Stone Circle i would rather be heart, not chest

Seal descended the ridge with a fresh spirit. Her encounter with the mysterious mountain diety gave her new direction and a sense that everything would be alright as long as she continued upon her path with heartfelt confidence.

Eager to repay her debts, Seal came up with the idea to skin a prey animal for its pelt. She was far better at wolf-crafting than hunting… and Viskani or Chaudry might approve of goods in lieu of meat.

But what should I try and catch? A river otter? A fox? Seal thought as she longed for the fishercat skin she had lost along her journey north…

She tracked prey scents through Fox’s Glade until she came upon the borders of a pack… the first she had encountered since Montagne de Cigue. Her natural curiosity got the better of her and she began to move along its perimeter, hoping to run into a wolf on border patrol so she may learn more.

Unrest was the bedfellow of the valley and with it drew a sense of unease within Sven Adlartok Lodbruk. He found himself more present on the borders. Anxious. Fidgety. But he must. He must. He was responsible for many.

A wolf came upon the borders of Winter storms and desert sands. Sven chuffed quietly glad to see another near about his own age. He was wary of course. But surely this one was not some hardened beast right?

Slate grey eyes studied and waited.

Seal walked slowly through the snow and watched a bright red cardinal fly overhead. It perched on a branch and began to sing… until it suddenly flew away.

I’m not alone, the young woman thought. Seal turned her head just as she heard the chuff of another wolf. Watching her was a vigilant dark figure, silent and ominous.

“Ah, hello!” Seal tittered nervously. Perhaps she had been naive and strayed too close… maybe pack of the East weren’t like the villages she knew back West…

The sudden urge to over-explain came tumbling out of her mouth. "Myname'sSeal," she said in one breath. “I’ve never traveled this way,” she explained, “I didnae ken packs settled so far from the coast. ”

The birds were leaving and with it seemed, so was Kvarsheim. Each day their numbers grew smaller. It made Sven both nervous and afraid. What would become of them? But he could not deny that the birds that left them were not beautiful in their flight. Just as his wolves were. 

A small smile and he dipped his head. An easy grace to his features. No worries. I'm Sven. We are Kvarsheim. There are two or three others taht settle this valley and more further still.

A shift of his weight and he settled to an easy stance. Are you enjoying the walk through the valley?

Seal’s posture relaxed when it became clear their conversation was informal. Sven’s good nature was like a breath of fresh air from Chaudry’s rigid mien. She realized that, up until this point, she had acted uptight.

“My name’s Seal,” she replied automatically when the young man introduced himself. She recorded the name Kvarsheim into her memory and was interested to hear of more villages in the area.

“I was – well, actually I was hunting,” she explained. “I’m nae a varrae canny hunter, though.” Seal laughed in a self-deprecating way. “I was looking tae make a kill for its pelt – oh, but I wanae trying tae trespass,” she clarified for good measure

Sven supposed that he probably shouldn't be as open with others as he was. As kind and trusting. But there was a part of him that refused to believe the worst of others. Despite that he knew it could happen. 

Well Met, Seal. What an unusual name. But his father had always loved teh sea. Had talked about it fondly. Perhaps this wolf's family was of similar mindset. 

He blinked. I could help you if you'd like? I'm not the greatest hunter either. At least that is what he thought she said. What if he was wrong. A moment of blind panic, that he had some how made a faux paus.

“No?” she questioned him in disbelief – for Sven had all the makings of a great hunter! “Then perhaps it’s a good thing I stumbled upon Kvarsheim… I’m sure the two of us will be successful working together,” she jeered with a good spirit.

“I thought I smelled something… this way,” she gestured in the direction beyond the pack borders. Her tail curled and Seal looked over her shoulder as if to ask, coming?

“I want to hear more about Kvarsheim as we walk,” she added with a smile.

And together, they waltzed into the woods.