"I will stay behind."

She'd said that. She'd said that a number of weeks ago and she'd meant it, but there was also the matter of grandchildren, and she would be gods-damned (Houtu forgive her) if she would miss this for anything - end of the world or not. Short legs carried her with the swiftness of eagles as she hurried across the landscape, kicking up wads of half-melted snow in her wake with an almost feral look to her eyes.

Grandchildren.

Grandchildren.

Valeska knew she had been created to love and care for children. Other people's children, specifically - two litters on and she felt quite finished with the whole pup-rearing ordeal, but this, this was the tangible fruits of her labor, the great reward for her long years spent desperately trying to raise up eight (mostly) functional adults in the world.

She thought the idea of renting babies was just delightful. You could play with them, coddle them, spoil them, and then hand them back to their parents at the end of the day.

So consumed by her own thoughts, Valeska hardly noticed the passage of time, and suddenly she found herself standing in front of Dimitri heaving like a bellows and thoroughly out of breath. It had taken all of her strength to resist the plagued lake's pull in the Respite, but no force could have kept her behind.

Dimitri, she rasped, throat raw from both the journey and the acidic effects of the plague-water, Of course - haannhhh - I came! I would not miss this - hhaaagghh - for anything!

Valeska staggered forward to wrap her neck around Dimitri's much slimmer one, beaming thoroughly from ear to ear.

You are a parent! Oh, how does it feel? she said excitedly, pulling away. I must see them! May I see them? Oh, I know they must be so beautiful; it runs in the family, you know - my parents were both so lovely, and even despite the terribleness of her own family situation it is clear that Amaranth also hails from attractive lineage - ah, I hope one of them has your eyes, you always had such a beautiful shade of lavender -

She prattled on, and the universe begged her to be stopped.