Chapter 7: The Long Way Forward

The valley lay quiet beneath a hard, pale sun. Snow had begun to melt in patches, revealing jagged rocks and frozen earth. Korr watched Lura struggle with her crutches, her delicate foot limp, her thigh stiff and unyielding. Every step was a fight, and the frustration weighed heavily on her.

He could not bear to see her give up. If the leg would not obey her, then perhaps her body could be taught, coaxed into strength in other ways. So he began to think, and then to act—like a hunter learning a new trick to catch an animal that always eluded him.

He gathered furs and rocks, pine branches and strips of hide. From the furs, he made soft mats so she could lie prone, her leg supported but free to move. From the branches, he carved stakes and small supports to gently stretch her thigh and ankle, testing angles with careful attention to her reactions. From the rocks, he created small obstacles—steps, uneven surfaces, and balance points—to challenge her muscles gradually.

The first day, he helped her lift the leg over a log, just a few inches off the ground. Pain shot through the muscles, and her body stiffened. He pressed gently, moving her foot along, whispering, “Slow. Breathe. You are stronger than you think.”