The filthy bustle and oppressive crush of humanity in Veganshi jangled Lilani's nerves as she moved slowly through the city streets. For the most part she avoided the worst of the crowds along the main markets and tavern-fronts, though she took care not to linger too long in the shadows either. The darkness itself held no fear for her, but thieves and violent drunken men would only slow her progress. Draped in a rough gray cloak that disguised both her refined beauty and her youth, she moved steadily along with her quarterstaff in her hand. The unassuming weapon made a soft wooden thunk against the cobbled street with every other step, and though the gnarled surface was scarred and carved deep with runes, to a casual glance by Yid soldiers she appeared to be just a thin old man with a walking-stick. 

It would be a wonderful thing to find her way out of the city and back into the wilderness she held so dear. She missed the vaulting trees and enchanting life of the Vegu forest. The verdant empire of wild beasts and powerful earth magic seemed like a lifetime ago now, or even a dream. Even the land around this stinking human city felt used and faded, the forests thinned almost beyond hope and the creatures reduced to straggling individuals full of fear and suspicion, even when approached by a druid such as she. 

Thinking about her animal friends brought her back to the present, and she felt guilt and worry about leaving Sarkonar outside the city. Even now she could feel him in her heart and in her head, but felt distinctly lonely and exposed without his fierce presence at her side. While she might have strolled beside him un-molested through the elvish streets of Bisha, human settlements generally held no love for the wondrous beasts of the world. 

But soon she would be on her way, traveling through the mountains and skies again. She could continue her slow journey across the continent to the Islands of the Lost. Or perhaps the Bouri forest. Her pretty face broke into a smile under her hood as she thought about it.

Even then, her jade green eyes didn't lose their wariness. There was some commotion up ahead and she could see Yid soldiers in their grim armour rushing through the crowd. Pausing in the lee of a building, she looked on curiously, wondering if she should find another way around.

As she waited, trying to see what was happening in the tavern ahead, an animal nearby caught her attention and she turned to see a bay horse tied to a post with its head drooping low to the ground. The tooled leather saddle told her that it was a soldier's mount, but the lethargic way it shifted told her that the poor creature was in pain. It needed her help. And its rider was nowhere to be seen. The city was a melting pot of misery and suffering, and she had struggled to avoid against a deep-seated desire to help those who had needed it. She could have worked herself into exhaustion, healing those who needed it, and still barely made a dent. But a horse could not out her. Maybe she could do one morsel of good before leaving this terrible place.

She could feel Sarkonar's disapproval inside her almost immediately as she chose to give aid to the soldiers mount. He could sense her thoughts far better than she could his from this distance. To the griffon, horses were just food, and anything belonging to Yid was to be despised. Helping the tragic beast was a waste of time and energy. Moving slowly, both to avoid attracting too much attention and to not startle the creature, she crept close and lifted her hand. Murmuring softly, speaking to the animal softly, she patted his neck and opened her mind. The healer experienced the horse's pain as she worked, gritting her teeth and shifting her weight to one foot in sympathy. Her stomach gurgled insistently. The horse had been worked too hard, too long, with too little food to sustain him. Sighing quietly, Lilani knew she could only help one of those things. 

Working her way around the other side of the animal, she leaned down and stroked her fingers along the horses long canon bone. At first he lifted his hoof and kicked at her, but settled down with some quiet sounds from the half-elf. "Calm yourself, wind-runner. Give me but a few moments and you will walk without a limp again." He was no strong-willed creature of legend, so her hold over him was complete. The warm thrum of power shivered through her blood, pouring into the horse. Some, but not all, of the runes on her staff began to glow softly with a whitish light. Within moments the magic was done. The beast curved his head around, his ears flicked in her direction, and he gave a soft wicker. 

It was all the thanks she needed. Knowing that Sarkonar would likely complain that she stank of horse when she found him again, she turned to continue on her way. Too late she realized that her hood had fallen back, exposing her face and pointed ears. She looked around as she pulled it up, and a tingle of warning in her belly told her she was being followed.