Dragoncrest Cliffs we can never go back, we can only go on and on

OwO what's this...

As @Gavriel said, finding the Drageda didn't prove terribly difficult. Finding them alive, however, was a challenge she hadn't anticipated. A thick blanket of ash had covered the area overnight, and the mountain still rumbled occasionally to ward off any would-be settlers. She spent a good half-day searching the ruins of the geological upheaval for any signs of the Heda and her following and, thankfully, turned up nothing substantial but soot and broken earth. There was, however, a scent trail leading away from the mountain. As she followed it, it was joined with more and more variations of the same banner that Thuringwethil departed Seageda with. That she now displayed proudly over the wilds.

So she followed the fading trail through forests and over plains until she laid eyes upon the Drageda's latest settlement. Massive redwoods towered above like armored sentinels and the air was crisp, clear, and... tasted vaguely of brine? Trigatao's ears pivoted as she cast her muzzle skyward to observe the snowy boughs of the great trees, and the sunless skies above. In the distance she could hear the wail of a seabird and recalled, with a smile, Seageda. This was no coincidence or, if it was, something the fates designed.

The slight she-wolf cast a cursitory glance to the nearest path that cut through the thick undergrowth and wondered, fleetingly, if Thuringwethil would tolerate an intrusion. Her wolves, if they were truly cut from their cloth, would not. This alone stayed her feet. She stood fast upon the snow and issued a howl of greeting to the wolves of Drageda.

i hope you don't mind me & eske. c:

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Eske’s ears rose, alert atop her skull as a howl tore asunder the serenity that Eske found in the methodical routine of patrolling. Unless she came across a stranger or, as in this case, someone let out a summons to the wolves of Drageda they were usually quiet and did not quite take the concentration that she found herself exerting towards her hunter trade. Though Eske was sure to put effort into it and devote her one hundred and ten percent to it when she was hunting or tracking it was her secondary trade and it would never come before her duties as Gona. The warrior princess sought to waste no time as she trotted towards the origin of the howl, her sea blue-green eyes falling upon the pale woman.

Eske’s tail curled over her spine in a display to show that (for the moment) she was the one in charge here. In truth: she held no power. She was just a Gona but she took her duties as Guardian seriously. “Chon yu bilaik? Hakom yu kamp raun hir?” Eske asked of her in her usual demanding fashion, wondering if this woman was of Seageda as the newest of the Kru’s had been or if Eske would find herself needing to translate to the common tongue.

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Of course not! Glad to thread with you! :D

She was not left waiting.

True to form, a patrolwoman emerged from the undergrowth. She was no larger nor robust than Tir herself, and the Seageda wolf found herself on even ground physically where she usually was left wanting. Still, her shrewd mind was able to decipher that this was a well-trained warrior and knew better than to assume Thuringwethil would appoint an unproven youth to her border guard. Eske was, however, deceptively beautiful. A trait, Tir hoped fleetingly, that the young gona would take healthy advantage of.

"Tirgatao, Shouna gon Seageda," she responded with a knowing smile. The words rolled from her mouth in the same measured cadence she often took with her superiors. "ai gof in @Thuringwethil, ai kru, an rein krom Dragedakru."

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Eske assessed the older woman with careful and sharp observation, noting that in a fight they would be even matched as far as build and height went. Eske wasn’t large by any means of the word and though she stood taller than her mother, Gyda, she knew that size hardly mattered. There had been many times that her shield-maiden mother had left her on the ground, with teeth lightly around her throat. Through the sting of failures over and over Eske had learned that size was not everything and that arrogance had no place on the battlefield. It would see one’s end each and every time. Though Eske did not follow in her mother’s cultural footsteps it could never be disputed that her mother was a formidable warrior and it was that part of Gyda that Eske sought to emulate. A name was given to her after her demands questions were met, satisfying Eske greatly though not enough to ebb her wariness or the dominance in her posture. She was from Seageda though Eske had garnered as much from the communication through Trigedasleng (though she was aware there were several branches under Heda’s rule). As she had already stated her credentials Eske did not need to ask what she could offer Drageda.

The use of Heda’s name was …curious to Eske whom despite knowing her for all of her life had never sought to call her “Thuringwethil” or “Thur” as she had heard Gyda (and Wildfire) address Heda as. The use of name over title implied a closeness. “Yu laik raun kom Heda?” Eske inquired, assuming it to be so since she had spoken Heda’s name with obvious familiarity.

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True, it wasn't often Tirgatao used Heda's given name, and even now she wondered if it was a gross display of disrespect. The snowy she-wolf tipped her head to Eske, "No, ba ai don nou get klin taim em ste ste kom yu." she smiled, "I am glad to hear she yet lives. After seeing the mountain in such a state, I worried that many of you might have been lost." She explained with an idle flick of her ear. Tirgatao was confident that no harm would come to her here, and comforted by the fact that the Drageda had not lost their Heda in the unfortunate upheaval. Thinking back on the destruction still gave her a chill.

Her dark nose twitched as she took in the scents of the woodlands, and the musk of the Drageda infused into Eske's coat. "Chit laik yu tagon?" She questioned with a wider smile. Though the tawny Gona seemed to not be interested in anything but proper protocol (which Tir respected, of course), the pale woman couldn't help but reflect a bit of her own rank back. Becoming invested in others is what she was best at; understanding the emotions, wims, and wills of the individuals so that it might better the whole.

i am super laze today and don't feel like translating so assume that everything Eske speaks is in Trigedasleng. lol. :p

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There was slight surprise to the rise of Eske’s brow when Tirgatao admitted that she was not close to the Commander and that she had spoken of her by name simply out of her uncertainty on if Drageda’s Heda was the same one. For a brief moment Eske’s mind flashed to the Fos Goufa she had briefly met. There was none to take Heda’s place if anything should befall her and render her incapable of leading …or worse. As to Eske’s understanding the only Fos Goufa they’d had, had left shortly after her arrival within the clan. This was undeniably strange to the Gona but it truly wasn’t any of her business nor did it concern her (even though, technically, it did as Drageda would be in trouble if anything happened to Thuringwethil with none to take her place). “We were lucky,” Eske remarked simply on the matter of escaping the ruin that had been the place of her birth.

“Eske kom Drakru.” Eske gave her name, wondering how upset her mother would be if she knew that she had long since shed the Lodbrok name. It didn’t much matter as Gyda wasn’t around anymore and Eske no longer wanted to be associated with her (believed to be) traitorous siblings whom all, as far as she was aware, still carried the Lodbrok name. “I will call for Heda.” She assured the pallid woman before she tipped her head back and let out a summons for @Thuringwethil to either accept or deny the woman. When it to accepting or denying potential joiners that job fell to Heda.

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I am very sleepy :(

The second time Eske gives her a call, Thuringwehil is close. She'd heard the first one and moved but she had not been quick enough to intercept her. There had been a familiar tone Heda hadn't been able to place but her mind often wanders far from her these days. She focuses on closing the distance between herself and where it had been made and following the scents that lead her with pinpoint accuracy. Eske's brown form, mimicking Gavriel more and more, appears and on the other side, a recognizable pale wolf. Her form softens marginally upon her approach but she dips her head once in greeting.

"Eske," she says once she's close enough before turning to the other. "Tirgatao."

It does worry her that so many have sought out for Drageda recently when she has not had time to send a messenger back on their displacement. With winter upon them, she is thankful those that have arrived did so relatively in one piece. The sea wind beats against their side to remind them of the chill and Thuringwethil offers a smile. "It is good to see you," she says. In the wake of losing some of their best members, it is nice to see familiar faces to fill their losses. Heda then turns to Eske for the run down of what she's found thus far.

"Mn." She hummed noncommitally. Tir was not in the habit of believing in things such as luck, but she would not begrugde others for it. The young woman offered her name; Eske. It was simple and rolled off the tongue like a cool sip of water. Easily remembered, too; not that the young Gona was forgettable in any way. She was familiar in a way that Tir could not put a finger on, so she didn't bother ruminating on it further. Had she done so, she might have recalled Gavriel mentioning that his children had stayed behind in Drageda. For now she was content with leaving it unanswered.

Thuringwethil arrived only a few moments later, appearing out of the underbrush looking just as fierce and unyielding as the day she departed Seageda. Her body tightened and her expression shifted subtly as she stood before the scrutinzing gaze of the Heda. Two conflicting waves of emotions clashed in her breast; one of disappointment, and one of pride. Thuringwethil had created the Drageda out of little more than a few followers, but she had also promoted strangers to the ranks of the Hedonakru. But she had come this far, and there was no turning back.

"And you, Heda. Gyda and Gavriel made it to Seageda safetly," she replied as her lips twisted into a smile. "and two yearlings left in their wake. I hope that they found a place among the Drageda, as I hope to." 

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“Heda,” Eske offered her Commander when the older woman came upon the scene. Her posture relaxed only slightly, drawing from the presence that Thuringwethil commanded. It was Thuringwethil’s judgement that Eske accepted without question and none other. The two exchange words but it is not until Trigatao speaks of her parents that Eske truly deigns to pay attention. Upon hearing their names her ears stand at attention atop her skull and she draws in a sharp breath. She had no reason to doubt that Gavriel and Gyda — both formablemiable warriors — would make it to their destination ok but still it is nice to hear it. So much so that she fought the lump of relief that lodged itself in her throat. The Gona took a step towards the pale woman, not realizing that Heda had turned to her expectantly. “Thank you.” Eske spoke only to realize, a bit sheepishly, a few seconds later that she her words might not have made sense to the pale woman. “I am their daughter.” And Trigatao might never know just how large of a weight she lifted off of Eske’s shoulders. At least now she wouldn’t need to worry about her parents any longer. At least now, she would not wonder. Though it did not relieve all of the weight that Eske burdened herself with it was enough. As for realizing that Trigatao was, still, intending to join their ranks Eske took a few steps back to stand beside and slightly behind Heda. “I assume you already know one another,” Although there wasn't much assuming to be done as Thuringwethil had spoken to the pale woman by name and earlier Trigatao had named dropped Heda. "as she already mentioned, Heda, the Shouna seeks to join us here in Drageda.” For a moment Eske felt like she was being horribly redundant naming things that she was pretty sure the commander already knew but as Heda had turned to her for it, it seemed only right to say it all anyway.

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It is good to hear that Gyda and Gavriel made it to Trigeda with little trouble. How they might receive the former Viking queen, she does not know, but with Gavriel at her side she is certain she’ll be fine. She’s strong and some may know her already but those problems are nothing she can address this far away. However, with their arrival further north, there have been others to come along as well. Thuringwethil nods once with a slight smile on one side of her face. “Arlo and Melchior,” she confirms their arrival not too long ago. All three of them have found them all with little problems and she can’t help but wonder if any had gotten deterred by their former home.

Eske welcomes the information too, more than Thuringwethil expects, but soon she moves back into business as she describes what is happening before them.

“Of course she is,” she softly says as she readjusts our focus. “We have lost a few when we lost our home but we have managed.” Thuringwethil wishes to add more, to tell her about her missing mate, but the information settles sourly in her stomach and her mouth remains shut. “Will you show her around, Eske?” she asks before giving a nod of her head in as official a welcome home as she can manage.

Tir is surprised when the Gona takes a step forward, the fire in her eyes softened only slightly by the knowledge that Tir had to offer, and cementing the passing recognition she felt towards the yearling as significant. She was pleased that at least one of Gavriel's offspring was making something of themselves within Drageda, and not weighed down or conflicted by Gyda's own upbringing. Not that she harbored any ill-will towards the viking queen. In fact, perhaps in another life, they might have made fast friends. But for now she was content with observing the progression of their child. In Tir's own opinion, one she would likely never voice, Eske chose right to do well by Drageda.

She nodded as the Heda spoke the name of the two boys, but said nothing further. It was difficult to commit a name to memory when one can hardly remember their faces, after all. She simply made a mental note to seek them out and get to know them both a bit better than she had in Seageda.

When Thuringwethil nodded, and instructed Eske to show her around, Tirgatao smiled. She can sense there is something off; taste in the air, even, but she files it away for now. The stress of their move, the departure of two trusted members, and the arrival of three newcomers likely has the entire pack on edge. Tir looks once more to Eske as the Heda finishes up with the Gona and offers the latter a friendly wave of her tail.

short post is extremely short (and also last post for eske & me).

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Eske looks to Heda when the Commander speaks her inquiry aloud. “Yes, Heda.” Eske gave a slight nod of her head, as if her verbal confirmation that she would, indeed, show the newest Kru around wasn’t enough. Only after a moment did Eske’s attention move from Thuringwethil to Tirgatao of whom her sea blue-green gaze settled upon. “Come.” Eske invited with a broad gesture of her muzzle. She hesitated for only a moment, long enough to offer Heda a few, quick licks under her chin before she initiated the grand tour of Dragoncrest Cliffs to the newly inducted Kru.

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hopping post order with permission and ending this for Tir. thanks guys!

Tir waited as Eske paid her dues to the Heda. She wondered if, perhaps, she should do the same. But seconds later the Gona was bading her to fall in step. The snowy she-wolf offered Thuringwethil a small wave of her limp tail, averted eyes, and a soft whine of thanks as she passed in pursuit of Eske. She fell in beside the young Gona and offered her a warm smile as she began the tour of the newly claimed Dragoncrest Cliffs.