𝓣𝓸𝓻𝓪

Art by Tott!

Tora walked through her lovely herb grove scents filled her nose, familiar and sweet. She found this place long ago, and the wonder, excitement, and enjoyment raced through her as it was her first time seeing it. She even wove a gleaming white lotus into her herb-gatherer satchel so a part of the grove would be with her anywhere. But Tora was coming here more often, her haven, her place away from it all. She was confused when she saw her reflection for the first time. It was *different*, she was different. Tora knew she looked like her mom! But now her mom was gone, and nobody else looked like her. Besides her sister, her sister never wanted to spend any time and would rather be with the strange wolf. Her father, Sol, spent the most time with her, but it was unnerving. Two strange beings spending time with each other when he wasn’t busy or Tora wasn’t in her lovely herb grove.

Tora sighed, padded towards her favorite spot in the grove, and curled up to rest. She felt like crying, she was so different, and she hated it! She tried to think. Was there anything to cure her of this **DISEASE**? ***This Disease of difference.*** Her thoughts swirled in millions of directions before it hit her. The Shamans! Of course! Why didn’t she think of it sooner? They use herbs all the time, and she was in her *Herb Grove*. She could find a cure, and then she wouldn’t be diseased, she would be normal and that’s all she wanted! She leaped up with ignited vigor and began to pluck herbs, flowers, and fruits. It was time to put the grove to use.

For normality to be her reality. Hopefully she wished…