Sleeping Dragon under the grave

@Thuringwethil and Co. 

The moment Tanja heard the whispers of how Heda had claimed new land, the man's heart abandoned Trigeda. Truthfully it never belonged there but he remained nonetheless, staying until the roots of his new territory were dug deep. And while he was certain their leaders would always be in need of a warrior with his experience, the man felt his abilities could prove more beneficial elsewhere. So with a half-hearted goodbye to those he felt closest to, the man struck out in the middle of the night, not bothering to look back at a place he never considered his true home. 

He traveled with purpose, a destination clear in his mind and he would be damned before he let anyone or anything get in his way. Only stopping to briefly rest or fill his stomach the days gradually began to mold together, with time itself sinking into nothingness. And it was on one fateful evening, as the last light clung to the darkening sky did the man find what he was searching for. A scent, unmistakable in all it's glory led him to the base of the beastly mountain where he stood, iron orbs sweeping across the territory. While his paws itched to carry him forward, the man would not dare cross the borders. Seageda would have unleashed a fury upon anyone who crossed the claim uninvited, and he expected no less from the wolves here. So with his head raised high the man called for any that were willing to come, but hidden away deep within his plea was a cry for one particular wolf. 

Puppies are not necessarily included in the post order to keep things going since it's a joining thread but 3+ posts from any of them warrents a mercenary trade.

In an effort to divide her time up with the Goufas, knowing most of the traits at this point and where there interest lays, she’d spent time in the afternoon with @Thyri, @Eske, and @Hvitserk by her side. With different aspects of their interests may or may not overlap, she is certain Gavriel and Gyda are doing their part, but the fundamentals every guardian needs is something she can easily provide. Spending time on the borders is one of the tedious chores they all more or less need to do and their time with an adult will become less and less over the next several weeks. Soon, they’ll be big and strong enough—though not perfected in their ways—to spend more time on their own.

The call that catches her attention near the end causes an immediate shift. There isn’t a hesitation as she is drawn in that direction, giving the puppies a chance to return to the rendezvous site or tag along if they so choose, for a simple call gives her enough trust to bring the pack’s young to a stranger. Still, she informs each one to remain behind her and out of the way until she further instructs them.

With all, or whomever remains of the three, Thuringwethil begins her trek down the decline where she finds a scarred male than had been tried and true the whole time. Whatever corruption lain with Seageda now gone, she can look upon her former with the same fondness she once had. And to have him once more in her embrace settles uneasy feelings in her chest, despite the changes she’ll know she’ll have to tell him. Tanja standing upon her—their—border, she knows that others may come too and it means Trigeda is doing well enough without her assistance anymore.

“Tanja,” she says quietly with a brief smile upon her form, and takes a long stride to stand before him.

Eske kept pace with Thuringwethil with some effort, though she had entered the stage of rapid growth but she was driven. If not by the presence of her siblings — for Eske hadn't bothered to check to see if they'd splintered off or remained — then because she strove to prove herself to Heda. The single wolf's opinion that mattered more to her than her own. Eske didn't care if she was the favorite of her parents, nor of her siblings. Their approval meant minimal to the Grounder Princess. Eske had long since accepted that she would never be Gyda's favorite and abandoned trying. The Sheild Maiden was more than formidable but she was no Grounder and this created a rift between the mother and her aggressive daughter. The borders were familiar to Eske and she walked them with confidence. This wasn't her first tour of them, for she snuck in secret patrols when she could though she was often caught.

She hated the idea of having a babysitter while she ran the paces. How was she ever going to learn if they didn't let her do it on her own? Though, admittedly, she did not mind Heda and had been (secretly) ecstatic that she had invited her to come along. Of course Eske was not going to decline a personal invitation from Heda herself even if her siblings tagged along. The howl broke her thoughts and a low growl rumbled in her chest as they made their way towards the man that had released his summons towards the towering crags of Drageda. When they came upon them, Heda greeted him, familiar with him. It should have been enough for Eske but she was skeptical. She did not know this titan: tall, burly with muddy grey fur and accents of ginger and scars. Eyes of blue-green sea glass narrowed, content to give the stranger a stare down as demanding who he was would only be redundant. Tanja was how Thuringwethil had addressed him. Despite her desire to be helpful and to test her ferocity on someone who was not Drageda Eske contented herself to observe, knowing that it would prove important to watch how Heda handled the familiar outsider.

The man did not easily worry yet while he stood along the borders, eyes frantically searching for any movement, a nervous pace took hold of him. If what he heard was true she would be here but just the thought that she wouldn't come, that this had all been for nothing made a fearful pit blossom within the brute's stomach. But just like that it was gone. All his worry and doubt vanished the moment he caught sight of her. "Heda" he breathed, lowering himself into a bow. His typical hardened expression replaced with a much more tender one as he rises. 

His attention flickers to the young girl for a split second before shifting back to ultimately rest on his commander's features. "It is true then, you have claimed new lands?" he asks in their shared language, steely orbs dancing with curiosity.

"It is true," she explains. She hadn't gotten a chance to make a visit to Trigeda herself but with Gavriel's last visit and sending Gluskap and Toxochelys down, the word evidently spread. Before she knows it, she's certain several more of her wolves will return to her and Drageda will really begin to feel like home. 

"Disha ste Eske," she introduces, her nose gesturing the girl to step forward. On the other side of the rope stands a wolf she trusts and instead of having to go through the whole cycle again, she knows exactly what he's good. However, the advantage weighs in her favor as she drops her attention to the child. "I want you to greet him like a loner looking to join," she instructs, giving the floor to Eske to do the honors.

Tanja and Thuringwethil exchange simple questions and answers. It left Eske to wonder if this was the protocol for wolves that you knew? Thuringwethil introduces her to Tanja and with a step of confidence and pride Eske did as she was bid: taking a step closer to the man that was still a stranger to her, fixing him in her fierce gaze. Thuringwethil gave her the floor, instructed her to greet him as if he were a loner looking to join. For Eske, this was exactly what he was: a stranger seeking a home at Drageda's borders. She knew that he knew their native language but after a small moment of consideration if she were to treat this like she didn't know that she understood that the common tongue would be her first language to go to. She had no fear of messing up, but she wanted to impress and this gave her a twinge of nervousness.

“Hei splita,” Eske greeted him first in their native tongue before she took a deep breath. “This is Drageda, stranger. What is your purpose here?” Eske demanded in common tongue, her gaze intense as it focused upon the male. She did not break her gaze from him to check if Thuringwethil approved or not. She had no doubt that if she'd done wrong Heda would be quick to intervene and correct her.

As soon as he had received confirmation on the rumors he had heard, the man gave a firm nod of understanding. He was anxious to investigate this new land Heda had claimed, and even more so to seek out the wolves she now commanded. He assumed it was Seageda wolves, those loyal to Heda that had come help establish this new home and the man was eager at the thought of possibly reuniting with old companions.

Yet it appeared he was still needed to play the role of stranger for the girl's sake, so the man remained still and gave a dip of his head to greet the child. Her stare was fierce and deep within he saw a fighting spirt so very few had. She was brave, this he could tell, but perhaps blindly so. "I am Tanja kom Seakru, and I seek acceptance into your ranks." 

skipping thur with mica's permission! :-)

Heda did not intervene and taking that as a silent approval to continue forth Eske took it, doing her best to block out Heda's audience lest it make her nervous. Eske's tail curled over her spine, physically communicating that she was the one in charge here. Despite her youth. Despite her growing body. Despite that this was a test. Regardless, she would take no shit. He could not push her around nor intimidate her. She was a Grounder, and a daughter of the queen of valkyries. He was from Seageda, evidenced by him speaking her native tongue. Yet, this was no grounds for her to automatically accept him. He was still a stranger. “You have served under Heda then, Tanja of Seakru?” Eske inquired as if that wasn't already established, as if Thuringwethil did not loom beside her. For a moment her breath caught in her throat as she glimpsed at her impressive figure beside her but refocused upon Tanja without issue.

“Loyally?” Because loyalty to Heda was definitely very important, or so Eske believed. “What was your role in Seakru? What skills do you bring to offer Drageda?” She asked next, studying him openly, unbidden about it. She could not deny the feeling of empowerment this gave her. She felt like the warrior queen that guarded the gates of their home: whether they would earn her mercy and welcome or her consequence and aggression depended on their answers and the respect they showed towards her and Drageda.

Yes, she could definitely get used to this.

The man did not waver under the girl's dominate displays nor did he challenge her authority. He was the outsider seeking acceptance in, and he dare not test her patience for he absolutely believed she would send him packing if she found him unworthy to stay. "I have and always will loyally serve under Heda" he spoke honest and truthfully, the words pouring from his lips with ease. 

He had served the commander before Thuringwetil's reign, and if fate would have it he would serve the one that came after her fall. His heart was loyal to the spirit of the commander so whomever was chosen to be Heda was the one he would follow with complete unwavering devotion. "I was a gona in Seageda, and I offer you that same fiery spirit that will fight for Drageda until the last breath leaves my lungs".

Tanja assured her that he served Heda loyally and faithfully and that he always would. Eske had no reason to disbelieve him. If not for the fact that Thuringwethil had accepted him without asking him much of anything she might have pressed him further. As it was, her intuition told her that he was being honest, though there might have been other factors (namely Heda's acceptance of him) at play. “Good,” Eske said fiercely. Even if she would have been the only one to intercept him and this was a real interrogation time would have proved if his words were true. No doubt if there would have been falseness in his words Heda would have been quick to deal with him accordingly. He told her that he was a Gona — the same as her parents — and that would fight for Drageda until his last breath. Despite herself, Eske found herself warming to him immediately. She liked those words. They spoke of unwavering devotion, and as a fellow warrior to a fellow warrior she appreciated the kinship the understanding created.

“Would you spar with me sometime, Gona? I would like to see your skill for myself.” She would have demanded he spar with her right then and there but there was an undeniable tickle of nervousness at the base of her neck. She wasn't ready for Thuringwethil to see her spar yet. For disappointing Heda would devastate her and Eske was not ready to face the chance that she might fail. Gyda told her that she would fail. She would fail again and again and that each failure was a victory in and of itself. She couldn't learn if she didn't fail. That didn't mean Eske wanted to feel the disappointment in herself. "So long as Heda welcomes you then so, too, do I." She decided with a wag of her tail — a sign of welcome.

Since Thuringwethil is given the opportunity to teach, it will benefit Eske’s learning when she spends her time at the borders. Knowing the brute upon her mountain, where Eske did not, gives her the advantage to know the outcome of the interview. It may have swayed Eske a little in her ‘acceptance’ of Tanja, but she’d done well enough for her approval, but she is glad the girl is able to come back to his skills in a future planned spar.

“Good job,” she says with a flicker of a smile, lowering her nose to nip at her tail. “Let’s show him where he can rest for the night,” she suggests before turning back to the Seageda warrior. “We will catch up tomorrow, once you’ve gotten some rest and something on your stomach.” Thuringwethil shifts enough to invite him to join, letting Eske lead the way to a cave near the geyser field.

A relieved sigh fell from the man's lips at the word good. So it seemed she had deemed him worthy of staying, and at her request to spar he answered with a nod of his head, followed by "I would be honored to spar with you." He was just as curious to see her own skills as she was to witness his. Tanja had always thought it important to know the movement and fighting style of those you stand by, it gave an advantage over the enemy.

He looked to Heda as she spoke and gave a nod when she addressed him on talking tomorrow. He was thankful for their kindness in offering him a place to stay for the night, especially after the long travel he had just endured. He was quick to cross the invisible border at his commander's invitation and looked to the girl to lead the way.

Tanja seemed to be down for a future spar and this pleased Eske. She offered a quiet nod of her head, content with his answers. For what little it was worth he had passed her criteria. Eske felt her chest puff up a little in unbidden pride as Heda praised her, a glimpse and toothy grin sent at the dark coated woman when she felt her nip at her tail. “Yes, Heda.” Eske murmured, obediently, before she turned and led the way, wondering if because she had some supervised experience if she might be able to greet the next loner on her own. Of course whether they were accepted into Drageda or not rested upon Heda's (or perhaps one of the other leader's) shoulders but there was something incredibly satisfying about knowing that her opinions might have some pull.