I fully expect a mother to protect her children so I am careful to linger near the entrance and wait until I have permission to enter. There is a compassion and empathy in me that allows me to understand the way that others feel. I remember the way Natu had guarded us and kept us close, the way father made sure to keep an eye on us as we traveled further and further away from the den upon growing. I remember what had happened the one time we had escaped attention, the way I had saved my brother but my inexplicable fear of rivers now. That was the price of life. Ehiyeh understood this, I think, but I also recognized her family was not one to accept any sort of inborn weakness. I remember running with Abel, up and down the sand dunes, even as he tried to keep back the pain.

I remember feeling scared of the alpha that I live under because I thought he would turn on me when I joined his brother, but he seemed to think positively of my influence. So when his daughter allows me to enter I am hesitant but I do not back down. If I want to be the lead healer then I would do what was necessary to ensure that the Alpha's bloodline was healthy and healing nicely. My light eyes skip across the sleeping pups for a moment before settling on Ehiyeh, noting her one-eyed shrewd look.

After offering a conciliatory smile I set down my herbs and move close to the pups. I lean down to sniff then, making careful effort to keep my movements slow so Ehiyeh would understand that it was necessary and I would not hurt them. They both appear physically healthy and the sound of their breathing is even and deep so I know nothing incredible is wrong with them. Now I turn my attention to Ehiyeh, nodding gently after her words and studying her slim figure.

I turn to my herbs, pushing around in them until I uncover some small roots that I lift out gently and place near her. "This is astragalus root - it will help with fatigue and also help protect you from getting sick from the rains. After birth your body is weakened and needs all the help it can get to remain strong. If you eat these each morning for the next week or so you should see a significant decrease in tiredness. Otherwise I think you are healthy enough if all is as you say, Ehiyeh. I thank you for allowing me to inspect you."