AT THE SAME TIME
ISABELLA'S POINT OF VIEW:
I was still walking, trying to clear my mind from all the talk about mates and the way the villagers kept whispering about me. I needed to focus on something else, something that wouldn't make my head spin.
Just as I was about to turn back to the village, the familiar chime of the system echoed in my mind.
"Town trade. Head to the pack center and trade herbs for supplies. Reward. Increased reputation with the pack members." System said.
I sighed. At least it was something to do. A distraction. So, I made my way to the pack center. The sun was already high in the sky, and the market was busy as usual. Pack people were haggling, setting up booths, and bartering goods. It was peaceful, in its own way.
I barely noticed a few people giving me odd looks as I passed, but I was too focused on the task at hand. I didn't have time to deal with the attention. As I made my way through the crowd, a voice floated to my ears, drawing my attention.
"Well, well, look who's making an entrance."A woman's voice said.
I knew that voice. I didn't even need to look to know who it was. Rosalie. Turning slowly, I saw her. She was standing near a cart, her bright red hair catching the light of the afternoon sun. She was dressed in a way that made it impossible not to notice her simple yet elegant, confident in her presence. She was the center of attention, as usual, with a few gathered around her, admiring her beauty. Rosalie was always able to capture the spotlight effortlessly. It was like it was in her nature. The way people gravitated toward her, how they laughed at her jokes and hung on her every word it made me feel... insignificant in comparison.
But I wasn't here to compete with her. I was here to complete my task and get out. I kept walking, trying to ignore the way she seemed to glow with attention. But as I passed by, I couldn't help but overhear the conversation.
"Rosalie, you look beautiful today." One of the pack members said, smiling brightly.
Rosalie chuckled, a soft, melodic sound.
"Oh, stop it. You're making me blush." She teased, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "But thank you."
It was hard not to feel like I was in the shadow of someone like her. Not that I wanted to be the center of attention like she was, but I couldn't deny that she had a way of drawing eyes. I turned my attention back to the task at hand and made my way to one of the market stalls where I could trade the herbs I had gathered for some supplies. But even as I did, I couldn't shake the feeling that Rosalie was watching me from across the way.
She wasn't the only one. I felt the eyes of the pack members on me, too, as I placed my herbs down. They whispered among themselves, probably comparing me to Rosalie, wondering why I wasn't as charming, as easy to talk to. They probably couldn't understand why I stayed in the background while she thrived in the spotlight. As I finished the trade and turned to leave, I caught one last glance at Rosalie. She was still talking to the pack members, still the center of attention, still smiling that radiant smile. I shook my head. I didn't care about that. I had almost forgotten about Rosalie and her perfect, attention grabbing presence.
But then, as I was about to head back, something caught my eye. A small cub, i'ts fur a soft, dusty brown was limping along the edge of the market, its tiny paws struggling to keep up. At first, I thought it was just another animal roaming around, but as it stumbled, I noticed it wasn't moving quite right.
I squinted, trying to see what was wrong, but the cub wasn't getting much attention from others. They all passed by it, absorbed in their own little worlds, too busy to notice the small creature struggling. It was heartbreaking, and I could feel something stir in me a protective instinct I couldn't ignore. Without thinking, I moved toward the cub, kneeling beside it.
"Hey there." I murmured softly, reaching out to the creature, my fingers grazing its fur.
The cub winced, clearly in pain, but it didn't shy away. It looked up at me with wide, fearful eyes, and I could see a small scrape along one of its legs, blood trickling slowly down its fur. I gently stroked the cub's head, speaking in a calm, soothing tone.
'It's okay. I'll help you."I whispered.
I carefully examined the injury, wincing at the sight of the deep scrape. It didn't look too serious, but it was painful. Using my cloak, I made a makeshift bandage, carefully wrapping it around the leg to stop the bleeding. I worked as quickly as I could, knowing the cub was probably in shock. As I finished, I smiled softly at the little creature.
"There. You should be okay now."I said.
The cub seemed to relax, its body giving a small sigh of relief. It looked up at me, blinking as if to say thanks, before it nuzzled against my hand in gratitude. I chuckled softly, relieved that it wasn't too hurt, but still, I felt the need to stay close. When I looked up, I noticed them finally starting to notice the commotion. Some were stopping to stare, a few whispering among themselves. But none of them came over to help. It wasn't that I expected them to, but the indifference stung.
"I think you'll be okay now. Just take it easy for a while."I said softly.
The cub gave a small chirp, as if acknowledging me, then trotted off a little way, testing its newly bandaged leg. It seemed like it could walk again but with a limp. It glanced back at me before wandering off to the nearby woods. I didn't understand why no one had helped. It was a small thing, yes, but it didn't feel right. Maybe they just didn't care. I shook the thought from my mind, turning to leave the market area. But just before I could, I heard a voice.
"You helped the cub?"I heard a voice.
I turned, surprised to find one of the elders standing there, watching me intently. Her brow was furrowed, her eyes sharp but not unkind. I nodded, trying to sound casual.
"It was hurt. I just did what needed to be done."I said.
She studied me for a moment, her gaze softening.
"It's rare for someone to notice these things. Most are too caught up in their own lives to see beyond themselves. You've got a good heart, Isabella."She said.
I blinked, surprised by the compliment, especially from someone who rarely showed such warmth. I had no idea how elder knew my name but it was fine since I didn't cared that much anyway.
"Thanks. But it wasn't much."I said.
She gave a small smile.
'It means more than you think."Elder said.
With that, she turned and walked off, leaving me alone in the bustling market again. For a moment, I stood still, thinking about the cub, about the indifference, and about the elder's words. It wasn't much. But it was enough. At least, to me. I made my way back to my village, trying to shake off the strange feeling in my chest. I wasn't sure what it meant, but something inside me had changed. Maybe it was just that I had finally done something that felt like it mattered, even if only for a small creature.
"System Update.Reward. Healing Medicine (Minor) Use. Restores minor injuries and boosts stamina. Reputation Increased. +10 with the pack." System said.
I frowned at the notification. Healing medicine? It made sense, given what I had just done, but the strange part was how the system always seemed to find a way to reward me for the smallest things. I wasn't exactly complaining after all, healing medicine could come in handy but it was just odd. Sometimes, I wondered if the system was trying to make me feel better about the strange life I had found myself in.