Niviaq had to chuckle. It seemed like everybody wanted to know how she felt recently. Though, she had to be fair to her children - of course they wanted to know. Though she had it easier, they would be the ones who would need to deal with her passing. Once she was gone - ah, she hadn't a thing to worry about. So, she did her best to give them a combination of honesty and comfort - or at least she tried to. "I'm feeling quite well today, actually. I had plenty of rest yesterday and ate well in the evening," she offered as she reached out in order to place her head atop her daughter's shoulder with her own comforted sigh. "I hope you've been taking care of yourself this winter, my dear. Though I'm fortunate not to notice, they say the prey has been slim." It pained her just a little to know she no longer had the energy or strength to hunt for her own children, or at least not effectively. Voles, mice, sure but nothing substantial. It was painful to no longer be the provider.

But she brushed it aside, thankful she had been buried in the fur of her daughter when the thought had passed over her. She had been able to hide her concern and had replaced her expression with one much warmer when she finally pulled away.

It surprised her though when Panik seemed so...ashamed to miss her days as a wanderer. For a moment, Niviaq furrowed her brows, momentarily unable to grasp just why that might be until she mentioned having been around her family - ah, so she had been worrying like Bard. It made Niviaq grin, but she was quick to give her daughter a look of light disapproval too. "Don't sound so apologetic! You know, if I had the energy, I would be out there on the road with you too. This world is a large and beautiful place...you'd be doing yourself an injustice to not enjoy it." When her daughter reached out for her cheek, Niviaq reached up and gave her daughter's ear the lightest tug. "Don't ever think you need to live your life for somebody else. If you feel that's where you belong then that's true. I have no doubt your siblings will keep a den aside for you if you should ever want to return." She ruffled the fur behind her daughter's ear before she sunk back and gave a slow shake of her head, as if surprised her daughter would even consider feeling ashamed.

"Have you ever seen the ocean, Panik? Have you felt it between your toes? Or have you explored great canyons of red sand that glows like wildfire in the sunset?" She raised a brow, testing. "I think you should. I think you should see everything." She wondered how Panik might take it. Niviaq had always made an effort to be honest with her children and now was no exception.