onto his fingers. He stumbled to a tree, his free hand steadying himself against the trunk, his breathing was raggedy, his vision blurrying, he felt himself losing his ground but before he could hit hands caught him, he couldn't see who helped him before everything went dark.
The doctor had climbed down from the tree she sat as fast as she could, reaching the man as he was about to hit the ground, a soft groan coming from his lips as he fainted in her arms. She kneeled, slowly bringing him down with her, resting his limp body against her leg, pushing his shirt aside she analized the injury. Not too deep, a simple suture and rest and he would be good as new. She ripped a piece of fabric from her shirt, wrapped it around the man's torso before lifiting him into her arms. She would carry him back to the clinic, take care of him until he got healthy enough to leave, like she always did.