Bearclaw Valley miserere mei, deus

As the bear dog spoke, Arielle listened with a slight frown, though nothing else would show her thoughts on the skeptic's words. 

Being in heat meant fertility. She hadn't thought of children before now, not really, but now—now the thought of bringing the next generation of Bearclaws to Ursus, of giving sons or daughters to Aves, made a different kind of warmth spread through her chest. She suddenly wanted this very much. 

But Bernadette had not come here to listen to her gush about her future with Ursus; she had come to discuss when her heat came. She said it was her duty to answer the call. Arielle shook her head. I don't know how others deal with it, the healer started. But in Ursus, the only duty of the uninitiated is to learn of the bear and pass the tests to prove they are worthy. If it was anyone's duty to answer the call of heat, it was the bruin-heart's. If your heat comes before you have proven yourself, then I can help you to abstain.