A woman came running to the entrance, screaming and being scared. She was breathing too fast and she was sweating too much.
"Calm down, Hilde.", a man came over to her, patting her back. The woman was a little relieved, before starting to cry. "Kerstin... Oh Kerstin... She has the plague."
Feyra was watching everything from where she stood, before she continue following this butterfly.
Aside from what I just heard... This butterfly is just as ominous as this black figure.
"Do you see that?"
"Yeah... This woman..."
"She is actually following this butterfly. Does she not know what will await her?"
"Doesn't she know what these butterflies are?"
Feyra heard the murmurs of the people. It was true, she didn't know about this butterfly. She only had an ominous feeling about it, but that wouldn't stop her.
The butterfly stopped in front of a house, flying in circles above it. Feyra pushed the door open and held a hand in front of her nose. She walked to the left, finding a woman, who was clearly showing signs of the plague.
That looks bad... I don't think I can save her.
She went up to the woman and looked under the covers. The sight was horrible, black spots forming all over the body of the woman.
Feyra put the covers down again before shaking her head.
It's too late for this woman.
She went outside again and was met with people holding their tools up to keep Feyra at a distance.
"Who are you!?", a farmer said demandingly. His hands were slightly shaking.
"My name is Feyra. I'm a traveler who knows a lot. I also know a lot about medicine."
"Woman! So you even know how dangerous this is!?", a woman said, holding a bucket. She was clearly ready to throw it at Feyra if she did a wrong move.
"Hilde! Hilde!"
"Kerstin is in there!", Hilde screamed, tears running down her cheek. A man had called out to her as she had been running to this house, wanting to stay with her friend.
"I'm sorry... Kerstin is likely not going to make it.", Feyra said, the farmers pushing their tools even further to her.
"Witch!", an older man called out, ready to stab her at any time.
Another one, who had the same tool, ran towards Feyra and stabbed her in the right shoulder.
It was a good thing I changed clothes to the oversized ones...
Blood was seeping out of the wounds. Feyra held it to try and stop the bleeding, but she couldn't do so until she could bandage it.
"This blood..."
"It isn't red..."
"Just who are you!?", the man at the front got angrier. His face twisting into a contorted expression.
"Fine fine... I am a Fallen Angel, not a witch. That is also the reason my blood has this tainted colour. That also means, the plague has no effects on me. I cannot get infected and I can't even spread it.", she explained. "More so... The rats scurrying around here are the ones spreading the plague."
She hinted at a few rats that scurried around but stayed behind her.
The farmers and villagers still held their tools up.
"Do you know about this butterfly?", the man at the front asked.
"No, I don't."
"This is a Death Butterfly. Completely black and only being around death. Corpses or people who will die soon may see them.", he explained.
Hilde was still crying but was now held back by multiple men.
"Don't do this! Don't do this I said!", she screamed, before an inferno started behind Feyra.
Oh no... They didn't...
"Kerstin!!!", Hide screamed, sinking to the ground. She was devastated by the sight, screaming as loud as she could.
Are they crazy? That woman may die soon but she is still alive!
Feyra set down her bags and walked into the burning house, looking for a way to get to the woman. She picked her up, carrying her out and lying her on the ground.
"Are you crazy!? She may be infected but she is still alive!", Feyra said, looking at the people in front of her.
"It's custom to burn them with their houses. Don't question it.", the man at the front said in a vicious tone. He moved his tool further to Feyra, who started walking towards it and getting punctured in her decolleté.
"If there is one kind of person I don't like, then it is those who don't value human life. I know that things can be painful and cruel but someone who already suffers, doesn't need to suffer even more!", she made her point clear, driving the tool further into her body by walking towards the man.
The man got intimidated and let go of the tool. He fell backwards on the ground. Feyra took it and pulled it out of her body, throwing it to the side in a swift motion.
Well... This set of linen clothes was singed already... Now it got punctured too. I have to fix that up later.
"Fine! Do what you want!", he said, standing up again and locking eyes with Feyra.
"Build me a tent in which I can put a patient in."
The people did as Feyra had said and built a tent big enough for two people to fit in. Feyra took Kerstin with her, who had no longer a place to stay.
She first took out the old bandages and wrapped them around her own wounds. The punctures had been deep and she had six of them now on her body.
That one even went through... Though that's also my own fault. I suppose it was enough to intimidate them. Perhaps I got a little too angry there... Though... They clearly didn't value human life. I'll need some new bandages later.
She looked around to fix them in place, but couldn't find anything suitable, so she tied a knot. Then she looked around if she had a sewing kit, but noticed that she didn't have one.
I hope I can get one from someone...
"I'm sorry for what happened. May I enter?"
"Come in."
Hilde walked into the tent and stood before Feyra, apologising again and again.
"No need to apologise so much. I suppose you want to say goodbye to her?"
"Is it that bad already? If so then I guess that's all I can do.", Hilde said, looking over to the other person. She stayed a little away from her, not knowing if there was any danger if she stepped closer.
"No need to worry as much. It's only in rare cases that it would spread from person to person. Though I would still be careful.", Feyra said, relieving Hilde a little with it.
"I'm sorry Kerstin. I wish it would've been me and not you.", Hilde cried for hours, before she had to head home to prepare dinner.
Feyra stayed with Kerstin and studied the black spots.
While she is still alive, she has no energy left... I suppose these are her final moments. Tomorrow you'll be in the Cycle of Reincarnation with other people I have met.
The next morning, people mourned one of their villagers. Hilde was crying the most.
As Feyra had predicted, Kerstin's case was already too far to heal. Even if Feyra knew how to treat the plague, it wouldn't have done a lot for her.
At least she didn't die burning in a fire... These villagers...
Feyra shook her head. Even if it was tradition that the houses would be burned, it seemed far too strange to do so with a living human inside.
Ida's parents, who had also died of the plague, had been put in their house before it was set on fire. They had already been dead at that time. That is what Julia had told Feyra.
The villagers didn't seem pleased with Feyra around, but they still gave her some food. Hilde was the most generous to her and she even offered a small smile.
"It's not a lot but that is what I can give you.", she held a basket of bread and some butter to Feyra, who took it and thanked her.
Butter and bread... Not a lot but at least something. I can make due with it. Wait... I can put some berries on top.
Feyra looked through her bag and found a few remaining berries that she put on the bread. After that, she stuffed it into her mouth.
This is yummy. The fruity flavor is just amazing.
In the afternoon she went to the village and stood in front of the remains of the house. All Feyra could see were ashes and a few pieces of wood that hadn't burned completely to the ground.
After that, she looked around the village. The farmers still looked at her with suspicious and hateful gazes. But as soon as Feyra would look at them, they got scared and looked away.
They become small once you look at them... Just intimidate them and everything will work. Isn't that... Ah I should stop thinking about it.
"The Death Butterfly is still here! Just why!? Kerstin is dead so fly away! Shoo shoo!", the man from the day before tried to shoo away the butterfly, but it was staying in the air and flying around.
Is that an indicator?
Feyra packed her bags the next morning. She didn't intend to stay longer, knowing the people didn't like her.
"Are... Are you that person who saved Kerstin?", a man came and looked carefully in the tent.
"I am. Is something wrong?", she asked and looked outside. Hilde was standing behind him and cried.
"I got infected too.", she said with tears in her eyes.
Feyra looked at her before shoving her into the tent immediately.
"Sit down. Let me check you.", Feyra said, looking at Hilde, who was still crying.
After a while, she was a bit more relieved, knowing it was only in its early stages and could still be healed.
"You have luck. At this stage we can still do something against it. I have herbs with me that can help. I need to gather some others later though. For now munch on these. They help slow the process. Once I have found the others, we can combine them. If you make it through a week then it is likely that you survive."
Hilde took the herbs Feyra gave her. "So there is still hope for me?"
"Yes. Now munch on them. The earlier we start interfering, the better.", she said. Hilde did as Feyra instructed and lay down not long after.
"One more warning... These herbs can make you tired. I'm going out now."
Feyra went outside before looking at the man, who was still standing next to the tent. "And you are?"
"I'm Hilde's husband. Pleased to meet you.", he stretched out his hand. Feyra shook it, before looking away and back at the man.
"Stand here. If anyone wants to enter, hinder them. Once I return, it would be nice if you could get some bandages and a sewing kit for me."
After having said everything, she went behind the tent and walked further to the forest. If she was lucky, then she would find everything she needed without going too far. The forests she had traveled through had been perfect breeding ground for the herbs she required. Some of them were rare to find.
Feyra climbed up the incline until she saw a tree with a mushroom. The mushroom looked quite yummy and Feyra got excited.
I know I'm here for herbs but this mushroom is edible. I need food anyway... Mushroom you come with me!
She took out her knife and cut the mushroom off, before she went further inside the forest and found a little hidden place, where a slight shine came from.
The place was a little lower thanks to the roots around it.
Now look at that. The shine comes from the wetness that remains on the leaves and they grow hidden from most animals. Hidden from sight... Well there we are my beloved herbs.