Moonspear somebody else’s lake

attn @Njord or @Meerkat  

 

Orca was a happy child with a healthy curiosity for all things, but unlike when she was very young she now approached all things new with plenty of skepticism and a lot of questions about it first. If she knew it, it was great, but if she didn’t—the jury took its time deliberating on a verdict as to whether it was “good” or “not good”. 

Today she spent her time squinting at something new. She gave it plenty of space to start, but now began meandering toward it at a slow pace. When she did, it observed her and toddled away itself. Orca tossed her head and sprang in the opposite direction, huffing indignantly. 

She called the big guns in. They’d know how to handle it! Da? Ma? came Orca’s girlish voice, wrapped in her fathers burr.

The girls were at an age of rapid development. Each day their legs grew a little longer and that meant they could travel further and further from the rendezvous site. Njord and Meerkat often took them out on walkabouts, but these days their excursions became more practical. Hunting, stalking, tracking… the skills Orca and Seal would need to survive in the world beyond the familial pack, should they ever choose to leave.

Orca seemed to go through phases of sensible skepticism while her sister was unequivocally effervescent. Njord worried for Seal… who would be sure to learn that life wasn’t always so rosy.

Njord, who wasn’t far from his daughter, heard her call.

“What is it lass?” he asked with his good ear pitched forward.

you Can decide what it is, hehe!

 

Da was there soon enough, to Orca’s relief. She was keen to be as brave as him, but was still at a stage where she simply wasn’t certain about things, and that fact alone kept her more aggressive instinct at bay. 

Orca gestures to the thing that made her uneasy, taking one solid step toward it. She did feel a little bolder, now that he was here! Orca looked back to him, expression quizzical.

Njord’s eyes followed the direction of Orca’s indication as he took a few steps past his daughter. The foliage rustled ahead – something certainly was there! The man lifted his snout and took a deep breath. A familiar musk perfumed the air.

“Stand back, mo nighean,” he instructs in a serious tone as his red tail began to lash.

Then, Njord looses a loud bay and jabs his snapping snout forward. Then, he retreated just as quickly – a jab to feign an attack and spook their unwelcomed guest. It was good Njord was quick, too… for he managed to evade a tail full of needles that swiped in his direction.

“Ah porcupine,” Njord says under his breath as the critter began to scurry up the nearest tree. “Nae good for huntin’ …get too close an’ they’ll stick ye full of tines.”

Orca turned to dart in the direction he had come, standing back as he had said. But from there she stood and watched, hackles between her shoulder blades lifted and bristling. She painted the very same picture as the porcupine did, though she didn’t know it. 

Her father was quick about it all, she thought! She shifted her weight, suddenly antsy, letting loose an encouraging bark that echoed his own. The fauna heeded her father, and his success made Orca feel better than before. For good measure, she barked at its retreating form with a wagging tail. 

Good job!!! she praised him easily, speaking the words she had heard time and time again from her parents when she did well. Orca’s bristling furs melted down easily as she pressed her snout happily against his cheek once he returned to her side. 

Porcupines made for a bad meal—noted! Orca was all the more happy that she had called. I willnae hunt it, she promised, looking to where the woods shivered in its escape and hearing the undergrowth rustle. She licked her chops and then looked back to him, then lapsed easily into their own language, dè bha thu a’ dèanamh? with a wave of her tail. 

assuming they’re taught in Scottish too!!! But lmk if that’s incorrect <3!

Love that!

Orca’s lanky and hackled teenage body reminded Njord of Loko. The half-siblings had the same fighting spirit about them. It made the man recall a time father and son had trained with Kigipigak. Njord hadn’t been born a naturally gifted wolf when it came to sparring (and he had the scars to prove it), so mentors were essential to his development as a protector.

Good job! Njord smiled and broke from his reverie.

He puffed out his chest dramatically. “No match fer yer Da,” he boasted. Then, he kissed his daughter on the forehead.

To hear his daughters adopt his family’s tongue brought a smile to the father. All of his children had learned the Gaelic words, to some extent, but Orca’s way with it was certainly the strongest by far. “A 'siubhal còmhla ri do mhàthair,” he responded with a wink. “Soon, ye will patrol as well, an’ its best I teach ye how tae defend yerself. Would ye like tae spar?” he asked.

Orca had to agree, and could not imagine that anything could ever be a match for her da. He and her mother were both her heroes, and in her estimation none could best them. So when he asked her to spar, Orca perked right up. Oh! Aye!!! 

Her tail wagged as she watched him. Her normal opponent was her sister, who was her own size… she gave him a once over now, but her eyes were unpracticed. She hadn’t the slightest idea where to begin! 

So she just threw herself at him. A futile thing, with no momentum and the added bonus (or lack thereof) of her size. Och! Yer too big, da!!!

Orca applied herself with gumption! However, her novice charge barely made Njord budge. He shared a hearty laugh – oh, how she reminded Njord of his youth!

“Aye, Ah’m a large foe,” he agreed. “But dinnae despair, for bein’ the smaller wolf has its advantages! Ye are a smaller target,” Njord explained. “So ye must learn tae be nimble an’ strike where I cannae reach.”

Njord made his stance wide. “Ground yerself, lass. You’ve seen how a fish catches fly on the water… move quickly….” Suddenly, Njord dipped to the side and poked Orca’s haunch with his snout. “Strike fast tae weaken yer adversary.”

For the rest of the day, Njord trained with Orca. She showed a great aptitude for the warrior arts -- something which had not come so naturally to her father. Perhaps, Tartok's blood ran thick through her veins. Kaertok would have been proud of his granddaughter.

Hope you don't mind I added a conclusion and wrapped up this thread! If you wanna restart it feel free to PM me :D