Noctisardor Bypass talking to the moon

she didn't see etienne either, though she might not have even registered him now at all. druid spoke and the blood rushed in heda's ears. "yes."
her voice felt too frail, too tiny; she held druid's paw tightly and tried, just for a moment, to think. her eyes moved over the deep wound; she wanted to touch it, to clean it, but held herself back.
"what does — what does this mean? can you ... can you come back to the den?"
but instinct held a tome of knowledge, and all of it was unfurling inside her now.
heda fought the reality of losing druid. she couldn't. she couldn't. they had six children to watch grow and guide into adulthood. god, please, no.