It was a strange sensation, to have a youngster pressed against her side so firmly, one who stood closer to her height than her body was accustomed to. A dim memory fluttered through her mind, a recollection of a time years in the past, a happier time. She remembered standing on a great open field, young Marius at her side, meeting Masq and little Vasya for the first time. He had huddled against her then, as Sakura pressed against her now, but had conquered his shyness and gone off to play with the little grulla paint filly while she had stood and watched and talked to Masq. Had that really been the last time she'd really talked to her old friend?

But there was no time to recollect on events of her distant past for very long, for she was then moving to heal the pegasus stallion. It was only after, as he spoke up in response to Mirage's questioning and introduced himself and his companion, did the Wild Rose realize that Query had spoken to her. Yes, she had noticed the pale mare's speaking, but hadn't initially registered the change of addressee until now. A smile crossed her features as she glanced back at the mare, but saved her answer to the unspoken question for a slightly later point.

The quiet chortle from Zaffre after Resplendence conquered her nervous fear long enough to take a healer's orders and the dragon's offered herbs drew the grulla mare's attention. Her gaze shifted to him as his inner laughter chimed through the bond, smiling despite herself.

There was no need for her to speak in the wake of the words and introductions of Quilyan, Resplendence, and Serenity, only to listen as Mirage forgave their intrusion into the herd and extended an invitation for them to join. Only in the wake of the Dragonheart's words did she speak up.

"I am the Moon Doctor here, and am known as Smoke the Wild Rose. I would be quite pleased to teach any of you all that you'd like to learn. Herb-craft, and how to wield the Moon's magic to heal to the very promising." Her gaze shifted from Resplendence, to Serenity, to Query, to Sakura. Then it moved to Quilyan, with a little smile. "Those who are not interested can approach one of our Glaziers about learning the crafter's trade, or one of the Wingleaders about becoming a protector. But all are encouraged to learn a little about defending themselves and their comrades, and tending to the hurts of both."

Stepping back to reclaim her earlier position near Mirage with Sakura between them, she continued. "I plan to begin lessons for nurses and acolytes shortly. And to offer lessons to protectors and other interested parties in basic herb-craft."

((posting order is a lie...))