When Sol reached the healing house, the healer Ceera and her assistant Dally were already tending to the newcomer.
The healing room reflected Nemeteia's quiet harmony with nature. The circular space was built from pale stone veined with faint, naturally glowing minerals that cast a soft amber light across the room even without lanterns. Wide arched windows remained open to let fresh air flow through, thin curtains of woven plant fiber shifting gently in the breeze. The scent of crushed leaves, honey salve, and something faintly floral lingered in the air, which he loved the most about this place.
Low wooden cots lined one side of the room, each layered with thick woven blankets dyed in warm earth tones.
He passed the low table held mortars and pestles carved from warmchestnut, and it smelled of silvermint and sweet medicine. In the center, a raised platform covered in woven wolfhare blankets held the boy, looking even younger in the filtered light from the moonglass windows.
Up close, he looked even younger. His white hair fell messily across his forehead, strands clinging slightly with sweat. His skin carried a pale undertone that spoke more of exhaustion than natural complexion, and faint shadows rested under his closed eyes.
From what Sol could see, the boy only had minor scrapes now, most already treated with the herbal salve Ceera had applied enhanced with her curing ability. The remaining redness was fading quickly.
Mira walked in just then, holding his sword out toward him.
Sol blinked, mild surprise probably obvious on his face.
"Figured you'd come here first," she said. "You looked worried."
"Tsk. I wasn't worried about him. I was worried that you people would run your yapping holes around about me turning into a cat. Came here to remind you of that first." He secured the sword at his side and crossed his arms.
"Sure, sure," Mira said with a knowing smile.
Sol ignored her.
"He seemed to already have powers," Ceera said, straightening after finishing her examination.
"Yes," Sol added. "Some sort of healing and calming ability, I think."
"If that was it, why didn't you move?" Mira asked.
Before he could answer, she covered her mouth with her fist, giggling.
"He was warm enough for you to get comfortable, huh? It's okay." She thumped his back hard enough to make him lurch forward. "According to Elowen, cats are like that. You can't completely deny biological responses."
Elowen was one of the very few who had knowledge remaining in their memory about certain things. In his case, something called biology, knowledge about living bodies, but mostly animals.
"Oh, you know everything, don't you?" Sol snapped. "That's not it. I was overwhelmed by his panic."
"Panic?"
"The idiot fell off a tree. I caught him, tripped over a stupid root, fell, cursed, turned, and got crushed under him," he grumbled.
The entire room broke into laughter.
"Yeah, yeah... laugh it off. I thought that much fear should not be caused just by a fall, but now looking at him, it figures, I guess." He glanced over the young features.
"He is a kid after all." He said quietly.
Ceera walked toward them, posture lowering slightly as if she were about to share something private. Her purple eyes carried concern, and she absentmindedly twisted the end of her long single braid, lavender sprigs woven into the strands.
"No. His physical condition isn't good at all," she said softly. "He appears malnourished. Weak constitution. And even while unconscious, his body is still reacting to the remnants of panic, mumbling something."
She looked shyly into Sol's eyes for a fraction before glancing away.
"I think he was scared of you dying. I mean, the cat, in his point of view."
Sol frowned slightly but said nothing.
"Either way, we'll need to hold a meeting," Mira said, stepping forward. "He's still a teenager. He'll need to stay with a family."
She glanced between them.
"Once he wakes up, help me explain things to him. Then we'll slowly bring him to the meeting."
Sol nodded in agreement.
After that, they simply waited for the new kid to wake up.