A debt to be paid.
In truth, the trial had offered little insight to what had come to pass between the witch, Moss and Germanicus. Akavir had never been fully convinced the man had made a calculated misstep to purposely allow the menace to escape, but Moss had been adamant—and sick.
Still, the wish of his Gamma had been to spare the man, regardless the outcome, but Silvertongue had demanded debts to be paid.
And so he stood at the borders of Kvarsheim, face hardened, gaze cast to the rolling grey clouds above before letting loose a call to summon both men he sought.
The world was heavy on hia shouldwrs as of late. And he longed to set it down. But to be a peaceful man. A wolf who had aged well it was needed of him to be the mediator.
So with slow tired steps he found his way to the borders and he dipped his head down.
Akavir you call for Germanicus. I hope he is hunting as i asked.
germanicus heard akavir and though he had told himself he would not, he thought of moss.
how she had looked at the end of it, and he bitten through with shame.
surely that was why the leader of swiftcurrent came now.
the roman was prompt. he dipped his head to the creekwolf and set down his burden of hares beside gunnar's feet.
but he was silent thereafter.
Gunnar arrived—Akavir’s muzzle dipped with a silent greeting that held respect for not just the more elder man, but rank, as he stood upon the edges of his land. “Gunnar,” he offered in a quiet rumble—though little time was required to fill with small talk, for Germanicus was efficient upon his arrival.
Again, another silent greeting with the tip of his muzzle, his eyes fixated upon the silent soldier. “Akashingo. I want to know the way there.”
A dip of his muzzle downward. A small smile. Akavir
He could say no more before yhe former soldier was upon them and Akavir made his questions.
Gunnar blinked. Ash Paw knew the way too, but she had told him in confidence that Silvertongue didn't trust them. He thought about it and then erring on the side of caution.
As an ally i feel that I should share that my cousin Ash Paw star of riverclan has been there and it upset both crowfeather and silvertongue emensely. So just tread carefully.
it was not for moss that akavir had come, it was akashingo.
gunnar spoke and germanicus heeded. it had been near a year since he had visited the palace, and yet in his mind leapt the trails, the scratch of cliffside.
"akashingo lies directly across the sunspire."
the yellowpair eyes remained unreadable.
"with your permission, gunnar, i will take you there, akavir."
Another warning for the palace of Akashingo, it seemed. Germanicus, however, spoke only of where it lie—and this requested permission from Kvarsheim to journey with hi, to which he turned a careful eye to.
He held no qualm against the man. Silvertongue did. And Miss placed mistrust upon him. And so the Mayfair felt it best to be far more wary of his potential journeyman than the place they sought.
I’ve heard rumours of it,
was what he offered to Gunnar—not revealing his true intent for travel, but also hoping to soothe the man’s concern. Akavir did not tread there lightly.
But he would go there for his missing Lilitu.
Gunnar nodded to both. If you need another travel companion we could offer Ikaros, or Tauris. I would offer but i would probably slow you young men down.
A smile to them both and he shifted. His warning heeded and that was all he had intended. Now he was glad to offer assistance.
"i have been away from akashingo a long time, and i do not know what awaits us there. i wish to go alone in this."
his history with akashingo belonged to the eagle alone. he did not want to involve another.
"it was a three days' journey to reach that place from mereo. it will be six from this point."
they must leave swiftly. he would wait for gunnar to give true leave, knowing that he still trod upon unsteady ground in the stone circle.
His insight to the pack they sought was little—Silvertongue’s harsh kiss and biting words prior to his departure was reason enough for trepidation, but the fact that his daughter had been promised to some form of royalty was a red flag he could not ignore.
Germanicus seemed to hold the same thought as him—the less in numbers the better. They weren’t going to make a threatening statement. This was recon.
I think it’s wise if Kvarsheim and Riverclan’s existence remain unknown to Akashingo,
he offered to Gunnar, his gaze drifting between both men.
Six days of travel from here. Six back. That was if weather was agreeable and their pace kept. Who knew how long they would remain there… Not long, he hoped.
He was loathe to be away from his children. But Lilitu’s absence for months on end has become more worrisome.
slams wren down on this thread for funsies! absolutely do not have to involve her if y'all don't want, i just wanted her to be nosy lolol
She'd followed his scent, after she parted from Silvertongue. Should she have? Maybe not.
And in such a journey, she found herself in the land of Kvarsheim. Unfamiliar to her still, and yet she continues with confidence.
And it's at last that she finds him, conversing with unfamiliar faces, and she has to mentally remind herself that they are friends to the Creek. Akavir,
she is soft with her inquiry, as though not to startle him. what's, uh, what's goin' on?
Gunnar noticed as another showed up and though he felt it rude to interject herself into the conversation. She was not one of his wolves and therefore he had no say. Perhaps Akavir was alright with that.
He titled his head and then to the other two.
Safe travels to you both. Be careful and please let me know when you return and what you found out.
last for me! <3
a woman now, not of kvarsheim.
germanicus nodded to the patriarch of the stone circle. "i will return."
to akavir, a nod, and then he left the man to converse with the unknown she-wolf. he would wait for the swiftcurrent man on the borders.
and in his heart, something loosening, to know he would be ranging once more.
No sooner did his suggestion to keep the majority of the valley’s inhabitants off the radar of the palace did his name come from behind—drawing his muzzle up sharply, eyes drifting to find Wren trailing closer to him. Surprise flickered across his features momentarily. “Wren?”
Gunnar excused them then—Germanicus offering a silent nod as he drifted further down the borders of Kvarsheim, no doubt settling his thoughts as they prepared to leave. To Gunnar he would give a nod as well—and with that, a gentle press of his shoulder to the Gamma, slowly trailing after the direction of Germanicus, though keeping his tone hushed. Why was she here? “Is everything okay at the creek?” Then, a quickening in his chest. “Are the pups okay?”
The wolves of the Stone Circle did not stick around long, much less introduce themselves to her. And it's that which brings the onset of embarrassment, of a feeling that she should not be here and the thoughts of what the hell she was doing.
But yet, she had not even seen Akavir since her return home, since—
And there had to be something going on. Something that she felt she deserved to know of. He himself said Swiftcurrent needed her.
The kids are fine,
she assures, a coolness to her tone. everything's fine, I just, uh, wanted to... talk to you.
She wasn't sure how to phrase this next question. Bumbling over herself, following wherever it is he is headed towards with a trudge to all four feet. Look, I just-- I've hardly even seen you in weeks, and then I find you all the way out here,
voice hardly above a whisper, saucer-shaped eyes doing more of the talking for her. Concern lies in the furrow of her brow. Is something going on? You're going... somewhere, wh-- where are you going?
The kids were okay—he uttered a soft breath, not realizing he had been holding it since his question.
They moved slowly—the tilt of his head in her direction revealing his focus was upon her, and as he heard the concern in her voice, he slowed even more, footsteps coming to a standstill as he swept his eyes over her with a furrowed brow. Was she worried of their last meeting—the tension that had coiled between them… her, fleeing him, tears in her eyes. The corners of his mouth twitched in a downward frown before he made to press his forehead against hers quietly—camaraderie. Was that not what she sought from them?
He remained quiet for a moment—still in the otherwise gloomy day—taking in the moment and allowing her nervousness to subside. “Across the mountains. I haven’t spoken much about it because I don’t want it to be on the pack’s list of concerns,” he offered, only then pulling back gently. “There’s a place called Akashingo that Germanicus knows the way to. Allegedly, a kingdom. It doesn’t seem like a good place to get caught up in… but my eldest daughter is tied to this place and I haven’t seen her in months. I’m going to look for her.”
It was the simplest way to explain it.
It also lacked his deeper thoughts—that perhaps, a mission or journey would temper his own concerns and mood.
And with the touch of his forehead to hers, Wren emits a gentle sigh. He wasn't... angry with her. At least she had that in her favor.
She listens intently; Akashingo, his daughter. I've heard of it, kinda,
she idly comments. When he pulls back, she does the same, but she stays close; almost hovering. A shoulder, for him, if he needed it.
This truly was not any of her business. She knew little to nothing of Akashingo, of any of the packs in the region. Akavir's daughter was not her own. And yet, with the way he describes it, the worry laced in every word, the thought of him going with only one other sparks a fear that he may never return.
Do you want me to go with you?
is what she settles on asking. Not even as a packmate, just-- as a friend. That... scares me, Akavir.
her gaze is cast in the direction the wolf now known as Germanicus had gone. I know you won't be alone, but... we need you to be safe. I need you to be safe.
It’s a strange place they’re in right now—the hesitant beginning of camaraderie given when only a week or more ago she had believed he did not trust her—that Colt was at the forefront of her loyalty.
Now, an admittance that she didn’t like the idea of him being in danger—and he gave a soft laugh, if only from recalling his recent words traded with Arric… That Mae would be set out to find him and directly bring him home, if only out of her furious spite.
“I'll be as safe as I ever manage to keep myself. Germanicus is a seasoned ranger,” he murmurs, eyes drifting from Wren to study the man, waiting quietly at the edge of the borders for them. Unreadable.
“The Creek would be better if you stayed there—Moss is still sick, Bellatrix is nursing, and Arric has his hands full…” He trailed off, that lingering pause. “But that’s not an order. If you want to come, you can.”
She hadn't entirely expected him to leave the choice to her. Shifting her weight from one side to the other on heavy paws, she pauses.
It was true that Swiftcurrent had many things going for it at once; new faces who perhaps needed more than one set of eyes on them, the children, the nursing woman, the sickly woman. Would it be selfish to leave them alone? But at the same time, what purpose did Wren serve staying home aside from a sitting duck? None of those tasks were things she was particularly skilled in; babysitting, postpartum care, medicine. But what she was...
Germanicus wouldn't mind?
she questions, a slight quiver laced within. She locks eyes with him, pale sunflower melting into warm brown. The ground between them was shaky at best, and this she knew; an unresolved tension, a body that still held the echoes of want for his. But perhaps this could be an opportunity to make things more solid. Or convince herself that she was doing something purposeful, that Akavir trusted her. I told you I-- I wanted to do right by you, didn't I?
She questioned if Germanicus would mind—Akavir’s response was nothing but a shake of his head. He doubted the ranger minded—only that they took to his words when he gave them, and the advice he might proffer during the journey.
Her claim caused his gaze to wander over her—intrigued, but accepting of it. She felt she had something to prove—he wouldn’t argue against her, if this was how she felt she needed to give back to the pack.
“Let’s go, then,” he rumbled, and with that, began to lope in the direction of Germanicus. Their journey would be long enough—best to leave as quickly as possible. When closer to the creek, they could notify
@Arric that Wren was going as well—maybe the Beta would worry less, at the very least.
He hadn't argued, and for this, she was something along the lines of thankful. At the very least, she owed him protection, companionship; anything that would ease the guilt and take her mind off of the unspoken memory of his lips against her neck.
And maybe they'd never mention it, leave it to gather dust in a lonesome corner, or it would somehow come to a head. But for now that was not a concern, and so she follows behind him as the land of Kvarsheim begins to fade from view.
And all the while, she thinks of Silvertongue. Business would need to be tended to when she made her return to the valley.