Panic had settled in when Eclypse had gone missing… a flashback to her eldest, to when Kateri went missing and she had scoured the Lore looking for her… even now she paced the border anxiously, fighting the urge to run out after the faintest hints of scents that would point to her… and there was nothing… nothing until she heard the crows, and mixed in with it a familiar sound. Relief flooded through her heart as she rushed through the soft mountain snow, kicking it up behind her as she moved, grateful to see the ebony girl’s presence.

“Eclypse!” She’d call out as she moved forward, gently nuzzling her side before beginning to look her over and inspect her for any injuries she might have, as well as to get a feeling for her overall health. “Are you hurt? Where have you been? Your father and I have been worried sick!” She sounded just as frazzled as she felt the entire time, the worry thick in her voice and overbearing.

She looked so cold that Aquene worried about shivers or a cold… the way that the apologetic tone hit her panged her heart as she did her best to comfort her and assure her that everything was okay. “It’s okay… what matters is that you’re home now, safe and sound.” God, she had to be starving. Aquene knew that she hadn’t participated in a full pack hunt yet, and while she was learning to hunt, no child’s hunting skills were perfect.

“Come on, let’s get you to the den so you can warm up.” She encouraged, already nudging her along, eager to get her to the safety of the herbal den where Aquene knew she could do the most to keep her safe. She couldn’t help but worry about her daughter, her health, especially knowing now that one of her grandchildren had fallen to illness and the other was being raised with Kateri missing god knows where…

No, she would not let a similar fate befall the rest of them.

There was a gentleness in her tone as she said it all, even as she continued to smother her daughter, she found that she could not help it. The girl had worried her sick, and she needed to ensure that she remained okay. As she asked about her father and her grandmother, she offered a nod. “They’re around the territory. They’ve been looking for you too. I’m certain once they catch your scent, they’ll find their way to the den.” She noticed the hesitance in her daughter, but in that moment she cared little.

All she cared about was getting her to the den, and looking her over properly before getting her a nice meal and allowing her to cuddle up and get warm. That was her priority as a healer, and as a mother. She had to make sure her baby girl was okay.

Even as she grew older, and more independent just as all the others had… Aquene would always be there to dote and take care. “I’ll get you a nice meal, and you can rest up.” And later she’d inquire about what had happened that had Eclypse wander off to begin with.

Though Aquene would be nervous to let her out of her sight, she would allow such actions once she confirmed her daughter’s overall health. No doubt there would be an eye kept from a distance but she never sought to entirely smother her children, for fear of driving them away from her, and Eclypse was no different. She prided herself in the close relationship she’d had with her children, even if there were a few where such a relationship no longer existed… she wondered now where Kateri was, if she was safe… why she had not returned to Archer or their children.

She feared the worst, and could only pray to the stars that the ancestors were there to watch over her and guide her.

“Yes, I will let you come with me.” She offered, finding herself elated that her daughter showed an interest in such things… she did not even pause to wonder why she was suddenly interested in such. “After you rest I can teach you about different herbs and treatments… if you want to. Are you sure?”

She had not expected her daughter to find what felt like a sudden interest in plants… though perhaps it was just a matter that Aquene had been too busy leading beside Nash to have noticed… she couldn’t help but wonder if she had failed to offer nurturement of such a skill earlier… perhaps she might have returned in better shape if she had.

There was a chuckle at the mention of not only her husband, but of Magg, and the trouble they could find themselves in… and then another question. She’d bump her head gently against the girl’s shoulder in response. “You raise a good point, my young apprentice… perhaps we ought to start with scrapes and cuts… the ancestors know that Magg and your father both have a penchant for getting those.” And then perhaps she’d cover the plants relating to dealing with the cold and chills.

With winter approaching, it would be good to have an extra set of paws around.