{4584 before the authors note. with continual thanks to Khalthar. in other news I've made it a year here in Texas! Yay me!}

Luna woke in the morning to the feeling of her kindred all being at home in the warehouse. It was quite unusual. She smiled before she even opened her eyes. Today was her hunting day with Raw. She was indecently excited. Dark Knives was also attending so it should be easy to bring home enough for everyone to eat safely. Her wristlet pinged with a Message from Dawn's Fire just as she was stuffing grain mash into her face for her breakfast. The hologram of the plant that offered edible nut growths with its edible parts and non edible parts clearly being labled, was shiny and clear.

Luna grinned as she added it to the information cells on her wristlet. Many such holograms now had space in her data storage. Dawn's Fire had been as devoted to her training bits as she would be to her own pups, or any other pups in the Clan. Any knowledge she asked for from the greater mother or any she could think to wish for on some occasions, flowed directly to her with hardly any asking.

Today's excursion took them out of the opposite gate that they would find themselves going to for their normal exit to the food jungles. On this side the growth was very wild and unruly and not very many obvious paths existed. Just seeing it that way made it Luna's new favorite place on her adopted homeworld. Outside of that there were also several rivers displaying themselves from commonly available satellite data. They would have the fish of this orb, which Luna had found to be nearly her size in length and about the weight of Raw and Jayden put together. They provided a lot of food, because head, tail, and guts out they were still a wall of muscle on each side without any legs to get in the way.

"Fishing spots likely? Here then. Take your bait jars and pack them carefully. You will probably use the full one and fill them all if our luck holds out for the day."

Luna smiled at Raw and packed as he suggested. She also took several bags made of thin mesh that would balloon out to hold nearly twenty of the fruit orbs that often grew in the food jungles. Those she favored and she figured the mesh was small enough that it would hold even very small nut growths. The hooks she had crafted out of twisted wire and bone bits that would hold the baits and secure the fish. The wire was the same used to string big prey animals up for cleaning and eating off of on hunts. Dark knives mandible grinned at her and put several extra coiled bits of it in his much bigger bag. Everyone so far felt like their luck was in and this would be a successful hunt. This made Luna happy.

They spent the entire day wandering around, finding the nut like plants, which tended to only grow in groups of three or four in an area, but once Raw ate one he was very determined to find more. They were delicious, and would go famously well with chocolate or mashed onto sandwiches with fruit preserves in the form of nut butter. She would also make some raw Nut butter for Raw. He would prefer it that way of course. She had been astounded yet again by Golden Blades, in that he had successfully advised Raw that occasionally eating cooked foods would prove advantageous in later hunts. He had specifically used the argument of making unsafe foods safe to eat with fire. Raw had accepted it because as anyone would tell you, Golden Blades did not attempt to change you in any way unless your way was hurtful to you and others. It was all the others trying to always force cooked food on him for their own convenience and nothing else that had so enraged Raw. Raw maybe getting sick or hurt by bad food would sadden Luna and even his newly companionable brother of the hunt Dark Knives. They had become closer allied ones as time went forward and they all modified the warehouse together.

The fish roast was going to be so delicious. Luna was salivating at the thought. They came through the gates. Then Luna saw something familiar from the time before when Dawn's Fire had been heavy with Zen's twin pups. A burdened Yautja female was sitting at the fountain looking for all the world as if her favorite Yaut Hound had just died. Luna sighed, braced herself in her mind to lose all the food she had for herself and have to go back out again, then went to see to the poorly seeming female.

This one was Moon Grace. Moon Grace was a very pretty peach mottle on top of a cream colored skin that had little dapples of white here and there. She was also gravid heavily with twin pups, and looked to have not been eating as well as she might have been supposed to.

"Dark Knives? Doesn't the male help sometimes when the female has an awful pregnancy or a difficult one?"

"Normally so Luna. I think I recall though that this was Moon Grace's first mating for pups, and that her mate then went and met the Black God on a Hunt."

"Oh icky no good. Pretty Lady, Blesssed by Paya, loved by all, would you like some fish?"

Moon Grace was so happy to have something to eat. It turned out that her inner ear, and thus her balance and throwing skills were off entirely. That and it hurt to move ever since her hips had separated for space for the pups.

"Is your mother not helping though? I thought mommas supervised first pregnancies for their daughters?"

"She is having a difficult pregnancy of her own this time warrior. I could not ask it of her any more then what I have. I have a safe place to sleep and someplace to prepare foods that I get. It is just so hard to get anything. The pups are so good. They like everything they get their little suckers on, not like some who say certain things and smells make them ill when they have pups in them. But getting that everything is the problem with this whole health woes of mine."

"Raw, go to the warehouse. Bring everyone. Tell them to kit up ridiculously for as much food gathering that is even remotely legal. This lady is starving. If Twisted Vines is there bring him too. He will be able to advise us further and his medical overrides may be needful to get her enough food. Move like lightning lit your backside!"

"Going!"

Raw could run. He had always been able to run fast enough to run down small prey as a child and now it would prove useful and keep Luna from being disappointed in his performance. She could have sent Dark Knives, but she did not. He stayed with her as was required by whatever strictures kept her safe. Ordinarily with a nice female she would have been beyond reach of anyone. Yet with Moon Grace's problems it was wise for Dark Knives to stay on hand.

He got back to the warehouse in one third the time to find it actually quite crowded. Zen, Twisted Vines, Hammer, Mountain, and Elder Zetu were all present and discussing what information had come back about the success of the Grimms in reintegrating into their society as a whole. That would have been interesting, but he had no time for it. Luna would want to know later but it was not for the moment at hand.

"Twisted Vines. There is a situation with a very gravid female over by South Gate. Come along. Everyone else, Luna has also asked you kit up and get ready to gather an immense amount of food. She used the words "Barely Legal." I'd say that means we will even need to invite you as well Elder Zetu. The poor dear thing is without her mother's or her mate's help this time around, and it's her first set of pups. Luna swears she is starving, and she was looking at her with her mask settings when she said it to me. So let's go fast please!"

"Warrior Raw, I will go as fast as I can gather my medical supplies. You say she is starving. That means we need the nutrient injections. Also pack up everything we were just eating and bring it. I will meet you all at South Gate. I am gone. Elders."

With a bow in the direction of Zen and Zetu, Twisted Vines jumped up and straight ran out of the warehouse. Mountain was already laying out a huge kit, and handing things forward to the Elders and Hammer. They had minor weapons on them at all times, wrist blades and the like, and Mountain simply kitted them out from his own supplies. The unspoken command to pay back for anything you broke was obvious. When he started handing Raw things also and an extra pack, Raw did not hesitate to accept. Finally they had enough of carrying devices, wire strands, jars and buckets, to meet their immediate liking. Zen and Zetu had both also wrist commed someone as had Hammer.

"We will have Iron's younger brother Bright Blood, and his cousin with us as soon as they can kit up. They have been told to seek Luna. Bright Blood has met her and proven to be kind to her so he will not prove a threat to our little Clan sister. That and he will want to strut in front of this lady Moon Grace."

"Excellent Hammer. Elders Burning Wind, and Lost Rivers will come also. They were very distressed to hear that a female with pups was not being helped well enough to be anything other then happy and healthy."

"My own brothers, Heart Crusher and Serpent Blades will be with us also as they had arrived on planet with stocked kits."

"Let us proceed then. Come Hunters Raw, Mountain, Hammer. We must also be gone."

Moon Grace ached as she had since the hip separation. Yet finally for a minute or so, her Pups were getting what they needed and nutrition was flowing from her stomach into her womb and strengthening them. She was even able to put some of it towards her own achy hungry state, and there was yet more available. The human huntress had proven her loyalty to the Clan and her honor many times, from what had been said about her to Moon Grace by others, yet here she was also proving her good qualities as a female whom cared for others in gentleness. She was handed yet another strip of bite wide fish from the one Luna was cutting off the large hunk she had been slicing for her since the other human ran for help. He'd seemed fast for what she knew of humans.

"Your companion who went for others to help. He was very fast."

"Raw, called that because until Golden Blades convinced him otherwise, he would not eat cooked food, has been through a lot. It strengthened all his prey acquisition skills to the limits his body could hold when he was a pup, and even more now that he's a grown human. He went on his Chiva on purpose, even though the Clan said to him that what happened when we came was sufficient enough. He simply did not accept any such thing was sufficient because he did not wish any form of charity because others felt our treatment in that place was unacceptable and low grade. Mind you it was, but that was not anything Raw wished to profit from. So yes he can run, because as a young one, his mutations caused his parents to ditch him in an underpopulated area so they would not be caught and flee. Then he had to do for him self until much later. Luckily his mutations also advanced his growth cycles and development. Otherwise he would not have been capable enough yet and died from their abandonment as they intended. So he can run very quickly in order that he may eat, and it does prove to have other uses when things arise."

"Abandoned as a pup? How old was he?"

"Four I believe, although he wasn't sure at the time. They called him seven when they found him, after analyzing his development, which of course means it most likely is inaccurate for a mutant like one of us. Yet Raw accepts it and so do we because there is no other way, short of finding his parents, to find out for sure when he was born and even his birth name. I won't say real name. Luna accepts when others choose their name, and Raw chose to be Raw. That is good enough."

"I can not imagine to abandon a pup, and after four of the planet's season cycles? He would have been very attached to his Dam and Sire, and any other siblings. I hope that all is not as dark now in his realm as it was back then."

"No. The Clan of the Star shone a light in all our lives, and did not make me leave even my Killer Kritika or my Basket Case Jayden behind. I loved them and they were ill treated too in order to make me behave so they wouldn't be hurt. So the Clan called them forth too, and thus we are here now, all of us with a new family and more loved ones than we ever hoped to have."

"Treating the mad and the ill with kindness and proper care is the very least of honor's foundation. I am glad you have come to those with honor who would help you as you help others, with all their might."

"Their might is considerable. This Luna is sure you are about to determine that for yourself Lovely Moon Grace. Here comes my family now."

Zen was in the lead. Moon Grace had heard of this Elder of their Clan but not met him in person. He was amazing to see move, and he was leading several other Elders along with him. Right behind him, running fast but not at pace due to his shorter legs, was the human Raw. The other Elders had stopped when he did so as not to run the human over.

"Luna! We came to introduce ourselves and bring the Elders to Moon Grace's side for this matter before we go out into the jungles. Twisted Vines went for nutrient shot vials and other kit before he will come along."

"Good. I am giving her all the fish she can hold for now, it seemed the easiest to digest meat. Are you willing to give up your edible nuts?"

"Well duh of course! She needs them and her babies need them. I just kinda wanted them. She is total priority right now Luna. You shouldn't have even had to ask, but I'm kinda glad you did. I'm going to let Zen over ride me and go in again right now."

Moon Grace watched the human get logged into the food jungles with priority overrides for hunting for a gravid female. All Elders and all breeding females usually had the codes, but her mother had yet to register hers when everything went so wrong. She wished for her own mother right then very strongly. Yet her Dam was with her Sire waiting to see if her newest siblings would even live to see the outside of the womb. So she sat in fear, alone until this moment of time.

"Luna I have arrived and I brought Dawn's Fire with me to assure appropriateness as all the female healers of womb and birthing were in surgeries or deliveries today."

"Wonderful, Wise, Dawn's Fire! Luna had hoped she could get your help for Lovely Lady Moon Grace. Her own mother is having a hard time with her latest pups too, so Luna wants to go but could not leave to hunt more for both until Luna was sure a female was here to comfort her and protect her from foolishness."

"Protect her from Foolishness? Ah because so many males are around they might act up a bit if they get overworked around the hormones. You are right to think it, as was Twisted Vines. Good job both of you. Yes Luna I will oversee this with Zen and the other Elders while you hunt. I will put in your code for you. Then you may go. I have put in the requirements and limits even for these hunts that you may know them. The pings should be arriving...now."

The Wristlet the human was wearing triple pinged and displayed automatically when the human held it out to an angle for it to do so. The limits of each creature and plant were displayed, and it was noted that anything acquired before the overrides was not counted against a legal bagging limit for all acquisitions. The limits were vast seeming to Moon Grace. She had never before seen them or had cause to seek the information. She had a lot to learn still, between now, and when her next batch of pups was put in her belly.

"The set of circumstances has been unavoidable before this moment Moon Grace. With Luna, Zen, Zetu, and the others allied with them on the case, neither your mother nor you shall lack for anything in the next while, or I have sadly miscalculated my second most favorite mate and his allies. It is a thing I think I am unlikely to do at this point."

"Of course not Dawn's Fire. It really would seem that many competent hunters have come to help me. I am blessed by all the gods for certain."

"Yes you are dear one and it will only flow outwards from you and through you at this point. Mostly because our precious Clan member Luna is a catalyst. She brings about change, serves others, honors all with her gifts, even many who do not deserve it or swear they don't anyways. She is a cause for upset but not always negative, and often most positive upset. By even changing one hunter's thinking she advanced our Clan hugely. By changing so many of their hearts so vastly she has granted The Star much grace straight from the gods. For now though I will sit surety for Twisted Vines and he will give you an exam and the nutrient injections to help the pups."

Moon Grace had had much cause to fear healers of late. They had poked and prodded and tried to reset her hip alignment and hurt her so much that she nearly cringed at the thought of yet another attempt at fixing her woes. Apparently the healer was vastly wise, for he saw the almost flinching state of her being and began to purr very deeply along excellent resonance lines. Soon she was calm as a night without moons, nearly in a state of waking sleep. Dawn's Fire offered her a hand and she took it, then the scans and treatments began that could be done publicly without scaring any pups or citizens who might wander by.

Finally after some time, which she was uncertain of how much exactly, went by, He finished the last injection and trilled at her to alert her he was done.

"Wicked Moons should see to you at once for the hips. I am not by myself strong enough, and only Luna and perhaps Zen or Mountain could correct it by mean force otherwise. Wicked Moons can sooth it and then pop it back with greater ease then it would present to someone else."

"I have been trying to get in to see her. My own mother did recommend her. However Wicked Moons has been vastly busy of late."

"I will message her and see if she can open a spot for your procedures in her very near calendar. I will tell her if you grant me permission, what has been happening with this mess that you may perhaps be bumped ahead of healthier patients who can surely wait a little."

"You should tell her I suppose, but not for that reason, simply so she may have full facts and I can be treated at the time she may treat me with proper levels of medicines and joint adjustments that take my weakened state into account. I know I am practically powder at this point from them taking from my bones. It would not take much to hurt me very badly and perhaps kill the pups. You needn't keep that information from me. I can and do bear it each day."

"If you know your weakness why not see your Birthing Healer? You have one yes?"

"Yes. Ten Daggers has been My Birthing Healer. May all gods bless her. Yet she did not listen and caused much pain the last three times I went to seek help for the hip displacement. I refuse to go again until she can listen when a mother speaks."

"No wonder. Much has been said of late of Ten Daggers. I fear for her health to be truthful. She needs Golden Blades sooner rather then later if she doesn't listen to mothers when they speak. How else may she know their hearts and their woes? What would you have of me else Moon Grace? I will serve in whatever way you need until all is well again."

"More food of course. I will eat like ten hounds until I can be delivered of these and like twenty after if my mother is to be believed. Also will you introduce me personally to Wicked Moons? It would aid me most greatly to be made into her acquaintance and made known to such a respected Healer as she."

"Of a certainty honored mother Moon Grace."

The healer gave her another helping of fish flesh and handed her a handful of the growths that came from one of the many edible plants in the food jungle. The growths were rich and dense with nutrients and fats she normally would have skipped, but that were perfect for those under nourished and also for those growing pups. Moon Grace sighed and continued to eat. Once he was satisfied she would obey Dawn's Fire and that Dawn's Fire would also insure she hydrated and did not struggle around too much with her displaced hips, he too logged into the food jungles and departed from sight.

Luna was starting to get tired and it was well past dark when she returned to her access point from the farthest point out that she had ever been in the food jungles. Her newly met Clan sister had needed her today. So instead of the joyous comforts of her close loved ones, she had sprinted ahead, done as much as was legal and a few things that if questioned she would pout and not answer about, and even stretched her capabilities a bit this time to help. She had however, done most of her days work alone. This made her very grouchy.

She had been hungry herself for a while now, but knew that unless she ate a raw animal she would not be eating until well into the night. This too added to her frustration. Then she saw Moon Grace again, and shook off her put out feelings. The poor thing was practically in tears from pain. She had to go to Wicked Moons sooner rather then later. Even though her own association with the women's issues healer had been minimal, Wicked Moons had granted her the right to contact her any time she felt that it was needful she do so. Luna very much felt that it was needful right then. She carefully composed her message, explaining in the briefest manner what had happened, but taking into account her scans with her mask and its settings at the time and offering up that information as well.

The response, though obviously weary, was immediate. Wicked Moons would come and help them with Moon Grace. Luna settled the things she had brought to Moon Grace and for Moon Grace's Mother, Blade Grace, on a cart that one of the Elders had provided for such uses. Grateful to be free of the burden of the immense weight, easily six times her own mass, Luna dropped next to Moon Grace and informed her and Dawn's Fire that Wicked Moons was on her way to the very spot, so Moon Grace should eat some more and continue to rest.

Dawn's Fire looked at Luna and ordered her to join in eating the food around them.

"But Sweet Lady Dawn's Fire! That is Moon Grace's and Blade Grace's food!"

"It is for those that are under nourished and in need, and you are still deficient in many things Luna. What you can hold in your belly will not in any way diminish the supply so vast that these Elders of our Clan and these fine Hunters have gathered. It would not do so to even to that which you brought your own self. Eat Pup, EAT!"

Luna obeyed without further question, taking some meat that someone had fried on a portable cooker and swallowing it down with a glass of some fruit juice brought by Elder Zetu. Said Elder was soon back at their side with even more foods from the jungles, and he seconded Dawn's Fire's statement.

"Indeed Luna you will need to eat heartily, more so then perhaps you would if you only sought to maintain yourself, for many years as it is gains in muscle mass, organ health, and in function and capability that you seek. Do not deny yourself what you need. This Zetu would be most displeased if you were to do so."

This last was said with an outright saucy wink that acknowledged that the Elder had been slightly mocking her speech patterns. Luna looked at him aghast for a moment then began to laugh and laugh and laugh until tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes and she had to catch her breath.

"Honored Elder Zetu! That was most awful of you, and terribly funny. Luna says great job!"

Wicked Moons chose this time to arrive where they were and go right to the side of Moon Grace.

"Luna. I had some doubt as to what you determined, as your mask does not have medical settings like mine does, and Twisted Vines did not wish to inconvenience me so he did not firmly state the case. That is a thing you will not do again MALE if you wish to maintain the status you have now. Yet you, Luna, were right to call upon me. I will need your help and that of this foolish male to get Moon Grace back to my workrooms. She needs the special table that I have so she may lay face down and still receive a massage without endangering the pups."

"Yes Wise Healer Wicked Moons. This Luna can be counted upon for her new Sister Moon Grace at all times. Let's go faster, the sooner she is out of pain, the happier this Luna and all of us will be."