Redsand Canyon better than to let it fester

At first, Ruenna thought to explain to the auxilia that Mereo, as a military outpost, was organized in a manner that differed from the hierarchy of a familial pack. However, she got the sense that Diesel would struggle to grasp the finer points of her explanation, so she settled for a different approach.

"We both lead, just in different domains. Germanicus leads the auxilia as the Imperator-- the military commander. I lead the civilians as Matrona."

Copulating. Babies. Diesel's blunt, almost crude manner of speaking of these things triggered a buried reflex within her to withdraw. To flinch away from the pointed questions, laced in judgement and expectation. And so her response was vague. 

"One of my responsibilities is to make Mereo a suitable environment for children. For their learning and growth. These could be my children, or those of the other women in Mereo." Tucked inside her carefully-chosen words was the affirmation that motherhood was an option for Diesel too, if she weighed her options pro et contra and decided motherhood was worth the consequences that would come down from her Imperator. 

How did Ruenna intend to make the medicine?

"I was going to chew it," Ruenna imparted, suppressing a laugh at the visual of kneading the herbs upon the ground. Ruenna was usually fairly adept at reading expressions, but Diesel's unusual facial features caused her to mistakenly identify Diesel's skepticism as curiosity. "Do you have an interest in medicine?" she asked, assuming this was the motivation behind Diesel's inquiry.