Vivaan had left her. She didn't know why. She had called and called for him, and he had not come. It had been over a month since she had seen him. This was another betrayal. She called now for her father, and her captive — no doubt both would show. Vex looked out across the dark forest where little stirred; all was quiet, and then they arrived.

Vex looked to her father. "@Vivaan has left us. Should he return, he is to be questioned and brought to me." Why he had left without notice, and for what reason. Vex wondered if he were still truly loyal. She snarled softly, lashing her tail.

"My children are due any day now. I cannot travel, but you can, father — go to the Saints, to the strath in the east. Follow the weir along the cliff, then up through the sweep. Our allies. Tell @Fury, their leader, of my time." Custom demanded that men stay away from birthing, and some tiny part of Vex was afraid to do this, alone. It was her first, after all. But, if she must... Vex pushed her fear away. She was a Queen. She was fearless.

She turned to her Captive with a sneer. "You, meanwhile, will be digging out my birthing den. I'll need it large, near water, but sheltered." Eyes of scorn looked to him condescendingly. "Think you can manage that?"