It was a peaceful midday and the hollow was quiet. Almost everyone was out either hunting, patrolling, or training, and the only dogs left were Coriander, Remiel, Compass, Torn, Xander, and Minette's pups, who Coriander had agreed to watch. During these times, they needed as many defenders on duty as possible, and the pups were low-maintenance anyway. Katrina was chasing a butterfly while Russell sat next to Coriander, his eyes wide as he listened to her talk.

"You're acting like a pup, Torn," she growled. "Eat it. It won't kill you. It will help, actually. It's almost like I'm doing this to make you better."

Compass snorted in amusement while Torn shrunk back. "...Do I have to? I feel much better, honest. I don't think I need them."

"You had an asthma attack, Torn," Coriander snapped. "I'm trying to keep you from having another one. For the Hunter Dog's sake, just eat the flowers!"

Torn scowled, reluctantly lapping up the chamomile and then gagging. "There, can I go now? I could still catch up with Alabretta's patrol."

"No, I think you should rest today," Coriander answered. "You can go out tomorrow if you don't start hacking up your lungs again."

"This is ridiculous," Torn growled. "I should be out there helping my pack, not sitting back here like a bump on a log. What if Night Pack attacks? They might need me."

"You wouldn't be able to be of much help right now," Compass barked. "Believe me, I know better than anyone how frustrating it is. I'd give anything to be out there again, but I'd just be a liability with this leg."

"But I feel fine!" Torn insisted.

"Yes, now," Coriander said, "but any activity right now could induce another attack. The last thing we need is for you to break down coughing in the middle of a battle. Relax. It's not that bad."

He heaved a sigh and flopped down next to Compass. "I don't understand," he said. "How can Xander actually want to do this all day?"

Compass chuckled slightly. "My son is an... interesting dog. Yesterday he spent ages telling me about how fascinating watching ants is. I'm not sure what he gets out of it, but there wasn't any way I could convince him that actually contributing was a good idea."

Coriander shook her head and ducked back inside the healer's den, scrutinizing her herb store to see what she was low on. Russell followed close on her heels. "Coriander, what is azzma?" he asked.

"It's what Torn has, she answered. "Sometimes he inhales things in the air that makes it hard for him to breathe. I gave him chamomile, which helps to clear up his lungs. I can also give him valerian or slippery elm."

"That's what you gave Katrina, right?" he asked. "Valerian?" He dragged out the word, saying it slowly.

"That's right," Coriander said, pleased to see he was picking things up on his own. "I need to go get some more of that, actually. Would you like to come with me?"

He nodded eagerly, but then stopped. "What about Katrina?" he asked. "I promised Mama I would watch her."

"Don't worry," Coriander said. "We won't be gone very long. Remiel can tell her a story."

Russell agreed and the two headed out after Coriander asked Remiel to keep an eye on Katrina. She would have taken both pups with her, but she was concerned that Katrina might get lost and then have a seizure unexpectedly. She knew Russell wouldn't wander off.

They trotted across the meadow, Russell asking questions every so often when they passed different plants. In the distance, she could hear the sound of Lightning, Dakota, and Feather training Desmond and Ranger. Finding a patch of valerian, she began to dig it up, with Russell's help. They worked in silence for a while before she finally asked, "Russell, do you want to be a healer?"

He blinked at her, seemingly surprised by the question. "Well, I guess so. I hadn't thought about it much. I think Katrina wanted me to be a hunter so we could train together."

"Do you want to be a hunter?"

"Well... not really." He pawed at the ground. "I don't like hurting things. Not even prey. I... I think I'd rather make people feel better like you do."

Excitement bubbled up in Coriander's chest. That was just what she wanted to hear. She knew the job was perfect for him, but she didn't want to just assume that was what he wanted. Thanking the Hunter Dog, she said, "Well, you'll need to let Gabriel know. Just two more months and you'll be a trainee too! You'll love it, I know you will."

He smiled sweetly at her, but then she heard a commotion coming from where the training was happening. Merciful Siglitun, what is it now? She drew closer and saw that Lightning and Ranger were in another shouting match. "Where did you learn that?" the Smooth Collie was demanding.

"I picked it up on my own," Ranger answered. "Am I not allowed to innovate now?"

"Not when your innovation involves fighting dirty!" Lightning yelled. "We don't fight like a bunch of scoundrel mutts, we fight like pack dogs!"

"Really? Night Pack doesn't seem to have any such compunctions," Ranger growled. "Why shouldn't we fight them on their own terms?"

"Because we don't stoop down to their level," Lightning spat. "For Siglitun's sake, when will you LEARN?!"

"Lightning, calm down," Dakota snapped. "You don't have to make such a case out of it."

Coriander dared to draw closer. "What's going on here?" she asked.

"Nothing we can't handle," Feather said quickly. "Ranger just used a move we aren't familiar with."

"We were sparring and he hit me a nerve in my shoulder," Desmond said. "Made me lose all feeling in my leg."

Coriander frowned. "Are you okay?"

The steel gray trainee shrugged his shoulders dismissively. "Yeah. The feeling's starting to come back. It was an effective move."

"It was a dirty move," Lightning growled. "I don't want to see you use it again."

"Even if it's a life or death situation?" Ranger countered. "What do you think is more important, your honorable fighting or our lives?"

"Ranger!" Coriander barked sternly. "That's enough. Remember what I told you."

He looked like he was about to say something else, but then he closed his mouth and scowled, turning away.

"Behave," she said. "I want to talk to you later."

His eyes flicked over her shoulder for a moment to where Russell was standing behind her. "Are you sure you'll have time?" he muttered. "You seem awfully busy with your new son."

Coriander's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

Ranger stared at the ground. "Nothing."

Dakota cleared her throat loudly. "Let's get back to it, shall we? See you later, Coriander."

Coriander slowly turned back to the patch of valerian, unsettled by Ranger's words. Was he seriously jealous? Had she been ignoring him lately? Just another thing to talk to him about.

She scooped up the flower stalks in her mouth and began to walk back to the hollow. Russell followed dutifully behind her, carrying some of his own. "Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yes, of course, I'm fine," Coriander replied quickly. "Don't worry about it."

Everything's fine, right?

Another chapter, woo! I'm killin' it right now. Really though I'd like to apologize in advance for the quality of this and any upcoming chapters. I'm doing Camp NaNoWriMo right now so I'm just trying to write as much as I can and trying to not get too meticulous about the quality. I really want to finish the book, so I'm just going to hunker down and do it. I'm just going to spew garbage and revise later. Hopefully, not all of it will be garbage, and I certainly hope you enjoy. Thank you so much for reading and I will see you next time.