Neverwinter Forest You soon find you have few choices

@Bluebelle

sólhárr moved with a slow, deliberate purpose, his massive frame weaving through the trees as he marked his claim upon each trunk. his scent lingered, musky and strong, a warning and an invitation both. this place—these trees, this stretch of wilderness—he would make his own, piece by piece, marking his intent with each scrape of his claws, each scent pressed into bark.

he had just finished his mark upon a sturdy pine when he froze, nostrils flaring as a scent drifted into his senses—faint yet unmistakably foreign, not his songbird’s gentle familiarity but something else. his ears pricked, muscles tense as he took a slow breath, inhaling that scent again, and he let a low bark escape his lips, the sound soft yet firm as it carried through the trees.

sólhárr waited, his head held high, amber eyes sharp and steady, searching for the shape that might follow the scent. his heart beat with a quiet vigilance, body ready yet calm as he watched the woods, his claim freshly laid, his presence unmistakable.

Her search had led her to new land. Expression calm, cold, her secret would be well kept. Locked away within herself, sealed in a cage of steel and locked with a key that had long been thrown away. She had shared her struggles once before, and she would not make such a mistake again.

Paws carrying through a forest unknown to her, she had caught wind of markers yet disregarded them. It was far from a pack that lived in these woods.

A bark sounded out, and the flower froze. Eyes carefully scanning the shapes and silhouettes in the surrounding trees she searched for the source.

she did not know where he lingered. he blended at the base of the evergreens, simply melding into the foliage. he was one with the ground he walked upon, claimed it like the king he was attempting to be.

when the auburn hued male emerged from the brush, he could see the blonde woman more clearly. she shimmered beneath the hues of light, though no one had been brighter than his elska.

you trespass, he said, gruff and low. though his posture was otherwise, tall, rigid. would she linger? would she like to stay? there was something that sólhárr couldn't deny about her— he thought of keeping her.

A man emerged from the foliage to confront her. Tall, broad, strong. But Eydis too, could be strong. She would not allow herself to be intimidated purely by his figure.

"Your borders are weak." Her tone was blunt, unforgiving, uncaring. "If you are the only one here, many more will do the same."

She spoke as though she had experienced the same many times over, as though she was far more knowledgeable than the mountain of a man stood in her path. A show of confidence, but also gentle advice.

"I do not seek to take from you, only to search."

he grumbled at her comment, disapproving, though he knew it to be the truth. he'd need numbers, above all, to claim this heap of land. for it to be his own, it would need to belong to them, too. thankfully, the land does not reject.

search? he echoed back, unsure of what she was looking for. was she looking for a place to stay? this could be an opportunity. sólhárr would not wait.

you...want a home?

For a moment she only stared in silence, as though the question was out of the ordinary.

A place to return to would be good. For a little while, at least. Until she could confirm that they were not here, and then she would move on.

Claws gripping the dirt below her, Eydis made her decision. "Only for a place to sleep. Only until I finish here." It could be months, or it could only be a few days. She did not know.

he watched her, reading the pause between her words, sensing the hesitance like a tremor beneath the surface. he saw the weight of whatever journey she carried, the restless urgency in her stance, claws burrowing as though tethering herself to a fleeting thought of rest. 

he gave a slight nod, letting his quiet strength do the convincing, a silent promise woven into his firm stance and unwavering gaze. a place to sleep, yes—but it could be more if she allowed it. a sanctuary, perhaps, from the endless search, a momentary reprieve for the road-weary. i am sólhárr, hárkonungr of forneskja.

he turned slightly, nodding to the vast northern lands beyond, as if to say, the land is vast, but here, you will find your peace.

walk with me?

She watched the other with eyes that spoke of suspicion. But she had agreed nonetheless, and so now she would give him the chance to prove himself.

"Eydis." Her response was simple, the sharing of her name. She said nothing more as her paws lifted off of the ground to join Solharr.

It was important to be honest with herself; and Eydis was tired. She had been tired.

sólhárr nodded at her name, a quiet acknowledgment, before turning to lead her deeper into the heart of his land. as they moved, he kept his steps measured, matching her pace, allowing her eyes to take in each small wonder.

the land was vast, with gentle, rolling hills that rose toward the sky, painted in golden hues by the soft, slanting light of day. he led her through a thicket where the leaves whispered secrets, toward the ridge where the wind spoke of storms, and then through fields of tall grasses that brushed against their legs like old friends.

they soon came upon the hometree, an ancient oak towering above them, its roots twisting deep into the earth and branches stretching far above, thick with age and wisdom. he paused there, letting her feel the presence of this sacred symbol. the air around it was thick with reverence, as if generations had come here to find strength and purpose. it was their bond to something greater, something that held them all together. sólhrárr let her absorb it, hoping she’d feel that grounding peace within her.

finally, he brought her to the dens nestled beneath a rocky outcrop. the entrance was marked by subtle signs of his handiwork: sturdy walls, smooth paths, shelters made with his own paws. he’d dug each one with care, knowing they would offer warmth and safety to those who chose to stay. he glanced back at her, a quiet pride in his eyes.

here, under the shadow of their home and close to the heartbeat of the land, sólhárr paused, allowing her to take in the choice before her. there was no need for words—here was a place to rest, a place to belong.

Sturdy dens, built with clear care. Eydis paused, analyzing the craftsmanship carefully, searching each for imperfections, flaws. If she were to choose, it would to need to be suited to her preferences. "You made these?" She asked, eyeing the other momentarily.

He had done well, she would praise him for that much. Internally, at least.

"And I can rest here?"

sólhárr nodded, a subtle acknowledgment of her question. he watched her as she inspected each den with a critical eye, noticing the small gestures as she sought out every detail. her quiet scrutiny didn’t faze him; he’d built these with care, intent in every sweep of his paws.

i did, he replied simply, his tone as sturdy as the dens themselves. he didn’t need her praise, nor did he expect it—but there was satisfaction in her interest, however silent it might be.

pick. rest. we hunt on morrow. he added, a steady assurance, then disappeared through the brush. 

exit sol!