Blacktail Deer Plateau with heavy heart

Saena beamed when Blue Willow praised her decision. She had wanted to be a Counselor, but a new mature streak informed her that she wasn't meant for that job. She was still keen on being a Naturalist, since that was what her dreams—infrequent, now—had directed her to do.

"Nah, I don't think I'd be a good Counselor," she said with a rueful shake of her head. "I've been rotten the last little while. I hope you all can forgive me, but I know now I just... don't have the patience to listen and not act or pick sides." She had sided in every conflict thus far, rather than being a neutral voice of reason. This was not the quality of a counselor, but of a judge and pursuer of what she thought was right, for which there was no trade.

She turned her eyes on Blue Willow's stomach and smiled. When Junior had mentioned Peregrine and Fox having children, she had been distraught, but these cubs would get nothing but love from Saena... unless, of course, they replaced her and Pura as heirs, but she hadn't even thought of that possibility. "Will they be here soon?" she asked eagerly, flicking her bright eyes back to her radiant aunt's face.