Boartusk Heights In all things considered, it’s a choice

Good lord, sorry this took a while to get going. Scoria is HEAVILY pregnant at this point (due Friday this week), but I’d be willing to back date this a little bit to where she’s more than capable of making her way down into the Hinterlands from the Neverwinter Forest in Great Bear. I know the route set by Kigipigak has fizzled out by now due to their disbandment, but I’ll hint at that in this post. Slight PP of Hashut and Serem with permission, though both are welcome to post here <3

@Hashut had returned to her and Serem, bringing to them an opportunity to join a pack south of where they had camped. He mentioned the need to travel a specific route, one set by a rival pack claiming territory, lest they chance trespassing while reaching the new pack. It took some time to mull it over on Scoria’s part, but in the end it was decided by all to move ahead with the plan to join.

They had travelled, ever so slowly, as Scoria felt the weight of her pregnancy as the days went by, her belly growing heavier and her energy levels dropping. The trio had reached the start of the route they were encouraged to take, but when Hashut called for an escort, no one had come. So, they took the straightest route they could to get to @Reyna; this time, it was Scoria that called for the unknown woman.

you're okay!!! i got super busy too so its ok! slight pping of @Paloma, tag for reference

reyna answers the call: wait where you stand, i will fetch you.
the vampiress is accompanied by her maid. though she may protest over reyna's insistence to keep working even through her pregnancy, this was urgent.
a pale figure appears in the horizon, and reyna is quick to notice the mass that disfigured the woman ahead. soon, she'd look like her too. but reyna's beauty would be return to her, assuredly. she's not sure if the woman ahead would be as lucky. but she smelled of the man who promised to reyna his family. and the queen finds glee to see that he has finally brought to her his part of the deal.

welcome, travelers! —oh dear.. she feigns shock at the pregnant woman.

Oh, my goodness, the insult was not as bad as I thought haha Scoria would have reacted much differently had that been said aloud, though haha

The pale woman greeted them, her shock in Scoria’s condition evident. If Scoria had been less spineless, she would have shrunk under the woman’s gaze, but the dominance in her caused her to stand straighter, though not so much so in a challenge. This was a potential home, her ego should not stand in the way of that.

“Thank you. Hashut has told us of your kindness and we are grateful to you. I am Scoria, his…the mother of his children. I am due soon and we are desperate for respite. If you shall have us, we are yours.” She wanted to vomit at the sickly sweet words, but she needed to play nice. The safety of her babies was most important.

lol just wanted to be safe!

the queen dips her head, just for a moment. it's a please to meet you finally. welcome. she hums, and began to lead the way. slowly, not just for the woman but for herself too.
paloma is preparing your nest. please, feel free to request of her any accommodations you may need. we are still a small bunch, but we will try to ensure the safest home for you and your family.
the words come easily to reyna; it's not hard to speak sweet nothings when she's been trained to do so.

Eyes closed briefly as she nodded, a sickly sweet smile dripping in gratefulness towards the woman before she followed her into their soon-to-be claim. 

“Reyna, if I may be so bold to ask, but does my current condition not bother you? As the head of this pack, surely it would, would it not? I only ask because I think of my own upbringing and what I had witnessed then. I do not say this to doubt your hospitality or generosity and the promise of safety for my babies, I am merely curious.” It was true—she had seen things happen in her pack when members had whelped before the lead pair; it was not something she wanted to repeat, nor experience.

at the question, reyna stares at her belly.

ah, well. they shall not be a problem, but.. reyna's eyes sharpen as she recalls memories of life in the dark caverns, right besides her parents as they made expecting rivals swear their children would never interfere with reyna's health. she recalls too the look upon their faces when during the dead of winter, the family was decided to have been using too much of the kingdom's resources, and were told that they and some of their children must leave. and the children that remained never were the same again.

but her parents could afford cruelty. she couldn't, no matter how she wished otherwise.
..i expect they'll pull their weight once they've grown. i am expecting too however, so it is my duty, my darling, to clarify to you. my children will be prioritized.
reyna began a vague sembleance of the oath she had only watched until now.
this is not to say your children will not receive the upmost of care. and we are in spring, the most forgiving of seasons. it is not just you and i, afterall, who experience the wonders of fertility.

but we are still so small. and fall and winter come hurdling. your children may be made to serve, or hunt, sooner. my children may join them. only time will tell.

Last post for me, thank you Bon <3

She’s pregnant, too.

She gave her new leader an accepting nod. “Yes, I imagine my children will pull their weight above your expectations, or we will make it so. I am not naive to think my children will be above yours, that is not the way of a pack. All I ask is that they are safe, as members of your pack, regardless of station. Hashut is…older and I do not know how long I will have his strength.” 

Could she protect them on her own? More than likely she would be formidable if needed, but the protection of a pack would ensure that she could focus on their needs more than worrying about keeping dangers away.

A sudden pain gripped her belly, causing her to emit a small yelp and a grimace to her features. She schooled her expression despite the pain, giving the pale woman an exasperated chuckle. “I fear the journey here may have been a little too much for my already exhausted body. I’d like to go find Paloma and rest for a little while, if I have your leave…I’m sorry, what is your title?”

Once Reyna gave her title, the dark woman would bow her head in thanks before making her way in the direction of where Paloma should be and she can finally rest. These babies were doing somersaults, kicking and punching her rib cage, and, suns above, did she need to lie down.