Nightwind
Copyright© 2025 by Heel
Chapter 11: Home Again
A month had passed since the cave, and Calista was finally back at her farm. The wounds from the fall had begun to fade, but the memory of pain lingered like a shadow. Her legs were encased in metal braces, supporting the fractured bones and giving her the chance to walk again, slowly, on crutches. Each step was a delicate negotiation, a balance of strength and caution.
She paused at the doorway of her farmhouse, taking a deep breath. The familiar scent of hay and earth, the warmth of the sun on her face, and the soft creak of the wooden floor beneath her braces felt almost miraculous after weeks of darkness and confinement. Her body was still fragile, but the sheer joy of standing on her own land filled her with gratitude.
Calista had not forgotten those who had saved her. She rode to the nearby village, in custom saddle, to thank the healer and his wife. Their small, humble home had become a place of sanctuary and endurance. She expressed her gratitude again and again, speaking from the heart, while they listened with quiet smiles. They had saved her life, and she would carry that debt forever.
Life at the farm was slow and measured. She moved carefully among the stables and paddocks, leaning on her crutches to inspect the fences and water troughs, gradually regaining confidence in her legs. Her love for horses had not diminished; if anything, it had deepened, tempered by respect and caution.