One of the heaviest burdens that a healer must carry with them is the knowledge that life is fleeting. A wolf's existence on this plane was not forever, immortality a thing no shaman could offer even if they were the most well versed in the universe. And there were still those maladies that were beyond even the most skilled medicine wolf's capabilities to heal, that ended life before it had truly had a chance to begin, or came swiftly down from the heavens to end an existence many years before it should have. Moonfeather knew that Niviaq had lived a long and happy life, and yet she struggled to imagine a life without her mentor in it. Sometimes even the deepest knowledge of reality could not sway the heart towards the truth.
Moonfeather smiled at Niviaq's familiar laugh, and the ever so wise scolding that came with it. She was right of course. Like so many members of Moonfeather's family before her, she too believed in some form of an afterlife, a spirit world where someday she would be able to meet MoonGlow face to face for the first time. And in that place she would be reunited with Niviaq again someday. As usual, even after so much traveling and learning, Niviaq always had a new lesson to offer her. Even if this was the last conversation they had here in this very spot upon the mountains, it would not be the last time they ever saw one another. Moonfeather nodded her acquiesce, and Kutcha croaked his concurrence as well. The girl smiled, glancing over towards the bird even as Niviaq's gaze strayed off behind her.
When student and master returned their gaze to one another, Niviaq seemed to have come back to herself and spoke of how she had hoped the best for her. Moonfeather smiled quietly, accepting another embrace from the elderly woman and sighing softly, so happy to be back home.