Verrine was…apprehensive. The passing of each day brought him and Julooke that much closer to the biggest and most radically-changing new phase of their lives: parenthood. Within her gravid belly slept the future of their bloodlines, the continuation of their families in a new generation. He wasn't sure if he was ready, but he had no choice in the matter; the puppies were coming whether he was ready for them or not. He wasn't getting cold feet or having any sort of crisis or anything, he was just having some jitters. Really big jitters.
It was relatively early in the morning, and Julooke still slept beside him. She needed more sleep these days, as the puppies grew larger and demanded more of her body. He kissed her tenderly, lingering over her peaceful form for a moment, and then turned and headed out to find the one wolf he thought might hopefully lay some of his fears to rest: his trusted Jarl, Ragnar.
He didn't want to send up a howl and stir up the whole pack this early, so he simply set out to find the grizzled Alpha. It wasn't hard to locate Ragnar if one wished to find him; his scent was prominent in the lands -- a testament to his dedication and presence as a leader -- and his den was easy to find, if nothing else. He figured that would probably be the best place to start, as Thistle could point him in the right direction if Ragnar was not there. The forest was serene and bright, birdsong ringing merrily through the treetops as sunlight filtered through the leafy branches and spilled in broken patterns on the earth below. Sifting through his thoughts and considering what questions he could ask Ragnar, Verrine picked up his pace to a brisk trot.
With a grunt and a grumble under his breath about women he exited the den, squinting against the onslaught of sunlight that barraged him, opening his eyes in so increments so they could adjust. The scarred Scandinavian took a moment to stretch, shaking off the last tresses of slumber before he began heading in a random direction, planning on grabbing a bit of breakfast from one of the caches before he headed off to run his patrols. It was on his way to one of the caches that he caught sight of Verrine approaching with determination and purpose in his step. The Jarl slowed, and greeted the soon to be father with a soft chuff of greeting.
As expected, it didn't take him long to find Ragnar. He was obviously coming from his den site when Verrine crossed paths with him and had only recently awakened, and Verrine was glad that his leader was able to rest and remain strong. Ragnar greeted him wordlessly, and Verrine grinned and waved his tail in return. He had always respected the savage northerner, but his devotion and love for his leader had grown exponentially when Ragnar had granted him and Julooke permission to have a family. Asking for that had been a leap of faith for them, and Verrine hadn't been so sure that Ragnar would agree. But agree he had, and now, they were only days away from the big event.
He licked Ragnar's chin, his stance and body language shrinking instinctively in the Alpha's presence. It was not a conscious move on his part; rather, it was his mind and body's subconscious response to his place in the pecking order relative to Ragnar. "Good morning, Ragnar," he said, falling into step beside the Jarl after a moment as they continued on in the direction Ragnar had been heading. "If you have a few minutes, I could use some advice…man to man?" He was content to talk as they walked, knowing that Ragnar was probably intent on getting some breakfast.
Scarred ear twitched in the other man's direction to follow Ragnar's gaze, a contemplative look stealing across the Northerner's face as he took in Verrine's words. Sure. What is on your mind? Ragnar inquired, lending Verrine his rapt attention keeping a small measure attention on their path.
He noticed Ragnar's vigilance, the Alpha's senses on high alert for intruders or danger while simultaneously paying attention to his packmate. Verrine admired Ragnar for his dedication to protecting Stavanger Bay; it seemed the Jarl could not even eat or sleep without thinking of his pack's welfare and safety. Those were the qualities that made a truly great leader and, not for the first time, Verrine found himself thinking of how lucky he was to have wound up under the watchful rule of such a wolf. Ostregas were fickle, migratory creatures; if they were not completely satisfied with a place, they would move. Verrine, however, did not see himself moving anytime soon. He was happy here, and Ragnar was a large part of the reason behind that.
"As you know," he began at Ragnar's prompting, his eyes on the path ahead of them as they walked, and his eyebrows furrowed with thought. "Julooke is due to have our pups any day now." He wasn't sure how to say what was on his mind in a way that didn't make him sound like a total wuss. One did not, after all, act like a wuss around a Viking. "I guess I'm just…nervous. This is my first litter, and I don't want to screw up. I want do right by them. You're a father, Ragnar, and a damn good one at that. I guess…I was hoping you could give me some pointers or advice to help quiet down these jitters I feel inside."
It was not with fear nor intimidation that he led his wolves; he cared too much about them, loved them all in different ways — it was only around strangers and trespassers that the Northerner implored such techniques but because he had a point to get across. Ragnar shook his head, dispelling the words that Adair had thrown at him, child like, because Ragnar would not accept him nor his gifts. He had been meaning to head to the Spine to see if he could find the wolf that held the responsibility of harming Julooke. He had figured that it was something Verrine would have wanted to be apart of, but with his children soon for the world it was not something Ragnar could, nor would, ask of him. Ragnar had no qualms with going alone. He did not fear the Spine wolves, nor did he fear death. And they could try to kill him, if they so wished, but Odinn had promised him a long and ardent life, full of success, and children. Ragnar had a long way to go yet, he knew, and the All-Father, Ragnar believed, would not let his most faithful servant down. Scarred ear twitched in Verrine's direction, cupping to the side when the Ostrega began to speak, learning quickly the nature of advice that Verrine sought when the other man — one of Ragnar's most trusted — started off with Julooke and the state of her pregnancy.
Verrine admitted that he was nervous — something that Ragnar understood well. He had not known how to deal with such young children in any compacity. Tyrr had been almost a year old when Floki and him had attacked him and in the wake of the Amazon boy's amnesia spun the tale that he was Ragnar's son. The part of rearing him had already been taken care of for Ragnar, all he had to do was convince the boy of false memories. He had already been trained well, too. Over time, Ragnar had came to love the boy as his own all the same. Regardless, no 'fathering' had to be done where Tyrr was concerned. Sveið had kept Bragi and her entire pregnancy from him, entirely, and so he had no part in his only blood son's life; and the litter Dagmar had bore him had been all still born. That was all Ragnar had known of as far as Pregnancy went — what it looked like when children were born already in the Hall of Valhalla. It was hardly pretty and the death of their children inside his third wives' womb had upset her greatly. Every man worries about that Verrine, Ragnar offered the Ostrega with a soft smile. Even I, Despite how Ragnar had used big talk of it not being his first time as a father it had been his first time with a successful litter and he still was not overly confident he had, as Verrine had put it, done right with his children despite Verrine's surprising compliment.
I do not know if I agree with you, but thank you, Was taking a second wife something that could be considered what a good father did? Ragnar didn't know; and there was always the concern that Thistle's mood about it would make Gunnar resent him, down the road. It was apart of Ragnar's culture and he loved both women. It wasn't as if he were trading one for the other. That was a whole sea of complicated fish that he did not want to open. Especially after things seemed to have calmed down a bit in that area of Ragnar's life, of which he was grateful for. I'll do my best. Is there anything in particular you're nervous about? If Verrine could give him specifics, it would work in the Ostrega's favor because Ragnar would have something specific to offer in return.