Peri walked over to Rachel and took her long time friend's hand. Gavril attached his large wolf frame to Rachel and they followed Peri out. As soon as the doors were closed again Decebel spoke up.

"Are the other packs on their way?"

"Yes," Vasile answered. "I have called Dragomir, Victor, and Dillon. They should be arriving tomorrow or the next day." He took a deep breath, then addressed the rest of his pack. "For those of you who have been holding down the fort, so to speak, I will share with you what has been happening. Then I will let you know who will be staying and who will be returning to the pack mansion. There will be no arguments about this."

"Yes, Alpha," the room spoke in unison.

Vasile gave a brief summary of everything that had taken place, leaving out details of Jen's ordeal, which he didn't feel was the entire pack's business. He didn't go into what Peri and he had talked about regarding Desdemona wanting a healer, because he felt like that was on a need-to-know basis. Once he was finished, he gave Skender and Boain orders to who he wanted to stay and fight, and who he wanted to go back home. As Skender and Boain began to gather those who would be leaving, Peri, Rachel, and Gavril once again joined the others in the meeting room.

"Peri explained to me why she has kept you hidden all these centuries," Vasile told them as they came closer."I'm honored to meet you, Gavril, former Alpha, and Rachel, healer."

Gavril nodded once and Rachel gave a small smile to Vasile and then a larger one to Alina.

Alina agreed with Vasile and hugged them both.

"As much as I would love for us to get so sit and reminisce, there is just too much at stake and so we must move forward."  Vasile paused and looked past Rachel and Gavril. "Sally," he called to his healer, "please join us up here."

Sally looked at Jen and Jacque, who both nodded at her to go. Costin stepped up next to her and took her hand.

"I've got you, Sally mine," he whispered as he lead her to the front. Sally looked behind her to find Jacque and Jen grinning from ear to ear. She just shrugged at them.

Costin pulled Sally to stand in front of him but he did not step away. Vasile raised a single eyebrow at him. Costin simply grinned, showing the dimple in his right cheek, and winked. Vasile shook his head with a slight chuckle and directed his attention to Sally.

"Sally, this is Rachel." Vasile indicated the older healer. "Peri tells me that she needs to speak with you two alone. She also needs to put a stronger cloak over you two because your combined healing magic is like a beacon to the witch."

Rachel stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Sally. "It's such an honor to meet you."

Sally looked up at Rachel when she released her from the hug. "Are you kidding me? I'm just a 17 year old kid. You've got centuries of experience as a healer. I assure you, the honor is mine."

Peri pulled the two ladies along with her as she muttered over her shoulder, "You both should be honoredbecause you get to spend time with me. Now, get over your sweet natures and come with me. We have the demise of a bitch – I mean, witch – to plan"

Jen laughed as they watched Sally and Rachel follow Peri out of the room. "Man, that fairy is my kind of chick."

"What, a mouthy one?" Decebel grumbled as he pulled her tighter to him.

"Don't you know it."

Peri took Rachel and Sally upstairs to a room on the far corner of the tavern, away from where all the wolves had gathered. She turned and looked at both healers.

"Okay, you two. Have a seat." She motioned to two chairs that sat next to one of the single beds in the large bedroom. "We have a lot to cover and not much time. Consider this a cram session on healer history 101."

"So Rachel, I'm sure you are familiar with the story on how the Canis lupis were created, correct?"

Rachel nodded.

"Sally, do you know?"

"We learned a little when we first moved in with Fane's family, but not all of it."

"Okay, I will get you up to speed." Peri went on to explain to Sally all about the Great Luna in the moon, who had decided that humanity was corrupting itself, and how she loved the wolves and wanted to prevent them from extinction, so she joined the human spirit with the wolf spirit.

"Now, you might be asking yourself where the gypsy healer plays into all this. Well, hold onto your girdle, because I'm getting there." Peri took a seat on the bed opposite the two healers and looked over their heads off into nowhere. Her face got that far away look that often slips across someone who is remembering a time long ago.

"Healers came about because the Great Luna wanted her wolves to appreciate the gifts she had given them. The ability to heal quickly, the blessing of children, the completeness of pack. A healer helps keep the harmony within the pack. The gypsy healer can mend injuries or illnesses that a wolf doesn't seem to be able to heal on their own. Also, a gypsy healer guarantees a successful pregnancy."

At that revelation Sally's jaw dropped open. "A gypsy healer can what?" She asked shakily.

"You can ensure that if Jacque or Jen ever get pregnant they will have a healthy pregnancy – one that is carried to term."

"Well, no pressure or anything," Sally muttered.

"Those reasons don't explain why the witch wants to get her hands on one or both of you," Peri continued. "Desdemona isn't truly helping Thad, she's just using that as a front. You see, the blood of a healer is powerful. Witches' magic, death magic, requires blood. There is nothing more powerful to a witch than the blood of a gypsy healer. The goodness and purity that runs in you makes your magic more powerful than any black magic. It's in your very essence. Unfortunately, like so many good things, it can be corrupted and used for evil once it's no longer inside you. That is why she wants you and will do anything to get you."