the meeting with andraste had been more fruitful than bhediya had hoped, seeing as she'd never intended for it to happen. it sent the scout's mind ablaze with potential ideas for the future. from what she'd gathered, uaine gorsedd had managed to form one proven alliance with lost creek hollow. this was okay, but there was always room for improvement.

someone would have to take a trip to easthollow eventually. one could only pray that they wouldn't ask bhediya.

while @Ibis recovered, she seemed to be filling her time with (needed) rest. bhediya sniffed around the territory in search of the girl's slumbering body, her efforts culminating after only a few moments. the girl lay silent beneath the shade of a towering aspen, still just as ill as before. the scout chuffed and circled around to where she could be seen. it would be difficult to wake her without physical contact, but bhe certainly planned to try.

good morning, sunshine, bhediya mused. the joyful lilt of her voice contrasted the heavy concern writ on her expression. ibis still seemed to be in the thick of it, and while the scout felt for her, there was nothing that she knew to do.

have you seen reiko? i'm sure she can help. she spoke slowly, her voice soft as she lowered herself onto her belly. it didn't feel appropriate to jump right into business, so bhe waited patiently for ibi to finish waking.

poor ibis, ohmygo-

the girl was really not feeling it, huh? well, that was okay. bhediya figured that she could use the time it would take for this cold to go away to get her jumbled thoughts together. it was hard to fight back a sympathetic grin as she watched the ibis struggle. 

the scout sighed as she stood. i'm just checking in on you. instincts told bhediya to keep her distance (as did her disgust), but she resisted the urge to keep her distance. moving slowly, she squeezed behind ibis's heavy body and laid down, resting her head on her shoulder. i'm worried about you, but you know that already. they all were, of course. you're really not feeling good, huh?

it hadn't occured to her that the added warmth might have furthered ibis's discomfort. even if she had known, bhediya likely would have kept her position if only for bonding's sake. poor thing, she laughed, it's very bad timing. bhe hoped that she would pick up on her intended humor.

you deserve the rest, though. there wouldn't be much time for that after things were finalized. even though it had to come with this cold, bhe was sure that it didn't go unappreciated. bhediya lifted her head but kept her body steady. if you want, i'll get sick with you. let the boys handle the stress for a while.

thank the savior for bhediya's having moved. had she stayed where she originally sat, there would have been no hiding the hideous grimace across her face. having been a mother twice over, bhe understood the girl's struggle but that didn't make it any less disgusting. 

trying to maintain her carefree facade, she said, no, not yet. it was only a matter of time, of course. things have been moving smoothly, so far as i know.

not in the valley, bhediya sighed, but it seems to me that the hare population in the mountains is steadily growing. there were two packs there from what she'd gathered. courtfall was a potential ally but diaspora remained a wildcard. it was unclear how either would react to a hunting party trying to infiltrate their reach.

survival of the fittest, bhe supposed. one won't do much. all of us together, if we make scheduled trips, could probably cull enough to hold us over. the herds were slowly moving in, based on what she'd gathered. it wouldn't be long before they reached the tip of the valley and gave relief to the pack.

distance wasn't the problem, but to explain the details would take a mental clarity that neither women had at that time. it's really not, bhediya assured her with a shake of her head, we could take a group at sundown and be back before rise. she made a mental note to meet with awol and see if he would be willing to help her find the fastest route.

i'm hopeful. the herds have to come back sometime. memories of the boy and his father drifted back. i've heard rumors of deer in the south. they were only rumors from what she'd gathered, but there was nothing wrong with going to look. 

bhediya stood and shook the sick from her fur. don't worry about that stuff right now. focus on getting some sleep. she nosed ibis's cheek and grazed her ear, turning to leave. call me if you see the light, okay? with that, she made way for the border.