Whisper to Gaia

Diane looked at Mir, still unsure if he was going to survive his wound.
She shivered, feeling cold, replaying in her mind stitching up his
wound.  She'd taken a first aid course and then helped, a few times, one
of the healers in the Salem caern back in North Carolina - they'd
allowed this because of her tribe, and her gift of Mother's Touch, more
than because of her scant skill - but she'd never been allowed or needed
to work on such a serious case.

The good thing, though, the thing that made her feel okay about it, was
that she'd really felt a strength of Gaia's presence as she'd worked.
Closer than she'd felt the mother of all in a long, long time.  For the
first time she'd felt really a part of the pack she'd found herself
among for so few days, and so much havoc.  Had she been here what,
three, four days?  It seemed so much longer in some ways, and in others,
perhaps it seemed she hadn't been here at all, really, until just now
working all together to save the Corax.

She thought of how she'd found Mir caught in her pocket in the Umbra on
the way to Dallas two nights before, and felt very warmly toward him, so
much hoping he'd survive.  She couldn't say as much for Ractamo.  Though
the raven woman obviously loved Mir, her hysterics, thrown before anyone
knew if he'd live or die even, seemed overblown, as if she had guilt to
cover with extreme show.  Would she really want Lasher to succeed in his
plans if the cost of stopping him were Mir's life?  Did she have so
little respect for the bravery of her beloved as that?  Diane thought
that she didn't know of the Litany as the Corax would have it, but it
didn't set right with her anyway.  Diane thought, she was hysterical and
didnt really mean it the way it came out sounding;  but she couldn't get
the thought out of her mind.

"Gaia, thank you for giving us your strength to heal Mir, and thank you
for helping the rest of us escape; we dedicate our continued striving to
saving you from the Wyrm and his minions, for so long as we live to walk
your lands and breathe your air."  Diane continued to meditate,
recovering her sense of connection to Gaia and the Wyld, relaxing as she
did so.  When she had done, the trembling was gone, and she could take a
deep breath.  She took several, and then opened her eyes.