She had a tin cup with her and boiled tea. Like we said, Ruby had no fear of bears, but she drew the line at being nuzzled when she was asleep. She liked it better when the bear would call in their sweet voices outside her shelter. Then she would come out and talk with them. Their eyes would twinkle and the little ones would try and climb into her lap.
Little ones do that.
Chamomile showed up just as Ruby began to munch on the deep brown toasted bannock, chomping on a mint-like herb for spice and finishing her hot tea. Ruby sang at the dog. Suddenly Ruby smelt a thick musty odor as Chamomile laid down next to her thigh and put her chin on her knee. The smell was too sweet for an animal. Ruby felt her eyes close and she crawled into the shelter with the two vine blankets she had woven by firelight before making dinner.