1/8/2025, 11:08 PM
six months
Evergreens loomed around him, but in the eye of the storm of greenery and snow stood the prince; still, for once, and seemingly calm.
The sun was blotted out by snowflake-filled clouds, looming ominous as the flurries drifted down peacefully. Sverke's nose was tilted toward the sky in a mocking rendition of a silent howl, jaws clenched shut to keep his rage in check. There was no reason to set it off its leash, and no victim but himself here. Snowflakes landed on his cheeks, nose and chin - perched atop fine, short midnight-blue fur before melting into invisibility.
Just like -
He closed his eyes. That was a mistake. Memories of another world burst to golden life behind his eyes - the scalding heat of chariot wheels returned to his jaws, a cold flame of hate blossoming within the boy's chest. Skoll heard his name spoken, revered, feared - sun-eater, he who mocks, ragnarok's advent, monstrous wolf of the sky and endless chase. It burned, and it burned, and this time Sverke did not fear it quite as much. His mother was gone. Stolen from his grasp. The boy was left behind. He felt cold, lost, alone, angry. Who had the right? What force would dare?
She was the golden-haired, sunlight and gold and honey, and she was his mother, his. None other was allowed to steal her like so prized a possession.
His father's call made amber and ice eyes flick open, a sharp inhale cleansing the worst of the cloying grief taking root in his chest.
Sverke was not alone, at least. Some other thing lived within him - as one with him - and he knew his twin was still not far.
If anything, he wanted Asgeir closer than ever - lest he be called away from Sverke as well. Well, Sverke wouldn't allow it. No power in any realm was strong enough to separate them, even if it had torn son from mother's side. The brothers were more than that - intertwined, though Sverke didn't entirely comprehend how. He trotted onto the beach, thick winter coat silky and shuffling with every smooth stride that brought the half-yearling to his father's side.
They would survive. He was not so weak to fall apart without the Goddess' strength there to bolster him. It was in silence that the boy settled, seated by his father's side with a scowl and a keen eye on the others who arrived - although he was really just looking for the shape of his twin to make itself known.
