Skill:

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Valeska +/- Dimitri ; AW for Avon

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The warmth of the summer was fading, and the atmosphere would harshen as Sreda made her way northwest, traversing the familiar path toward Avon. This time, however, Sreda knew that her path would carve further, beyond the Ichor Fields ... as she would then press further North into the land of the Blood-Breathers. Perhaps, if she was lucky, she too would become a Viking too, much like her Red-Brother Alder.

Plus, if she needed to prove herself, she would be fine pushing his face into the dirt to do so.

But that was not for today.

Today was a day destined to let her family know of her intentions. Her Мать held so much worry lately that it was sickening, really. Мать worried far too much — it was bad for her aging complexion. As a result, Sreda did not wish to add more burden to poor, poor Мать's shoulders (at least not today).

Whoever chose to greet her today would be sufficient. It was a simple message she was here to deliver. She would, at least temporarily, be leaving the home that she'd had for the past three years. She would, at least temporarily, be chasing a Viking Queen into the North on a strange mission to both fortify their home and discover more about the Plague that was destroying the lands of Mythris.

Sreda slowed at the borders, crossing them with a polite and curt wuff as her tufted ears curled forward in search of any of her family.

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The High Priestess lingered, ghost-like, in the small pine forest between Fate's Respite and where the Kingdom of Avon called home. It was a spiritual matter as much as it was emotional for her; the Respite was where she had enjoyed the privilege of seeing Elysium flourish, of forging bonds with fellow packs, where she had laughed and wept and raised her children, so how could she be expected to leave?

True, the plague had lifted to a degree, but it was still unsafe if the only drinkable water was just a slightly lower grade of battery acid.

It was on this day that Valeska chose to venture directly into the heart of the Blushed Meadows, hoping to distract herself with the tantalizing promise of grandpup interaction and seeing her son again. He seemed to be doing much better of late; less tormented than usual, and speaking of far fewer visions of ill portent as compared to months prior. Perhaps it was the necessary focus that childrearing brought that had quelled his terrible dreams.

Yes. Children would do that to a body.

Valeska happened to arrive at precisely the same time as Sreda had decided to make a surprise visit, and she might have wagged in delight at the sight of her daughter if it didn't hurt so much. Ever since Pinesprings had bitten the everliving shit out of her tail, the wound had never truly managed to heal - it didn't help that, once or twice, in her profound ignorance, she dipped her rump into the acidic waters of the Respite in an attempt to 'cleanse' the wound. She was no medic, but if memory served, pain upon application of tonics and herbs was a good thing. It meant it was working.

(It was not working.)

And so the wound festered, and Valeska's tail did not wag, but she smiled so broadly the motion was implied.

Sreda! she said. Всегда приятно тебя видеть. Я до сих пор не могу поверить, насколько ты и остальные выросли.. (It is always wonderful to see you. I still cannot believe how much you and the others have grown.)

Stealing a glance toward the Blushed Meadows, the silver wolf could hardly wait to see her son's silhouette appear on the horizon. Sometimes she still couldn't believe it; Dimitri! A proud parent!

I was just coming to visit the grandpups. How have you been?