[In case you cannot read her speech font, the text is scroll over to print <3]

I lift my head for what seems like only the third time in just as many weeks. This litter had exhausted me, coupling the journey from Diveen to home with the pains and hardships of labor. I had not expected to begin my whelping on foreign soil, but it had happened. Sleep had overtaken me after my father, daughters and the healer came to see me and the new princes and princess of Asteraia. Malikye had surprised me in his request, that he wished to see what I had deemed worthy to give life to. He was a wolf of his word, I trusted him to do as he said he would do, after all when he promised to rip my hide he always kept his word. It was the odd light of softness in his icy gaze, a tenderness he had never looked at me with - at least not that I ever saw.

It has been three weeks since I had been able to truly get out and about in the pack. I had gone to see Seline, how she and her litter had fared in the throes of maternal pain. Eric greeted me and Rayen was there with them, so I left my gift and went back to the three little wolves I had birthed. They did not do much else other than crawl about the den and feed off of me, but still there was a deep affection for them. There was an intense need to see that each of them succeed, and the only way to get them to do that was to teach them how to do that. In this litter there were none who failed to answer my calls, none ran into anything they didn't need to any longer. They were strong, mobile in clumsy strides, and often ravenous; which made me rather proud to be honest. Healthy princes and a princess for their father to meet.

As if he knew, I hear the baying call of the male I wish to call my own. He follows me almost everywhere, this is our second litter together, and I am fiercely possessive of him as he is of me. It is high time I take him as my official mate, the Dread Father of Asteraia would unite in blood and bond with the Night Mother. I give a short rallying bark to the little ones, white tail waving in pride and excitement as I watched the white, red and black bodies of my youngest children gather about my paws. "Come little ones, your father wishes to see you. Be strong, show your true selves, and nothing will happen.""Come little ones, your father wishes to see you. Be strong, show your true selves, and nothing will happen." Then, I set off down the thin path that led to my den and toward the wolf who captured my heart and shared in my bloodline.

I knew where he would be, where he would look for me at, and with the pups in tow I set off toward the den I shared with Reaver. I still feel fatigued, but I make a short jog to greet him once he comes into sight. I lick affectionately at his jaw, running my bodice against the hard planes of his sides, my fur intermingling with his as I do. Even with the punishing bite of his fangs - should he do such - I find pleasure in these moments. Reunion with my shadow is always amazing, though this is especially meaningful. "The white is Shaddix, the red is Balor, the black is Raum. They are all promising, as you will find.""The white is Shaddix, the red is Balor, the black is Raum. They are all promising, as you will find." I move to his side as they come up, watching the interaction and ready to intercede as necessary. I kept close to Reaver's shoulder, my body aching to touch against his, to feel the solidarity of my waking life love.

Dreams just couldn't compare to the real him. I awaited him to inspect them, then we could have our time as the pups played on the plains.