mother's been singing me to sleep [open / tortuga]

[BJÖRN]

» B J Ö R N

Everything was slow today. Morning was just rising above the sparse, gnarled treeline and somewhere a sparrow chirped lightly. Sunlight filtered down beneath the branches, illuminating and making softer, sweeter mist of the nearly permanent fog that rested over the land's pliable earth. Even Silence was only beginning to yawn herself into waking, and that changed in mere moments as a light grey blur rocketed along the pack's most northern border, big paws flying. This was in typical fashion for the young wolf, who took obvious pride in waking the forest for long summer days. His blood was up, his silver fur sleek, his tongue lolling. He was, in all forms, alive.

As he moved away from the wet, sinking marshes and headed north towards the forest, Bjorn found he was able to pull himself faster and faster. The hardness of the earth was such a contrast and he relished how it enabled such a flight, taken by the intrinsic motion of retracting and releasing. He forced his lungs to breathe deeper and his eyes narrowed in response, claws reaching ever further as he tore across the ground. And then, all at once, he stopped. Pushed his legs stiff, moved his head to the side and dropped low into a slight skid. Blistering to frigid. He was all stillness, all flexed muscle and pause. No movement. Slowly, Bjorn flicked his ears and pulled into a trot, glancing around curiously and then dismissively as he decided that he did in fact know where he was. On occasion, he would get lost on these morning excursions, confused by the bending and twisting scenery that was exclusive to the woods and marshes of his home. He'd wander in circles until a raven would feel obligated to help the young pup, chirping and croaking his way back to Chalandra and Nirco's safety. Other times, he'd be stuck to only whines and howls and the eventual hope that even Nirco himself would find and subsequently chastise him for being so careless. For days after he'd make sure to stay within reach of the pack until the itching sensation to lose himself again would be too much to resist. It was a cycle, although one that was becoming longer and longer. Bjorn was learning the land better as time went on, and the current record stood at just under half a moon since Chalandra had irritatingly been forced to save her soul-searching son from his wanderings.

Today however, was no such day. He was equally free and knowledgeable about this particular tract of land. Pleased with himself, Bjorn moved over a slight rise, immediately slipping into a crouch as he spotted a collection of grouse scattered out before him. He made move to furtively slink behind a nearby bristle bush and settled in, his blue eyes flashing as he watched and wiggled with excitement. Maybe he could try his paw at hunting alone. Although Nirco had allowed him to tail along on hunting parties, he hadn't exactly been much use. He found hunting to be a very odd game of running and pausing, running and pausing. The whole idea was a little absurd and try as Bjorn might, he struggled even in his most focused attempts. He felt the way Nirco looked at him in those moments. He felt it and it burned hot in his throat, coursed through his blood, and pricked anxieties in his self-confidence. Both Nirco's and Chalandra's hunting prowess had seemingly eluded him. With hope that maybe things would unfold differently, Bjorn lay in wait, his young mind trying to decipher what his next move should be.

✧✧✧

notes !
Cutie needs a table header ugh. Also, i put him around 5-6 months because I really want to be able to play his growing up with Nirco and Chacha. <3

tags !
@ravenn Ὀδύσσεια♐

word count !
604

[TORTUGA]

✝o r t u g a

It had been many moons since Tortuga had been exiled from his home. It had been difficult, each day more tiresome than the last. He’d recovered from the wounds his mate – or perhaps ex-mate, now – had dealt him, and he’d learned to survive life alone as he once had. He still missed Irrsin with each passing day. He missed Kasimira, his daughter Dresna, Adali, and even Zy, who had been particularly helpful in the days since Tortuga had been shunned from his home. In fact, it had been Zy who’d braved the journey into Einheit to speak with the she-wolf who ruled there, Sinead, who was also rumored to be a new mother. It was from Sinead that Tortuga had learned of a certain silvery fae’s time spent in the sweltering heat of the desert, the Groavche alpha who had rescued her…and the sole male pup who she’d given birth to moments before her liberation. The news had made Tortuga’s stomach coil into knots; there was no way to prove that the rumored son was his, but somehow, he knew.


Still, he could not rest until he had seen so with his very own eyes. It had haunted his dreams, had preyed upon his thoughts even when he was awake, driving him very nearly mad until at last the massive ivory brute gave in to his urges and turned his paws towards Groavche. It took him several days to reach the swamp-like territory, though truly he was in no hurry. His mind raced as the landscape gradually turned murky, the canopy above thickening as he approached the borders. When at last he scented them, he did not cross; instead the male paced along them, hoping for…what? A glimpse of a wolf who may possibly have been sired by him in a bout of infidelity?


And then, as if the gods thought his life was one particularly amusing joke, Tortuga spotted a flash of silver-gray crouched low in the brush just over the border – at the exact moment that the prey the wolf was hunting spotted Tortuga and fled. His eyes did not move from the familiar fur of the wolf, however. Had it not been for the male’s obvious young and masculine scent, Tortuga might have mistaken him for Chalandra herself. But no…this was not her, though it was very clearly the son that Sinead had informed them of. Was he imagining it, or were the young brute’s eyes just a shade darker than Chalandra’s, mixed somewhere between her own and Tortuga’s shade? He could not be sure, and for a moment he stood there silent before realizing how he must seem hovering just over the border.


”Forgive me,” he said immediately, ensuring that his posture was relaxed so that he did not seem threatening. ”I did not mean to scare off your meal. I hope I did not startle you.” And then he, the normally eloquent and charming brute, was at a loss for words as he stared. But gods, he was nearly the spitting image of his mother, and the memories that flooded were overwhelming. ”I just…” Once more he broke off, shaking his head, a wry smile pulling at his muzzle. ”My name is Tortuga. May I ask yours?”

NOTES: ugh I am so excited for this <3 | WORDS: 541 | TAG: »Image / BJÖRN

[BJÖRN]

» B J Ö R N

With the changing of the winds (and possibly even Iudex's will), Bjorn's game ended quite prematurely. The grouse began to flee as soon as the scent became suspect, and the young grey male rose from his hunter crouch to pause in dismay. One second, possibly two. And then, in a last, ditch effort he sprinted off, efforts clearly in vain as he bolted wildly, almost recklessly across the field. Frustrated and without an idea of what to do, Bjorn made a leap at the last bird, his claws brushing tail lengths of air. Cross with the situation, the grey wolf spat curses at the sky, slightly mimicking his mother at the end of a failed hunt.

Bjorn finally huffed once more before turning away, his blue eyes flashing clear irritation. It was then that he spotted the intruder. Having been so consumed with his hunt and what it could mean for him, Bjorn realized (too late) he'd been ignorant to the scent that now dangled in full form. His eyes immediately grew wide and his fur rose uncomfortably along the back of his neck. Apprehensively, an upper lip quivered.

"Forgive me, I did not mean to scare off your meal. I hope I did not startle you."

Silence fell between the two wolves, with Bjorn simply shocked into muteness from the swift unexpectedness of being caught unaware in his own territory. Overall, there was little to lose sleep over in Groavche, for not many wolves sought out the veiled marshes for refuge or challenge. But his parents had always made a point to instill vigilance, even unwarranted caution when roaming in the borderlands. They could be dangerous places for a young wolf like himself, especially alone and without the security a pack's proximity presented. This was precisely what Nirco and Chalandra had been warning him about. His heart beating out of his chest, Bjorn, said nothing and adjusted himself into an alpha stance he prayed resembled his father.

”I just… My name is Tortuga. May I ask yours?”

"My name?"

The first thing to go was his posture, in quirking a brow at the male. Voice portraying his obvious confusion, Bjorn spoke before he even had a moment to consider the question. He'd expected the white wolf to demand Nirco's counsel, possibly his presence regarding a territorial dispute; and yet, here he was, requesting only his name. There wasn't any sense of urgency in his voice and his scent was calm, collected, even friendly. Bjorn, in all his young naivety, found it easy to follow suit and began quickly processing his options. Maybe this Tortuga was here to talk with Nirco. Maybe he was a neighboring ally or a friend of his mother's. If that was the case, he would need help navigating the territory. Curiosity getting the better of him, Bjorn leaned forward earnestly.

"I'm Bjorn. Can I ask why exactly you're in Groavche territory?"

He outstretched a paw in greeting and grinned sheepishly.

"I mean, if you're here to see Nirco, I can take you to him."

The young male's eyes blinked unabashedly at the other and he made sure not to dismiss his eye contact. He faintly recalled his mother telling him eye contact was "...most important in dealing with affairs." Although the lost prey had been momentarily forgotten, Bjorn internally reminded himself to be cognizant of his surroundings. Waiting, he scented the air for the possibility of others. Nothing.

✧✧✧

notes !
ahhhh he's so innocent right now

tags !
@ravenn Ὀδύσσεια♐

word count !
573