Not bad, please continue!

No apologies ever! You are making the best choice for yourself - I have no doubt it's very difficult. Your health and happiness are paramount above all else. You are doing the best you can, and that is what matters. We still love your writing, and I for one am GLAD you are focusing on your original fiction! Thinking of you and wishing you well.

You go girl! Your novel is great. Anyone who hasn't started reading it yet, check out the link - you are in for a treat :-D

LOL - The enthusiasm of the wolf-ladies was equal parts adorable and disconcerting.

But this:

"The guard's eyes flicked over the bulge under Gatekeeper's cloak, paused on the small hand that gripped a fistful of the fabric, and passed on without comment."

Incredibly moving, and is an image that just stays with me.

So glad to see you haven't had to abandon this. Stupid hands. ;)

Thanks for picking back up. Your writing is, as always, impeccable.

I saw this chapter was up and saved it like dessert for my bedtime reading. Thoroughly delectable as always! The part about Gatekeeper and the little girl was new, but I recognize the part about the werewolves and their infirmary. Is this from a different point of view? Or is it a new version? Either way, the passage gets me laughing!

So lovely to see a new one! I love the interaction between Swiftrunner and Gatekeeper, and Swiftrunner and Sundancer. So interesting to see them all finding their place.

And the scene with Nightsong is perfect. They are all so eager and naive and there is so much for them to learn.

I liked seeing more of Swiftrunner, in his capacities as emerging human husband and leader. He's quite the likable guy. Gatekeeper's latent paternal tendencies were lovely, and of course you can't help but feel that Nightsong and the others are exactly the nurses any wounded young man would want!

Mm, I was thinking those cookies sounded awesome, and then hey look, a recipe! I might have to make these.

Freida and Gatekeeper make a cute couple :)

I am so glad the puppy is in good hands; I just know it will all work out. And the light hearted bit with the women is a nice relief from all the heaviness.

As always, a REALLY good read!

Just like Firetooth to ignore a little thing light blight sickness! And I love gooshy puppy-besotted Alistair. So cute! Nice to get back to the women of the pack, as well, and see how things are going for them.

What an absolutely *awesome* take on the Dog/child/gift scene! I just loved it.

[jigs up and down excitedly] Go go Firetooth! If it were possible for anyone to singlehandedly winnow away the entire spawn horde, it would be he. And I have a sneaking suspicion about where you're taking his fate. [squints at Wellspring]

.

What a delightfully happy break! This is, after all, what a holiday is about - time off from the wars, the struggles. Thanks for the recipy )

What a sweet interlude - perfect for the holidays! You've converted us to Trappist Cherry Preserves now as a general thing - thanks!

"Her face lit up as brilliant as the summer sun, and she flung herself at him, grabbing fistfuls of his jacket in her sticky little hands and burying her face in his chest. Gatekeeper closed his arms very gently around her tiny shoulders. He raised his head to meet Frieda's gaze, his own eyes shimmering with tears. "Thank you," he whispered."

*sniffle* :)

And thank *you* for this.