Ankyra Sound Once you had a motorcycle, but you couldn't ride it right.

@Sugar Glider - tagging @Stryx and @Regin for reference as well, feel free to pop in - dated for the 31st <3

Ankyra Sound's grim grotto was but a temporary dig, and now, it was time to go.

Raleska knew these walls better than perhaps any living creature, and yet, she was becoming more and more alienated by their claustrophobic energy. It was as if day by day the Grotto's mouth was gradually shutting; attempting to absorb all lives and their souls within its maw.

It was time to go.

She had told her caretakers of her plans to eventually return to Rusalka. She was sure @Rosalyn and @Erzulie must have noticed her absence by now, and surely believed the worse. She would never tell them of her real reason for coming up here -- and if she had her way, they would never know of all that had transpired here at all.

She had just gone away for a bit, that was all.

"I'm ready." Raleska suddenly called out between the gradually closing walls. It didn't matter who heard her, it mattered that for the first time in a long time, her voice was strong. That counted for something, even if her body lagged behind. She knew the going would be tough, but if she had help (not that she deserved the help of these generous guardians), she might see home again.

Sugar bent over double, one hind leg lifted to dig her toes at an itch just behind her right ear. When she heard Raleska speak, she dropped her foot and straightened. Rising onto all fours, she loped across the strip of sand to the grotto's mouth, lingering in the threshold a moment before padding inside.

"I can carry one and you can carry the other?" she suggested after a beat, black eyes dropping to the two small bundles. They were growing quickly and it might be burdensome to carry one for long, given her own small size, though Sugar was determined to help, no matter how far they must go.

This was her calling, after all: she fancied herself a nomadic medic (a "nomedic," if you will). Although she'd begun having doubts during her spates of solitude, being here with Raleska and her pups had renewed her enthusiasm for her vocation.

Raleska felt a brief pang of jealousy to see Sugar move so effortlessly and lithely: from scratching an ear to gracefully bounding towards her. It seemed in a short amount of time, Raleska had forgotten what it was like to be easily ambulatory.

She didn't know the logistics of moving. It would be cruel to expect the children to move on their own, and she was lucky, again, that Sugar was willing to help where she was able. "That seems like a good strategy." Raleska confirmed, having zero qualms about someone else handling her children. In her mind, she had long ago disassociated with them, and they were simply lives she had to get from point A to point B.

The other medic on the scene had been off to the south, seeking further medicinal supplies in case they were needed. As she came upon the grotto there was a bundle clutched in her teeth; the herbal mixture of various plants, complimented by a sprig or two of something floral, all wrapped in a thick leaf. As Stryx strode across the grotto mouth she paused, placed the bundle down, and looked from woman to woman.

They were standing before the newborns, and then Stryx watched as they picked them up; so she grabbed her own - much smaller - bundle and joined them. Around the herbs clutched there, she murmured: An' whur is home? As she had not heard the plan, if there was a plan, and the look on her face was one of unspoken concern. The last thing any of them needed was a new mother trying to push herself after a near-death experience.

With Raleska's implicit permission given, Sugar gazed down at the puppies and tried to decide which to carry. She opted for the slightly larger of the two. She was a tiny wolf herself, though Raleska was still healing and needed to carry the lighter load.

Just as she gently clipped her teeth around the pup's scruff, Stryx strode into view. Sugar gingerly set the pup down again and waved her tail, quite pleased to see the more experienced medic. At the same time Stryx posed a question, an idea struck Sugar.

"Maybe Stryx can carry the second pup?" she queried of the pair. To Stryx, she added, "We're heading to Raleska's home at Rusalka, which is... where is it again?" Her snout swung toward the swarthy she-wolf.

Things were rolling into motion; Raleska was overwhelmed with the anticipation of the journey and, a slight sickening fear that she might not make it. If that was the case...

Stryx's arrival stayed her nerves for a moment. She glanced to the bundle wrapped by a leaf; how would they carry the babies, the herbs, and make progress? Sugar's suggestion seemed logical, but she didn't want to be a blister either (family meme: a blister is someone who shows up after the work is all done). Her stomach knotted as the trip suddenly seemed very difficult. Sugar had already answered Stryx's inquiry so Raleska nodded before supplying: "Rusalka. It's down the coast," She gulped as she realized how far it truly was. "It's.. it's a long journey. It took me five days to get here." She looked to both of them guiltily. Could they spare that kind of time? It was a tremendous favor to ask for, especially with newborns in tow. Not to mention, she was not in the same condition she was in before.

Stryx watched them both, eyeing the puppies warily when she noticed them next. One by one the women shared the plan. It would be healthier if they could keep Raleska away from any strenuous work, she thought—so then Stryx moved closer to the new mother and placed the bundle before her.

If you carry these, we'll share the... children, she drew her gaze to the two bundles, settled like lumps of clay upon the grotto floor. You can lead us and set the pace.

It made sense to Stryx, so without waiting for the affirmative, she moseyed over to the lumps. Sugar was poised before the one she'd been holding before, leaving one of the others for Stryx — but the physician looked a little green herself, now. Unsettled more-so by the presence of these tiny breakable creatures than she ever was during Raleska's bloody struggle.

She bobbed her head to acknowledge Raleska's reply and the warning woven into it. "We'll get you there," Sugar promised, glancing at Stryx as the silver she-wolf corroborated her by offering to carry the other child while Raleska took the bundle of herbs.

Sugar noted her companions' discomfiture and paused a moment, wondering if they were both leery of the journey ahead. It would be taxing, though they could share the burdens among one another. There was safety in numbers too. She felt another rush of gratitude toward Stryx for coming along, meaning the adults at least outnumbered the helpless, even if she wouldn't have considered Raleska able-bodied at the moment.

"We'll get you home," Sugar repeated, murmuring it into the pup's head as she bent down and grasped his soft scruff. With her precious cargo safely held, her black eyes looked to Raleska to lead the way home.

Awash with a wave of unnerving gratitude, Raleska nearly burst into tears. She held onto her composure long enough to nod mutely at the suggestion she carry the bundle of herbs. She had none of the mother's instinct, and so felt no sting of remorse as she watched both her healers bend down to pick up her offspring.

Her children. Raleska was nearly sick herself as she noticed the blanched expression borne by Stryx. It wasn't in her nature to be coddling, even after all they had done for her -- she only offered an appreciative smile and turned her head away as Sugar repeated 'We'll get you home'.

Quick to turn away so they might not see the tears stinging her gaze, Raleska stiffly bent to the bundle. She realized talking would be difficult once her mouth was full, and quickly mentioned: "Follow the coast southeast; it's a long journey, but mostly easy going." It would be impossible for them to get lost if they did this, and she knew if they had some semblance of the direction they were headed, they might feel less apprehensive. "Ready?" She glanced at both - of course they were ready, readier than her. Scooping up the collection of herbs, Raleska began to limp south.

Stryx was fixated on the blob of life that sat at her paws. She waited for Sugar to pick up her bundle, and then for Raleska to gather the herbs; she listened to the instructions with whatever attention she could muster but she was, ultimately, focused on the babe. When Raleska asked if they were ready she nodded and stooped to grab the puppy by the scruff, hoisting it up as if it might turn around and eat her face or something. Her neck immediately twitched with strain, but she did not falter and affixed her gaze upon the mother, who led them out of the grotto — and while Stryx followed at the rear, each stride caused a spike of anxiety as the sleeping child swayed in her grasp.