As this was presently the time when Valeska had been urged to, was resigned to, and completely distraught about the idea of leaving the Respite until the waters had cleared...

... She lingered a little longer in spite of herself.

The morning sun struggled to pierce the heavy cloud-cover overhead, but all that it managed to do was send a few weak, filtered rays down that did little to illuminate the world below. Already the day seemed dreary, while the Respite - a once-bustling community of almost thirty wolves - had become a barren ghost town save for the few who returned occasionally to re-mark the borders.

Valeska was one of them.

The sudden sound of a howl echoed between the empty mountains, and the High Priestess nearly jumped. Who on earth could be here now? With everything the way it was - a visitor? She didn't recognize their voice, but it was her duty to greet them regardless, and so she trotted quickly toward the source of the sound with a sinking heart.

This was no place for -

ЧТО ТЫ ДЕЛАЕШЬ, (WHAT ARE YOU DOING) she screamed at the top of her lungs, the language completely foreign but its intent raw, DO NOT - THE WATER - STOP -

Like a silver bullet Valeska streaked across the field, sprinted down the hill, and headed straight for the figure that lingered at the edge of the lake. She did not slow. She had no intention of slowing. Even if she had, even if she'd tried, she had built so much momentum given the ideal shape of her body - short, low to the ground, aerodynamic (save for a bit of a stout midsection given her advancing years) - the notion of stopping was frankly impossible.

Liss could not drink the water. This would be circumvented by any means necessary, and given how close her lips hovered over the acrid surface of that foul liquid, there was no time.

Diplomacy be damned.

Valeska took a final leap, soaring through the air as would a portly eagle, and aimed to bowl over the stranger as far away from the lake as possible.