Herbalists' Cache long live the queen

oh, how she had missed the way her queen spoke her name. something so simple that should not have such a taut, unrelenting grip on her heart. it bled for star-woman, even more so now, as she felt the tension in the woman's body. 

hawk wastes no time in pulling the woman close. strong arms coiled tightly around her, but gentle enough not to crush. nose falling to slip into the fur of star-woman's shoulder. a deep inhale of her scent, even though her lungs burned from the lack of oxygen, she would gladly suffocate and fall victim to her queen's poison. 

"i am here." she rumbled, voice a low and deep purr. she would not leave again. then, the woman's embrace is gone. she is pulling away from hawk's hold, questioning her disappearance. hawk's ears flatten for just a moment. "sun eater demanded i hunt down a woman. i had no choice, i—" she exhaled slowly. "i did it for you. so that i could stay for you." 

there was a pleading look in her eyes, praying her queen would understand. hawk wouldn't of left if the reason had not been good enough. 

"my hunt failed. i return, and—" hawk grows silent as the soft whines of the star-born pups reach her. it is all it takes to harden her resolve, her expression grim. determined. 

dragged into the shelter, hawk's size is hardly accommodated. shoulders drawn in, neck hunched. and yet she did not care about the discomfort; not when those pups stirred just inches away from her feet. 

"i smelled blood. what happened?" hawk did not demand, but she was desperate to know what had ensued during her leave.