Herbalists' Cache long live the queen

the night was thick with silence, save for the soft murmurs of the pups nestled deep within the den. their tiny bodies stirred at the sound of approaching footsteps, their mewling cries barely louder than the whisper of the wind outside. morwenna, curled protectively around them, lifted her head at the sound of her name, at the frantic urgency in black hawk’s voice.
she was on her feet before she could think, before she could place the fear curling hot in her gut. but when black hawk came into view, breathless, snow clinging to her dark fur like frost on bark, the tension in her spine loosened. she was here. she had returned.
black hawk. her voice was quiet, heavy with relief. she surged forward, pressing into her with a nuzzle, pulling her close, tucking her against her chest as if to shield her from whatever ghost she had fled. there was warmth in the gesture, a rare tenderness, though her brows furrowed as she pulled back, searching black hawk’s face.
where had you gone? a question, yes, but not an accusation.
behind her, the pups whimpered, hungry and restless, their small bodies wriggling toward the warmth of their mother. she glanced back at them briefly, then returned her gaze to black hawk.
you left. and now you return to me like this. she exhaled, pulling her inside, past the threshold of the den where the cold could not reach. tell me what you have seen.
she laid down once more, the pups eagerly finding her duds of milk. she lapped at fa'liya intently, making sure she ate.