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Dear sweet gods above, Raisa thought these whelps might do her in. Her stomach was sensitive inside and out, and though the dizzy-feeling had mostly gone away, she thought it must've all migrated straight to her gut. The swelling orb seemed to bloat a little further each day and she thought that if it asked one more desperate meal of her just to throw it back up she might lose her mind. She wanted such specific things, and even when they found it, that craving only seemed to make her feel so much worse. And gods, her back already! To be fair, nowhere actually specific hurt yet, but that tiredness she'd suffered only seemed to reach bone-deep. She was sore, she'd call it, but not for any reason.
She wondered if she should've felt them move, yet. Sometimes there was a flutter, but by the time she opened her mouth to call Bo over, it was gone again. She supposed if she had to wonder, then it wasn't really proper movement, was it? Surely, she would know a kick to the ribs. Maybe they were too busy dancing on her bladder. If she stopped to pee one more time in the hour, she thought she might really lose her mind.

But the trip was halfway over.

Fate's Respite loomed, the scent-markers strong, and Raisa looked as if she had accomplished something grand by getting here; perched proudly atop a small boulder, tail curled high, chin to the wind. Maybe she was just enjoying the break in the snow! The wolfdog cast her sunset gaze for her mate, smiling. Sometimes he wandered off but not only was he never far, she thought the smell of the pack would keep him close. Raisa understood; it felt good to stretch her legs and be out and about, to have a clear goal and a job to do. Raisa never was so vibrant than when she felt productive! And once this mission was complete, she planned to fuck off and play and have a good time every moment it took to get back home.
She couldn't wait to get to Ichorwood and show him around!

Some small part of her was afraid of how... den-bound she would be, in the next month. How a litter of tiny little mouths would be entirely dependent on her, nurse from her, need her constant attention. It... wasn't going to be like running a pack, she thought, nor even helping Koku raise her brood.
Sometimes, experience didn't make things easier, or less stressful.
So she had to make the most out of now, right?

She jumped down to meet Bo, nibbling playfully at his shoulder before bouncing ahead a few feet.

Last stop, she said, grinning, twisting mid-hop to fling some snow his way, I think you will like Valeska, very sweet woman.

It'd... been a while, since she'd been here. So many of her alliances and friendships had been at the start of her reign, and few of them had she seen properly since. The Northfall Tourney, she supposed, but it'd been so crowded there she could hardly remember who had or hadn't been present.

Without further ado, she tipped her head back and called for the new grandmothers. What a happy reason to be calling at someones borders, right? How wasn't this, just, the best day ever?

The little silver woman was harder to spot than Raisa would've expected; snowy terrain blended with Valeska until she was no more a slip of darker shades and a pair of golden eyes, hiding the High Priestess' approach though her scent was obvious. Raisa was glad when the greeting came, and she shifted to face the older woman, tail waving - just who she'd been looking for! She couldn't recall Amaranth, but there had been mention of two grandmothers, Sreda's Mothers. Should she ask after her? Was it fair of her to not give both of them the fantastic news at the same time?

Valeska received her with warmth, though admitted she couldn't recall her name - to no surprise. Raisa knew several leaders, but it didn't mean she was close friends with all of them! Hell, she hadn't even been back here since the first time.

Since she was helping Zankoku look for Rin, Rinon, and Chisuke. The reminder made her sad, and she couldn't help but hope her kids loved her more than those three hellions had shown their own Mother time and time again; never listening, not respecting Koku, doing anything they could to piss on not just the rules, but their own family. Their own futures. Maybe leaving was just what Koku and her family did and Raisa never stood a chance.

Raisa, the Sapphire Tigress rumbled happily, smile wide, Raisa Rodion. It has been a while; much has changed since I last came bidding for allies.

Congratulations? Raisa's beam only widened. For certain they were, just not all for her.

She motioned towards her quiet companion: Bogart , my mate.

She didn't want to force him into speaking. She glanced to him, smiling warmly, and offered a moment of quiet in case he had something to say -- but for worry of him feeling pressured, she was eager to sweep the attention back to the mission at hand.

Thank you, Valeska. My people and I joined forces with Northfall to keep them strong, but I've found happiness beyond what leading ever could've offered me. She glanced to Bo again, tail waving high, and then back to Valeska. Her voice dropped, not to the point anyone couldn't hear her but intentionally dramatic, as if she was afraid fate itself -or, perhaps, the pups- would overhear: I would be lying if I said I was not just a bit nervous about parenthood. Still, she was smiling. It was a worry she would bear with pride, because if she wasn't afraid of messing up, she didn't think she was doing a good enough job. A good Mother should worry about her babies; their wellbeing, their relationships with family, what they grew up learning, who they grew up to be! It was her job to guide them, teach them, show them their options.

But I am not the only one with news of new life, she cleared her throat, hardly able to bear it any longer. Will Amaranth be joining us today? I've news --good news-- from Northfall for the two of you.