Stavanger Bay Song of the waves

Phone post for @Ford forgive me for this crappy phone post

Pale pink nostrils flared at every foreign smell that seemed to drift in the wind, it was all very overwhelming, being in a new area without her brother to describe their surroundings. They all belonged to terrain, both foreign and familiar all the same.  She could not think about what had happened, the little dancer did not understand why her brother vanished from her side. She knew he was not her actual brother but her protector, he had been with her as long as she could remember. How words drifted to herbin sleep but whe. She woke her side was old and his scent stale. How did she even get her, why had he taken her from the kingdom that overlooked the sea, why did he speak of outcasts like she was one of them?

It was the way the earth, sand rather, felt beneath her toes, the sound of the wind from the waves that told her that she had never been here before. There was no mental image shaped and formed to map out her surroundings and yet by smell she could find the herbs she needed to treat a few sharp feeling wounds along her side. How she came to have these wouldn't, well, that was something she could not remember.

A sigh escaped her lips though muffled by the short, dry stick she carried in her mouth. It was her way of not running into things on an unfamiliar place, it was worn and carried many of her own teeth marks. Soon she would have to find another before this one snapped.

This was the first time she did not have someone by her side. She was all alone, cast out of her home because of a disability she was given at birth. She only wished she knew why that had happened to her, wished she knew were her home might have been. It caused sadness to fill her sightless vision, another sigh came as she closed those unseening eyes. She simple stood in the sand, her toes buried so that she might feel when someone or something approached her. The blind angel listened to the ocean, simply letting the crash of the waves remind her of her home.

Until they made their claim official, passersby on the shore were to be expected. The titan thought it normal that others would wander through. He hoped that there would be some that would stay. He hoped that there was a chance that their growing numbers would attract more. As much as he would like it, Ford felt as though he was limited to the bay. After Dalia had been attacked, the warhound did not feel as though he could step away from where she had limited herself. The sea wolf felt that if he were to leave, and something worse were to have happened to her, he would have failed as a leader. How could he expect to pull his wolves together and help them grow if he could not even protect them from outside dangers?

Perhaps that was why he saw the stranger in the sands and decided to approach with such aggression. While he might not have known of her limitations, that could have been the one thing that saved him from chasing her away. The fur along his neck and shoulders stood rigidly, like jagged peaks atop dark mountains. He prowled toward her with a savage swaying of his massive frame until he had all but closed the space between them. It was only then that he saw the milky gloss over her eye and the ragged stick that she carried in her mouth.

“Have you lost your way?” the warhound inquired in a smoky baritone. Ford ran his mismatched gaze over her features, searching for answers that he hoped would be displayed on her face.

The blind angel reopened her sightless eyes once more as a subtle vibration travelled through the sandy earth, her golden ears twitched and and moved to catch the sound of muffled paw steps. Someone was approaching her and from the sound of his steps, he was much larger than she ever wished she could be. All of this was taken in and she did not move from her oceanside veiw, even when the air seemed to be filled with the electric feeling of agression. Instead she had questions float aimlessly in her mind. Had she entered someone's territory, if so, she deserved punishment for her careless actions. Or maybe she had encountered this stranger on a bad day, and if taking out this frustration out on her made him feel better, she would be fine with that.

Instead the hostility died down as they came closer, her pale nostrils flaired to memorialize his scent but she was doing more than that. Scent, gender, health. It was all something that could be shown to her, just a big intake of air was all she needed. His words came next, a deep rumble, asking if she was lost and in a way she was. Her ears moved to show him that he had her attention before she set down her worn stick down at her paws. A sad smile played on her pink lips as she turned her mismatched eyes to the location of his voice. "In a way, I have." Her words came as soft as feather as she lifted her frame off of the sandy ground.

It was then she closed the distance between them, her movements giving away that she was removing the space between them. As she did she raised her head, if he did not step pack she would press her nose against his cheek first before trailing it over his features. His cheek, his forehead, his muzzle, and back down the other side. Only then did she suddenly freeze, her brother's voice echoing her her mind. You have to ask before touching someone. Oh no. Her ears fell, she retreated a few steps. This was bad. If he bit her, or had any negative reaction to her actions she would understand. She would accept her pubishment.

"I-I.. I beg your forgiveness." She stuttered, her unseeing eyes falling to her paws to show that she was ashamed. "I am blind, I touched you to be able to see you but that does not excuse my actions. I should have asked permission, I am sorry." She the lifted her eyes oncr more, sincerity and embarrassment showed clearly in her mismatched eyes. She hoped he would understsnd but she would accept if he didn't

The brute watched as her attention was turned toward him. Easily, he could have deciphered that she was blind before she made an attempt to comment on it. The milky look in her gaze was enough to tell him. It was very unlike the warhound's own ghostly white optic – her eye was glossed over and clouded with a sightless film. It was just as good as if they were closed. While the titan did not feel pity for other creatures, he did not quite understand the difficulties of her handicap; that his sight had offered him a great deal of strength in the world around them, and it was a miracle that she had survived as long as she had.

When the pale woman moved to close the space between them, Ford stiffened his broad frame. The touch of her nose against him was enough to illicit a curled lip and a rumble of thunder from the back of his throat. The stormbringer clapped his teeth against each other in an attempt to refrain from snapping at the bridge of her muzzle. There was a dangerous glint in the mismatched colors of his eyes, but they still betrayed no emotion. Were it not for the moment having only lasted a few moments, she would have felt the touch of his wrath against her frame. Instead, she pulled back from him and he bore into her with a cold expression that she could not have seen.

There was a fumbling for an excuse that cupped his ears forward and furrowed his brow. Touching was her way of seeing him, which he could understand. However, the girl was right that she should have asked his permission before having done so. She was lucky he had not acted on his instinct. With a sharp exhale that released a plume from his flared nostrils, Ford drew his crown upward and nodded. “You will ask before doing it again,” the titan instructed her in a gruff tone. In that, he meant with any of the wolves in his pack; for her safety and the safety of others.

“How will you survive the winter if you cannot see?”

Understanding, it was the last thing she had expected. The blingld girl thought that she would have gotten a nip for her careless actions. Maybe a scar to remember this encounter by but instead he gave a command  you will ask before doing it again. She simply nodded before she vocalized her agreement. "Yes sir." Her voice was formal but still as soft as a feather, she would ask him before she made an approuch ro trad hia features, before she ran her nose along his sides to see his build and health.

His growl still had hr pale hairs on end but she forced her scruff to lay flat he was not going to harm her, it was just a warning for what would have happened if she had continued.  

His next question caused her eara ro gall once more to her skull. How eas she going to survive the winter without the ability to see. She had not thought of that, without her sibling, without a guardian. "Honestly.. I have no idea, this is the first time I have ever been alone." She confessed, her sightless eyes showing worry and a hint of fear as this thought began to set in.

The soft touch of her voice moved with the brush of wind. He turned his ears toward her to catch what he could of her agreement. It was good to know that she would listen to the simple command without question. The warhound only wanted her to understand that it was not always acceptable to touch without the consent of another creature. There were far more savage beasts than he who would have struck her for her actions. It had been fortunate that she had happened across him on that day. In another life – another time – he might not have reacted so kindly.

When it came to the matter of her survival, the titan furrowed his brow and listened as she explained that she had never been on her own before. Ford wondered to himself how she had managed to escape the aid of whoever had watched over her before. A cold and cruel imagining struck him, as he thought of how difficult it must have been to tend to someone who could not see. Perhaps, they had left her on purpose.

“You find yourself on the beaches of Stormrift. We seek to claim this territory before the winter becomes to harsh for us to dwell inland. Should you provide us with all you have, you may have a home here – and those who would seek to act as your support,” the sea wraith offered her in a rumbling voice. His mismatched gaze roamed over her figure, feeling a twinge of hesitation in what he had given. Their purpose was simple, though; they were intended to break through the weaknesses that clung to them and emerge on the other side as powerful leviathans.

There was silence, as silent as it could be with the crash of waves further off and the greedy waters lapping at the sand. Between them, the leviathan and the fairy, silence seemed to rage on as the man concidered what she had to say. Was he wondering how she became all alone? Had he guessed that she had been abandoned, tossed aside because taking care of her was difficult? Was he thinking of walking away, she would understand if he did. Why be concerned about someone who could not survive the winter on their own, why humor her any longer.

for some reason her mind spiraled down, into a darker place that she tried to shy away from. The more that the quiet stretch the more alone she felt, without sight, without the sound of shuffling or talking, she was on her own. A sigh huffed out of her lips but then his voice shattered the uncomfortable silence.

stormrift. Was he offering her a place, a home? Did he wonder what a blind fairy could provide this group that was laying claim to this stretch of beach? Lucky for her, she had skills, she had use. "I can provide you with the ability to heal and identify herbs, as well as poisons. I would just need an escort when collecting my plants." she listed what she could provide, what use she was. "Ah. My mother would be rolling in her grave" she chuckled and murmured to herself before she stood, touching her stick to remember its location as she crossed her right leg over her left.  The sightless angel then lowered her front half down but not enough to make her chest touch the ground, her tail swished in accent as she spoke. Formal for their formalities. My name is Hymn Opal la'Rousse," she lifted herself from her flourishing curtsey. "or just Hymn, if you would prefer. A pleasure to meet you, and if my skills appeal to and your pack. I will gladly call this place home, and do as much as I am able." her unseeing eyes showed an emotion of warmth as she ended her formal way of speaking. Maybe she went a little overboard.

It seemed as though he had grown quite adept at finding those with efficiencies in the healing realm. They were skills that his mother would have surely applauded. Even while he had taken an interest in the physical side of things, Ford was capable of understanding that the skill of a healer was needed if they were going to succeed. Even his brute of a father had been humble enough to know when the power of the body was not enough to save another life. There was room enough for her, regardless.

Once the pale woman introduced herself, the brute almost snorted in response. Her name was nearly as much of a mouthful as his own – as all of his siblings' names were – and he found that it was fitting she had found them. While her inability to see was something that bothered him and gave him plenty of reason for doubt, he knew that there was a chance she would find great strength... so long as she was willing to apply herself to their lifestyle and culture.

“I am Ford... Lasher Mayfair-Cairn,” he returned in the same smoky baritone. His eyes roamed her features as she made a delicate bow. This was something he did not return, knowing that she would not have been able to see him even if he had. “Stormrift will welcome you. You will be expected to overcome any challenges and fears that you might have during your time here,” he instructed her after a moment. “You have entered a world where limitations are intended to be conquered and turned to strengths. Do you believe you will be able to commit to that?”

She knew that her little bow would not be returned, why would it be when you did not have the ability to see it? She could, however, feel the shift in the sand if he were to return her gesture but it was not something she would expect, instead he gave his name with slight hesitation. It was a mouthful, that was for sure, something that related to her own. Funny, she would find such a thing in common with someone that was very different from herself. 

More words came of acceptance if she was willing to overcome more difficulties, a soft nod followed as he continued. What could be worse that when she had already gone through? Shunned and hidden in the kingdom she was born to, ignored by her father for her disability, her mother killed for daring to produce the king a child that was so broken. Now abandoned by her brother, her protector before winter. 

"I will be able to commit to this, I will do everything you ask of me and push myself past my limits." She vowed, her sightless eyes looking upon the direction of his won dual colored gaze. A smile came again, one of softness bu also brought confidence and prowess. If he wanted someone to be proud, she would show him she would be what he wanted her to be.

There was certainly a moment of hesitation in the idea of allowing a blind girl into their fold. The rift would not be easy for her, and the ocean would have been even more of a challenge. Still, it was the perfect way to test how well their culture could shape others. The brute imagined that if she was willing, she would find a great strength as a member of their ranks. In time, she would have been able to venture out on her own and discover their surroundings. It was that premise of growth that he found to be a compelling reason to grant her a home. This, and the idea that she was a very willing type – one who seemed overly pleased to offer herself.
 
Ford breathed a heavy sigh at her last comment and bowed his head a short way. He looked at her sightless gaze and wondered again if it was wise of him. Without another thought, Ford cast his doubts from his mind. He mentally affirmed that she would have the support of the others when she needed it, and she would grow beyond the weaknesses that life had granted her. All it took was someone who was willing to offer themselves to the idea of growth.
 
“Then you are welcome to Stormrift. Press yourself to my hip and I will lead you into the beach so that we can find you a place to den,” the warhound offered her and turned so that she would have an easier means of finding where she should stand. Ford did not know the limitations of a blind person, but he thought it best to make himself as accommodating as was possible until she was able to know the bay better. After some time, she would learn their land and it would have become second nature to her. Until then, he thought it best that someone remain by her side.