Light the Night

Where were they going? Why did they have to leave the burrow? And why was everyone so quiet? These were thoughts that plagued the chubby child as he was ushered out of the den, but the questions dwindled with each step, until all that was left was irritation over the constant toil of the road. He whined and cried until Mommy or Daddy stopped, and then whined and cried some more as he tried to tumble his way along. No matter what, Larus refused to enjoy this trip outside of the den; he was showing a natural pigheadedness that forced his dear daddy to pick him up a few hours in to their hike, and then carry him the rest of the way. The brief stops had him cawing and crowing, eager to stop and settle for the rest of the night (or beyond)... But Larus didn't exactly get his way.

He was lifted up and held by Njal, and there he sagged, swinging like a lazy pendulum. The boy had a grumpy face, crinkled by a frown, and refused to budge an inch when set down. No matter how often his siblings raced ahead (or sometimes refused, like he did) Larus put up the most fight. He didn't want to move. He didn't want to leave the safety of the den, or go traipsing off in to the big bad world. But here he was, here they all were - surrounded by strangers, and with the sun beginning to set. This was when Njal stopped. Larus could see his mother's emberous figure cutting a fine silhouette against the dying sun, and was quite contented in that moment, for she ignited like a great pyre before his eyes. His father's breath danced across his back and Larus, irritated by the discomfort, squirmed.

When Njal placed him down, the boy sagged and readied his lungs for more crying - but daddy moved, and the jostling send the boy rolling on his side in to the grass. Larus braced himself and got to his paws, looking around with a quizzical expression - wondering why they stopped. But they had stopped, and the thought ended there. He got what he wanted! It took forever, but there was no more walking! The yellow-faced boy murmured pleasantly and slumped backwards, leaning his girth against whatever was closest (a sibling maybe, or another wolf) and then they all starting yowling together.

Mommy and daddy first, then some far-away voices, and lastly Maera, Jokull, and even Valtyr! Larus stared at them, transfixed upon his brother, and then lifted his own nose in a weak mimicry of his idol. His eyes remained upon Valtyr's face, and then in a blink they were closed, with Larus adding his own pitchy note to the choir: "Weeeoooo!" But why were they making noise?