Summary: Akela experiences her first period.

"I'm bleeding!"

Normally, a cry coming from Akela, claiming she was bleeding, would have made Geralt's heart pick up speed more than ever before. Even now, as she came rushing towards him, her face the epitome of fright, he felt his insides do a little flip. But when his head snapped up and his eyes did their routinely swift check of any visible injury, he prepared himself. Mentally.

She would have bowled him right over if he hadn't bent down a little and grasped her little shoulders, stopping her in her tracks. She wasn't even crying, but he doubted it would stay that way. "Where?" he asked.

She struggled for words, mouth opening and closing like a goldfish, and he nodded to himself. Right. He'd been anxiously waiting for this for a good while. Her increased emotions and crabby attitude all week had been the first sign to what he'd learnt of girls' periods. And he said learnt, because he'd been digging up what he could since she was old enough for this kind of maturity. Really, he should have told her about it before she came screaming to him, but he was a Witcher, and to be perfectly honest, he just hadn't known where to start.

"Okay, Akela," he said, "calm down for just a moment."

"But I'm bleeding, Geralt!"

"I know you are, but it's okay."

Akela blinked at him. "It's okay?" she asked, obviously confused.

"Yes. You're experiencing what every young girl does at your age."

"Bleeding?" Her little voice caused him to sigh, and he sat down, pushing her to sit in front of him.

"It's a sign that you're growing into a woman," he said, the words sounding a little forced, which they were, but at least he was doing the job. "You'll bleed like this for a few days every month-" He wanted to add an "I think" onto the end of that but figured it'd only confuse her more- "and it's nothing to worry about. We'll go into the village today and get some supplies."

Akela glanced down at her little hands, clearly absorbing it all in. "I'll bleed... forever?"

"Every month."

"For the rest of my life?"

"Uh, yes."

"Geralt! I don't want it!"

"Okay, well-"

"Take it away from me!"

"Akela, I-"

"I'll stay a little girl forever! I don't have to be a woman!"

He was in for a long one.