She watched the kaiila carry its rider from the camp accompanied by guards. She was too far from the camp for them to notice her watching, which was as she wanted it. She didn't want any to see the emotions that swept over her face as she watched, and she certainly did not want the woman riding away to know just how sad she was to see her go. Having never known family till now, she was very protective of one she was now a part of, and seeing one of her family leaving cut into her very deeply. She knew with all certainty that they would see each other again, but it did not change the feeling of loss she felt now. When they had finally ridden out of sight, she turned Ghost and moved off in a different direction. The day had dawned as any, but with a new change for the healer. When she went to dress, her breeches which were snug by design, were so much so that she had to finally put on one of the many beautiful dresses made for her by her daughter, Aponi. The dress was cut so that she could still ride without the garment sliding up, and it fit nicely, conforming to her newly changing figure. After slipping into the dress, she ran her hands over her belly, feeling the changes and smiling. No more flat belly, now it was rounding out noticeably. She knew what to expect being with child, and the changes would not be so gradual in a woman her size. Her mate seemed not to mind these changes, in fact many times she had awakened to find his hand curled protectively over her belly and this made her happy. He seemed excited to know he would soon be a father again, and thankfully he was not the kind to restrict her movements or activities too much. She herself was at the pinnicle of happiness. She wanted this child so much. She did not have the same fears now that she had with her other two, and this child she would not hide or push away, afraid that getting too close would somehow cause their deaths. No, this child would not be left without a father, and she would not be left alone to raise it. It was not that she hadn't loved her other two..to the contrary, she loved them like life itself. That was why she had made the decisions she had when they were young, to protect them from what she could only call the black cloud that seemed to follow her like a shadow. As unreasonable at it sounded, she had spent most her life under the illusion that she was somehow tainted by this cloud. Both parents dead, then her mate dying had caused this feeling, and when she was left with the two small infants, she placed them away from her to keep the same fate from happening to them. So, this new life growing within her, was a new start. She no longer felt that the cloud followed her. She was so proud of Jai, and her happiness at having his child was more than she could express.