Amaris looked between the mares, trying to discern their expressions, their poker faces, their bluffs. Was it some kind of joke? Was she being reprimanded for breaking a rule she did not know of? Was she being summoned here, to a private meeting with the queens of her home only to be asked to leave it?

Anxiety played the questions on repeat in her mind, a dull thrum, a bland and numbing recording. You've done something horrendously wrong; you've brought shame to the herd; you're a disgrace, a monster; you must leave… Dramyrth, alarmed by this, dropped immediately to her withers and began playing with her mane in his dextrous clawed paws. The movement, his presence, both physical and upon her very soul, soothed her, settled her unshackled thoughts, brought her back to the present.

Lyanna spoke first, toying with the dragonmare's emotions once more, though once she belatedly realises the jest, she relaxed again. Though Amaris was slightly confused by the mention of a hidden talent, she softened slightly, nodding as if to indicate her readiness for more information to be divulged to her from Alysanne as Lyanna shifted the responsibility of further words to the painted queen.

"It is an honour to earn his esteem," Amaris commented softly about Hemlock and his apparent 'fondness' for her, genuinely pleased by this more than anything else. To earn the owl's regard was something she honestly treasured, for being half dragon herself, she always thought it would mean he might avoid her, and that in turn might lead Alysanne to avoid her - she was well aware of the influences that bondmates could have on their counterparts' feelings.

As she listened raptly to the rest of their plans, their requests, she went through a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions.

Surprise, that they might consider her suitable for a ranked position, was her initial response. Confusion, as she tried to understand their logic, to discern their way of thinking that let them to believe this to be a suitable resolution. Fear, for what if she accepted this, and made a mockery of herself, of the healers? What if she was unwelcomed by her rankmates, shunned, turned away, for being a lowly philosopher then seemingly promoted to a position above them?

Healer, she thought curiously, tasting the word, repeating it to herself. She had held a rank before, she had risen to the next tier of command before, and the responsibility had scared her at the time - but that was many years ago now, in a past life where the Throat was her home. Amaris was a different mare now, a fully grown adult, with a bondmate, with magic, with more of an idea of a purpose than before - could that purpose now be put into focussing on healing?

"I…" she began, before shaking her head lightly as if to resettle the tumultuous thoughts within. "Thank you," she finally managed, and with a smile upon her maw, she found her words. "I want nothing more than to help our herd, to ensure it remains strong and wealthy. I appreciate you asking this of me, and I want to accept, only.."

She couldn't deny her fear of knowing the others in this rank class by face value only, and the idea of being thrust into the middle of them holding a rank magic and authority they did not unsettled her.

"I need lessons, a great many of them, no doubt. I need to know who it is I might be sharing this rank class with, and whether they will support my joining their ranks or resent it. I know the shift in ranks not so long ago took two healers to other areas-" she paused, with a kind, knowing smile to Lyanna, "- and I'd be lying if I didn't admit I thought it unsettling to have so many in the Wise one ranks." She had raised it with Isopia, but the conversation was lost on the mists, a midnight discussion that was more a fleeting idea, a lost comment, than anything else.

Amaris