Skill: Guardian [1/5]

---

Hilde had always been a skeptic. She never believed in magic, in fate... nothing of the sort. At least, not in Kaldrvegr. Such voodoo-hoodoo had always earned nothing but a scoff from her, perhaps even a jeer if she was in a particularly nasty mood.

Things have changed; that much was obvious. Vidarr had never left. He'd been taken— and now, she was here, too. Since that day, she'd spent plenty of hours pacing these strange lands, constantly fighting to understand, to think of some reason why this happened, or, better yet, how. There was no single logical explanation that would ever soundly elucidate how on god's green earth she ended up here. How Vidarr ended up here.

It was all bad enough as it was, yet now Vidarr and his packmates had begun to speak of strange runes. A rock had an interesting pattern on it—so what? The woman avidly refused to ever heed anyone's attempts to explain that this phenomenon was important. It was a 'heap of caribou shit' as she worded it.

The night was cold, despite the near arrival of summer. Hilde was cranky—even more so than usual. All she wanted was sleep.

But even that was interrupted.

The stranger spoke in a tongue she hadn't ever even fathomed existed, and yet, each word harbored as much meaning as a native language would. Hilde gasped awake with muscles tense, eyes wide with fear—no. Not fear, never fear. She was simply startled.

Hilde walked past Vidarr with silent paces, slipping out from their den with a drawn-out sigh. 'Investigate the broken edge.' Her teeth gritted in frustration as she recalled the words that odd voice had said. 'It is the hunger.' If this goddamn little dream-creature wanted her to investigate something, why did they have to be so goddamn... confusing about it? She stomped through the forest with a grumble rolling deep in her throat.

You want your damn runes, she growled. I'll find your damned runes. Hilde trekked up the ridges, her sights set towards the fields which stretched far beyond the Vale.

guardian 1/5 (x 2 for the bwp skill bonus)

He knew the moment that she'd heard it because so had he.

Vidarr's common response, however, was much less aggressive and far more 'lets think it through'. Still, his elskuligr (beloved) shot up from their den with her body tensed and he knew well enough not to get in her way. The voice had spoken about edges and while Vidarr had a quick wit, he didn't understand this immediately. It was frustrating, certainly, and he knew that would just eat at Hilde too. Wait - my love, Vidarr was fortunate that he was so much taller so that he could keep up with her demanding pace. Damn his shoulder, but he knew he was fortunate to only have that scar after the fires. If it had not been for Svajone finding him, he surely would have been consumed in the flames.

When he'd caught up to her he gently nudged her shoulder. These runes - where even should we take them? It was partially musing on his own, but he felt if they did find the damned things they wouldn't know what to do with them next. He was less afraid of the voice or the dream, despite the unease that crept along his spine up to the back of his neck. The beast shook his coat out and tried to make the feeling go away. Surely they wouldn't be entirely left to just figure out what the world needed - the voice would come back, hopefully.

I am sorry that this is what you awoke to. He said and offered her a brief, slightly tense smile. Golden eyes almost weary - would they ever have peace again? This would have been easier if they had a physical, corporeal enemy. Vidarr would risk life and limb to keep others safe — and he had! For these wolves who had become his family he would without hesitation. It was who Vidarr was. This enemy was their world and no amount of feral battling would do them good against the ground that was beneath them. Vidarr had to put his mind to work this time, rather than just brawn.

Skill: Heartbroken [2/5]

---

The soft nudge startled her out of a trance. Hilde whipped her head back to face her lover, brows raised and lips parted in surprise. She let out a huff, weary and indignant. I didn't think I'd woken you, she murmured, her gaze drifting north. No matter her ire, her testy mannerisms towards it all—it was his presence alone that could lull her roaring flame.

I don't know anything about them, Hilde returned. I just... a huff left her lips. She turned on her heel to face him. I'm tired of all this, her tone held something uncharacteristically soft. Something vulnerable. I miss the peace. I know I'm supposed to be the fighter, the... warrior. But... Her tongue briskly swiped over her lips, uncertainty was etched across her face. I just want things to be normal again. I miss our home, Vidarr, I miss Thyra... Her voice trailed off.

Her head hung. It was all exhausting, and she couldn't even sleep without this all invading her dreams. I don't know what to do with them, she began, her voice lowered to a mere mutter. But if it means this'll all be over... She sauntered closer to rest her chin against her broad back, her shoulder pressed to his, her eyes fluttering shut. Let's just... do whatever we can. Whatever feels right. She turned her head to nestle her nost between the thick fur of his cheek, pressing a tender kiss against his skin.

guardian 2/5 (x 2 for the bwp skill bonus)

He offered her a gentle smile when she admitted not realizing he had woken. My love, do you think after so long apart I wouldn’t relish every time I awoke to see you? Every time I will know joy because you woke me. Few could make such declarations with the confident that Vidarr did, which extended past his typical confidence. He knew the relief was etched deep into his heart. There was no way he wouldn’t feel that sort of joy. Surely a day would also come when it wasn’t the sole emotion he felt in the moment, but that too would be a type of healing. It would mean that Vidarr no longer feared waking up from the dream to find reality instead.

Without the threat of an enemy that Vidarr could simply cut down, it forced him into other avenues of action. He would slay enemies, vanquish foes with a precision, he would even lay down his own life to save Dawnbreak. Still this was easier said than done when the threat consisted of Mythris herself and lie deeply rooted in her past. Unfortunately, that strange force that pulled them into this universe had not been without a cost even greater than the loss of all their bonds. Instead it craved more still. It demanded action. It might be the reason for all of this - of us being brought here. Vidarr reasoned.

If he had the body for it he would have wrapped his arms around her tight. Instead he only reached out to gently touch his snout to her temple. You are supposed to be as you are. My Hildeguarde. He traced the marking almost with his tongue the kiss was so gentle before he pulled back. You are allowed to want peace, even now - even… He trailed off for a moment before clearing his throat thickly. Even while we miss Thyra. Even while we miss our home. Even while this world shatters. We can desire peace, and, we can have it.

After so long apart it was too hard to spend any amount of time outside of her company. Vidarr leaned into her touch, tactile as a cat almost as they were shoulder to shoulder. He pressed into her touch, letting out a rattled sigh still thick with the emotion that came when mentioning Thyra. He felt guilt for being happy with Hilde without A Thyra as well. It seemed so wrong having only the two of them. He could not stamp out the joy in his heart at having either of them back, though. You're right. If we are guided to search for these tunes, surely we will also be guided how to use them.