i am the blood of the mountain

Time heals all wounds, and those that I sustained in my battle against Covet were no different in that regard. Niviaq had done well to look after me in the aftermath of the fight, and she had checked in on my regularly as autumn gave way to winter. It had taken time, but I had grown accustomed to moving upon only three legs. My most diligent Septon had impressed upon me the importance of keeping weight entirely off of the limb, for she was almost certain that at least one bone within my wrist had been fractured. And so I had abided her requests, slowly gaining stability upon only three legs and hopping around my mountainside home. For some weeks I had been limited to the immediate area around my den and throne clearings, but my pack had ensured that everything was looked after while I was incapacitated. I had never doubted them for a moment, and I welled with pride to see them take up the duties I could not perform during that time.

Perhaps it was the distraction of my healing wounds, or the paranoia in the back of my mind when I occasionally wondered why Meryl had not come to see how I faired as he had after my first battle, but it was not until winter had well settled over the lands that I truly recognized the changes in my body. As the wounds over my neck and jaw became healthy pink mars upon my skin, and I slowly began to test my leg with small increments of weight pressed upon it, I realized that even though I had not been performing vigorous tasks across the mountain terrain, I seemed to be gaining weight. It seemed peculiar to me, strange that I had not lost weight during this time of limited mobility. True, Jericho and the rest of the pack had ensured that I was well fed and looked after. But surely my ribs should have been a bit more visible than they were. And then it dawned on me - I was pregnant. The elation I felt had been all consuming, a boundless joy that I had immediately dashed on three legs to the den as quickly as I could to share with Jericho. We were to be parents! My young dragons were to have younger siblings!

Now I moved through the drifts of snow, away from my family's den and the clearing where so many of my pack mates had come to congratulate me after my victory. My leg was finally able to support my full weight, though the loss of musculature in the limb made it ache if I overworked it. But I pushed through the dull throbbing of soreness as I simply walked along, only the slightest of limps visible in my gait, descending a slight trail that would bring me to a ledge of rock that overlooked the side of the mountain, where often children would play or the armament might hunt. Stepping forward, I took a deep breath of the crisp winter air before lowering my hindquarters to the earth. I sat there, overlooking my homeland, that which I had fought to defend. It was strange to think that the wolf who had threatened the wolves who called Spirane home by challenging my right to rule these lands was now dead. Killed, apparently, by his own flesh and blood for the disturbances he'd caused throughout Moladion. It was said that he was too much of a coward to even face the fair trial that Achilles had organized for him, and now none would ever hear his side of the story. I had lost any and all interest in such a thing the moment he'd called forth a challenge against the livelihood of my pack. Good riddance to it all.

Now I simply sat, mahogany eyes drifting with ease across the powdered landscape of my mountain home. Frost dusted the trees and snowdrifts created unique landscapes that changed whenever a new storm blew down the mountainside. I felt a sharp ache in my abdomen as one of the pups kicked out forcefully and my head tilted around to look at my ever expanding form. "Really now, was that necessary?" I whispered softly, with a slight chuff of amusement. Every day I looked for the signs of spring's oncoming. I could hardly wait to meet them, and my tail thumped about in the snow as I felt their lives stir within me. Life was so very good.

daenerys