Sleeping Dragon i'm going back to the start

for @Freyja :)

She had not bothered to learn the language commonly spoke by her peers. It seemed to great an effort, adjusting to a whole other tongue was rather pointless, if not for the fact she had no encountered another Trigedasleng speaking wolf besides the Commander and Gavriel. Perhaps when Gyda was co-leader of the tribe, an assimilation my have been necessary but now Heda was the sole rule, and therefore the dominant language must have been reverted to the tribal tongue. At least, she would go on telling herself that. In any case, she had been assigned a job. While she had not much use for learning, she deemed herself capable to teaching. Specifically, the ways of the culture in which she had been born to. She had gathered as much as she could from Gavriel, following The Meeting, and from what she could understand, the pack was to intergrate with what she had come there believing. There had been nothing wrong with Gyda's culture, yet, this was no Viking pack any longer. 

With the task on her mind, she sought out the boy. Gavriel's boy, assuming Gavriel would be okay with her visiting. The last time she had not been entirely welcome, and she would stay her distance if it was the case once more. Yet, since the discovery of the pale child, she had been wholeheartedly curious to their workings. She was by no means child-friendly, yet her intrigue far extended her hesitance. Loping quietly through the claimed grounds, she followed the scent of any child she child find, assuming the boy, Hvitserk, was most likely with the rest. 

It was as she scouted near the family den that Freyja came across an unfamiliar face. Though she did not meet the other directly Freyja caught a glimpse of her packmate from a distance. Keeping some space between them, the Goufa froze and examined the other as she attempted to figure out just who this wolf was. A simple look over made Freyja realize that she had never seen this wolf before and instead of heeding caution, Freyja bounded in the other’s direction.

Loping along like a leaping doe, Freyja lifted her tail and called out to the other with a yip in an attempt to catch the other’s attention. Has this other wolf have smelled strangely, she would have not approached with such vigor. But, since she did not smell anything unfamiliar, and nothing else caught her attention as much as this wolf, she bounded over with vigor and excitement-- happy to meet another packmate.

A light sound, a child-like sound was what turned her attention. She had not asked exactly how many pups roamed the tribal woods, but it did not weight on her mind. Children were relatively the same, she figured; the lines of what one knew and what the other did were subconsciously blurred in her mind that she did not have it much thought. Instead, she called, "Hvitserk?" concluding the noise just simply had to be him. Yet, as a small being, the age of the boy himself bounded up her her, her head lowered as if to meet the eyes of the child. "Hvitserk?" Her optics narrowed, head inclined slightly to the side in a questioning look, for she could not recall the patterns of the boy that would have separated the being in front of her from the boy she had been looking for. Nevertheless, what was one child than the other? Quickly dismissing the problem of whether or not she was even speaking to the right pup, she stood up straight, her mind set to a task and with limited time to carry it out. 

"Hunt," She simply spoke, a familiar word that she had come to gather rather quickly. Rebekka gave no context to the situation, but immediately set on, her eyes wavering across the scene in front of her while her instincts drove her nose to twitch; dragging in the scents of various creatures that she knew very well how to hunt. Yet, she looked for something small, something easily end-able with a snap of the jaws so that the kid may understand the process of life, chase and death rather easily. Abandoning the child's friendly greetings, she took tentative steps towards the underbrush, thick layers of bush and bramble where a rodent of some kind was bound to seek refuge from her impatient teeth. Rebekka, simply, was in no way a caretaker. Instead, she looked back to the child, Hvitserk or not and beckoned it to join, indicating it to follow her actions as she sniffed along ground; trailing a bushy-tailed animal of some kind that had not too long ago walked the path she currently traveled.

Her vigor heeded as the other greeted her by the wrong name. The hairs along her spine spiked uncomfortably and frown laid heavily on her lips as she paused before the Kru. “That’s brother,” she informed the other wolf sharply, a blaze kindling in her eyes. Without another pause, she offered a greeting. “I’m Freyja,” pride wove into her tone and her chin lifted. Though she was upset that she had been mistaken the other was quick to say something that calmed her swiftly.

Hunt.

Her eyes glistened at the word and she reached forward with interest and she nodded. “Hunt.” Yes, she was interested. Without another word spoken, the other bounded off into a nearby shrub. As she looked back, Freyja followed willingly with a smile, as if asking the dark wolf to continue alonge.

Rebekka paused only once in her search to look at the small child, blinking as it stated a new name; one of which she most likely would not remember before returning to her objective. Nose to the ground, she paced steadily in the direction of a particular small mammal, one of which she had caught a dozen times before yet would slow her pace in order for the smaller being to watch and learn. Freyja quickly followed Rebekka's actions, which she noted, and as they advanced on Rebekka became more relaxed with having the other along with her, seeing that Freyjaw was not the clumsy child she would have expected. It truly seemed the girl had a passion for the sport of hunting, one that even Rebekka could respect. Perhaps she would come to like the girl more and more, if she had the patience.

Rebekka followed the signs of a mammal's journey through the forest, at times, pausing and indicating for Freyja to observe the notable indents in the soil and broken twigs crushed by the weight of something heavier. "Look," She spoke in a indication. The grass they walked upon had been swayed and parted by the animal itself, a viable tracking source to use besides the common scent. "It moves," Many did not know there were other ways of seeking out hidden animals other than by scent, and for Freyja who's senses were still developing, this would come handy if ever needed. "Hunt with blinkas also nos," She expected the girl had to know what she meant, for she had assumed Gavriel would have been teaching his children their language. If she did not, it was not hard to translate, her eyes indicating what she was talking about had become a habit. 

The two continued along the invisible path, Freyja followed along silently with her nose lowered towards the floor. She had tracked hare before and easily caught the trail as she fell into pace alongside the peppered wolf. Freyja did not initially catch the physical evidence of the prey’s presence and it was only as she was called to that she looked up from the trail before them. Her attention followed that of Rebekka’s, her eyes falling upon the parted grass. She was confused by just why this sight was important to their hunting, but it was soon clarified. Her eyes widened at the lesson and her head bobbed as she looked up to the older wolf. Never had she taken this into account when hunting.

Her interest in the other only peaked as a familiar tongue rolled into the conversation. Smiling softly, she nodded. “Ai see.” Trigedasleng was something that was shared amongst her family and she had never spoken it to anybody outside of their tightly-knit circle.

Taking a step forward, Freyja reached down to sniff at the trail and soon found that it’s scent was rather fresh. Turning back to the other, she waved her tail. “Em’s fresh.”

It came a surprise to her when the girl returned in complete Trigedasleng, something Rebekka had expected yet the familiar language in a foreign place came a light shock. This was how it was supposed to be, unlike the sickly sweet tongue of the Teekon wolves she refused to adopt. The yearling had learned to adapt to the changes brought first by Gyda's reign and then solely Thuringwethil's; she had no wish to alter yet again what she had just struggled to learn in the first place. Yet, she was sure now that Thuringwethil took the rightful place as reigning cheiftess solely, the transition for the others would me more enteratining to observe as now the cards had turned. Freyja would never know it but the familiarity and comfort in the fact that Rebekka would not have to struggle to communicate with the girl gave her a sense of reassurance that she had come by minimally during her time in Sleeping Dragon.

Fond eyes watched as the girl carried on, leaving Rebekka to simply nod and agree. “Sha,” Rebekka's eyes wandered beyond the girl as an intake of breath signalled that their prey was not that far ahead. Yet, this was not her hunt. “Go ona, hon op em,”The woman indicated for the girl to continue following the trail — with her eyes. “Ai don meet yo der,” Believeing Freyja capable of locating the animal herself with the nessicary clues to do so, Rebekka skipped ahead, deciding it was most likely best to first investigate the animal itself than walk Gavriel's daghter into a dangerous situation. The animal was not big, yet something about it was unfamiliar to her, and so, she went on.

To her assumption, the aminal was not what she had thought. Small enough to end herself yet reminded her of a raccon-skunk type thing that did not exist where she had come from (it was a badger, really). Deciding it manageable enough, she waited within the bushes for Freyja to catch up — so she could ask the girl exactly what this thing was and how best to take it down. 

Nodding, she watched on silently as the older wolf crept off, following whatever lingered beyond the bushes. Despite her instruction, the girl took another sniff as she attempted to find out just what was beyond. It smelled very much like Twix and her brother, but there was something different about it-- something that told her that it was not one of the masked creatures.

Without another thought, but with a sense of hesitance, she followed after the Kru. Confusion quickly overcame her as she looked at the creature. It was much bigger than a raccoon and seemed much tougher than the creatures who played hide-and-seek. “Chit daun bilaik?” She asked quickly, looking up to the dark wolf as she crouched at her side.

It seemed neither female knew exactly what the creature was, exactly. Rebekka kept her eyes trained on it's shuffling movements, yet shrugged in response to the girl's question, as it had been her own. “Ai nou know,” Quizzical optics ventured as the animal moved, foraging, and completely unaware of the hunt against it. While Rebekka was an instinct-oriented creature, precautions were a necessary when in the company of an heir. When and if they chose to hunt it, Rebekka would have no experiance dealing with a creature of it's species; oblivious to how it worked, it's weaknesses and it's strengths — things she had always known before. While that every thought only drove her to do it even more, she had no wish nor intention of putting Freyja in blind while Rebekka herself did not know what to expect. “Don yu odon disha fou?” She turned to the girl. There would be less of a risk to know that the girl had experiance hunting before, and of an animal similar in size. Impatiently but unconsciously, her tail swung faster in anticipation oof the hunt.

She nodded to the adults question, a smile spreading across her lips as she looked up to Rebekka. “Sha, loda,” she offered eagerly with a wave of her tail. Though she was young, she had taken a keen interest in the sport at an early age and had been given many opportunities to practice. Whether or not the adult would believe her was still up in the air.

She had an idea of how they could take it down, but she waited for the other’s response before disclosing the plan.

When the girl confirmed her experiance, Rebekka did not hesitate to map out the plan in her head. It was a long sort of animal, the neck seemed a vulnerable point though a glance at it's feet full of talons suggested it was not the tamest of creatures. “Claws,” The woman murmurered, mentally highlighting that very important aspect of it's features. If she was correct, it would lash out upon her attempts at putting it down, causing unnecessary bodily harm and overall inconvenience. With Freyja in tow, it was something she was not willing to risk.

Yet the animal had a larger behind, unable to see past it; something that she could latch on to as it foraged away. If she pinned it, got it on it's back in a futile position, Freyja would have the time nessicary to end it's life. If something went wrong, they would be in different positions to act on instinct. This hunt would have no formal plan. “Ste en hod op gon ai signal,” The woman spoke in hushed tones so that the mamal might not become aware of their presence. Figuring the plan was set, she made a move to go, yet hesitated. It dawned on her with a sinking feeling. This was not her hunt. She was merely the teacher, not the student in the situation. It was Freyja's chance, and for the first time in Rebekka's existence, she thought about someone elses' interests other than her own. Something she had not done for anyone but herself, for it was her that had waited for others to follow her, inconsiderate to the wishes of any other. Backtracking, she came beside the girl once more.“Unless yu don a beter ide,” The woman suggested, opneing the floor to the girl until futher notice.

She nodded to the Kru’s plan, lowering herself upon the ground and readying herself for whatever command she would be given. She was aware of the dangers that this animal possessed and was ready to learn how to deal with such a roadblock. Regardless of the dangers, she was sure that the pair would prevail.

A sudden surprise came upon her as Rebekka rounded back to join her again. Looking up to the dark wolf with surprise, she nodded stiffly. “Gaf ins wap op it” she offered. “It no get in du.” She then beckoned with her muzzle showing how Rebekka would take one side and she’d take the other. She then waited, wondering how the other would respond.

Freyja voiced her plan, and no sooner later did the woman take action, pivoting to silently make her way around the unsuspecting animal. It shuffled as she watched, intent eyes peering as she moved in a position that would best guarantee her strike to be true. While the beast was significantly smaller than she, there was always a shimmer of wary that lined her conscious when confronting something new, yet by the determination in her launch, one would not have guessed.

She could feel it tense and writhe underneath her claws as she sunk them in, sparing no time attempting to get a hold on it's lower back. Yet, Rebekka had not even considered Freyja's position, much less if there was supposed to be a signal of sorts or attack strategy that they had not discussed. In her moment of hesitation, the creature took it's turn to swipe at her foreleg, snagging it's claws in the flesh above her bone. A snarl of fierce pain later, and she called out for Frejya to end it as she tried to place her nails and balance into it as it thrashed. Rebekka was loosing grip, she knew, for despite it's size, it was notably strong. Never again would she ever approach it's unworthy kind. Yet, in that moment, her head was elsewhere than focused on regret. While sure, she could maybe put it down faster than waiting for Freyja to take it's life, the reminder rung in her mind. This was not her hunt. Godamnit. While it thrashed and shrieked under her weight, she took it's misbalance at it's presented opportunity to expose it's flank, a protected area it had forgotten to block; the opportunity they had been waiting for.

It all happened in a flash. After her plan for their hunt had been shared, Rebekka was quick to slink off, taking the position upwind. As this occurred, Freyja lowered herself and began to slink forward towards their target. It was as she did this that the Kru’s cover had been blown and a gut-wrenching cry could be heard.

Reacting instantly, Freyja picked up the pace so see that it had latched onto her hunting partner. Her fur bristled as this and her gaze shifted wildly about the badger’s writhing form to quickly discover it’s exposed area.

Acting quickly, Freyja launched herself forward and quickly clamped down. She increased her pressure with every second, awaiting the moment that the thrashing would cease to exist. Eventually, that moment came. She took a step back from the huntress and the prey as she unlatched and smiled-- they had done it!

As soon as it had begun, it ended; it seemed. Freyja made quick work of placing her own grip upon the withering animal until it thrashed no more. Rebekka let it drop from her mouth. Stepping back to observe their kill, it was no clean feat but a kill nonetheless. "Well done," The woman looked to the girl with sincere eyes, a new sense of respect for the girl as an established hunter; having changed Rebekka's view of childrens capabilities. Or, perhaps, Freyja would become an acceptation to Rebekka's unacknowledged views on children and their use; greeting the heir as an adult and not a child. With more respect than she gave many fully grown adults. 

Despite the few nicks of badger claws that had indented themselves on her usually flawless clean kept complexion, she shrugged the initial struggle of as any other beginners nerves. Truly, there had been nothing to be concerned about. "Keep it, you earned it," Rebekka indicated to the animal, though truly her generosity had more to do with wanting to shove off the unwanted beast to the girl, rather than have to drag it back to the caches after just struggling to end it's life. Besides, she had done what she had come to do, and Freyja could return to Gavriel with a prize of her learning. Rebekka had no need to take any credit for getting beat up by a raccoon-beaver-beast. 

My last post in this thread! Thanks! :D

 

Freyja looked to the Kru with a sense of pride and offered a breathless, “mochof,” in response to the praise. When the offer for taking the badger happened, Freyja looked from the carcass to the hunter and nodded.

With a new goal in mind-- dragging the body back to the family den-- Freyja dipped her head to the adult and spoke her parting words. “Leida.” Perhaps the two would cross paths for another hunt, at least, Freyja hoped that they would. She was happy to have another pack member to speak with in her native tongue that also enjoyed hunting as much as she did.  

Without another word, Freyja leaned forward to grab at the body. Once it was held firmly in her mouth, Frejya began to make the long trek back, jerking the dead weight with much effort in every step that she took.