After breakfasting and making sure the pack wouldn't fall apart in his absence, Peregrine collected an energetic Osprey Jr. and set out from the foot of the plateau. The two loped along the river, heading northwest into Ravensblood Forest. From there, the young Warrior recognized where she was and took the lead. She'd make a good Outrider, Peregrine thought as he glided along behind her. He knew she'd been exploring the possibility lately and smiled admiringly.
She reached the bay's borders and sent up a howl several seconds before he caught up with her. Peregrine nipped Osprey's ear affectionately, then turned speculative eyes upon his surroundings. He'd met Ragnar briefly once before—when the northern male had come to the plateau to inform Peregrine of his brother's misdeeds—and he idly wondered if the Alpha male's pups might accompany him in response to Junior's call. Peregrine halfway expected the entire family to come running, eager to see young Osprey again.
Ragnar had been relatively close to Junior's position when the young girl's howl rose into the air, making it easy to alter his course to her direction. He was surprised to hear her voice and a little saddened that she had went back to her family despite that he knew it was what was best for her. Knowing what was best for the young Shield Maiden did not lessen the ferocity in which he missed her any. Perhaps it wouldn't have been so bad if he'd gotten a proper chance to say goodbye to her, which he felt a little irked at her mother Hotguy about (since Tokio assumed that Thistle told Ragnar everything). After all, they had found her, fed her, kept her safe, and grown fond of her during her stay in the Bay. Did he not deserve a chance to at least say goodbye to his foster child despite how temporary she had been in their family?
Despite his feelings about it he tucked them away and approached the scene, eyes of Caribbean ice falling upon Junior first with a soft fondness before they flickered to the dark male that stood near her. He did not recall his name but he recognized him as Crete's brother and the Alpha Male of Blacktail Deer Plateau.
Gunnar or Tveir had heard his foster sister's call and ignoring his mother he ran towards Junior as fast as his little pudgy legs could go. The light brown fur of his paws and mask contrasting starkly with the dark brown of his fur and his slate grey eyes. He skidded to a halt and slipped between his father's legs to stand underneath him and look at her Hiya Junya! He giggled then and leaned against his father's foreleg happy to see his foster sister. He studied the other male closely he had his brother's pelt color, it was weird to him to see such a color on a grown wolf. He was going to say something, but some thing akin to self preservation kept him from opening his mouth.
Ragnar came forward and spoke first. Peregrine lowered his head respectfully and answered, "I have no doubt of that. I came here to thank you and your wife for looking after my little girl. I don't think I know the words to express the depth of my gratitude to your pack and family. We..." He glanced sideways to make sure the two pups were distracted. They were busy wrestling. "We thought she was dead. We even found remains. Her return was a miracle for us."
The dark Alpha glanced at the children again. "Is that your son?" He hesitated, knowing that the little boy was almost certainly Crete's biological child. "They are cousins," he observed quietly, his eyes flicking back to Ragnar's face without meeting his eyes directly. "Is your wife around as well? I know she was there for the confrontation with the cougar. I wanted to make sure she was all right and thank her personally. I know Junior wants to speak to her too."
Ragnar smiled affectionately at Junior as the child rushed towards him, peppering his chin with licks and nips, feeling Tveir lean against one of his forelegs as Junior paid him attention allowing Ragnar's attention to go to fully to Peregrine when the Readleaf-DiSarinno spoke to him.
It was lucky that Ragnar did not have to ask Peregrine to specify which wife he meant because it was obvious enough to Ragnar considering Thistle was the only wife Junior and Peregrine knew of.
Tveir hadn't seen much of his mom in a few days, but he saw the new female that smelled like his dad and he didn't like it. He'd stare at her sometimes, and he refused to talk to anyone, not really sure what was going on except that it was big and possibly bad and it made him nervous.
Ragnar's comment made Peregrine wonder what he'd do if he found a pup somewhere near his territory. Would he immediately take it under his wing? He wasn't sure, though he made no reply to the white king's statement. Peregrine was simply infinitely grateful that Osprey had fallen under the care of a man who had taken in a wayward puppy rather than leave her to die on the riverbank. He shuddered.
"Tveir," Peregrine repeated. When Ragnar confirmed the children's relationship, Peregrine mused inwardly, He's my nephew then too. He blinked at the cinnamon child, seeing no resemblance to Crete. His eyes quickly cut back in Ragnar's direction.
"Is she hurt badly?" he asked out of genuine concern. "Would it be poss—" Before he could finish his sentence, Junior bounded between the two adults and shouted, "I wanna see Thistle! Can you take me to see her? I didn't even get to say bye!" She paused, then whispered loudly, "Is she mad at me... 'cause I didn't say bye?"
Thistle cloud heard the call and though she didn't want to go she watched as Tveir had departed and it made her follow him behind. Her head still ached a little bit and she didn't want to really talk to anyone, but she had heard junior's voice and having had them leave quickly and then well she didn't remember much else from that. She walked towards the borders slowly. She slid next to Ragnar her flank touching his mostly to keep from falling more than anything with dizziness, but to look you wouldn't know it.
She spoke softly her voice grating in her head Hello I'm Thistle Cloud.And no little one i am not mad at you. She thought about adding her last name, but it was too much to repeat really in all honesty at the moment with head aching like it did.
He watched the goings on from the perch against his father with wide eyes, happy to be included.
Even as Osprey Jr. squealed and littered Thistle with apologetic licks, Ragnar spoke, introducing his mate and children. Peregrine nodded to all of them, though his eyes fastened on the careworn female. "You saved my daughter's life twice," he said, having gleaned this knowledge from Osprey's account of her misadventures. "I don't know how to thank you but to say... thank-you, from the bottom of my heart." He spoke gruffly. It wasn't often that Peregrine found himself indebted to strangers. In fact, it had never happened before.
"It seems you have a thriving family here," Peregrine noted. "What is it you call your pack, Ragnar?" He paused, allowing the Scandinavian a moment to answer, then glanced at Osprey and said, "I want you and your family to know you're welcome to call on Junior at the plateau's borders. And she has my permission to visit, as long as it's all right with you and yours," he added, much to Osprey's wiggling delight. "I believe she has come to think of you as a second family, so it's the least I can do to... share her with you," Peregrine finished, his lips twitching slightly.
Thistle spoke softly Just pay someone else back with kindness and that is all the thanks i'll need. Thistle's ears went back when he spoke of sharing, touching a chord in her chest not yet healed, she wasn't even sure if it would ever be, but she didn't say anything, just gave him a soft smile.
Ragnar spoke of a festival, extending an invitation to Junior. "Oooh, I wanna go! I wanna go, dad! Can I go?" the youth in question cried out before Peregrine could even begin to form an opinion on the matter. To Ragnar, the small Warrior added, "What's a festival?" She looked to Gunnar too, as if her brother-of-sorts might also know.
"What sort of festival?" Peregrine complemented his daughter's question. He didn't see any reason why not, though if she were to attend something so important, he wanted to know the details, as her father. He might also request to attend alongside her, as her warden. "And when is it?" he added, as the word soon didn't tell him much. Not that there was much on his or Junior's schedule that might conflict with it.
Everyone was silent when Ragnar spoke of the Festival of Uppsalla, though this was because he was vague with the details of it to the children wanting them to experience it for themselves. Only Thistle knew the full extent of the Festival but she did not seem inclined to assist him in responding to Peregrine's fair question. Ragnar regarded that perhaps it was because it was from his culture and therefore it was his job to answer any queries made about it, as to which he was fine with. He had not ignored Tveir's question, instead figuring that in a few moments Peregrine would likely answer it for his second born.
Ragnar gave Peregrine a detailed description of the festival's purpose and the events which would take place. As a Gamekeeper, the idea of sacrificing small animals didn't really bother him, though the religious overtones made him slightly uneasy. He glanced at Osprey, who was looking back at him plaintively, silently begging for his permission to attend. The swarthy Alpha male shifted his weight, considering. Junior was still so young and impressionable. He wasn't sure about exposing her to religions—particularly those with some darker aspects—so early in life. He supposed it was already done, though, seeing as she'd spent the better part of a month with the Viking's family.
"We'll plan to attend," Peregrine said at length, causing Junior to squeal happily and joyfully tackle Tveir, gnawing on his ear. He briefly met Ragnar's eyes. "I would like to accompany my daughter if that's all right with you. I promise I'll—that we'll both—be respectful participants." He still didn't feel entirely certain, yet he saw how much it would mean to Ragnar et al, as well as Osprey Jr.
"For now, we'd better head back home. Thank-you again for all that you did for my daughter. I'm not really one for alliances, so I cannot extend an offer for such in good faith. However," Peregrine continued, "if you ever need anything, Ragnar and Thistle, you and your family are welcome to call upon me personally. Just ask for Peregrine Redleaf-DiSarinno. I will never forget what you've done for myself, my family and my daughter." Turning to her, he said, "Say goodbye for now. We'll see them all again soon."
Giving Osprey plenty of time to say her farewells, Peregrine collected his lookalike offspring and the two set off toward the plateau. Junior jabbered the entire way home. Once upon a time, it might have made him jealous to share his daughter's love with another family. Somewhere along the way, however, envy had seemingly dropped from his repertoire. He felt only warmth and joy as she regaled him with tales of the Vikings, their ways and her excitement over the upcoming festival. After all, if not for Ragnar and Thistle Loðbrók, Osprey Jr. wouldn't even be here.
Then she stood a little straighter and turned towards home wondering if she could make it back again herself, she wasn't sure. She may have to ask her husband for help, as much as she didn't want to, still being a bit cross.
Ein had listened to the adult conversation trying to understand whatever he could, what was a festival? In a week! Is it going to be fun? Ein was excited, and it was obvious on her pelt. He was just about to jump at the chance to ask his father a waterfall of question, but was held back by his mother calling him and his brother away. Ein was about to voice is protest at leaving, and would have if his father wouldn't have scolded him for disobeying his mother. With a pout firmly on his snout, Ein stepped forward, "Bye Junior. It was good to see you again."He nosed her slightly, before turning to his father, reaching up as high as he could Ein tried to nose his father in farewell, "Goodbye..." he said to their guest and Ragnar before following Thistle Cloud away from Junior and the adults.