Time seemed to be passing the wolf by so quickly. It had been a month since what he was beginning to think of as the spring fever, and just the last few days he had begun to notice both women’s bellies becoming visibly swollen. Before now there were other signs that they were pregnant, but this was the one that really made it real for Viorel. He was going to be a dad this spring, twice. He had been doing his best to balance the loving frolicking with Vanadis, and also frequently checking on Clover, trying to wait on both of them tail and paw, with his leadership duties.

The afternoon though he had been playing a little bit of hooky, sneaking off to the rapids that he and Vanadis had happened upon earlier in the spring. This time there was no wolf covered in soot to bring any entertainment, and Viorel found the exhaustion getting the better of him. The sun filtered in and out of the clouds, and the warmth made his eyelids so heavy it was unbearable. He would just settle down for a little nap, and then he would wake up and go back home where he belonged and had things to do.

That had been nearly two hours ago when he woke to a sudden tug on his pelt. Yelping in surprise Viorel’s head wheeled around wildly, trying to find the culprit. Yellow eyes narrowed as he saw a small little swallow, boldly still standing on his haunches, staring at him curiously, with a beak full of his grey fur. Eyebrows furrowed as the Valle frowned, ”What the hell are you doing, stupid bird?” Couldn’t he have taken any of the fur that was laying around from the wolves blowing out their winter coats, why did he need pelt that was still attached?

The stupid little bird did not respond to him, at least not verbally. It tilted its head this way and that way, and had the audacity to hop lightly on his haunches a few times. Especially grumpy to have been woken up during his stress nap, Viorel was in no mood for swallow games. Curling his lip to show his teeth the dark yearling snapped his jaws at the bird, but it had already flown away.

Grumbling a little, the yearling got to his paws and shook out his pelt - now with one less clump of fluff. So preoccupied by what had just happened Viorel did not even notice the figure that was standing near the rapids watching him. Yawning widely in an attempt to shake off the fatigue he yelped out again in surprise as the bold bird landed on his shoulders this time. Taking another tuft it flit away as quickly as it came.

Whirling around in a desperate attempt to snap his teeth shut on the bird’s tail, but, missed once again. It was in this quick turn that he caught the shape of another wolf in his peripheral vision. At first the tawny coat made him think of Sharlee or Vayko, maybe even Katna, the only agouti pelts he knew in the area. But as he turned back to look closer, the yellow eyes widened dramatically. Mouth popped open dramatically, ”Mom?” He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.

It was really just disbelieve that he was looking at who he was looking at. Before Viorel even had time to process that his mother was standing in front of him after being apart for four months she was bowing and then charging towards him. The yearling braced himself for a collision that never came, and instead was met with a faceful of slobbery kisses and high pitch whining.

In turn he licked at her chin desperately, crying out his own whines as he shimmied under her jaw and pressed himself into her neck. Salt and pepper tail swept behind him frantically, stirring up the dirt and the grass and creating quite the mess. When he was finally able to catch his breath Viorel gasped out, ”Mom! You’re here!” Scooching backwards so he could get a good look at her, make sure that he was okay, his yellow eyes landed on the small swell of her belly.

Suddenly it struck him that her scent was so familiar, and yet carried the same sweet change that had affected Clover and Vanadis. Confusion swept over him, and Viorel looked upwards to catch his mother’s eyes, a mix of apprehension and accusation present in them, ”And….you’re pregnant?” Instead of trying to find them she had been running around with some stranger? They didn’t have a dad growing up, and she didn’t have a pack to take care of her, what was she thinking? And Vayko thought that he made bad decisions.

Somewhere in the background the small swallow was back, happily plucking up the clumps of fur that had gotten lost in their dust bowl. At this rate it was going to have the softest, best lined nest in all of the Lore. Other birds would tell stories of the furry nest miles away. But, Viorel was beyond noticing it’s little hops and collection. The pure joy of reuniting with his mom may have been short lived but while the emotion lasted it was euphoric.

Maybe he should have been more composed, he was a leader now after all, he was supposed to be diplomatic. But, he couldn’t hide all of the feelings that ran through him now. Joy, confusion, accusation, hurt, confusion again, disbelief. Yellow eyes dropped from where he held her gaze back to the swelling of her belly, and narrowed angrily before he cleared his throat and looked away.

Vayko was going to lose his fucking mind.

A friend and it just happened. That were the words that softened him a little, he knew first paw how those things ‘just happen’. Looking back towards his mom he offered all he could think to say, ”And your...friend, is he going to be sticking around? To help?” Or was she going to be a single mom again?

He wanted to raise his eyebrows at the word she, because he didn’t know that it was possible to know before the pups came what they were. He wanted to be angry, he wanted to yell that it was unfair that he had had no father and now this ‘friend happening’ would get one. But, a Valle was a Valle. And his sibling deserved everything that the name allowed her, including the protection and assistance of her family member. He smothered the anger, shoved it deep down inside so it could fester like an infected wound, and his muzzle remained calm.

He was thankful for the change of subject, anything to steer away from the uncomfortable seething in his belly, and what was growing in his mother’s. Suddenly grinning brightly he nodded, ”Andrey and Xulia,” although, they weren’t happy to be here, ”And Vayko and Sharlee, Aunt Modesto, Grandma Katna.” Rolling his shoulders to ease some of the tension that had built up there he let out a deep breath.

This might be a mistake.

Standing now he gestured back towards home, ”Vayko and I actually started a pack nearby as co-leaders, come with me and I’ll show you, you can see everyone again.” Then, grimacing a little, he added, ”And your friend can come too….I guess.” It would be an easier sell to Vayko if she came, but selfishly he hoped she would deny this Azra.