Healer of the heart.

The air turned colder, and the nights stretched on, ruthless and long. Pastel cherry eyes surveyed the forest that had always been her home. Her tail curled tightly against her hindquarters as her nose twitched with unease. Ebony-flecked legs carried her silently across the fog-drenched forest floor, and she quickly noted that the once-beloved pond had frozen solid. Letting out a soft whine, she pawed at the glassy ice but made no progress. Her concern wasn't for herself; it was for the rest of her pack. Glancing around, she realized the wind had lost its usual warmth and humidity. She needed to check on the herb supply to ensure everything was still in order. With that thought, Mae pressed on, the wind howling and swirling around her in a relentless manner. The woman's ears pressed against her skull. She knew the season wouldn’t be easy on any of them. Yet, deep down, she held onto hope for a better outcome—because, truthfully, that was all the slate woman could do.

Mae couldn't ignore the fact that hunting had become less successful than in previous months, forcing the pack to venture further away from the safety of their territory. As she pressed onward, the canyon felt harsh; the winds howled mournfully, as if the very walls were haunted. Despite the bone-chilling cold, Mae remained focused on her task. The water around her was frozen, sending a shiver racing down her spine. She felt a slight chill; once she reached her destination, she'd desperately need a fire, but with everything so frozen, she doubted that would be possible. Still, she had to keep moving and persevere the energy she had left, even if it meant to rest for a little while.

Easily locating the cavern where the herbs were safely stored, she laid down a few furs to make a comfortable spot for her to rest and warm up. She noticed that their supply of cannabis and other herbs was dwindling. There was no way to replenish them unless they could trade some goods for more herbs. However, what did they really have to offer? The herbs they had were running low, and Mae realized she needed to gather the Queen so she could see the situation for herself. At the same time, Mae hesitated to disturb the Queen, even though she understood that the pack needed to be aware of their dwindling supplies.

Action was necessary. They could either venture out to gather more herbs and replenish their supply, or... Mae hesitated to consider the potential consequences of inaction. With a graceful movement, she approached the mouth of the cavern and let out a howl, calling for anyone who might respond to her summons.

Word Count - 452 of 1500

"Speech!"