You and Me had cut right in through the piebald healer as she spoke, and as a result didn't really catch on that she didn't want the white lioness there. She waited for the lionesses to work out what seemed to be an old tension. Unlike most lionesses in that situation, she didn't feel the full awkwardness of being caught in the middle of this situation, and as the uncomfortable silence fell she butted in with, "It doesn't seem like you like this lioness at all, but maybe now's not the time to let festering resentments get in the way of important tasks." She seemed to genuinely think she was being helpful with this comment. As Luna told her to lead the way, she turned sharply and started back towards the pride without waiting to make sure everyone was following.

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The three Healers and Jewel followed You and Me as fast as they could. The patches lioness was having a bit of trouble keeping up, but Zikoni helped her older colleague in any way she could. Luna kept her pace, however, managing to keep and even slow down to match You and Me's pace. It wasn't long before they reached the territory of the Ikogosi Pride.

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As they showed up, Color Crackle, the guard lioness, gave them a brooding look but let them go past, obviously having been told they would be coming. A young blue lioness ran out to meet them, speaking in a low voice to You and Me. "Are you all healers?" she asked them quietly. They could hear some commotion from near the springs. She started to lead the way to where Bastet was. You and Me nodded and took off, likely to tell the other lionesses what was happening.

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Jewel wanted to be anywhere but here right now. On one paw, she was worried about Bastet, on the other she wanted to run back to her pride right now. She didn't want to be there when Luna and Bastet saw each other. All the other times she could remember they avoided one another like a plague. She didn't know why and honestly, didn't think she wanted to know why.

As the young blue lioness asked her question to the Healers they all nodded, their ears perked up once they heard the commotion coming from the springs. Luna was the only lion who was as stoic and still as ever. They followed the blue lioness until they were close enough to hear screams. Jewel's ears flattened against her head and she retreated back like a scared cub. The sounds were not pleasant and frightened her. She flinched every time another shout or scream echoed through the springs.

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The young blue lioness didn't seem to notice Jewel's discomfort, or if she did she didn't say anything. She led them down the spring, towards Bastet, as quickly as she could without running. As they arrived, they saw that Horizon looked vaguely panicked. "Oh, thank heaven," she said as they arrived. She was sitting close to Horizon, helping her through the labor.

"Three healers," said the blue lioness. "So we won't have to wait for Wine after all."

Horizon heaved a sigh of relief. She stayed next to Bastet, motioning for them to come over. "I wonder if one of you could help us with another pride member, William," she said in a strained voice. "I don't know what's wrong with him, I haven't had time to check. Of all the times for this to happen . . ."

(I didn't mean for Will to have this happening while Bastet was giving birth but, uh, he died yesterday, so this is apparently what is now happening.)

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The patches lioness nodded. She momentarily calmed down, her brain turning switching to autopilot as if she had done this multiple times.

"Zikoni, you'll help me here, Luna you'll go and help the other lion in need" She ordered both Healers. Zikoni nodded without arguing, while Luna stood her ground for a moment before turning to Horizon, clearly displeased. "Can someone please take Jewel out of here? She is too young to be dealing with something like this." She said to Horizon Red as she noticed the panic and fear in the younger lioness's eyes.

(You don't have to kill him off right now. Both Zikoni and the patches lioness, whose name is Mira actually, are dead and in my dynasty as well, but I still used them here. Once I retire my king at the end of this month, I'll be updating everyone's bios, including the lions who I imagined died during the apocalypse, and since this takes place before that, I still have them appear here. Even Bastet is younger in this rp than she is in the game. But don't worry, it's not her time to die yet. She'll get murdered by her own mother later )

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Horizon calmed down too as soon as she felt the other lionesses were in control. Though she had experience delivering cubs, she preferred that Bastet's own pridemates be here to take care of her. As Luna met her eyes, she felt a little sting of discomfort, implacable and disorienting. This lioness didn't give her a good feeling. "Of course," she said, stepping back. "Jewel, sweetie, why don't you come here? It's best to stay out of there way. I sent a lot of the lionesses down to the Greening Glade. We can go there too."

(Ah, an excellent idea! Well then, this shall just be a small sign of something worse to come for Will. See, I'm foreshadowing, I'm a good writer! I'm very sorry to hear that Bastet will be murdered, but also, sounds like fun!)

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Jewel took a glance at Bastet, before cautiously approaching Horizon, while the two healers took to helping Bastet and the unborn cub. Luna's stare at Horizon was cold like it would be with any other lion.
"Lead me to your ill pridemate" She said, her tone monotone and almost lifeless.

(She was literally born to die XD But once she does I plan on freezing her and making her like a gurdian for my pride. Also on the other note, she'll be in heat after rollover today, so if she gets a svelte or special based cub or anything like that, it means this was not her only litter. She'll have only one cub in this one)

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As Horizon drew away from Bastet, she waited for Jewel to turn and follow. She paused because she knew Luna would want to know where Will was. As she looked at Bastet, her eyes were cold, everything about her unnerving. If Horizon hadn't already experienced that with her own herbalist, she might have backed away. All the same, she wasn't keen on staying near this lioness for long, and she wanted to get Jewel out of there. "We're going down to where the other lionesses are. It's just around the bend here. I'll send a lioness to take you to Will," she said, dipping her head.

She brushed Jewel forward with her tail and walked at a brisk pace. "Bastet will be fine, this is a simple medical procedure. Lionesses give birth all the time. I was worried because our healer's not here, but now that those three have arrived everything should go smoothly." She smiled reassuringly at Jewel.

They arrived where the other lionesses sat, settling down for the night, some already asleep. Horizon paused next to a golden-furred lioness and the lioness stirred, sitting up. Horizon spoke in a low voice to her, and the lioness whisked off, likely to go lead Luna to Will. "Feeling alright?" Horizon asked Jewel.

(Well, that's good, then! Die young but be frozen forever :) I hope you get some lovely cubbins!)

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"I think so" Jewel responded. She was more comfortable now, but she was still slightly tense, looking at the sleeping lionesses nervously. The state that she was in now was a far cry from the cheerful and excited attitude she had before.


Meanwhile, Luna followed the golden lioness, her body not reflecting the annoyance she felt at that moment. She wanted to be there with her daughter, but instead she had to help some lion with whatever was happening with him. Then again, she was a Healer, and she would do her job regardless of her own personal interests. She focused her eyes on the lioness who she was following, making sure to not loose sight of her. Getting lost wasn't on her agenda.

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Horizon settled down slightly, and Hummingbird came back around to lie down with the two of them, scrunching her eyes closed contentedly. Horizon sat up and awake, looking at the stars.

The golden lioness glanced back at Luna, flicking her ear and giving her a smile full of childish innocence. Unlike the other lionesses who had set eyes on Luna, she hardly seemed perturbed by the lioness. Her tail swayed slowly as she make her way, quickly but not clumsily, into a tangle of small trees which seemed to have been weaved together into something like a little canopy. Under it was Will, who seemed to be breathing very heavily, and another lioness who looked relieved to see them.

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Jewel sat in front of Horizon and smiled at Hummingbird as she passed her by. The presence of the two lionesses seemed to calm her a little. As she looked up at the twilight sky dotted in some places with bright stars, she pondered.
"Esther writes that the Ancient Ones look at us from the stars. They watch over us as we sleep, or even during the day when we can't see them. They make sure we are safe." She shifted her gaze at Horizon "Does your pride have any beliefs like that?" She asked like a curious child.


Luna was surprised that her guide wasn't scared or even intimidated by her. She raised a brow at her, staring her down. Perhaps there were lions in this pride which could be useful.
As they approached the ill lion, she could see what the problem was. The lion was old, and most likely his lungs had trouble keeping up with him in stressful situations, and any strenuous physical activity. She let out an inaudible huff with her nose, before approaching the lion, completely ignoring the other lioness that was with the lion.

(I think Wine and Roses and Luna would make a great team )

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Horizon was settled and contented now, and smiled at the cubs, who had all fallen asleep curled up against her assistant broodmother, Paperwhite. As she heard Jewel talking, she watched the stars glimmering high above, and smiled to think that they might be the life-force of the dead. "I'm sure they are watching over you," she said. Jewel asked about her pride's beliefs and she answered, "I think we believe something very close. Except for us, the life-force of our ancestors are walking among us. They send us messages when we need their help, and sometimes they return in the form of a different lion."


The golden lioness stepped aside to let Luna do what she could with Will. She spoke in a low voice to the other lioness, who said something back. Will was struggling but still conscious, and when Luna approached he gave her a nervous look, obviously not wanting whoever this lioness was anywhere near him. "Anything you can do?" chirped the golden lioness.

(I have decided that Will can be just a tiny leetle bit poisoned. Not too much. And yes, Wine and Luna would be horrifying together. Who could have guessed we both had creepy murderous healers?)

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"Cool..." Jewel mused and looked back at the stars again "I wonder if our ancestors can do that too. Maybe I also have a lion who was like my great-great-great grandfather or great-great-great grandmother that is now one of my pride mates and I don't know about it?"


As Luna approached Will, she could immediately tell there was something wrong, something different than what she originally thought. She stepped a little closer to him, completely ignoring his nervous stare as she leaned close to his face.
"Can you show me where it hurts?" She asked, staring into his eyes, trying to keep her eyes calm and somewhat reassuring. She was failing miserably.


(What poison is it and who did it? Did he simply eat something or was he given the poison on purpose? Also, maybe Wine and Luna should work together. Perhaps they can help each other to bring the apocalypse to the prides?)

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Horizon chucked. "Maybe," she said, flicking her ear. "Maybe we're both right - maybe they're stars, and sometimes they come down. It would be hard to tell if a lion in your pride was a star-lion. Sometimes they don't even know. Maybe you're a star-lion." She laughed, causing Hummingbird to shift irritably.

Will seemed to recoil slightly as Luna leaned in. He glanced at the other two lionesses, who both smiled reassuringly. He didn't seem convinced, though, and maybe the sounds of labor drifting through the air were making him feel worse. "Can you show me where it hurts?" she asked. Will shook his head, refusing to meet her eyes. "I'm just old," he said with forced cheerfulness. "I'm alright, take care of - Bastet? Bastet."

(It's a mild plant poison, enough to make someone ill but easy enough to get out of their system. A little gift from the wonderful Wine and Roses, who has decided to help him along towards death. And yes, they should definitely wok together. Luna can be like her murdery mentor, now that Wine's original mentor is dead.)

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