Vail needed a distraction. The newlywed was just barely keeping her distress a secret, she knew Solor could tell her anxiety was rising but she wasn’t sure her sister had noticed yet. Shaye was busy with her accidental litter, which Vail was finding increased difficulty in not feeling jealous. Spring was right around the corner, and she was still without a litter of her own. She tried not to think too much about it, but she was finding herself obsessing over the fact. Winter was a slow season for a healer, there weren’t much herbs to be gathered. Abaven was rather healthy and other than welcoming the new pups she had little to worry about. She finally decided that maybe a healer gathering would be in the works. She hadn’t called a lesson since right after joining, and teaching would be a welcome distraction. She sighed heavily as she loped onto the plains. There hadn’t been a big snow in a week or two and what had accumulated was slowly disappearing. There were still patches scattered, but the sun was doing its work. Though many days were gray and depressing today the sun was out and shining over Abaven. Vail found herself a relatively dry place to set herself up, and eagerly called out for the healers of the pack. She wondered if her nieces might show up too. Though they were young they were already showing interest in healing. Tilting her head back and letting out a quick call she asked the healers to come forward for a little learning session. ""

Rhyme was only slightly surprised at Vail’s call. He had no idea of the goings on in her mind though, she had shown him nothing but a cold shoulder recently. The alpha only knew that the turmoil between himself and Tana had caused the rift, but suspected his time with Shaye could have been included in her grudge against him. Rhyme wasn’t too flustered by it, as long as she accepted him in the ranks of the healers she could be as upset with him as she wanted. Solitude remained behind with the new chicks and the black she raven Imperia rode on his shoulders. She wished a break from the demanding mouths and he was glad for her company on their patrol. He was just finishing up when Vail’s call reached his ears, and he swiftly made his way towards her. Quietly he’d come to sit near her, finding nothing but a bit of mud to rest his haunches on. If he was dirty now he couldn’t imagine how bad it would get in the spring, or how muddy the pups were getting. "”

Poem had indeed been covering herself in the cold mud when she heard her aunt’s call for healers. Her slate and white fur now more resembled her grandmother's than her mother and father. She was practically covered and she loved it. Distracted from her play though Poem was eager to heed Vail’s call. She didn’t have a lot of patience to sit and listen to lessons yet, but she did have a fascination with the dried plants kept within the adult’s dens. She was unable to reach them in her mother’s den, but when she visited Vail much more herbs were accessible. Of course the more dangerous ones were put up, and the pup wasn’t in any real danger.

Eager for teaching the mud covered pup picked herself up and raced towards Vail’s location. She wasn’t normally allowed in the plains but she couldn’t help but think if she was with other adults her mother wouldn’t be able to scold her too heavily. With an eager smile playing over her earthen covered features Poem arrived in time to see her father planting himself down as well. She was going to be just like daddy when she grew up, a healer and a warrior! Giggling softly to herself she ran up and rubbed over Rhyme’s striped legs, sharing the mud over her fur.

Arpeggio was somewhat surprised to hear a call go out for healer training. Spring and summer seemed a much more likely time to train healers, since nearly all the plants they'd be learning would be growing then and more easily identifiable for future gathering. Maybe they would get to learn some of the winter-growing plants, or making the dried plants they'd already learned into salves and infusions? Intensely curious but also intensely uncomfortable with the tension in the pack, and knowing that more likely than not Shaye or Rhyme or both would be there to contribute to that discomfort being as they were both healers, she made her way to answer Vail's call.

Peggy winced when she got there to see only Vail and, sure enough, Rhyme there already, leaving her rather conspicuously obvious with no one to sit with as a shield from the tension. She edged in and sat heedless of the mud that immediately coated her pale fur and fixed her eyes on her forepaws, hoping fervently that the other healers would soon appear to take the heat off.

Her eyes snuck surreptitiously over to the pup stropping itself on Rhyme's legs, and winced again. It was... pretty painfully obvious who'd sired that pup, and actually seeing the results displayed blatantly before her increased her discomfort by miles. She transferred her gaze firmly back to her paws.

Actaea had been somewhat bored lately. She didn't feel right pestering Shaye for more lessons because she was plenty busy with her duties and her pups. She had more time on her paws then she knew what to do with. Although a call rang out calling the healers to a training. As soon as she heard it she jumped right up, tail wagging on the yearling. It was just want she needed, a lesson and something to occupy her free time. It would be her first official change to see the faces of the other practicing healers. Others that she could get to know, learn, and grow from. So there was no question, she was going. She quickly get Lorenzo moving, crawling and entangling himself in her chest fur as she moved, heading towards the meeting. When she arrived there was a few there, the pale women she had met during Shaye's birthing, Rhyme who she already knew, one of the pups, and another pale coated female she hadn't met yet. Being that she had met everyone else she moved over to Peggy and sat by her giving a nod of greeting and a smile to the other female. She then looked around waiting for others to arrive. "speech", 'speech', & action