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Soft music filled a small clearing behind Hexside School of Magic and Demonics. Hunter Deamonne-Clawthorne-Noceda sat with his friends Skara, and Viney, as well as Viney's gryphon Puddles. Hunter held his guitar in his hands and Skara had her lyre, the two played together in the unusual duo of instruments.
Hunter hadn't been playing guitar long, but his lessons with Raine were progressing well, and he loved playing with Skara. Viney leaned against Puddles reading through one of her healing text books, the gryphon ever the critic clacked her beak every time Hunter hit a sour note.
"Don't pay her any mind," Skara giggled. "You're doing great."
"It helps to have the best bard in the Bard Coven as your teacher," Hunter chuckled. "Though they might have to watch their back after you graduate."
"Flatterer," Viney coughed into her hand.
"Am I wrong?" Hunter challenged.
"Of course not," Viney grinned. "Skara is amazing."
"So nice to have many admirers'," Skara laughed.
Hunter shook his head fondly at his friends and stated playing a series of cords he had been practicing. Suddenly he hissed in pain and clutched his hand.
"Are you okay?" Viney asked sitting up.
"Y-yeah," Hunter grunted. "It just does that sometimes."
"Is your hand cramping?" Skara winced in sympathy. "That's always annoying."
"No my hand just hurts sometimes ever since..." Hunter trailed off. "I- Uh- I mean.."
He looked up to see his friends staring at him, Viney especially looked concerned.
"Hunter.. What do you mean your hand just hurts sometimes?" She asked slowly.
"I-Its probably just an old injury.." Hunter shrugged. "It doesn't hurt all the time but sometimes it.. It just hurts.."
"Does Raine know?" Skara frowned.
"No.. I never told them," Hunter mumbled. "It really isn't a big deal, I don't want them to think I can't play."
"Hunter, show me your hand," Viney ordered reaching for him. Hunter sighed and slowly put his right hand out. Viney took his hand gently and drew a spell circle before tapping her eyes, which faintly glowed blue. Staring at her friends hand she gasped. "Hunter your hand is.."
"It's messed up isn't it?" Hunter groaned.
"That's an understament! It looks like it's been broken multiple times and never healed properly!"
"That.. Isn't far off..." Hunter mumbled.
"What do you mean?" Skara asked horrified.
"I mean you know my childhood was messed up! My hand was broken a few times and well... Usually I had to let it heal on it's own, not with magic. Sometimes I could go to Hettie Cutburn to heal it if there was a high priority mission that couldn't afford any distractions... Now it hurts sometimes but I can still use it you know?"
Viney and Skara looked at Hunter in horror. It was true that they knew his upbringing was far from normal. Heck they suspected as much when they first met him, the way he acted about having only one day off a year and.. everything else. But usually when they learned a new detail about his past they ended up horrified and wished they could shield him from the world, friendship instincts.
"Is there... Anything you can do Viney?" Skara asked. "You fixed my hand.."
"Not possible," Viney shook her head sadly. "Most healing magic basically combines the magics and physical energies of the healer and patient to boost the bodies natural healing. You can accelerate it, make it stronger, things like that. But an old injury that is done healing.. That' something completely different."
"Hey... It's no big deal," Hunter shrugged. "It's been like this for well.. Awhile. I've learned to live with it."
"You really should see a healer," Viney countered, holding his hand gently. "Even if they can't heal it they may have ways to help manage the pain. You play the guitar great, and your carving lessons with Mr. Clawthorn are going well too, you don't want to compromise that."
"I... Hadn't considered that.." Hunter said uncomfortably. "I.. I'll talk to my family about seeing a healer. Just.. Don't know which of my parents would be the least painful..."
"It can't be that bad," Skara encouraged.
"Oh it is," Hunter sighed. "Darius and Eda will argue about which healers are most effective. Camila will want to be involved but well she only knows so much about magic and she’ll feel like she is’t really helping because of that. Raine will try not to show how worried they actually are... It's all a lot. But.. At least they care."
"We care too Hunter," Viney said, Skara nodded, Puddles made a chirping sound and rubbed her head against Hunter, the boy chuckled and scratched the gryphon under the chin with his free hand. "Look.. I know I'm not a full healer but if you're ever hurt you can come to me."
"Viney I trust you more than any other healer on the Isles," Hunter replied seriously. "If I need a healer you'll know." Viney squeezed his hand gently before letting go. "So... Keep playing?"
"You sure?" Skara asked nervously.
"Isn't it about Puddles nap time?" Hunter grinned. "She needs her lullaby."
Viney chuckled, and Skara grinned lifting her lyre into position.
The sounds of a lyre and guitar once again filled the air, and soon were joined by the snores of a gryphon. As he played Hunter spared a glance at the two girls next to him, he smiled. People caring about him was still a bit foreign to him. He used to think he had someone that cared but this felt so much better than that lie ever could have.
Not for the first time, he was so happy he had the chance to attend Hexside.