It was on the third pup's arrival that Riopat regained hope, heavy paw steps on the sand told her of his arrival, his masculine pine scent shouted it at her and it was all she could do not to get up and run to him. It would hurt far too much to get up. When his face came into view, she gave him a weakened smile, stretching further on her side as he nuzzled and spoke to her. A dream, surely something her mind made up that he was here, she needed comfort, imaginary friends had always helped her in the past. Maybe he was imaginary and this is why she only saw him when she panicked about him being gone. It broke her heart to think she was crazy enough to make an entire pregnancy with him, making a family of ghosts. She made to get up, but pain lanced in her hindquarters, and she slumped back to the ground. It was then that reality struck. This was real, he was really here and she was really bleeding, and really had babies to love and cherish and smother for their whole lives!

She had expected nothing less than for any child of Mortz to be a monster of a pup, but three of them? Only one easy birth, and even she had been difficult. What Riopat had not counted on was being alone for the birthing of their legacy together. With a sad and exhausted sigh, Riopat lay her head on the sand, laying on her side and fawning over the children that had caused her so much pain already. She suddenly clicks into gear when she smells blood in the air, and leaned up, reaching for the bag she had prepared for any mothering needs. First, she rubbed chewed Alder blooms on the area, letting the plant ease the swelling, though it took several applications. She wasn't bleeding badly enough to scare herself. "Just have to stop the bleeding, swelling must be down first. Then cobwebs...can you go find clean cobwebs, Mortz?" She will accept his help, and to his compliments she gave an almost angry, "Thank you, it got difficult right there at the end." It was the first time she had let her hurt feelings show, though she was truly grateful he was with her now. It hurt that he had been gone all winter after what they had done together, she had expected to fawn and love together in their den.

It hurt to think of him with her in the winter, but hurt more to be told second hand where he went. There would be an answer for this, she knew about Vega, he had told her once, but she did not have that tie to anyone any more. Had not looked for one since coming to Glorall, one soul-break was worse than a million heart-breaks, but this...this hurt. Perhaps it was hormones making her paranoid, but perhaps not, what if she had the same litter Riopat did? What if he liked her more and decided not to stay with his mate, and what of her mate? Didn't he say he didn't want her like that, she had a mate? It was her being irrational, but it was still a painful thought nonetheless. How could he go there in winter? Without telling her about it? Leave her alone, to fend for herself and make sure she caught enough rabbits and fish to keep her alive, but she could not stay angry, he had come when she most needed it.