Wardruna's silence came with her sorrows. It was not the first time one of her parents had gone missing and so the viking girl immediately placed the blame on Odin. The All Father had done his best to place ruin on the Stormborn family, a generation that went back as far as The Gods of Old creating the first of their bloodline. Warduna did not speak this. After all, her younger brother Frode was a seer. Her sister, Journey, a valkyrie many times before and servant of Odin in his Valhalla halls.

Wardruna had elected to stay behind on the search parties while Journey and Arvid went beyond. A sentry determined to keep their borders strong, while their Queen abandoned their place the moment the King was missing and their new King-in-Rising absent in the search.

Evening comes, the sun falls and it is quiet in Northfall. The sky shining with its soft blue-grey haze, fitted with steaks of muted purple, reminding her of Sheauga's eyes.

It was incredibly beautiful; magical. It reminded her of the day the world saw gods dancing in the sky. She wondered if it was the gods her father had grown up knowing. Then, movement behind her, and Wardruna's ears perked as she lift herself from her lay, just down a bit from the rocky formation of her den. Speaking of the devil raccoon. Vaskebjørn... (Raccoon) She answers with a weak smile.

The little raccon moved with a swiftness. A fluid and seamless movement which a woman of Wardruna's size could never dream to behold. In an instant, her little snowy chest was pressed to the cream and tan of Wardruna's own. Her muzzle slipped under the northerner's chin.

Wardruna stiffened. Sheauga's followed.

And just as quickly as the little woman was pressed to her, she was jumping back and eyes casting to her feet in what seemed either shame or embarrassment.

Wardruna's own eyes turned back then, at first uncertain of what to do. What to say. She felt a tightness in her chest.

Then, all at once, Wardruna too moved with a suddenness. She leaned forward in her sit and lifted a forleg, meant to wrap around the back of Sheauga and pull her back against her where she had been moments prior. Her head moving down to drape over her nape. She didn't cry. She didn't speak. Only breathed in deeply and held tightly.

Wardruna remains quiet for a time longer. Perhaps too long, even. Her thoughts drifting to her father. Then her mother, then her sisters too which had been taken bu Odin for a time.. then even to her elder siblings, her 'aunt' Sindri... She takes a deep breath, olive eyes casting back up to the glory of the winter sunset around them.

She wanted only to do something, anything, if only to keep her mind away from the thought of never seeing her father in this life again. Wardruna lifts her head from Sheauga's scruff, pulling back just enough to touch her muzzle to the top of the woman's head which rest against her. Maybe I should patrol... She murmurs. When was the last time she had checked up on their Elysium visitors, anyway?

She wasn't alone.

Though a number of times she had felt it, with so much family that had gone, she had been reminded of what she still had and how wrong she had been. Ragnhildr visited. Elysia, Skathi and Sigurd, all taken from them yet reunited on this plane. Wardruna had grown with the whole of her family all around her, in the same pack, this was true, but that did not mean that she was now alone even though they had left Northfall.

The Stormborn name spread far and wide across the tundra. From the western coast to the eastern island. They were not the children tumbling in the foothills of Northfall any longer. They had grown, explored, conquered, formed alliances and one day too they would further the blood of Stormborn by the making of their own families. Sadness filled her, but a bitter sweet one at this. Ragnar left a legacy in his wake.

Wardruna just, needed to remind herself sometime. Needed to remember who her people were. Who she was. They were Norse. They were Viking. They were strong.

Wardruna takes a deep breath, filled with the scent that was Sheauga. Yes, of course... A forced smile. Despite the dour mood, she was happy for the woman's company. Wardruna's strength had always been fueled by those around her. She would keep going so long as she had those around her to keep going for. We can scout the forest. She suggested. A place where the northern winds were broken up and the snow wasn't as deep, both due to the towering evergreen trees. A much more suitable place then the towering heights or misty wet straightline winds of the rocky coast. Wardruna had come to prefer alpine forests herself too.

They began their work, Wardruna cutting a path through the forest to a route which she had walked time and time again. Her traveling companion inquired of her, to which Wardruna's black ears would perk.

Ah, well...A great many things, I think. She said with a little cheesy expression. I always love a good romp. Be it more serious training, friendly rough-housing or even being a chew toy for the young of the pack, though they had since grown. I enjoy to watch the herds. Caribou and elk mostly up here. It's relaxing to me... and catching the ram spar during breeding season is a fun watch. Their horns smack into one another so loudly, it echoes throughout the mountains. Similar to snapping wood in a quiet winter forest. That was also common around here, actually.

She found it fun to chase the mountain goats too, watching them scatter up the mountainside in ways Wardruna did not think a wolf physically possible. I also love to pupsitting, especially when they are very young and wobbly. I've always been around so much family. I was one of eight in my litter and I had been excited to help raise little siblings for as long as I can remember. She chuckles lightly, remembering her three little siblings and her niece and nephews, around the same age. All of them romping around her, tugging and pulling and drooling.