The same thought that had run through his head earlier that day came back with a vengeance; Vayko was going to lose his fucking mind. He had been so upset about two litters, now they had the potential to add a third!? Viorel wished desperately that it had been his cousin’s mother who showed up unexpectedly, and pregnant with a friend. The young man had left his mother near the border and told her to wait until he got back and had to portray calmness as he walked quickly into his lands.

As soon as he was out of eyesight, and travelled far enough into the Backwater that he was sure his mother could not overhear he called for his co-lead and advisor. Things were about to get a lot messier for the pack.

Everyone was still recovering, and Viorel knew that. He knew what a hard sell he was stacking up here, it was his mother - not theirs, she was pregnant - a third litter, they were all recovering and not their best. It really could not have been worse timing, but he had to do it. For his mom, and the little bastard child growing in her belly. They were Valles and they had been raised to believe that that meant something, it meant loyalty, and now it was going to mean sacrifice.

He did not even have time to answer Vayko’s question before Sharlee arrived, looking worse for wear, but better than she had last week. Stupid fucking turtle, stupid fucking spring fever. Viorel was getting real sick of the trials and looking forward to the Backwater’s triumphs. Sighing, he closed his eyes for a moment and just put it all out there, ”I found my mother out near the rapids. She’s here, out past the borders waiting for me to come back.” He opened his canary eyes now, looking between the two of them.

Before any excitement or any reaction could build he quickly cut in, ”And she’s pregnant. The father is still around and wants to help, but...she’s fucking pregnant.” Blunt claws dug into the ground beneath him now, waiting for anyone to say anything.

The Valle missed what his cousin said, he was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that the gears were moving too quickly to notice any whispering. He even missed his advisor hissing back her reprimand, he missed all of it. What he did hear loud and clear were Vayko’s - very fair - protests. There were no winning here, and salt and pepper ears flattened themselves against his skulls in an attempt to make everything slow down for just a minute so he could think clearly. How had all of this happened?

He said nothing, he didn’t know how to choose between the blood of his children and the blood of his mother and future siblings.But, if they turned her away now, would that sever their relationship forever? Looking towards Sharlee, suddenly thankful that he had called for his advisor for another point of reference, it didn’t do anything else to clear his head. Here he was confused, Vayko protesting and Sharlee fighting for it.

Shifting on his paws, the tell tale sign that he was uncomfortable for thinking really hard. Finally he conceded, ”You’re right, I don’t know if we would be able to support my two litters, let alone a third. But, I think we should at least offer her safety while she has her pups - my siblings.” Vayko probably wouldn’t like that, so he continued quickly, ”She looks farther along than Clover or Vanadis, and I would never forgive myself if we turned her away and something happened when she was in labour.” Would his cousin accept this compromise, for the time being?

Looking back to Sharlee he added one more tidbit, ”She said she has another friend with her as well. Maybe if both the pup's father and her friend are willing to join we might be able to offer them all a more permanent spot.” Adding three more sets of paws would help more than it would hinder, wouldn’t it?

Viorel was thankful that both of his cousins were here and seemingly keeping a clear head about the situation. He himself knew that he couldn’t be impartial in this decision, and valued their opinions more than he could say. In the end they would all be in agreement, his mother and her companions could stay, at least temporarily, and they would reevaluate once they knew exactly what was going on.

Nodding once Vayko had finished speaking Viorel followed it up with, ”Thank you for your understanding. I’m aware that this is another risk that we’re taking, and I’m appreciative to at least offer her safety for her birth.” Saying the words out loud, her birth, felt wrong on his tongue and brought a bad taste to his mouth. He was fighting to keep her here, and yet she had - in the words of Vayko - floozed herself out with a friend when she had no safety to offer the children. Viorel was young, what was her excuse?

Looking to Sharlee in surprise, he mulled over her words for a moment before nodding in agreement. ”Asking for a vote from the pack once we know the litter sizes seems fair to me. You’re right afterall, the more children we have, the harder everyone will have to work and it’s not right to expect that after mine and my mother’s mistakes without a say from all members.” Glancing back towards Vayko, he waited to see how he would feel on a vote.