Whitefish River The miles are getting longer it seems

@Yuudai and @Takeshi, to anyone who wanted to join I am sorry, we wanted to spree this out to get her home sooner rather than later! This is set on the 30th

Eventually, Collision had made it back to the Empire with Hiromi in tow and had sent the message of what had transpired in Kaistleoki nearly a week ago. Even with Speedy's kind words and Ira's silent acceptance of what had happened, Reiko knew she too had to go back home and not eat up all their resources. It was wrong to have come in the first place, for selfish reasons to try and find a moment of rest that wasn't bombarded with lost love, a rocky marriage, and a sister who came out of nowhere to rattle them all further. 

It would be any moment now that someone would come along to help her back, to help carry the young that she could obviously not carry back all on her own. She needed at least two more to help her carry the three pups. Within her den at the riverside pack, Reiko wondered who would appear. She had a guess on who would, some were questionable while others might be obvious - she could only hope more neutral empire wolves would volunteer for an extended peace until they arrive in the vale once more.

He was less then pleased when Hiromi arrived back in the territory with Collision at her side. Yuudai was beyond furious, of course he had known where she had galavanted off too. He had just hoped she wouldn’t actually go through with it. That she would trust him to take care of her, or them! But alas that was not to be, and he had been forced to leave his exhausted wife with a pack mate as he went to find Takeshi so they could bring back their sovereign and her progeny.

They set out straight away. The tension obvious, but set a side and waiting to burst through at just the wrong moment. Yuudai was very quickly coming to hate this man, this villain who had been a thorn in his life for far to long. But now he needed the help, and quite frankly he belonged here. If he truly claimed these children as his own then he too deserved to be there.

So as they arrived in their allied territory, Yuudai let the other man lead the way into the den. He wasn’t part of this family.

Upon arriving home with healing wounds that he had explained to none, Takeshi had found his bride missing. Distraught for obvious reasons- he was content to accompany Yuudai to where she had birthed, their ally territory. Tension hovered between them like a heavy cloud, and Shi had no interest in breaking it, remaining silent as they went. Once they arrived at the den, Takeshi cast Yuu a glance- unreadable- and entered the den, finding his lovely lovely wife with three children nestled beside her.

So small... so precious... the thought that they might be Yuudai's did not even cross his mind in this moment, as a smile spread on his face and he murmured to himself They're beautiful. A sterner gaze was cast to Reiko. What did you think you were doing, travelling out here to birth? Pregnancy made you delusional, He muttered quietly, making sure to keep his voice too low for any beyond the den walls to hear.

Eyeing her still, he leaned down to sniff at the children- determining two females and one male, which was fine by him. He didn't care about whether she birthed this or that gender, though they would certainly recieve different treatment. He made the move to lift one- a female- in his mouth, carrying it out to Yuudai gently, hoping to transfer it to him. Assuming this move was successful the man would reenter, lifting the son for himself- and eyeing Reiko with a question in his gaze, of whether she thought she could manage the last.

And of course, it was the two men she perhaps wanted to see the least right now. Though how could she have thought anyone else would be allowed to come than their fathers? A simple wish, but once again, it was not granted. 

Hearing someone enter the den, her gaze turned to the entrance hoping to see anyone else, and instead, it was Takeshi, naturally strutting in as he owns the den she had chosen for herself and their puppies. Uttering unkind words to an already exhausted mother which caused her fur to fly in every which direction with anger. 

She held her tongue instead, rather than telling him she was here to take a break from him, from Yuudai, and Hime and all the other things that plagued her back home; Reiko bit her tongue and simply watched as he snatched one of their young away from her. The final left for her to carry was little @Sumi, having no preference on either of her children it didn't matter which she carried. Scooping up the little pale princess, Reiko found her strength again to walk and make her way out of the den silently - a fuming cloud hanging over her spurred on by Takeshi's words. Even now she did not offer a glance at Yuudai who did not deserve such a cold shoulder.

And just like that, her little vacation was over.

He hadn’t expected to be treated very well, but the look that Takeshi threw Yuu’s way riled the samurai. Rei was one of his oldest friends, and this moment, meeting her kids for the first time, Yuu hadn’t thought it could be anymore painful. Though Takeshi didn’t think of it, it was the only thing he could think of. What if they were mine? They could be.

Shi entered and returned quickly, any words shared between the imperial pair was missed by the lowly guard. The new father laid a young female pup at his paws, gentle for once in his life. Yuu didn’t hear a name, but he looked down at her with a smile. Quickly picking the young newborn up.

They didn’t have to wait long for the parents to make an arrival, each with a pup dangling in a similar fashion. Without a single glance Reiko walked past him. Clearly upset and exhausted. Taking her frozen shoulder with as much grace and dignity as he could conjure, Yuudai relegated himself a few paces behind the married couple. He wasn’t here as a friend, he was here to do a job. Yuu did his best to ignore the girl between his teeth. She was his princess and nothing more. Would he really be nothing but a servant to her? Was that all he was to Reiko? Had they really grown so distant.

Mindlessly Yuudai followed behind the pair, not having the energy nor the confidence to even try and come between them. Reiko had made her choice. Yuudai could live with it.

Reiko offered no reply- and coldly passed both the men by. Eh- he didn't like being treated like that, but at least she was being a bitch to Yuudai too. Unlike him, Takeshi was her husband- and would certainly reprimand her later if he saw fit. Perhaps when the children slept... for now he let her continue with her childish attitude, (certainly the result of hormones,) following her closely with his son carried like a delicate egg. Yuudai could lag if he wanted. it would please Takeshi more if the man stayed away from his wife; he did not offer him any more looks, focusing his attention on Reiko and the children now. His family. Not Yuudai's.

This thread doesn't have to be long! still going to throw a wrench into it

Nothing was said. Thankful and yet hurt, Reiko didn't know how to feel about the situation other than all she wanted to do was go home, get out of Kaistleoki's way quietly without putting up a fuss and let the puppies settle into their new, more permanent den. Of course, she thought of speaking with Yuudai about the puppies, but today was not the day. Takeshi had already soured her mood, and the traveling would be exhausting.

---- a wee bit of time skip here! ----

And exhausting it was. Spending most of her days relaxing recently and preparing to give birth had obviously weakened the Empress. Her pace had slowed considerably so while they made the travel over the mountains. She huffed and puffed all the while desperately trying to keep a steady hold on Sumi without clenching her teeth or dropping the princess with a too loose of a grip. With her focus on her footing, she was uncertain if the men had kept with her slower pace or had walked ahead, but her sight was beginning to grow dark, she was tired. Very Tired. And it didn't take long for a foot to slip and give, leaving her flat on the ground while twisting just enough to keep Sumi from hitting the ground.

Just a moment. She just needed a breather.

She hadn’t wanted to be moved in the first place! But he side heater was whisked away, and Sumi was lifted off the solid surface she had been happily napping against. All of this only to be jostled around all day, cold, tired and hungry.

The young princess let out several squeaks and whimpers, not from pain but from discomfort. Suddenly after what seemed like forever, the girl was lurched to the side. He tiny whail sounding as her mother lost her step and tripped. Shocked by the situation, Sumi let out several tiny yelps. Scared and shaky.

He remained behind the pair, even as Reiko slowed. He could tell she was wavering. Her steps growing slightly hesitant and lethargic. Dutiful, Yuudai remained behind. Eyes keenly following her steps. In the time it had taken them to travel out of Kaiestloki and up the mountains, Yuu had been able to force his more painful thoughts away. All that mattered was getting to the Vale.

They had made steady progress even with the slowing of the Empress. But, because Yuu had no luck, he saw the misstep. And watched her paw slip out from under her and her hit the ground hard. Her little princess luckily saved from physical harm, was letting out the most devastating cry.

“Rei-“ The pup in his mouth prevented him from properly annunciating her name. But he rushed over none the less. Gently placing his own princess near her sister, and turning to the fallen mother.

The girl was unaware of the events around her, all she knew was that she was cold and hungry and the jostling she received all day had her crying on and off no matter how careful the samurai tried to be. By the time she was finally set down again Hotaru was quick to notice no warm wall nearby and instead wiggled the best she could along the ground to find something, anything of comfort. Eventually, she bumped into something soft. It reminded her of before this horrible trip so whatever it's she was pressing into the soft blob as she whimpered.