Nimbus Summit an empire for two

for @Tuuluuwaq!

today antha sought mint among the budding foliage of nimbus summit. mint, and perhaps some birch trees for later reference. the sap would turn acidic after sitting for a few days, and so it could not be stored. but antha knew it would do much to help her in her current state. she was gaining weight, but not fast enough. her belly had swelled while the rest of her seemed to wither away, making her seem as if her pregnancy was more advanced than it truly was.
she felt weak often, too, but did her best to hide this from @Issorartuyok and the rest of the pack. the only wolf allowed to see the true extent of her weakening condition was @Tessa. her sister worked day and night to keep her supplied with remedies and ensure she ate at least enough to keep the pups alive. she was tireless in her efforts, and antha had resolved to be much the same in her own. she would work until she could not.

Tuulu searched for his sister in law today, a plump hare grasped in his jaws. She seemed maybe a little thin the last he had seen her, though he didn't know much about what pregnancy should look like if he was being honest. It wasn't that he had never seen a pregnant woman before, but before now, there wasn't a reason for him to pay close attention. She was family now and carried the next generation of Tatkrets, so he felt as though he needed to help his brother ensure she was care for. 

He also didn't mind the extra responsibility. He was excited for the arrival of the children, and he wanted to be as involved as was allowed. 

He stopped outside her and Isso's den and placed the rabbit on the ground. Antha? he called out. But he heard no answer. 

Picking up the meal again, he turned and trotted in another direction, hoping he would find her close by. 

It turned out she wasn't too far; she was searching though the plants, which was not surprising considering she shared the same trade as his mate. Tuulu stopped a short distance from her. Do you need help finding something? he asked. Should she be up working? He would keep the thought to himself, possibly to bring up to Lane later.

a familiar voice startled antha from her search just as she caught the faint scent of mint. it was unmistakable, however slight it was. she looked up and found tuuluuwaq, a fresh kill in tow. oh, hello tuuluuwaq, she smiled, tail waving amiably. i'm looking for mint. it should be quite easy to find, if you know the scent. i think i caught a hint of some over here. she gestured to the patch of ferns and herb growth where she'd been searching, and turned to resume her mission. a burst of energy such as this was rare and precious, and antha had no intentions of wasting it; whatever tuuluuwaq had sought her for, if there was a reason, it could surely wait until antha had secured a bundle of mint for tessa's stores.

Oh, he said, leaving the rabbit to walk closer. I was bringing you something to eat if you are hungry, he said. Then he looked down to the ground. Why do you need mint? he asked. Also, what does it smell like? He wouldn't be able to help her search if he didn't know this, as she had suggested. If he helped her now, then she could finish faster and return to resting.

she'll be awake again by the next round but feel free to have tuuluuwaq call for someone if he would do that!

antha was pleasantly surprised when tuuluuwaq explained his purpose in seeking her; it seemed she and the pups would have support from all sides within atautsikut. for that, she was grateful.

thank you, she smiled despite the surge of nausea she felt at the thought of eating. even the smell was unpleasant, though easily ignored as long as her thoughts were elsewhere. mint is used for — dizziness washed over her as she turned back to the foliage, and she paused with a small gasp.

oh, she said simply, softly, losing consciousness even before she fell. the price of her exertions was finally making itself known; antha was unquestionably alive, but unresponsive for the moment.

He wasn't sure he could remember what mint looked like. Surely Lane had used it at some point, but he was never any good at retaining the information she gave him; plants were not his wheelhouse. 

Antha started to explain more about the plant but then her words were suddenly cut off. Tuulu paused and looked over just in time to see her fall over.

The beta rushed to her side, panic in his chest. She was breathing but unconscious. He had no idea what to do, so he leaned his head back and called for @Lane, his howl relaying the urgency of the situation. 

He watched over his brother's mate while he waited; he could at least keep her safe.

Even if she has not known Tuuluuwaq at all, Lane had been doing the medic thing long enough to know an emergency call when she heard one. 

She paused only long enough to grab her medkit, and send up a quick howl to @Caracal, in case he was in the area. He seemed just as inclined to wander as he was to learn medicine, which was a trait with which Lane deeply empathized. 

When she arrived, @Antha was awake but looking a little disoriented, and Tuuluuwaq's face held a curious mixture of relief and concern. "Hey," Lane greeted them, her voice a bit muffled by the medkit in her jaws. "Antha, are you alright..?" She glanced uncertainly between the pair.