Wolf RPG
Sleeping Dragon Out of my league - Printable Version

+- Wolf RPG (https://wolf-rpg.com)
+-- Forum: In Character: Roleplaying (https://wolf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=5)
+--- Forum: Archives (https://wolf-rpg.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=11)
+--- Thread: Sleeping Dragon Out of my league (/showthread.php?tid=14829)



Out of my league - Wildfire - April 25, 2016

There were three leaders in Drageda, Wildfire knew. Her feelings for two of them were strong but complicated. And she didn't know the third at all. She had seen @Gyda in passing, of course, especially during the failed wartime efforts. But she had yet to meet the second Alpha properly. Honestly, the fact that there were two Alpha females sort of threw Wildfire for a loop. But then she decided she didn't really mind it. The more women and less men in power, the better. That was probably a sexist thing to think, yet the yearling felt more at ease, knowing she was in a matriarchal society.

Not long after parting ways with Thuringwethil and making her way back to the territory, Wildfire decided she would put her tracking skills to good use and try to locate the final leader. It was difficult not getting distracted by the gorgeous April weather around her and the occasional scent of prey—not to mention stray thoughts of the black commander—yet the Theta focused on her task. If not the Heda's counterpart, then Wildfire at least hoped to acquaint with some of the other pack mates she had yet to meet.


RE: Out of my league - Gyda - April 25, 2016

The weather was beautiful and Gyda's mood was significantly brightened by the promise of what her future would hold for her soon. She made her rounds dutifully, pausing every so often to veer and check upon the pack's caches to see which ones were in need of meats and which ones were still full. So far the Gods had been kind to them, ensuring that they had enough food to eat plus extra to store in their caches for when the herds thinned; but if there was one thing that Gyda knew it was that the favor of her Gods could turn at any moment and that as the vikings that worshiped them they could be merciless and cruel. Thus, she made small sacrifices in their honor: rodents and avian. Small things that were easy for her to hunt on her own, though she intended to provide a much bigger sacrifice to Frigga and Freyja to ensure that she did not miscarriage and that her children would survive and live full and long lives.

A scent carried upon the wind: heavily of Thuringwethil but the bearer was that of the young flame colored girl: the one that the Grounder had called to the front during the war party. This cause a small, perhaps irrational bubble of jealousy to seethe beneath her skin, dampening her mood that which had been untouched until this moment; and yet Gyda could not help but think of Wildfire — at least that's what she thought her name was — as a child (but perhaps that was hormones?); and attempted to put such things out of her mind. After all, she didn't know and if left unchecked her assumptions could easily run rampant. She had to be around the same age as her younger siblings, for she did not appear to be old enough to be of Gyda's own generation.

Gyda altered her course and soon came upon her. Her posture was dominate though not overbearing as her icy eyes fixated upon the flame colored girl. “Hello,” Gyda broke the silence, studying her for a moment. Just because she smelled like Thuringwethil didn't mean anything, Gyda attempted to reassure herself. “You are Wildfire, correct?” The Viking Queen inquired with a soft smile and a cant of her head in unbidden curiosity.

i just realized that for floki & wifi's brief mateship gyda x wifi were sister-in-laws, lmao. *is behind on everything*



RE: Out of my league - Wildfire - April 25, 2016

She struck gold. Suddenly, Wildfire found herself looking upon the statuesque figure of Drageda's other queen. The yearling immediately bowed her head, though not before catching a quick glimpse of Gyda's face. Those glacial blue eyes struck her as eerily familiar. As her own amber gaze fell to her feet, she couldn't figure out why for a moment. Then she realized that this stately woman before her reminded her of Floki. The thought of her former mate punched the breath out of her for a moment, yet she quickly shook it off. It was just a coincidence anyway. Silver fur and blue eyes weren't exactly uncommon.

"Yes, I am. You can call me Wifi if you like," the subordinate answered amiably, black tail wriggling a little. "I was looking for you. I wanted to introduce myself properly and..." Well, she wasn't sure what else she wanted with Gyda. Her lips pursed, brows screwing up slightly before she blurted (a little overly loudly), "It just seemed appropriate to acquaint myself with my new leadership?" Why did that come out as a question?


RE: Out of my league - Gyda - April 29, 2016

Wildfire. Her name suited her Gyda could not help but think as she gave the girl a once over, though for the sake of not boring her to death with something the shield-maiden assumed she'd probably heard a billion times a billion and one times she refrained from stating the obvious. She responded to Gyda's question eagerly enough, even giving a wag of her tail and offered a cute little nickname that Gyda could call her in stead if she wished. “Wifi,” Gyda tested it out, noting that with it's simplicity it also had a nice little ring to it. “I am Gyda,” The Viking Queen introduced herself offering a small little smile before she added sheepishly, “as I'm sure you already know.” Still, it had only been right she introduce herself in return.

A small chuckle left the Scandinavian's lips as Wildfire blurted, a bit louder than the conversation called for, admittedly, that she wished to “acquaint herself with her new leadership” though it had sounded like less of a statement and more of a question to the Viking Queen. “Are you nervous?” It was an odd thing, Gyda considered, yet she asked it all the same, left only to her assumptions. It was the only logical conclusion that Gyda could come to, though she couldn't help the small afterthought that she would be embarrassed if that wasn't the case at all. Gyda simply assumed, after Storm had peed himself at her assertion of dominance over him, that perhaps she was more intimidating than she'd ever dared to give herself credit for.

Nevertheless, Gyda was determined to keep going whether the embarrassment was her own of her subordinates. “Well, perhaps we should get to know each other,” That seemed, to Gyda, the best way to acquit oneself with another wolf. “Where are you from? Where you born in these Wilds or from outside them?” Not that it made much difference either way but Gyda was curious.



RE: Out of my league - Wildfire - April 29, 2016

The gray queen put her on the spot and Wildfire blurted again: "Yes." It was the truth and she wasn't much of one for lying. The yearling let out a long, low breath. "Sorry," she added, in case her anxiety was off-putting to Gyda. She could have been embarrassed by it, creating and exacerbating a dreadful cycle, but the Theta opted to make a joke instead. "I just have this weakness for gray wolves with blue eyes." Internally, she winced a bit, though her outward delivery was actually pretty smooth.

Coughing and clearing her throat, Wildfire nodded in agreement with Gyda's assessment, relaxing slightly now that the conversation was rolling somewhat. "I'd like that," she replied before answering the Alpha's questions by saying, "I was born at Redhawk Caldera. I lived there until I was nearly a year old, then spent some time at Moonspear." She swallowed a bit thickly before twitching her lips into an inquisitive smile and asking, "How about you?"


RE: Out of my league - Gyda - April 30, 2016

Rather than off-putting Wildfire's nerves were endearing to Gyda, who offered the flame kissed girl a soft, encouraging smile. “There is no need to apologize,” Gyda assured her softly, not wanting Wildfir to be a nervous wreck in her presence. There was no need for it: Storm was one thing but Wildfire was neither an object of Gyda's ire nor was she a prisoner and thus Gyda hoped to assure her that there was nothing to be nervous around her for. Though, perhaps, she was more barbaric then other leaders of the many packs that not inhabited the Wilds Gyda did not think she was all that different than Thuringwethil. While they held their differences their cultures were, in the grand scheme of things, not actually fairly similar. An appreciative hum resounded within the contours of Gyda's elegant throat at Wildfire's smooth line and Gyda allowed herself to be flattered. “Is that so?” Gyda inquired, a flirtatious edge to her playful tone. Little did Gyda know the truth behind Wildfire's statement.

“I was born in Horizon Ridge and my family relocated to Stavanger Bay when my brothers and I were a few months old,” There was a slight, very Ragnar-esque cant to Gyda's head as she tilted it ever so slightly to the side, studying Wildfire for a moment. “I left with my father's preistess wife when she discovered she was pregnant and spent some time leading Odinn's Cove.” Because “leading” sounded much better than usurping and killing via the Vikings traditions to get her position of Viking Queen. "And I reunited with Thuringwethil on this very mountain and here we are." There was a soft laugh and a roll of her shoulders, but Gyda had believed all along it was Fate. Her life had already been decided for her, perhaps long before she'd even been a consideration in Thistle's mind.

lmao i just realized that in actuality gyda & wildfire are related. they're cousins. xD *realizes all these things now*



RE: Out of my league - Wildfire - April 30, 2016

Holy crap, I forgot too! LOL.

Of course, the mention of the bay sent alarm bells ringing in the back of Wildfire's mind, making it difficult to process any of the rest of Gyda's words (except for another buzzword: Odinn). She suddenly had a bad feeling that the resemblance between this woman and her own ex-mate was no coincidence. The Theta could feel her fight-or-flight response rearing its ugly head, yet she stayed rooted to the spot as she deliberated whether to push for more details and fish out the connection, or just leave it.

In the end, curiosity killed the cat, so to speak. Swallowing thickly again and ignoring the flutter of her pulse in her throat, Wildfire queried, "Who are your parents, if you don't mind me asking? I'm somewhat familiar with Stavanger Bay," she hedged, trying to sound offhanded. "Mine are Peregrine and Fox Redhawk," Wildfire offered in exchange, in case the information might mean anything to Gyda.


RE: Out of my league - Gyda - April 30, 2016

While Gyda had taken note of Wildfire's deliberation she thought nothing of it aside from what Wildfire had already confirmed to her: nerves. It was easy, Gyda realized, for her to say that there was nothing to be nervous about — because in her mind there wasn't — but it was understandably probably a whole other thing to cease being. Gyda wasn't often nervous, but then again she'd never been shy or had any reason to be such. She was cunning and quiet at times but not shy and perhaps in the respect of her parents' upbringing she was not easily intimidated. After all, it was hard to find any appearance intimidating after seeing Ragnar's marred flesh and empty eye socket. He had looked monstrous the last time she'd seen him but she had loved him dearly even as they exchanged heated words of ire and arguments.

She was caught up in the bittersweet memory of her last encounter with Ragnar that Gyda almost missed the words that Wildfire spoke next. Gyda brought herself to focus upon the flame colored girl before her, her ears cupping forth as the question hung in the air between them, followed by the fact that Wildfire was somewhat familiar with the Bay. “Ragnar Loðbrók, his queen wife Thistle Cloud, and his priestess wife Nerian.” Nerian had been, perhaps awkwardly, more of a “sister” role than a mother role to Gyda, admittedly, for it was the shield-maiden that had taken care of and escorted the priestess to the safety of the Earl Sif of Freyja's Moor, but still the Viking Queen felt obligated to mention her.

“Peregrine,” Gyda repeated the name, knowing it well enough. “For a while his daughter...your sister, Junior was a guest at our home.” Gyda had never met Peregrine personally but she remembered Junior and that there had been talks of an alliance between the two packs despite Ragnar's inherent dislike of them. Shortly after, though, Nerian had discovered she was expecting and Gyda had set out with her so if the alliance had happened or not was left to the unknowns to the shield-maiden.



RE: Out of my league - Wildfire - April 30, 2016

Oh, jeez, Wildfire thought inanely as Gyda confirmed her worst suspicions. She was looking at Floki's older sister, no doubt about it now. It was entirely possible Floki might have mentioned her before. But, then, his relationship with his natal family had always been very complicated. He had been about to shed the Lodbrok surname entirely by the time they became mates. She flashed back to that moment—"Does this mean I get to be Mrs. Lodbrok?" "Maybe."—and her chest tightened.

Then Gyda brought up another name that made Wildfire's insides clench. She knew nothing of Junior's foray as a youngster, as Peregrine had never spoken of her again—at least to his other children—following her execution. So none of that really mattered, even though the level of connection she had with her second queen most certainly took the young Redhawk entirely by surprise.

Now the question was: should she mention her history with Floki? Wildfire didn't like lying, even by omission, so she supposed it would be best. For the moment, though, she found her throat closing against the utterance of his name. Instead, Wildfire seized upon something else entirely, another interesting tidbit Gyda had mentioned. "So your parents were into, uh..." Oh, gosh, what was the word? "Multiple partners?" she choked out a bit awkwardly, after failing to come up with the proper terminology.


RE: Out of my league - Gyda - May 01, 2016

Wildfire didn't elaborate on what of Stavanger Bay she was familiar with and accordingly, Gyda didn't push, left to her assumptions that she'd probably heard the name and perhaps the name of Ragnar in passing. It wasn't her place to pry, anyway. Gyda had to remind herself often that not every one was as open as she tended to be towards her pack mates and thus she deigned to listen to what they were comfortable sharing with her and try to remember not to pry just to sate her curiosity. Wildfire seemed to have zeroed in on polygamy aspect of her parent's relationship(s) and as Wildfire visibly appeared to struggle for the right word Gyda couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped her. She supposed to others who took only one mate it was a strange concept but Gyda had grown up with it and had found that in Odinn's Cove it wasn't truly as uncommon as she'd first thought.

Gyda remembered Thistle's reluctance, her mother had been angry with Ragnar for months after it and yet she'd agreed. For a while it had caused a strife between her and her siblings; though whether those petty rifts remained was unknown. It had been a very long time since Gyda had seen either of her brothers. “Polygamy?” Gyda offered her simply with an elegant rise and fall of her shoulders before she reclined back upon her haunches. “It is ...difficult. My father was of course, and Thistle was angry at first but I think she was beginning to love Nerian before we left. It didn't appear to be easy, but they made it work while Nerian remained.”

“I did not realize that it was common in my culture until I went to Odinn's Cove.” Gyda admitted softly. Stavanger Bay had been meant to be the Cove's sister but the truth was Ragnar had not enforced the culture and religion of his home upon his followers of the Bay and it had been a pale imitation to the real thing.



RE: Out of my league - Wildfire - May 01, 2016

Gyda supplied the term and Wildfire just nodded vigorously. She didn't expect the incoming mention of difficulty with the lifestyle, however. She was not necessarily intimately acquainted with the ins and outs of polyamory, yet she knew both her parents practiced it. Their guidelines and attitudes sounded quite different from those practiced in Gyda's family. For starters, Peregrine and Fox did not have multiple spouses; their extramarital affairs were, perhaps unfairly, secondary to their own marriage. And, of course, they only took same-sex lovers on the side.

"My parents do something similar, though it sounds like they play by a different set of rules," Wildfire said without embellishment. The details were her parents' business, it was just interesting that this was just one more thing she and Gyda had in common. She idly wondered if Floki had ever considered multiple lovers, although he'd more or less given up on his birth family's traditions. It didn't really matter much now anyway, did it? It didn't matter at all.

"I actually know your brother." The words just whooshed out of her while she was busy thinking of what to say next. She felt heat creeping across her skin. "At least, I think Floki's your brother? Right?"


RE: Out of my league - Gyda - May 07, 2016

“It is a much more common practice in my father's culture then I realized. Thistle was his true love but I think he loved Nerian too,” Personally, the idea of loving more than one wolf at a time was something of an unusual concept to Gyda. She understood it was common, and understood how it might be possible, at least in theory. In practice ...she couldn't say she had that. For the longest of times the idea of settling down had felt like little more than a ball and chain to the shield-maiden whom wanted nothing more than to fight and to ear scars akin to Ragnar's own battle wounds. “but those things don't matter much these days.” They were in the past, and she did not wish to tarnish the memories of Ragnar she had with the most powerful and painful memories she carried like a burden upon her. Forgiveness was a slow thing for Gyda, and months later she struggled to forgive herself for arguing with him the last time she'd seen him alive.

Wildfire reclaimed her attention when she mentioned that she knew Gyda's brother. For the briefest of moments, the viking queen was tempted to ask her which brother, though there was a small furrow of puzzlement between her brows when the flame kissed girl mentioned Floki. Her thoughts, immediately, had went to Gunnar and Mercury — the brother's she'd grown up with, the ones she knew — and upon the instant moment the name Floki took Gyda to the trickster healer of Odinn's Cove as opposed to her faceless brother. She canted her head to the side and then it hit her and she breathed out a soft “Oh!” as the realization sunk in. “When I went to Moonspear to speak with my mother she spoke of them...Floki, Jorunn, Kaylan and Ragna, I think.” Three brothers and one sister, and while partially Gyda felt bad about not seeking them out individually she didn't linger upon that guilt for too long. “Yes, he's my brother although I have yet to meet him, or my other baby siblings.” Though, Gyda supposed baby wasn't the right term to apply to them anymore. They were probably around Wildfire's own age these days, if she had to guess.



RE: Out of my league - Wildfire - May 09, 2016

Although the name definitely meant something to Gyda, as evidenced her her reaction, it soon became clear as day that she didn't actually know Floki personally. Wildfire felt her limbs loosen a little at this information. She was glad for it, if only because it meant things were slightly less complicated. Her lips twitched faintly in humor when the queen referred to Floki and his sibling as babies, understanding the sentiment even though she had only ever known Floki, his brothers and sister as (nearly) full-grown adults.

Now, should she mention the exact nature of her relationship? Did it matter? She decided it didn't, which could have meant Wildfire just brushed it aside, but it was for this very reason that she admitted, "I was romantically involved with him. It didn't work out." Although that was as simple and straightforward as anything—not a drop of drama in sight—Wildfire's heart still beat rapidly in her chest as she anticipated a reaction of some sort from Gyda. She wished she could have said they parted on civil terms but of course that wasn't particularly true anymore, not following the circumstances of her departure from Moonspear.

But before the leader could even formulate a response, today's penchant for blurting reared its head again as Wildfire hastily said, "He's doing well, as far as I know, and I wish him only the best. But it's all in the past." There. She couldn't speak for him or say they were still friends or anything as idyllic as all that but at least Gyda would know Wildfire wasn't carrying some sort of torch (for better or for worse) for her unknown baby brother.


RE: Out of my league - Gyda - May 14, 2016

“Ah, I see,” Gyda spoke when Wildfire admitted that she'd been romantically involved with Floki — the one that she hadn't met, Gyda found that she had to remind herself. There was a spark of curiosity as to what drove the two young lovers apart — literally to opposite sides of the Wilds at that — but Gyda didn't pry. She couldn't claim that it her either way, truly. She didn't know her younger siblings beyond their names and so she could not offer Wildfire anything other than to simply let it drop. Which, given by the girl's following statement, seemed like it was all that she wanted to do. “Whatever happened between you two is your business, and yours alone. It doesn't involve me.” Thus: she held no grudges, no suspicions. Ragna, Jorunn, Floki and Kaylan were not truly apart of her life other than names, which Gyda realized might all they would ever be to her: names. As she feared that any potential children she may have would be to her mother. Gyda hadn't ever wanted to be so disconnected from her family but in the very northern reaches of the Wilds she felt quite isolated from them. Besides, she wasn't so sure things were entirely patched with Thistle and with Ragnar gone ...she sometimes wondered if he'd been what held them together. Without their center they had just drifted away from one another.

“How was Thistle when you saw her last? Good?” Gyda inquired softly. It was an errant allowance to change the subject somewhat, but also her way of checking up on her mother as much as she could. The news would be old, Gyda realized, but surely Thistle had told someone of Gyda's return to the Wilds and that if something were to have happened someone would have tried to contact her by now.



RE: Out of my league - Wildfire - May 17, 2016

It seemed Floki's elder sister—and it was as strange to think of her that way as it was ineffable—did not want to pry any further into the breakup. Wildfire inwardly sighed in relief. She was glad she'd mentioned it, if only to unburden herself from any lies by omission, yet even happier that they wouldn't be lingering on the subject. She truly didn't wish ill will upon Floki, yet that didn't mean she wanted to sit here and dwell on the singular most painful part of her past.

Gyda inquired after her mother, which shouldn't have surprised Wildfire. The yearling's lips parted, then closed again as she thought back on what she knew of Thistle. She had been a very sweet and soft-spoken woman, though Wildfire hadn't known her all that well. Thistle hadn't been very involved in the day-to-day life of the pack, remaining sequestered away somewhere. Wildfire had always been under the impression that Thistle still hadn't coped with Ragnar's death.

She hated to tell Gyda that but since she was on a roll with brutal honesty today, she replied, "Truthfully? She was always sort of on the fringes. I never saw her much and didn't really get the chance to get to know her. What I did know was that she was still grieving over the loss of your father." She paused, then added, "I'm sorry, I wish I had a happier update," as Wildfire shifted a little restlessly.


RE: Out of my league - Gyda - May 30, 2016

The Thistle Cloud that Wildfire described to Gyda was not the Thistle that Gyda had known. Her mother had been cool and collected even when standing between Ragnar and whatever unfortunate fool had gotten upon the Viking's bad side. On the fringes had never been words anyone would have uttered about Thistle...before Ragnar's death, it seemed. Perhaps, Gyda realized, in the same way she was a stranger to her mother, her mother had become a stranger to her. For a moment, guilt twisted in Gyda's gut enough to cause a flash of pain across her expression before she composed herself. If she would not have been at Odinn's Cove playing the warrior queen that Ragnar's loyalists had wanted her to be...if she would have only escorted Nerian and returned home perhaps she could have been there, perhaps she could have saved Ragnar. Perhaps she could have saved her mother and aided in raising her siblings. It had become too easy to misconstrue what had happened — all out of Gyda's control — to be her fault. The short answer was: it wasn't. The Gods had decided their Fates long ago and there was nothing that could be done to change what they had already ordained. Gyda knew this, but she supposed her guilt and the what-if scenarios were only natural to feel and ponder.

“I wish you could have known her before,” Gyda whispered with a sad smile to Wildfire. “She was something fierce to behold, I suppose Ragnar's impact upon her life was too strong for her to move on from.” Something that in some ways Gyda understood well. “It is alright,” The Viking Queen spoke to assure the flame colored girl. “I had noticed that myself when I had ventured south to visit before Thurin and I founded Sleeping Dragon officially.” But there was little to be done about it.



RE: Out of my league - Wildfire - May 31, 2016

Wildfire bobbed her head as if in agreement. Floki had told her a bit about both his parents, naturally, and while she had only met Thistle once or twice, she had sensed the fierceness deep down inside the grieving widow. It was kind of frightening, actually, how a bond could run so deep that when it broke (through death), it also shattered the wolf left behind so completely. She might have envied such a passionate romance once upon a time, even considered that kind of love idyllic, but the significantly more worldly Wildfire suddenly realized how all such relationships inevitably ended: with a breakup or death. Every marriage ended in heartache of some variety or another.

She hadn't meant to have that little epiphany just now. The yearling blinked, amber eyes gone a little glassy, and looked down at her feet. It was a bleak and sobering realization, yet she couldn't deny the truth of it. Would she ever find love again? Did she even want to? Had Floki—and Goober—left her as permanently damaged goods? Why was she having all these thoughts while standing here in front of Gyda?

Catching herself, she blinked upward and offered her leader a soft and partially apologetic look. "Got caught up in my thoughts, just then," she admitted, then shuffled her feet a bit. "I feel like I've taken up enough of your time for one day. Think I'm going to head out and hunt..." She squinted over her shoulder, eyeballing the beautiful April landscape, assured that the gorgeous weather would draw out all sorts of prey for her to capture. "Would you like me to bring you back anything?" she offered, black tail beginning to wave as she regarded the silver queen a final time.


RE: Out of my league - Gyda - June 12, 2016

“It is alright,” Gyda assured her with softened tones. “It happens to all of us.” Gyda wasn't insulted nor mad. She, too, was known for getting caught up in her thoughts. “You will never take up my time, Wildfire,” Gyda protested the flame kissed girl's words with a soft shake of her head, her ears slicking back to rest at half mast atop her skull. “If you ever wish to talk, about anything, you are always more than welcome to come find me.” She would always make time for her subordinates. Ragnar had when he had led Stavanger Bay, they had all been important to him, and thus Gyda strove to emulate that. It was never a bother for them to seek her out to talk. In fact, sometimes it. was a nice change from the every day routine she'd managed to put herself in. “No, I'm alright thank you.” Gyda spoke to Wildfire with a soft smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “I will see you later.” Gyda spoke before she turned and began to make her departure.



RE: Out of my league - Wildfire - June 13, 2016

The Viking Queen's words of reassurance took Wildfire by surprise, in the best possible way. She had already come to like the woman, yet her kindness went a long way to dealing the deal and winning the yearling's respect. A smile flickered across her face and she dipped her head in a polite curtsy of sorts as she prepared to disembark.

"Thank you, Gyda," Wildfire said genuinely, then pivoted on a slender red heel. "Take care," she called over her shoulder as she trotted away to continue mastering her trapping skills.