Frozen

Paladin padded quietly along the edge of the lake, a pair of hides draped over his back. Normally thoughtful sapphire and amethyst eyes were hard gems of colored ice as he made his way along the shore, searching out stands of orange mint. The aftermath of the raid had been full of healing, and once the members of the pack that had fought against the intruders were treated, he’d taken the time to take stock of the location the fight had taken place in.

His tail flicked behind him, teeth baring slightly before he bent, examining the orange mint stand. It was healthy, with a few larger stems that could use to be trimmed back. He twisted his head around and grasped the top hide between his teeth, tugging it off and tossing it in such a way that it landed flat on the ground.

It had been a source of cold anger to find the scent of the girl he’d encountered here at the lake in the winter, mixed with the wolves that had come with the intent to steal from Celestial. A scout. She’d been a bloody scout. Had the earnest eagerness to help gather the iris roots been an act? No doubt.

How much would the stress from the event impact Solveiga’s pregnancy? She was, without a doubt, carrying a litter, and the raid jeopardized those fragile, unborn lives. They wouldn’t know for sure until their births, or their miscarriage.

He shook his head, forcing his thoughts to refocus on the plants before him. To the ideas he was considering. He had little doubt that he could transplant these herbs to the edges of the ravine. The spring pool would be close enough for him to fill a gathered hide with water and soak them daily. Only one way to find out.

Instead of moving to nip a few stems, he bent, sinking his claws into the ground and digging carefully.