Stone Circle One giant leap.

It was finally time. She had put it off for a little too long, truth be told, but the den was cramped and Sanja could not always keep her children contained.

@Yrsa was asleep more often than not. @Dagur and @Skáld were the ones to watch out for, and Sanja had kept a close eye on all three. Except for the occasional visit of Gunnar or the welcome presence of Bjarna, the mother had made sure to keep her little ones as secure and hidden as possible.

There was no avoiding the inevitable.

She crooned to them now, standing among the white spires of the woods, trying to rouse in them some curiosity for the outside world. The den would be abandoned for a more preferable rendezvous location; something defensible and accessible to the others of Kvarsheim.

First, they'd have to know it was okay to venture beyond the usual limits.

can he be moved off of npc? :D

Limits had been set.

And for all of his rowdiness, Dagur had never defied Sanja's nor Bjarna's limits. When they herded him back to the den he always went. Even if it was occasionally with puppy teeth and stomping paws.

He was a boy who loved his family deeply.

Mother crooned a note to them and Dagur was all ears. Dark, tall ears. His markings slowly becoming more pronounced. None of that mattered when he knew not how he looked! Only that something was happening. Carefully and slowly he began to move beyond.

Eyes darted, wondering and watching.

Skáld too responded to his mother's invitation. He looked at Dagur for a moment, and smiled faintly to see the way his ears, so large and goofy, perked- while his own were wilted slightly at the tips, like dying leaves. An itch begged his attention for a moment, and he stopped to scratch his shoulder with one hind foot for a second before he pitched to his feet. He rubbed his forehead against his brother's shoulder in encouragement, before he moved forward, and out into the open. 

He wasn't sure where they were going, but something seemed different about today. More often, they were herded back into the den, or closer to it. He trotted toward his mother, but when he looked past her, it was with some trepidation and doubt. Were they leaving the den? Why? And how far were they going?

They would travel as a unit, as much as possible. The boys were alert; they seemed as interested in the world around them as they were in their mother, and would not stray far.

It took some time before Yrsa was roused as well; but then together, they were off. She was slowest of the three. Always so tired, Sanja thought. As big and as strong as her three children had grown to be, the girl took her time the most often. Was she afraid? There did not appear to be fear within any of them, truly.

They boldly went where Sanja allowed them, and now as she led beyond the trees to the rolling hillside and the stones, she watched them each in turn.

Look, there. The standing stones. Sanja wondered what they thought of them. Some were crooked, some were broad and tall, others fallen, but arranged in such purposeful circles or along the lengthy animal-path that ran like a vein through Kvarsheim.

As they neared them Sanja urged with a smile, Go on, pick your favorites. Explore. This is your home and you may go where you wish, now. Within reason, of course, and with her blessing.

Hills.

Stones.

The land rolled endless well beyond their den. He had not expected it, nor understood it. Why now? What had happened for this gift to be bestowed upon them? It overwhelmed him and he realized he had no choice but to face it head on.

So he wandered around a few stones then, upon one that stood tall, hiked a leg.

A boyish claim to the lands he had been shown. Not understanding if anyone might have felt disrespect at such an action.

Skáld took to following Sanja carefully, more confident with his brother by his side. Still, his lowered posture and cowed spine was an indication of light discomfort, which grew at the sight of the tall, jagged stones that pierced the ground and reached toward the sky. Something about them....About the shape of them, simply felt unnatural. 

She were urged toward them, to find their favourite. He faltered, as he felt a pulsing in behind his eyes. Whether it was the brightness or...Whatever the humming noise was, and the scent, he couldn't tell. Dagur lifted a leg to claim a stone, but Skáld didn't seem to notice. He stared forward, his jaw crooked to the side slightly. He shook his head, and blinked. 

Step forward.

It was an intrusive thought. He rose, and moved forward. His nose touched stone, and his muscles tensed. He went stiff for a moment, before he began to quake, and teetered over onto his side, eyes staring wide as he continued to convulse.