........Her talk with Anu about her preferences towards other females had done some to pull her out of her antisocial mood. However, with the advent of her uncle's children and who they belonged to she had been knocked back down again and into a far grimmer mood. She was mad, and she was hurt. Cambria didn't blame her mother for not telling her earlier, she knew that she had only been doing what she could to protect her from such an unpleasant truth. The girl now knew the reason behind her mother's strained demeanor a couple months back. Cambria felt the betrayal as acutely now as Savina had back when she had found out. The Marino lay on her bed, a scowl on her face as angry tears threatened to spill forth once more. She couldn't believe that her uncle had been intimate with her, the one person who had hurt her so and the one that she truly hated. How could he claim to love her at all after he had done such a thing? She had felt bad missing the family gathering, but she had been unable to face him. Right now she wasn't sure if she ever wanted to see him again.


........Loud curses, Italian curses, startled Cambria from her sulking and she sat up in bed, looking in the direction of the stairs. That had sounded like her aunt. Worried she got up and opened her door, looking around the hallway for a sign of the mutlihued woman. "Zia?" she queried softly. Not hearing a response she moved toward the stairs and it was then that her nose picked up on the smell of blood and she saw some spattered on the stairs. Her heart clenched in her chest as she worriedly called out. "Zia!" Frightened for her aunt she ran back to her room and grabbed some of her healing supplies: bandages and clean cloths. What had happened? Was the injury bad? Would she be able to help? She hadn't counted on her newly acquired skills being tested so soon and she was very unsure of herself. Cambria hoped that Ghita wasn't too badly hurt.


........The supplies gathered in her arms she rushed downstairs to find her aunt laying on the floor, though she didn't seem to be in too bad of shape. "La zia, ciò che è successo? Dove lei è doluto?" Her bright orbs looked the older Marino over, though with the way she was laying it was hard to see everything. Cambria wouldn't be able to tell if she could help until she saw the wound.

........It didn't surprise her that her aunt tried to play it off as if she were perfectly fine, but the girl wasn't falling for it. She had seen and smelt the blood and even if the wound ended up being fairly small that didn't mean that it didn't need to be treated. She had learned that even the most insubstantial of injuries, if left uncared for, could become infected and make someone incredibly sick. People could even die if the infection became bad enough. Cambria wasn't about to let anything of the sort happen to her aunt Ghita. Her reaction of running back to her room probably seemed quite odd to her family member, but the older Marino would soon see what it was that Cambi was intending to do.


........As she knelt down beside her with her bandages and other few healing supplies Ghita continued to try and pass it off as if everything were fine and nothing needed to be done. The girl gave her aunt an unusually stern gaze, transmitting through her eyes that she wasn't leaving until Ghita accepted her help. Cambria wasn't usually so stubborn or strong-willed, but in this situation she wasn't about to back down. She couldn't blame her aunt for wanting to save face and continue to look strong in the eyes of her niece, but now was not a time to do such things. Even if the cut was small it needed to be taken care of and cleaned. Thankfully though Ghita finally rolled her body to allow Cambria to see the injury. Her sea foam eyes scanned critically over the cut, her face leaning in so she could see it as best she could in the low evening light. It wasn't too bad, thankfully, and she thought that her skills would be sufficient to treat it. The girl listened carefully as to how the injury had come about. Yes, it most definitely needed to be cleaned. It also could use some cold to keep the swelling down.


........When Ghita questioned what she had with her Cambria realized that she was being a little over hasty. Her aunt eyed the supplies suspiciously and the young wolf managed a small, comforting smile. "Non preoccuparsi, questi sono delle fasciature giuste e le altre cose aiutarmi pulisce il suo taglio ed avvolgerlo su così può guarire correttamente. Ho imparato come essere guaritore da un uomo in AniWaya." Cambria was quiet for a moment as she judged what to do first and then her hands flew into action. She located the bottle of alcohol that she had gathered from the city and grabbed a clean cloth as well. "Verserò questo nel taglio, potrebbe bruciarli ma se faccio non potrebbe essere contagiato e che farebbe lei realmente malato." Leaning forward she held the cloth under the cut and carefully poured the alcohol over the exposed flesh. Once it was thoroughly washed out she took up a new cloth and pressed it against the wound, helping to staunch the bleeding.

........Ghita was clearly surprised at the sudden show of strength and stubbornness from her usually quiet and demure niece. If there was one thing that could bring the power out in her though it was her will to protect and care for her family just as they cared for her. Chances were good that there would be no complications if the injury went untreated, but there was always that chance, no matter how slim, that the exposed flesh could become infected and then things would go downhill quickly. Right now her abilities were limited to treating physical injuries and she could do nothing if someone got sick. The healing by herbs was still unknown to her and while she was certain that Dawali would help any packmates she brought to him that were sick she wanted to avoid that if possible. Besides, if she stood by and did nothing and her aunt got sick as a result she would feel beyond awful. There was only one member of her family that she had issues with and it was not the woman before her. And no matter how angry she was at her uncle she would never wish him any ill. "It would probably be fine, but if it got infected you could get really sick and I wouldn't be able to help you then. It's a precaution. If you won't let me do it for yourself then let me do it for my own piece of mind." No matter how proud Ghita was she wouldn't refuse such a request, the girl knew.


........Having never administered to anyone before she didn't know how her aunt would react to the most unpleasant part of the process. Cambria had never felt the sting of alcohol on opened flesh before, but she knew that it wasn't anything nice. Still, it needed to be done. Having been kicked by a deer there was likely dirt and other sorts of things in the cut that could be dangerous not to mention the deadly little organisms that were too small for the eye to see. Still, she hadn't been expecting quite the vocal reaction that she was met with. A part of her timid self jumped back up and she almost flinched away from her work but she steeled herself and continued. "Lei sa che faccio nessuna tale cosa," she said in a soft, comforting tone. "Potrebbe sembrare strano, ma duole perché fa che ha supposto a. Si sbarazza di tutta la terra e le altre brutte cose che potrebbe essere là dentro che potrebbe fare lei i malati." This hurt for certain, but it was much much better than facing an infection later on.


........The sudden change in subject made the girl's body straighten and tense, her eyes taking on a darker hue as her jaws clenched together. She had felt bad, missing the gathering of the Marino family, but she had been unable to stand the thought of seeing her uncle Ehno after learning what he had done. Much less to see the pups he had had with that woman. Her absence had not only been a protection for her but she hadn't wanted to disrupt the friendly atmosphere and ruin the gathering for everyone else. Cambria wouldn't have been able to keep her negative feelings in check. "No," she said curtly. Removing the cloth from the cut she began to measure out a length of bandage to wrap around her aunt's shoulder. "Uni giorni di coppia prima che la mamma di riunione mi hanno detto dei cuccioli di Ehno di Zio e di cui loro madre era." As she spoke she could feel the anger rising up in her chest and knew it must be leaking into her voice. "Non ho voluto vederlo." Quickly her hands moved to wrap the bandage around her shoulder and cut and few times before securely tying it in place.


........Grabbing another clean cloth Cambria stood abruptly, her bangs overshadowing her eyes. "Avrò ragione è di ritorno." The Marino walked brusquely out the front door of the mansion and could feel hot tears threatening to erupt from her eyes. She did all she could to hold them back though, and searched for a good sized chunk of ice. Finding one she wrapped it up in the cloth and returned to the manor and to her aunt's side. Lightly she held the ice against the hurt shoulder. "Questo dovrebbe aiutare intorpidito il dolore e riduce il gonfiare." The barely held back tears were evident in her slightly wavering tones.

........Cambria understood why her aunt would want to downplay her injury and to try and sweep it under the rug instead of confront it. The young Marino had done the very same often, preferring to ignore her problems instead of facing them head on. Admitting that something was wrong wasn't easy most of the time and it was almost never fun to talk about it. Still, they didn't have to talk about the injury or dwell on it any longer than it took her to bandage it up. "Non raro o, la Zia, non corro qualunque rischio." It was always better to be safe rather than sorry. The apprentice healer wasn't going to take any chances with the well being of her family. Not to mention Ghita was a mother, she needed to stay in good shape for her pups. This wasn't just about helping Ghita personally, but ensuring that the whole family was kept safe. If something happened to one of them it affected them all. That had been proved abundantly by the inconsiderate and unthoughtful actions of her uncle, the girl thought bitterly.


........Her aunt clearly felt bad for her outburst and Cambria was content to move on and not think about it. It was likely that if their positions were switched she would have reacted in a similar way from the sudden increased pain. It was clear that her aunt wasn't used to being treated either and that would have an effect on the way she handled it as well. Her mother had told her that the way she and her aunt and uncle had lived back in Italy had been much different than the way they all lived here. It was hard for the girl to imagine life without shifting and without the manor and books and all the other human stuff they used on such a regular basis. If it were weird for her to imagine living that way then surely it was weird for Ghita to have to adjust to this new way of life. Patience was the key and Cambria had almost limitless patience when it came to her family.


........She could feel her aunt's concern-filled eyes watch her as her demeanor changed. Cambria couldn't bring herself to meet her gaze though, knowing that if she did she would lose whatever little composure that she still possessed. The only thing she had ever experienced that had hurt worse had been the accident itself and the all-consuming depression that had followed it. This cut deeper though, because that hurt hadn't been inflicted by a family member. Ehno was her uncle, he should have been here, worrying after her, not off having sex with that awful woman. She hated the D'Angelo as she hated nothing and no one else. To know that her own uncle had copulated and had children with her...it was salt in the wound that had been inflicted so long ago but was still open and fresh. She could view it all as nothing but a callous, selfish act on his part. She didn't know if her mind would ever change.


........The Marino heard Ghita call after her but didn't respond. She would be back soon, Ghita would see. Hopefully in her concern the older wolf wouldn't try to walk and aggravate the freshly tended wound. When she returned inside though her aunt was in the same spot thankfully. Her aunt expressed sympathy for the situation and Cambi's claws dug into the cloth holding the ice harshly. "Non posso credere che ciò farebbe, dopo che che ha fatto a me," the girl said darkly, voice strained. Her eyes were glossy with tears that she still managed to contain somehow. It wouldn't be long until the dam broke however and they flowed freely and without restraint. "Sono morto quasi! Quella polvere mi ha ucciso quasi! E che fa? Va e dorme con lei! The girl's voice rose in volume until she was nearly shouting. Her shoulders shook from the strain of all the emotions raging inside her as the tears finally broke free and flowed down her face. The ice was dropped as her arms moved to wrap around her own torso, a sad attempt to keep herself together. It was too much for the fragile fey to handle.


........The question was surprising, and the answer didn't come readily. Even when it did come, it was not clear cut. "Entrambi..." she answered softly. "Non li biasimo, non è la loro colpa, ma vedendo che sarebbero stati troppo." Her uncle was the only one she blamed, and the only one she was mad at and hurt by. She didn't hold any ill will towards the pups, but that didn't mean that she could forget who their mother was either. Or the fact that their conception had been a grand act of betrayal by a member of her family.

........Cambria had thought that all the pain associated with what had happened to her was gone. Perhaps not gone, but at least buried enough that it wouldn't trouble her any more than it already had. With the revelation of her uncle's acts, however, it had all come rushing to the surface again. She once again felt all the pain her body and psyche had suffered through and she couldn't contain her anger and hurt at Ehno. She couldn't believe that he had done what he had. He had always been so careful with her, with all of the family. It seemed so out of character for him to do something so damaging, but she knew that it was true. Her mother wouldn't have told her that if it weren't true and she knew that it had hurt her as well. She had absorbed all the pain of it and shielded Cambria for as long as she could. There hadn't been a moment that she was resentful for her mother's decision to keep the news from her, for she knew that it had only been out of her desire to protect her. Her mother only wanted the best for her, and Cambria knew that. Unfortunately she hadn't been able to protect her forever.


........The chocolaty girl sobbed as her aunt leaned against her, offering as much comfort as she could in their two separate forms. Cambria wanted to be held, but she knew that Ghita couldn't shift right now. So instead she laid herself down on the floor next to her aunt, pressing her face against her soft fur just as she had months and months ago when she had still been a small pup. Her mother's sister hadn't been around in her life for as long as her uncle had, but she felt closer to the elder Marino, even before all of this had come to light. Perhaps it was attributed to the fact that she most often felt more comfortable in the company of females, but there was more to it than that. It felt like Ghita had that same urge to always protect her just as her mother had and she trusted the woman to never do anything to hurt her. She would have thought the same thing of her uncle, but had proved her trust false.


........Cambria sniffled, tears still running freely from her salty sea orbs. Her folded ears straightened slightly as her aunt spoke, curiosity filling her at the words that came forth. "Lei...Lei fa?" There was so much of her aunt's life that was a mystery to her, so much she didn't know, and so she supposed she shouldn't be surprised that Ghita had gone through more than her fair share of hardships. There had always seemed to be something a little sad about the timber hued woman, a pain that she kept well hidden from the world. Savina had never told her any of her aunt's hardships. It would have been too much for a young girl to understand and really not her place to divulge such personal and painful information. For a moment she wasn't sure if she would be able to bear hearing what had happened, but in the end decided that it could only strengthen their bond.


........The story her aunt told was even sadder than she had imagined. She hadn't had clue that Ghita had had a mate back in Italy, or that she had been pregnant before and lost her puppies. It must have been the worst hurt in the world, much worse than what she was feeling now. The girl didn't feel as if her own feelings were being belittled in any way though. Ghita was only showing that she understood her ambiguous feelings towards her unknown cousins. That made her feel a little better. She hadn't wanted to be upset with the pups, but she couldn't help but feel weird towards them. They were the outcome of the action that hurt her so much. She wasn't sure what to say to her aunt, but she tried the best she could. "Sono...così spiacente, Ghita. Neanche posso immaginare quanto che deve averla doluta." The silence settled between the two feys again for a moment before Cambria spoke again. "Come lei ha preso dopo esso?" Maybe whatever had helped Ghita could help her. The two situations were radically different, for Cambria would eventually have to face her uncle again, but any advice she could get she would take.

........Her aunt continued to comfort her and she continued to cling to that comfort. It was too bad, that Ghita always had to deal with her breakdowns, but at the same time she was grateful that she had the elder fey to lean on. There weren't a whole lot of people that Cambria could open up to like this, and it was a show of trust in her aunt that she could be so vulnerable in her presence. It didn't matter to her at all that Ghita hadn't been here from the start of her life. The girl had never felt any smidgen of resentment or hurt at the fact that her mother's sister had shown up later in her short life. From their very first meeting, the older Marino had been there for her and had been loving and kind. She had always made the young girl feel secure and loved and anyone that made her feel that way had a special place in her heart. Being family only made that bond more powerful. Ghita was an extension of her immediate family's safety net. No matter what, she knew that she would be there when she needed her. Cambria wanted to be able to be there for her too.


........She couldn't do much. She couldn't be big and strong like some. She couldn't lead people like her mother could, or be as intellectual as her father, but by learning the healing arts she hoped that she could help protect her family in that way. It was true, the cut that her aunt had suffered would have likely healed fine on its own, but Cambi had insisted because she wanted to do her part. She wanted to make sure that Ghita was protected from things that could make her sick. By doing that, she wasn't only protecting her aunt, but by extension the rest of the family as well. If the woman got sick, then the rest of the family would worry over her and be sad and scared that she might get worse. Hopefully, by making sure that Ghita was healed and taken care of, she could spare them all that trouble. Cambria wanted to protect and love her family and this was the avenue in which she could do that. Even if she complained, she thought that Ghita could understand that driving force.


........The older wolf shifted, her turquoise eyes meeting Cambi's own of sea green. She saw such depth in that gaze that she knew that her aunt was as deep and vast and mysterious as the ocean. There was much that she might never know about the woman, but what she did know was all she really needed to know. That Ghita loved her, and wanted to help and protect her. That she wanted them to be close and to never let space come between them. Their bond was deepening with each moment, and the girl could appreciate that no matter how much pain they both had felt, at least something positive was coming from it. It was bringing the aunt and niece closer together, and Cambria couldn't ever be upset about that. She listened carefully to the words that flowed like a stream from Ghita, taking them in and holding them inside, wrapping them like a bandage around her own bleeding heart.


........What was told to her made sense, and was actually a more comforting notion than she thought it might be. There was still many hurdles for her to overcome when it came to this subject, but knowing that Ghita and her parents and siblings and uncle Jazper were behind her and would help her made it seem like a much less daunting task. Leaning forward, Cambria nuzzled her muzzle against her aunt's, tears having ceased and taking a deep breath. "Ringraziarla la Zietta, che significa così molto a me." Then, softly, she added, "L'amo la Zietta." The ache in her chest had dulled now, numbed by Ghita's wise words, support, and love.