Well, that had been hell. She'd watched as those from the Brook, where she had lived for so many years, tried to steal her friends and pride mates from her. Watched as they'd half blinded poor Matthieu, and wrecked havoc upon the sands of the Lagoon. She wasn't built for war, and yet she'd carried herself well enough. Still, she would have rather simply laid a curse upon the family and been done with it.

There were many who needed her services, both spiritual and otherwise, but she made it a point to gather her herbs and seek out @Isla ♔ first, as she was, of course, both the High Sovereign and of the family that Heloise had tied herself to after all her blood relations had abandoned the lands. Some days, Heloise thought she ought to have done the same.

But here she was, herbs clutched in her jaws as she roamed the heart of the pride, letting out the occasional chuff for the woman as she drew near to her den, waiting for the answering call that would signal her position.

Her children were growing and it was much faster than she liked. Isla enjoyed having them snuggled close to her belly as they filled theirs with milk and fell asleep. She wasn't sure that she had any maternal instincts nor did she think she would enjoy motherhood, but once her five bundles of chaotic joy entered the world she had never felt such a strong love before. It made her wary of those who came close to her den, especially since she was in the process of healing, but when she heard the chuffs of a healer the Queen would send out her own in return, granting them access to inside her den.

The Queen moves slowly as she rises to all fours, giving her body a soft shake. Her jaw tightens as teeth clench at the feeling of recovering wounds being disturbed, but what was causing her the most discomfort was her eye. She hadn't had the time to take in her new appearance in the reflection of a pool of water, half of her not wishing to see what the white woman had done to her face. A heavy sigh escapes her as Isla moves near the mouth of the entrance, purple eye landing upon @Heloise. "Hallo Heloise. I hope you are healing well?" She knew the healer had thrown herself into battle and she wanted to make sure that she was taking care of herself first before putting other pride members above her overall health.

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Heloise spared a glance for the little ones as she entered the den, the joy of motherhood something she had experienced only once, and now no longer knew where her son was. Somewhere out there, no doubt. The spirits would have told her had anything happened to him, surely. Perhaps he had left to find the rest of the Saucier family. Regardless, her attention needed to be on @Isla ♔, and so her gaze returned to the wounded woman as she spoke.

Naturally, her first thought was for Heloise herself it seemed, and the skeletal woman nodded in response with a soft smile. Aye, it be nothin' I cannot handle, she replied. She had gotten off fairly easily all things considered. Some scratches and bruises, nothing more. It paled in comparison to the myriad of blindings and other maims that had happened, clearly.

Speaking of which, Isla's eye looked painful, the wounds there deep. The face was such a delicate place, with thinner skin that bled more easily. She laid out her bundle of herbs, picking through it for the ones that would be most useful. She had to consider whether any she used would potentially be ingested by the cubs through Isla's milk, but she wasn't particularly concerned by the idea. She wouldn't be using anything that could cause them problems for just that reason.

Dey certainly learned de Lagoon is not to be trifled with, she commented as she worked. They had some allies come to their side, she knew, but not nearly so many as the Lagoon had. Now, what be hurting ye de most? She would get started with that, she decided.

A gentle nod of her head is given to @Heloise, content on knowing that her healer was in overall good health. She would have felt guilt gnawing at her if something more serious had happened to her, knowing that the war that was brought to Lagoon was not any of her members' fault aside from her sister. A sourness could be tasted in her mouth at the thought of knowing so many had been injured all due to bruised egos, but that wasn't something Isla would linger on - not right now, anyways.

"We've shown them that without allies, they are nothing." The Scillan Queen wasn't sure if her pride would have won without the help of their many allies. Her attention falls to what Heloise begins to unpack, purple eye gazing at the herbs curiously before allowing for her rear to recline so that she was now sitting. "My eye mostly," her words come in a sigh, head lowering slightly so that her healer could have a better look at the damage. It felt foreign being unable to see fully, having to turn her head more to the right so that she could see the world in full view.

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Dey not be much even with allies, she commented with amusement. Or perhaps their allies were simply better. She hadn't paid much attention to who had shown up on their side during the battle, simply because she had been preoccupied with her own fight and then with trying to make sure Matthieu didn't wind up with an infection later on, but she did know that if anyone had, it hadn't been many. And several of those who did show up to fight weren't even technically on the side of the Brook lions but simply had beef with someone else who was there. Funny how that worked out.

Speaking of eye infections...

The wound certainly looked painful, and Heloise promptly began dabbing on a mash of frankincense and akuamma (and yes her tongue had gone slightly numb when she was mashing up the latter, why did you ask). The white banshee be worse for de wear I think, she said as she worked. She also doubted the woman had a healer within the pride, just as a hunch. And how be de little ones? she asked. They seemed in good health, but she had plenty of stock to take care of them if they needed something as well.

@Isla ♔

She wasn't ready for the jolt of pain to rush through her as the healer began to work, smearing whatever it was that she had created on the wound. A soft hiss escapes the Queen, one not directed toward @Heloise but coming out due to pain. Her tail thumps the ground, ears flicking backward upon her head as jaws tighten.

A distraction is given, a question regarding her growing children helping block out the pain and bring her mind somewhere else. "They're doing well," Isla replies in a low tone, a smile creasing her lips. "Their personalities are beginning to show. It's wonderful watching them grow." It was fascinating seeing how each of them grew into their own personality, how some reminded of her of herself while others reminded her of Colsun with a twist of their own personalities shining through.

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A distraction was exactly how Heloise meant her line of questioning as she continued to apply her salve, though she was also simply curious. She didn't spend much time around cubs and with having none of her own around she had to live vicariously through others. Good, she replied as @Isla ♔ confirmed the little ones were doing well. Aye, dat it is. Dey grow so fast too. One moment they were little mewling things dependent on their parents to live and looking up to them like they'd hung the moon and stars, and the next moment they were old enough to fend for themselves and helping out with hunts. Then the next moment they were gone, off on their own adventure.

She hoped the pain killing effect of the herbs would kick in quickly, but she continued the line of conversation as a distraction and, again, out of curiosity. Deir names? No, she didn't really need to know any of this, but they were adorable little ones and she wanted to know their names so that she could identify them properly when they were running around the lagoon.

Indeed the numbing effects from the salve were beginning to work. It was an inviting feeling, the constant throbbing now becoming a dull ache before finally quitting altogether - for the time being, at least. A soft sigh of relief is released, Isla beginning to relax more and more with each passing moment. "Mavka, Niko, Lore, Emmerich and Ivy." Her tone is full of warmth as she speaks her children's names, trying not to think on how the last two of them seemed to have disappeared without a trace. The pang in her heart was unbearable, not knowing where they were, but hope was strong within the Queen and she hoped that they were okay wherever they were, even with being so young. They were Greyflood, after all.

@Heloise

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Lovely names, for lovely babies, she replied. All babies were lovely, in her mind, but it was possible that some were lovelier than others. Typically that included one's own babies, but exceptions could be made. Given that she had so few of her own (read: one) she had plenty of space in her heart for the children of others.

She continued to work, finishing up with the painkillers and then dabbing on the antiseptic herbs before covering her work with moss and leaves to catch anything that might seep out of the wounds and keep anything like dirt or grime out. She wished there was more she could do to help, but alas, herbs could only do so much. She couldn't work miracles. That was Maua's jurisdiction and she wasn't about to go sticking a paw in the deity's business. She could, at least, help it hurt less and prevent it from becoming infected, which could lead to much worse things down the line.

Dere, I'm sure ye be just as pretty afterwards, she said once her work was finished. And if dey say ye not, dey don't matter.

@Isla ♔

Isla feels the glow of a proud mother bloom upon her face, cheeks warming in thankfulness at @Heloise's compliment. "Thank you," she responds with a soft dip of her maw, making sure she didn't interfere too much with the healer's work. She could feel the thickness of salves and items placed over and around her newly blind eye to help keep it sheltered from the outside world while it healed, and even though it felt uncomfortable she knew it was best to leave it alone for the time being. "I never paid attention to my beauty," she comments with a huff of amusement, "beauty doesn't win you battles."

After a few moments of letting her face adjust to what was on it, the Queen stands and gives herself a gentle stretch. "Thank you Heloise. You are a coveted piece of Scilla and your work does not go unnoticed." Attempting to give the older woman a bump of her nose to her cheek, Isla gives her a departing nod before making her way toward her den in hopes to get a quick nap in.

exit Isla.

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