Evening is perhaps the only time he can get Valeska and Amaranth in the same room. And honestly, he doesn't want to bother telling them separately. He'd told Valeska earlier to meet him here, that the news he had to share needed to be shared with Amaranth together. Better to rip this off like a band-aid. Even if he felt bad not telling Valeska right away, as soon as she heard the news, she'd understand why. Wouldn't she?

So, together. Both moms in the same room. And Fiadh here, too. He gives her a cautious glance for support, then gives his moms the most agonized stare. It's good news, really-- even if he's not ready, it's still good news. And yet, he's of the mind that they might get angry at him, because everything he does is something he's afraid people will scream at him about.

"Ah, sorry about. Delaying this," he says first to Valeska. "I really didn't want to tell you without Мать here." And he hopes she didn't spend all day worrying about him. "So uh. I guess this is good news. Very good news. Um." He sucks in his breath. His stomach churns. Are they going to hate him for this?

"Fiadh's pregnant, and uh. We're pretty sure they're mine." His ears flick back. "Like. Short of a divine intervention sure." He's still not sure how sex really does make babies, honestly, so there's still a chance that the Five had a hand in this. "And even if the Five sent them, I'm... going to be raising them anyway. We uh. We won't be leaving in the spring after all."

Honestly, she should have known this was going to happen.

You can't just fool around without consequences forever, and there had been something...different, about the first few times she fucked Dimitri during the tournament, shrugging it off as the festive nature of the funeral.

Who would have guessed Freyr would favor her so quickly? That life would be made from the death of so many?

The early signs had been ignored, but there was no ignoring the wave of unease that hit when she woke up the day before, the feeling of her stomach trying to revolt against moving, her sore legs that she had previously chalked up to exploring the new territory properly....

Fiadh told Dimitri, and left it up to them to tell the leaders, their mothers, to gather the pair together so the two of them could bring the news. She wasn't worried, after all what pack would be upset at new warriors joining their ranks? Especially one woth her proven bloodline, merged with the leaders of this pack, Fiadh had no worries about telling the... high priestesses? She was still wrapping her head around the name for leaders here...wait oh fuck.

Now she was a little worried, the dots have ping ponged around in her brain at just the right angle, connecting just as Dimitri looked at her with that cautious glance before talking to his moms.

Fiadh was carrying potential heirs.

Because thats how packs around in these parts work, right?

Still, when Dimitri finished dropping the news, Fiadh proudly pressed up against their side. So looks like you're all stuck with meeee

The air was frigid, but she hardly minded. As snowfall gradually lessened and the first notes of (slightly premature) birdsong tentatively began to fill the air, it was clear that winter would soon be on its way out. Valeska grumbled to herself, sorry to see it go; she dreaded the warm summer months, and no matter how much fur she managed to shed, it never seemed enough to feel comfortable.

Oh well. Might as well make the best of it.

Taking in a bracing lungful of crisp air, she set out to where her son had requested they meet. It was unusual of him to make such a formal event out of speaking with his mothers - nevertheless, she informed Amaranth that their presence was needed, and they trotted off together across the snow-dusted fields. Dimitri's tall, thin silhouette was easily recognizable against the moonlight, but someone else of heavier build stood close by.

Curious.

Valeska thought she recognized the woman from somewhere. Dimitri waited until she had taken a seat next to Amaranth, tail curled around her haunches, before haltingly delivering the news that was so important it necessitated a formal meeting.

Whatever it was - it was allegedly good -

She did not make the immediate connection of Fiadh's close presence to her son, nor did she wonder why the she-wolf looked particularly concerned for several moments as he struggled through his speech.

The High Priestess was admittedly not the sharpest crayon in the tool box.

It took the full statement for her to register what was happening.

You - she sputtered. Her pupils contracted dangerously. Ты... ты должен стать отцом? (You are - you are to be a father?)

Gold eyes locked with Fiadh's green, then moved sharply down toward her midsection with hawk-like intensity.

Valeska looked back at Dimitri. A strong wind could have knocked them all over.

Then -

Я БАБУШКА! (I AM A GRANDMOTHER) she howled, leaping to her paws and nearly toppling Fiadh over with the force of her exuberance. Panicked, the little wolf let loose a string of apologies as she fussed over her, tail wagging so ferociously it might have hopped off and bounced away of its own accord. After being assured of Fiadh's wellness after the world's smallest bump, Valeska then moved toward her son, circling him several times with wonderment in her eyes. What tremendous news! Oh, congratulations to you both, I cannot wait to meet the little ones -

Of course, putting her foot wholly in her mouth, she asked,

When is the wedding?!

Skill:

---

Where Valeska remained unbothered by the cold, Amaranth's grace froze with a stiff rigidity. Where Valeska was fluid and fluffy, Amaranth was slender and stilt-like, and the ache of her bones was written in the unpleasant, bubbling grimace behind her amethyst eyes.

Eyes as cold as the air.

She could not wait for spring.

But still, her presence had been requested by their eldest son, and where perhaps she would have ignored such requests in the past, she too was turning over a new leaf. For Amaranth was much like the springtime, trying to banish the chill of her heart with the tender green sprouts of newfound feelings and love for her family.

She was trying, at least.

And so Amaranth would sit, golden flank resting beside silver as she awaited her shuffling son and his unknown guest. There was an air of unusual, lilting awkwardness that Amaranth attuned to, her cold eyes shifting between her silver son and his friend as Dimitri danced around some important news. He would dance and dance until he could no longer find his footing — "Fiadh's pregnant, and uh. We're pretty sure they're mine."

Amaranth blinked.

Babushka.

It would seem little Achlys would soon have some cousins.

"So looks like you're all stuck with meeee."

Valeska erupted, a notable glee in her voice as the High Priestess hemmed and hawed. I am happy for you, she began, shifting her gaze toward Dimitri for a moment to offer her son a soft smile. Then, Amaranth's gaze slithered toward Fidah, her usual intensity radiating from behind unreadable eyes as Valeska touted off about a wedding. For both of you. Her gaze softened on her ... daughter-in-law? Will you be staying with us, Fiadh? Her words were friendly, hinting at the warmth of an emotion. Gaze softer than usual, but still unreadable in its entirety.

Remember, she was trying.

---

Neither response is expected, though at least in Valeska's case, Dimitri shouldn't be surprised.

Amaranth's response is surprising, at least. That she's saying something, and not just staring. That she's smiling at him. That there's something in her gaze that isn't so... harsh. So cold. She's still austere, but there's something changed about it. Dimitri still finds her intimidating, but perhaps not as much as usual.

Still, with Valeska's shouts, he's pretty sure the entire rest of the pack knows at this point. And now she's asking something he didn't expect.

Wedding.

His ears flick back, his chest tightening. "I uh. We haven't planned a wedding." It's too soon, honestly. He's not ready to be married. "We haven't... even discussed it..." Hopefully that's not too much of a disappointment? "И я не думаю, что буду использовать слово «отец»... (And I don't think I'll use the word "father"...)" But that's another matter entirely, and he's less concerned about that.

The tackle was unexpected, but welcomed with a laugh as the little silver wolf then spewed out apologies and fussed as if she actually did anything to the much larger woman. Fiadh's own tail was wagging, Valeska's infectious joy, as she asked about a wedding while Fiadh caught Amaranth's gaze and beamed a smile at her as if the intensity didn't bother her none.

Yeah, I'll be staying She answered, at least until the pups were weaned...maybe longer. Certainly until they were trained up to her standards. Dunno about a wedding though, we don't...have those? Where i'm from. If Dimitri wanted one, she was for it, but the concept was as foreign to her as the words Dimitri and their mother spoke.