I was summoned to be a magical creature’s veterinarian

I couldn’t believe I was still alive after this. When I opened my eyes, I was lying in the grass, at the border of the forest glade. I sat up and instantly felt my whole body hurting. But I was able to move around properly, so I was probably only bruised, no bones broken. My skin was scratched and bloody in multiple places, but I did not mind that. I was glad, I was even able to sit after this. I was not sure if I would even survive any severe injury in this world.

“Korvan? Are you there?” I asked.

“Here!”

I looked around and I saw Korvan jumping around in the tall grass. I got up and went to him.

The falcon was lying in the grass, its eyes closed. One of the wings was broken. I was able to tell immediately, because I could see the way how it was bent. I did not remember how that happened.

“Did it try to save us from the fall?” I asked.

“Yes,” Korvan answered. “We fell into the three and then straight on the ground. He tried to steal the bead away from me and get away, but he is no longer able to do so.”

I was looking at that poor bird. I was no veterinarian and had no idea how to treat a broken wing.

“Can you help him?” I asked Korvan.

He shook his head.

“I know we need to move the bone to its original position and stabilize the wing, so it cannot move with it. But I have no idea how to do that.”

And about medicine, well, I did not even hope this world would have some kind of antibiotics or something that would prevent the infection. To put it simply, I really believed this bird was going to die. I knew that he tried to steal from us, but I just wanted to get the bead back, not to destroy its wings…

I caught the hem of my skirt and pulled with full force. The sound of tearing cloth made Korvan look at me.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Can you find me a straight stick?” I requested. “There is nothing else we can do now.”

Korvan investigated the surroundings, looking for that stick, while I was able to tear a proper stripe of cloth from my long skirt. He was back almost immediately, we were in the middle of the forest, after all.

I slowly moved the falcon wing to its original position. It must have hurt as hell, as the poor animal opened its eyes and started to struggle.

“I am very sorry,” I said. “We need to leave it like this. You should not move it.”

I put the stick on it and stabilized it, tying it with the stripe of cloth. I turned back to Korvan.

“Is there any magical plant that can heal wounds?” I asked Korvan. “I know only about comfrey, which is nicknamed as knitbone, so it should help with broken bones, but I have no idea how to prepare it.”

“I know that one,” Korvan said. “Does it have purple flowers?”

“Yes, it does.”

“I know about it. But I think it is growing only if there is water nearby.”

“Can you try to bring me one, please?” I asked him.

“Of course! That is my role, after all.”

He scurried to find the healing plant, and I looked at the injured bird.

“Did you try to help us? Thank you, and I am sorry that your wing is broken. But why did you come to us to steal that bead? I do not understand. You heard Korvan. That bead belongs to the dragon. Are you sure it is a good idea to take it? If you need it for someone, why not just ask for it?”

Bird was just looking at me, not saying anything. He did not know how to talk, after all. He was the same as our weasel, who only understood human speech, but was not able to speak.

I tried to touch the bird’s feathers when I heard the wind howling between the trees. Suddenly, whirlwinds were dancing around me, taking me and the falcon up in the air.

I yelped, surprised.

“Korvan?” I called, but no one responded.

Korvan was probably far away, trying to find the herb I requested. Now I was hovering in the air again, and there was nobody who could help me survive another fall.

“Oh god, please, no more highs without a stable ground under my feet!” I screamed.

The whirlwinds were carrying us out of the forest. I had no idea what our final destination was, but now it was clear that someone was taking us somewhere. This was not just a simple wind.

“Do you know where we are going?” I asked the falcon. “Oh, right, why am I even asking someone who does not know how to speak? I must be really stupid.”

“Stupid and bold to hurt my servant,” boomed an unknown voice in the wind.

I closed my eyes, praying for the best. I wish I could have at least one day in this new world, where nothing happens and I will be allowed just to exist… Like an ordinary human.

“I did not hurt him,” I said.

“Liar.”

“Could you, please, let me down? I am not really a fan of heights.”

“What? Did you mean fond?”

“Yeah, sure,” I agreed quickly.

“As you wish, then.”

I looked around, but then I realized I was still hanging in the air. If that thing lets me down now, I will be dead. I forgot how it is in fairy tales, you need to be extremely careful and specific, otherwise it will not end well.

“Wait!” I screamed. “I meant letting me down gently, not having me to hit the earth like a boulder!”

The whirlwinds disappeared at once. The falcon was put down to the earth softly, but I was falling like that exact rock I did not want to become.

“No, stop! I am dying, I am dying!”

Loud laughter filled the air.

Someone appeared right before me out of nowhere. I did not see properly, but after catching a glimpse of its form, it was clear that it was some man. He caught me right in his arms, and then we were descending slowly like a dandelion seed. I looked up at my savior. I bit my lip.

I was in the arms of an unknown man, tall as a mountain, dressed in heavy golden armor. Red mantle with feathers was fastened around his broad shoulders. His skin was tan with the hint of gold. His hair was fiery red, interwined with a small golden crown on the top of his head. His eyes were a rich honey color and were looking now straight into mine. His scent was a heavy blend of musk and fire, reminding me of a wild beast lying in the sun. But I could feel a hint of amber, distant smoke.

This person descended slowly upon earth, and then he let me go. It was a gentle movement, but I flopped on my butt, surprised. I looked up at him, towering over me, my cheeks instantly flushing fiery red.

“I put you down gently, and you still managed to fall,” he laughed. “And what is with that revealing outfit?”

I looked at him, confused.

Then I realized, my skirt is shorter, because just a while ago, I was tearing it apart to save that falcon's wing. I quickly put my feet under me, hiding my legs with the rest of the skirt. Am I in a world where I would be deemed indecent just because my ankles were showing? Thank god I was not summoned while swimming in my swimsuit, that would be instant dungeon for sure.

“Were you trying to use your charm to seduce me?” asked this man.

“Excuse me?!” I yelled. “How dare you?”

He squatted down to be on the same level as me. His honey-colored eyes, which were glowing with laughter before, went dark immediately.

“I dare what?” he asked. “Aren’t you a bit fearless, considering you hurt my servant?”

“As I said, I did not hurt him. Is it your bird? Could you teach him that stealing is not good?”

“Raroh doesn’t steal.”

“Are you sure? Because he stole the magical crystal bead from our castle.”

“Castle? Apart from mine, there is only one castle behind this forest. Are you the dragon’s bride?”

“I am nobody’s bride,” I said stubbornly. “But it is true that your bird stole that bead from His Highness.”

I was still staring into his eyes, not wanting to give in and look away. I was getting angrier and angrier. They did something wrong, and I have to pay for it? I swear, if Korvan finds me, I will tell him to get his lordship's evil dragon to eat this person.

He looked away first. I was looking as he stood up again and went to his hurt falcon. He inspected his broken wing, which I attempted to treat like some amateur I was. Then he looked into its eyes, and the bird lowered its head. It looked like they were communicating. So he can understand him?

Will I be saved? Or am I damned?