Spring had finally come to relieve them from winter's icy grip. However, this year it took more than just the cold and snow. Their precious lake seemed to be losing it water as the shore seemed to grow at the same time. Moonshadow worried for her family and pack, but especially for the expecting mothers. The cove was blessed once again with two litters though, the elderly woman wondered if they were going to be able to support both. Despite the receding shoreline, the lake remained a place of relaxation a reflection for the aging Eastfall matriarch.

It seemed that Moonshadow wasnt the only inky matriarch to seek out the lake's relaxing environment. Cool mercury orbs spotted Oksana's pregnant form at the water's edge. She approached the younger woman giving out a small bark to alert her to her presence. Moon smiled and gave her alpha a nod in greeting. "Hello Oksana, how are ya today?" She asked moving to stand next to her.

Her presence was welcomed by the younger woman as she was greeted with a wag of a dark banner and smile. The young alpha answered that she was well considering, clearly referring to the sad state of their beloved lake. Moon gave a solemn nod in response to the reference before answering how she was doing. "Also alright considering the state of the lake. It worries me if I'm bein' honest." The elder mother responded truthfully knowing full well it worried them all. She lowered her dark haunches to sit next to Oksana and turned her gaze to the dwindling but still gorgeous lake. Moonshadow allowed some time to pass for her alpha to respond and a few moments of quiet reflection before speaking once more. "How is pregnancy treatin' ya? This is yer first litter right?" Moon was pretty sure the Raven didnt have any children but didnt want to outright assume. Her mind floated back to her first pregnancy and all the excitement and worry that came with it. She wanted to help the first time mother-to-be in any way she could.

The two ebony women shared their shared worries about their shrinking lake. A solemn nod was given in agreeance to the fear for them all. However, the younger woman brought up a good point. Their lake was a large source of water, and if it has lost as much as it has, what about the rest of the lore? What about @Chan? There was a new worry that now gripped the aging mother. She could not allow this worry to overrun her now. This was a check in for the expecting cove matriarch, to see how she was faring. So, Moon asked if this was her first litter, and her assumption was proven correct. Oksana explained that she was both excited and nervous before asking how Moonshadow's first pregnancy went. A small sigh escaped her salt and pepper maw as her mind flipped back to that spring.

The nervousness of asking Namid and Vespertio for permission to have children. Then the overwhelming joy of getting that permission and starting their family. Then the guilt that followed getting attack and losing her memory. The overwhelming sorrow and even more guilt that followed her giving birth to two stillborn children. Her ears flicked back as her gaze moved once more to the dwindling lake.

Her question so far was about her pregnancy, no need to further dampen the mood. "Mine was also filled with excitment 'n nervousness." She smiled looking back to her alpha, her ears returning to a neutral position. "I remember when they first began to move about 'n kick. It caught me so off guard that surely thought somethin' was wrong." A small chuckle fell from her salt and pepper maw. It was such a surprise she immediately sought out Namid, who assured her it was absolutely normal.

Reminiscing about her first litter was bittersweet. A mix between the happiest time of her life as well as the worst. The older inky woman hadn't planned on bringing up losing her first and second born, but when Oksana brought up her fear of losing them, she knew she couldn't be all rainbows and sunshine. She had to be upfront, especially after Aquene losing her son the year before without a clear reason. Silver tipped ears once more fell back against her skull. The dark alpha continued on asking if her first litter moved around a lot after that first time, and a small chuckle left Moon's maw. "They did, however I had an incident where I was attacked 'n lost my memory. I forgot I was pregnant n' that I lived in the cove." Her gazed lowered to her large paws as the guilt bubbled up once more. "When my husband 'n Kajika found me, they brought me home. My memory eventually returned, but their movements weren't as strong as I had remembered them to be. When I gave birth Chan was the only survivor." Silver orbs once more moved to the dwindling lake as she finished her story. The last thing Moonshadow wanted to do was worry the raven. "The twins however," She chuckled, her demeanor perking up. "They were having all kinds of fun in there." Silver orbs met orange counterparts with a smile. Pregnancy was scary but it was also such a joyous thing to experience.

Shame and guilt kept the older onyx woman from being able to meet the gaze of her younger alpha as she retold the story of her first litter. I shoulda known better.... That mean little voice creeping back in, fueling that guilt. Oksana's voice filtered in, sounding further away than it should have. Pushing aside her guilt aside, Moon looked back to her companion with a smile that had her sadness in it. "He is my biggest blessin'. Nash 'n Staryn are blessin's too but Chan's my miracle baby." She explained. The Eastfall woman loved all of her children equally, but there was no denying the special bond she had with her eldest. "It's an unimaginable thing to go through. I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy. Though I lost two, had we never tried we wouldn't have him." She explained hoping she wasnt scaring the new mother to be too much. Her heart yearned for her two stillborns but she knew they were in a better place, now running with their father. Sometimes it wasnt even a grand event that rips children away, as in her pregnancy compared to Aquene's. The young Slayer woman did everything right and still lost her son. Sometimes life was just cruel while providing the greatest blessings.