It was time. Spring was here, and she was a year older. The children were able to stand her absence, for a short while. Travel was no longer a suicide mission, and she needed to get going. Mercury optics narrowed as she gazed out to the east, to the glittering sea. Sunrise made it a sea of blood, ominous in view but promising otherwise. Red skies were a good sign, that no storms were approaching. The pass opened up before her, a hungry maw littered with greenery. The swim would be trying on her aging body, but it was a necessary task. Besides, she was still strong. Enough to do her duty. "Mr. Morningstar?" She called over her shoulder, brows furrowed. He had been around at some point. Hopefully he had not left for the day yet, she needed to impart her instructions before departing. The twin feathers at her breast twirled in the breeze, and she absently dropped her head to soothe them against her fur with her tongue. "Are you awake?" The question was more directed to herself than anything. Tail flicked lightly, gaze searching for his scarred visage. The children would be awake soon, and she didn't want to take away from her time with them to speak with their father. "speech"

He had been relaxing in his den, Dom comfortably snoozing in between his legs. She was against his chest and he was content to lay there and watch his gentlest child sleep. There was a smile constantly painted upon his face when she was around. She had fallen asleep in her mother's den first then about midnight she came to his den, after having a nightmare. He let her stay easily, not like she didn't already have him wrapped around her little paw. The sound of Lirika summoning him from outside his den had him perking his ears and looking up towards the entrance of his den. He was silent and gentle about removing himself from his daughter's cuddling. Only once he was sure she was still asleep and wouldn't miss him too much did he move out. He exited and didn't bother making his bed fur lie right. His eyes cut to her and he sat. "Good morning, how can i help you this morning?" he was enthusiastic about it. Spring was here and he was in a glorious mood after spending time with Dom. Walk "Talk" Think

It took a moment for the titanic male to emerge from his den, a little ways from the cavern. It had been rather kind of him to give her and the children space, especially since the two of them had been casual lovers at most. Mercury gaze would flit over his bedraggled form as he sauntered closer, beaming with glee. Dominika had left her in the night to cuddle up with him, which had been the source of only slight sorrow. Did her daughter not see her as trustworthy? He sat with a whump beside her. "Good morning, how can I help you this morning?" The cheer was tangible in his sonorous vocals. She hummed kindly, casting a warm smile his way. The mood was quick to turn sullen, as she remembered why she called him to her. "I'll be leaving this morning," She said softly, gaze narrowing at the sea. "sweet Divo is blessed of Svarog, and I need to bring a shaman to teach her the ways of the holy ones. I will be away until summer, if I'm not mistaken." It hurt to leave her children, just as her parents had abandoned her. Her mother had disappeared. Distant relatives had made note of postpartum depression, rampant in her genes. To her father, no one was certain why he had abandoned them. Blinking away tears that welled in her eyes, she looked to the sire of her blessed children. "I ask that you take good care of them in my absence, Mr. Morningstar. Please?" Her voice became rough, accent almost too thick to understand. Choking on emotion was so rare for her, even now. "Take them to Abaven, should illness take them. Miss Sparrow is the leader, and she checked on me during my pregnancy. Don't let them wander for long, they should be coming back each night." Gods above, she was rambling like an old fool. A soft chuckle came out a little too much like a sob. "I have already informed them of my intentions, and said my goodbyes." She promised, scenting the air. It was getting warmer, and the sooner she left, the further out she could get before the sun set. Travelling north at night, even in the spring, was foolish at best. "speech"

His eyes narrowed as the woman that had become a stable part of his life in the past season stated that she would be leaving. Suddenly Dom's rambling last night and the visit a midnight made sense to him. She had dreamed something horrible had happened to her mother most likely. He'd heard Lirika preach about the gods she believed in many times and he couldn't help but doubt it. He himself was the patron sinner after all in his father's religion. Children born out of wedlock were no more than sins themselves to his father and brother's, but he still had hope. "What makes you so certain she is blessed? Why only her? are Darya and Dominika not as blessed?" He questioned her with probably a bit too much of a cold tone. HE saw them all as blessed, Dom possibly more so than the others but hopefully he didn't play favorites too much. When she went on to instruct him how to care for his daughter he chortled. He had a healer if need be and none of them would wander longer than necessary. Nonetheless he nodded and nudged her chin up with his snout. "Ive got them covered, We will wait for you, though soon we must move from the pass with summer coming it will become dangerous. Likely i will move them to the forests below or to the holy place up north. by summer we may traverse to Auster for it's winter, If I've not yet set up permanent residence in the area. Should that happen they will be held within my pack lands and you shall be welcomed to join us as well." He gave her a brief run down of his plans so she would know where to look for him. Walk "Talk" Think

When his scorching gaze narrowed at her, she felt a flash of aggression trip up her spine. Who was he to judge her? A short breath was taken, praying for calm. Indignation flew from his jaws in the form of scathing inquiries. "What makes you so certain she is blessed? Why only her? are Darya and Dominika not as blessed?" A long breath was taken in, eyes sliding shut. Patience, Lirika. He is still lacking in years, still hot headed with youth. Her eyes would flutter open, and she fixed him with a hard look. She couldn't consider what brought this on, nor could she consider vengeance upon him for blasphemy. It was not quite blasphemy, not yet. "You misunderstand my words, Mr. Morningstar." She began softly, trying to cut the edge from her voice. He did not need mothering. "Divo is blessed of Svarog, the father god. It is her pale coat and two toned eyes that mark her as his child, his chosen." Yet still she sought to keep her tone gentle, simply explaining herself. He did not intend to offend, right? Or perhaps he did. That possibility kept her from complete calm. She thought for a moment, wondered if she should keep her mouth shut now. The shaman would be able to determine who favoured them, if at all. "Darya and Dominika are docile, but they are pure. Children of Lelia, goddess of the spring, are often born with such gentle dispositions." That may have been too much. Would the gods be angry at her assumptions? Now he laughed at her, for daring to worry over her daughters. Hackles bristled, only momentarily. The gentle nudge of his snout beneath her chin was a balm upon her nerves. "I've got them covered, We will wait for you, though soon we must move from the pass with summer coming it will become dangerous. Likely I will move them to the forests below or to the holy place up north. By summer we may traverse to Auster for it's winter, If I've not yet set up permanent residence in the area. Should that happen they will be held within my pack lands and you shall be welcomed to join us as well." Such aspirations! She hummed thoughtfully, and bobbed her head in acknowledgement. "I trust you, Mr. Morningstar." She got to her feet, shaking the snow from her pristine pelt. "I had better depart now, I must pay homage to Morskoy before I cast out. I will return soon, should my body choose not to fail me." She smiled shyly at him. He had expressed his distaste for her religion already, and she hated to mention it yet again. A deep breath, and she prayed not to forget this scent. Crisp air and the soft aroma of her younglings all around her. She would see them again, she was sure of it. The nagging fear in her chest was simply the gods reminding her of the dangers brought by hubris. "speech"