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A croaking howl rang out through the Respite, and everyone knew it was Valeska.

She sounded like shit.

Out of everything she'd ever been through, several instances stood out from all the rest. The first was Narcissa's disappearance - subsequently followed by her return with an enormous gash taken out of her delicate shoulder. She never had gotten to sink her fangs into the bastard who'd marred her precious daughter, and it was unlikelier still given how much time had passed since.

Regrettable.

The second was losing the triplets, how fate had ripped her away from the last world, the previous Fate's Respite, and thrust her into this strange land of Mythris while taking her pregnancy from her. It hadn't even been a miscarriage; there had been no blood, no traumatic biological process to mark the event.

She had arrived, and they simply had not.

Valeska was inconsolable. Against all odds, however, this was a place of magic, a magic more potent than any other realm she had thus far encountered - and it was by Amaranth's intuition they were led to the Great Tree, that enormous landmark at the center of Lake's Halo where they had found the skeletal remains of two lovers locked in an embrace until the end of time itself. They had felt compelled to leave something for them, a token in honor of their bond, and by morning the pair were woken by the sound of a pup's whimper.

Three pups.

Mythris had returned that which it had taken from them.

The third was more recent. Nemean and Fleetwood's deaths had come as a shock to them all, but Valeska had taken it particularly hard - for in a way, it was her fault. If she hadn't chosen to hold onto Fate's Respite with such selfish resolve, staying far longer than was wise or sensible out of misplaced hope, perhaps they might still be alive; and Pinesprings and his siblings wouldn't have had to endure such terrible loss...

She could wallow in guilt later. It was time.

As the remaining members of Elysium slowly trickled in, Valeska could see from their hollow-eyed faces that she was not the only one suffering. As they looked back at her, she felt a crushing sense of shame and agony - agony that she had done this to them. They had stayed out of faith and trust in her decision, and how had that repaid them?

Pain. Suffering. Hunger and an unquenchable thirst.

Dimitri appeared from the shadows and took his place next to her, his tall, thin frame a welcome and familiar sight. She tried to offer him a smile, but it felt forced given the circumstances; instead, all she could manage was a gentle nod of acknowledgement as her shoulders sagged.

Might as well get on with it.

It is far too late now, she rasped, struggling to raise her voice so it could be heard. For this announcement. It is also far too late for Nemean and Fleetwood, and I bear that sin.

The silence that followed made her want to vomit.

It is because of my selfishness - my pride - that I have stayed behind at the Respite, regardless of the plague that now pours out from our own waters, she continued. And you have stayed because of me. Whether from love or loyalty, you have stayed behind with me, and the pride I would have taken in this is overshadowed by the stench of death.

Valeska forced herself to continue.

Until the plague has passed, Fate's Respite is... uninhabitable. We cannot stay here any longer.

The words fell from her lips like petals from a withering flower, and she could almost see Nemean and Fleetwood staring back at her through the gathering.

Dawnbreak are close, and reside in Frostfang Vale to the west. They have always been our allies; I cannot think they would turn us away, she said. Dimitri, also, has something he wishes to say on the matter...

With that, Valeska took several steps back and allowed him to speak.