Carina had lingered what felt like hours by the den and inside the den of @Tiamat's children. Not that she absolutely knew how to do anything with them but thankfully, they slept for the most part. Occasionally one or two would mewl into the dark shadows of the den and Carina was quick to coo them back into a state of sleep. That didn't mean that she didn't aggressively and obsessively check every few minutes to make sure their stomachs moved.

Anxiously, she waited; hoping that her friend, her constant and her koroleva was going to come home in no hurry to rescue her babes. That she wouldn't have to call for someone to help her grab the kids and run. Carina didn't know if she had the heart to not break if that were the case. Carina simply wanted to know that if her best friend was alright.

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Once everything was settled Tiamat made it a point to return to her den. Time had passed. The fight itself had been short, it seemed, but there was the matter of intruders to deal with, settling everything with their new guest(s?), and making sure the pride was secure. No doubt her babes would be hungry, mewling for their mother. Still so new to this world, they needed food frequently.

She was relieved to see @Carina there, guarding the den that held her little ones. Tiamat dragged herself onward, her tail hanging limply behind her. Blood still leaked sluggishly from a few of her wounds. They were not bad, but perhaps still somehow worse than they should be simply because her body had already taken punishment in the form of labor not so long ago. The herbs that Calypso had passed her helped immensely, dulling the pain and easing the ache enough for her to function long enough to get things in order before she retreated.

Tiamat ducked into the den, a deep purr rumbling in her chest as she attempted to bump her head against her closest friend and ally. A quick glance told her all was well with the little ones, no doubt thanks to Carina's careful ministrations. "The pride is safe," she muttered. It was clear by the tone of her voice that she was suffering from exhaustion. Tired, drained from the last several days and needed rest more than anything. She passed by the lead medic and tucked herself around the cubs, who immediately sought her out to nurse, smelling her milk.

"Thank you," she added, softly, to Carina. She didn't know what she would have done without the girl there to watch over her precious cubs.

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As soon as her friend approached she lifted to her paws, gravitating to her expectantly as they sought to make the connection. Not having ever felt a bond as close as theirs and so relished in the physical contact immediately. Aggressively and internally disappointed when they had to relinquish their embrace. That is good.. she started off with as she began to inspect the wounds as @Tiamat made the obvious move to go into the den. Carina following at her heels as she continued to make a mental list of things she needed.

I will go grab a few items from my herb stash for your wounds. she stated, hoping that her friend would know not to be prideful in this moment and to take the assistance. Should I call for someone to stand watch while I gather? The last thing she wanted for any stragglers to have stuck around and endanger not only her friend but her friends children. Tiamat had already been through so much in just a few days. She didn’t need anything more.

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The relief that flooded her veins as she came into contact with @Carina before laying down beside her children gave her an immediate amount of respite from the strain of the battle. It was good to have someone close to her, the comfort of touch.

"Of course," she answered with a nod. She wasn't about to turn down medical attention. She would wear her wounds proudly, as always, but a true warrior knew that care was also necessary. Scars were nice, but permanent injuries were not. They were a weakness. "No need; the others are all on guard still." She assumed, at least, since she had set them to removing the trespassers. Specifically the Oasis, though members of the Summit were also discouraged, save for Ghyslaine and Nero.

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Being so close to someone had never been high on her list of things she wanted but now that she had, she wondered why it never had been. To have someone who was willing to protect her and show her that there was strength and smarts in her was what made her continue with her work. So much so that she was willing to do everything she could to protect it. @Tiamat suggesting that she need not worry about an extra guard stationed in front of her den Carina gave an affirming nod before excusing herself to her stash.

Combing through everything that she had as quickly as possible now that she felt absolutely confident in the things that she was looking at. Everything wasn't a mystery anymore, at least not the things in her cache. Once she gathered what she needed she hurried back to administer. Delicately moving into the den and laying down somewhat so that she could begin putting some frankincense on her right shoulder while also trying to make little noise to disturb the very hungry babies. I, uh, don't know how vell cubs smell but try not to let zhem lick zhe medizine. She attempted to look her friend in the eye as a silent way of saying that some medicines affected children more than they did adults.

From the shoulder she began to put a few bits of frankincense on her other lighter wounds (bite to the neck, tears on her chest and some torn skin on her jaw). Those were less worrisome than the one to her shoulder where Tiamat had taken the most damage but Carina had faith that if anyone was going to listen to her about what not to do while healing, it was her friend.

Rolling 4d10: 1 + 7 + 10 + 5

Using level 3 for +1 dice on wounded rolls,
and +2 dice for being lead medic.

^{ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY CALA}

@Carina left to gather her supplies, but it wasn't too long before she returned, carrying plants that Tiamat knew next to nothing about. But she trusted Carina completely, without even a hint of hesitation. Strange, really, to think that she had claimed this girl, only a cub at the time, while perusing the passage as a gentry of the Mire. And now they were friends. Ah, well, she did seem to make friends in the strangest of ways.

She began to put the plant over the worst of her wounds, which were on her shoulder. She had taken multiple hits from her opponent there, and considering the fact that there was already significant scarring there it was a frequent target by those she was fighting. The early medical attention would help cut down on the scarring there, if only a little. She sighed and relaxed as the ache from the wounds receded just a little bit.

She chuckled at her friend's warning. "They smell everything that they shouldn't get into," she said with a laugh. "I will keep them out of it." They were still tiny, their eyes closed. It wouldn't be too hard to keep them from getting into the plants plastered onto her wounds. "Thank you," she said softly, sitting still as Carina did her work. "Its good to have you as a friend." And she meant the words with all of her heart.

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Thankfully all of the hard work was done as for as medicine went and she was able to skootch a little bit away in an effort to give @Tiamat and the babes a bit more breathing room. Carina nodded firmly to her friend saying that while the children did find everything to get into, that she would do her very best to keep them out of it. Carina couldn't be sure what it would do to a child but it was best to keep the kids as healthy as possible. It good ve are friends. She admits, knowing without question that she didn't wish to be anywhere else but here. In the Lagoon, she had folks who knew who she was and what she could do. That she was strong and capable in her own rights but mostly she was thankful that she had someone who would have her back without question. Vhat are zhere names? she asks, looking at the babes carefully and with kindness but also a smidgen of fear up close.

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Tiamat smiled softly at her friend. "I will never regret fighting Violarum for you in the passage," she said earnestly. Perhaps it had been a little selfish, wanting the girl for the Mire, wanting to take on the fight simply to prove that she could. Wanting @Carina for herself, even. But she would never regret that selfishness that day, even if she had fought an ally, which had been against the rules. She didn't care.

Carina asked what the names of the babes were and Tiamat gently nudged the lilac one first. "Zafira," she told her. "It means victorious." She was the oddest one of the bunch, different in color from both parents. But it was not an unknown color in her family line. "Cassius," she said, pointing to the largest of the cubs next. He was bigger than the other three, and his name hailed more from Caelum's influence. "Taraji," she said, pointing now to the peach girl, her coat more like Tiamat's. "It means hope."

The last cub was similar to the boy in color, her coat black with patches of what. "This is Irkalla," she explained. "My ancestors believed that was the name of the goddess that ruled over Kur, the underworld where our spirits go when we die." Perhaps a dark name, but death was not a bad thing, not for her Clan. It was an inevitable part of life, and the underworld was not a place to fear. It was also not as commonly believed in by the current members of the Clan.

"A couple of months and they will be big enough to run and play," she said with a bright smile down at the little ones. Perhaps Carina could get to know them and become more comfortable around them as they grew older.

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And i vill never regret having both of you vight for me, and she remembered that moment clearly. Addressing to the two of them that she wanted them to fight because in the end, she wanted to be with someone who was going to truly put forth the effort and she had not been disappointed. Not then and certainly not now, happy as she could be with @Tiamat's safety as well as the home that they had made in the Lagoon. Thankful that her friend had secured this territory given how suffocating Ecrosia had been and how unseen she felt there. Here, however, she felt like someone.

Carina listened attentively as Tiamat pointed to each of the babes and gave them their names and why they were given them. Zose arrre beautiful names. Each one of them felt strong and unyielding, names that she could imagine would bring them far into this world and be as strong as their mother. I've never rrreally been arrround childrrren. She addressed, with a small sliver of embarassment rolled into it even if most of her life had been spent in Tiamat's presence. No one could expect someone not yet two to have done and seen it all.

With that and a gentle snore coming from one of the kids, she recognized it was probably time to head out and let her friend rest. I vill rrreturn later tonight and check your dressings. Rest. Carina would come back, eventually -- but first she wanted to make sure that Tiamat knew that should she need anything, Carina would always come if she called.

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Tiamat's response was a lopsided grin, glad they both viewed the claim with equally positive emotions. "Its a shame, the man who fought me to claim you isn't a king anymore," she said with a regretful sigh. She had much preferred him over the pompous fools that now ran the Plains pride. Violarum had been fun.

At @Carina's admission that she had never really been around children, Tiamat chuckled. "You're barely more than a child yourself." It wasn't an insult; merely the truth, for the girl was still just shy of two years old. "They aren't so bad when you don't have to feed them and watch them all the time," she said, nudging one of the babies with a paw away from another as they started to squabble. Caring for them when they were this small was time consuming, but for those who were not the parents there was plenty of opportunity to enjoy them without the downsides.

Tiamat yawned almost immediately after Carina told her to rest, putting a stop to the immediate protest that had tried to pop out of her mouth. She couldn't deny that she was tired, still recovering from birth, the experience of being a new mother, and the challenge that had taken far more out of her than it would have in normal circumstances. "I will," she sighed, laying her head down, unable to keep her eyes from drooping. "Thank you, Carina," she whispered one more time. And then she was already drifting off, getting the rest her body sorely needed.

/Exit via sleep

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