OOC: Tags on this thread for lion :T
When he finishes his character's profile 8D
-----------
The bleating howl of the oxen-horn carried across the Grand Steppe, a wailing call that signified the hunters were returning home. Excitement mounted as Brynhalla felt the winds on the steppe sweep through her hair as she climbed the tallest tree of the plain and looked over towards the approaching hunting party as her chest swelled with pride. The sight of her parents, Fahnill and Varessia, at the forefront of the party, made her stomach do uncontrollable flips as she raced down through the branches and through the plains. It was evident even from this distance the hunters had been successful, and with a wild holler, the young woman- now barely in her teens, gave a whistle for her horse Thorabear and the bloodbay stallion came storming her way.
Latching onto the horse as it rode by, she didn't miss a beat as she dangerously climbed her way onto the racing horse's back and took hold of it's dark mane as the pair galloped off towards the village of the Vahltrysse, leaving the empty air behind her to eat her dust.
The village was full of life- and Brynhalla joined in the festivities beaming in a world all of her own. Her parents were the talk of her village, one all aspired to be like- and she, everyone saw her as a child with great potential- one blessed by Athra.
"You will be like your mother some day. Varessia must be proud how well you fight and hunt on your own!"
And naturally, the young child replied with an eager, "Of course! I might even be better than she! Just you wait!" ANd everyone was always so supportive, even if her drive seemed to rival that of the Gods.
As the meat from the hunt was cooked over the spit above a massive bonfire that roared in the center of her town, Brynhalla enjoyed her meat first, as grease glossed across her lips and fingers as she hungrily sunk her teeth into her meal and remained with her parents in the hunter's circle. She was too young to properly join them, but she was always attached at her mother's hip;a nd no one would challenge Varessia for her child's right to eat with her.
Though it was on occasions like these that Varessia's other child, Brynhalla's half brother, Darkrom, watched off to the side with his crippled father. Vaxxem, Varessia's first mate, had taken a terrible fall from the hunt and has been a cripple ever since. He always hoped the fall would have killed him, but it seems their goddess Athra had other plans. And though his glory days were at an end, he always tried to encourage Darkrom to strive to be as good as his mother and half sister. Silently Darkrom would always agree, but his eyes were always darkly piercing on her favored child.
Licking off her fingers, Brynhalla tossed the bone - now licked clean, onto the ground as she got upa nd dusted off her tanned, fur trimmed skirts.
"I'm so hungry I think I might have seconds!" And boastfully she threw back her shoulders, pushed out her chest and strolled on over towards the bonfire to take more meat that was rightfully hers. Though some of the clan was only getting their first portions, those from the hunt always ate first- and being she was on her second plate,s he cared little for the others withhungered bellies as she pushed past a young man to get in line before him.
"Another piece! And be sure it's got plenty of fat, Valkier!"
Valkier turned from the young man who had been in line before her and slopped the meat onto his plate before turning to Brynhalla with a smile. He only had one eye,a nd dark hair now grew over top of it to hide the gruesome vacated hole from sight.
"A growing girl needs to eat her meat. But a growing girl should also learn that, despite her place in the hunt, she ought to think of others first."
Brynhalla, taken back Valkier would dare talk to her that way, quickly grew angry.
"Valkier! I am hungry! And my parents were the one leading the hunt! My plate! Give to me the finest piece, dripping wtih juices before I throttle you here and now!"
Valkier, unimpressed, let out a curt laugh.
"Then to the end of the line with you. Even your parents would take their turns on seconds."
Still angered Valkier denied her her rights, she went on, "But it is my right!" And she spoke it through her teeth, eyes narrowing dangerously upon the hunched back, older man. But Valkier only smiled and turned to the young man that was still standing beside her- and handed him a second piece of greasy meat.
"For you, Thoronir, for having the patience of Athra."
Turning to take in Thoronir, a boy barely with any muscle on his gangly arms, had her huffing at the sight if him as she took him in.
"Thoronir?" Need she justify her disgust anymore? And with a scowl at them both, she hastily plucked the larger set of meat from his plate and took off with it, running.
Thoronir stared in awe at the kill that Varessia and Fahnill had brought in from a great hunt. The kill was a great one and would feed the entire tribe for a week if everyone wasn't greedy. Naturally the pelts would be given to the hunters that killed it as honor for their efforts, and everything else would be split among the tribe, to their necessary places. Thranneik stood beside his son, a boy of not more than sixteen in his years and already growing taller than he was.
"See, if I was a hunter, I would bring in a kill twice that, Father," he said, as the beast was dragged into the center of the tribe to be stripped, skinned, and boiled.
"If you were a hunter," Thranneik said with a smile. "But you are a healer's boy. And they don't just go around inviting them on the hunt now do they?"
"If one of them got hurt what would they do? They ought to take a healer with them," he muttered grumpily.
"Hunters take care of their own, boy. But I won't dismiss your fancies, Thoronir. If you earn the right, you may join them," his father replied calmly and retired to their tent.
When the fire was erected and the feast began, Thoronir took his place in line. He was hungry from the days activities, for his studies were long and Thranneik refused to allow him to venture out until he had learned the properties of the Vishani mushroom that grew at the edge of the Oasis. The old weathered man that was his father was patient with him, and he knew Thoronir knew better than to disobey. But when he was done, he was among the last in line.
He watched in silence as Brynhalla demanded more meat, cutting in front of him to gain seconds. "Hey!" he muttered. "You can't just cut just because you're the daughter of the ones who killed it" But she seemed to largely ignore his protest and he zipped his mouth shut for the moment. Then she suddenly whirled on him. He leaned back, stunned for the brief moment before she took his meat and he watched her scuttle of with it.
The kill was nearly barebones, and there was little left but for the others behind him. Something boiled in his stomach, that contempt he knew others felt for him, as quiet as it was. He cut his eyes toward Brynhalla in the melting of time around him. Valkier smiled sleazily, clearly amused by it, and Thoronir felt his cheeks grow red. There was a clanking and a shattering and the clay plate in his hands suddenly crumbled and smashed to the floor. He looked back to Brynhalla, mid run, and suddenly bolted after her.
At sixteen, he was taller than she, thin enough to offer less wind resistance and zipped across the fire pit with an intensity he did not understand. And the breath came out of him when his body suddenly collided with hers and he tried to force her to the ground. "Give it back!" he yelped with all the courage he could muster.
Releasing a yelp, Thoronir was more than successful at getting Brynhalla to the ground as one moment she was darting across the camp, and the next moment; she was eating dirt. She hadn't thought the boy would dare make chase, and she watched in dismay as the meat bounced away into the gritty dirt as it was knocked from her fingers from the fall.
Gritting her teeth, she felt the rising heat of anger and whirled around, despite being pinned by Thoronir.
"YOU!" She began, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous sort of shine. "How DARE you try to-"
But before Brynhalla could get more than a few huffed words out, a chortle from some younger hunters who were passing by took a look at the pair and gave them some playful hollering.
"Hey, you two! Don't you know we make tents for that?"
At first, Brynhalla didn't get the joke, her face scrunching quizzically before she turned around to observe, with a gasp, she was laying on the dirt beneath Thoronir in a position as if they were about to mate. ANd boy did her face go red.
"Thoronir," she growled poisonously. "Get off."
Thoronir had not noticed the circle of people staring them that was until the laughter of a few of the men that started to chuckle at their chosen position. When his hands came around her wrists and he grit his teeth. The laughter echoed around him and only then did he look up. But he didn't want to give up so easily.
"You took my meat! You ruined it!" he growled, pinning her back more.
"Thoronir!" Thranneik yelled as he came pushing through the crowd. "Thoronir! Get off her at once! You will not squabble over a piece of meat."
"But father!"
"You will shame yourself over something so menial..." he said and Thoronir dropped his head, blushing and climbed off of her. His father pulled him to his feet and he held on to him with one arm and dusted off his clothes before pulling him up. Thranneik looked at Brynhalla and took her by the arm, dragging her along back to her parents and pulling Thoronir with him. He put them both before them and stood straighter. "I'm sorry, Fahnill, Varessia, for the actions of my son."
Varessia and Fahnill were in the middle of a conversation that had both of the laughing into tears, so when both children were brought before them it was Varessia's job to address as she chuckled and rose her gaze. She hadn't even known what had happened?
"Oh? And what has Thoronir done?" she asked, raising a brow expectantly while observing her feisty daughter scowling beside him. Both were red faced. She could only guess what sort of mischief they've gotten into.
Thoronir grumbled something that caused Thranneik to smack hin upside the head before resuming his grip on his arm. He bowed his head to the hunters again before nudging Brynhalla to go to her parents. "It seems my son pounced upon your daughter because she stole his share of me, intent on keeping it for herself. I saw the whole thing transpire. But as hunters I know his actions have disrespected you and your daughter and he wanted to give his apologies to you and your family."
He shook Thoronir again and the skinny boy grumbled and glared daggers at Brynhalla and her parents. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Thranneik urged.
"For dishonoring myself and my father and for tackling Brynhall... But! She took what was mine!"
Brynhalla broke away and hid behind her parents, and catching his glare, she smiled triumphantly, and even stuck her tongue out at him. But her mother caught that tongue between two fingers.
"Brynhalla... is what this boy says is true?"
Brynhalla made a face, flailing beneath her mother's grip, but her gargled replies could not be made out- at least not to anyone else but her mother her shook her head.
"Then it seems, Brynhalla, you owe this boy an apology to. We did not raise you to be so selfish. You let your pride become too big and you are yet so young. Go, approach the other boy and tell him you are sorry as well."
ANd it was here Varessia released Bryn's tongued, leaving the girl gaping.
"But mom-"
One short gaze from her mother was enough to silence her. She wondered if she'd get a flogging later for this. Reluctantly, she dragged herself back over to Thoronir and grumbled out a, "I'm sorry."
"For?"
Brnyhalla grit her teeth.
"For... for stealing your meat." And she kept her angered gaze down cast, for she still believed that meat was HERS.
At her apology, the irritation left Thoronir's eyes and his expression grew somber. He could see her anger, but he brought his eyes to look closer into her and suddenly his hand shot forth and clamped her wrist in a shake between friends and he shook it.
"It's all right," he said. "I know you were simply hungry and eager. I'm...sorry for hitting you." He gave her a small smile and a blush to go with it.
Brynhalla gasped when he dared touched her, and when she was able to, pulled her arm free as she made a face. But being how she was being watched by everyone, she swallowed back a growl.
"Well you'd better be!"
And a look from a mother had her sulking.
"But yeah, it was foolish,"s he mumbled, then peered over at her mother, hoping she'd allow her to return, but she saw her mother simply shaking her head- that was enough of a gesture for her as she skipped away from Thoronir and nestled in triumphantly between her parents, purposely ignoring Thoronir- who would DARE embarrass her in front of her parents!
Thoronir gave her a wide-eyed look when she scampered back behind her parents. But as Thranneik pulled him away he cast her a smile and ran after his father.
Brynhalla pretended not to notice his smile, though she managed to catch it was he was fleeting. Hmph! Who did that boy think he was? He was no son of a hunter! But a healer! Not some great and noble warrior like her dad!
Though long after Thoronir had left, her parents saw fit to lecture their daughter on humility, and the lecture seemed to be enough to put the little firecracker of a daughter into place. Though that night, she was having trouble sleeping, and found herself tossing and turning in her bed before she eventually gave up on sleep and threw off her covers.
Careful not to wake her snoring parents, she tip toed outside and made her way into camp. The camp was quiet, except the soft sighs of couples still awake, making love- and a few others who lingered and tended to the fire. There were certain members of her tribe that kept up on night watch, and she made sure she was quick to sneak past them- but nestled herself into the shadows when she came across a rather active tent. She watched as the couple writhed together, rolled and moaned and were screaming in pleasure. She wasn't quite sure what they were doing, but being ever curious, she crept forward to take a peak. After all, she didn't want to be ignorant when it was finally her turn to mate.
But what she saw confused her. Two naked bodies, the man crouched over top of a woman. She made a face. What was all of the fuss about? She still didn't get the whole idea of sex, and remained on her hands and knees and belly on the floor, observing the pair in silence but the part she wanted to see was hidden under a blanket, while a fire crackled hotly within the couple's tent.
OOC: lol Brynhalla is a peeping Tom XD
Thoronir had a silent night between himself and Thranneik and he'd been forced into more study while his father ate succulently on some fruit, drank wine and fell asleep. He poured over his scrolls until he felt his eyes droop. But he was too tired to sleep. It wasn't fair. He didn't even get to eat!
All because of that...girl! He shook his head and grumbled, moving from his bedroll to the left over food his father ate and ate until he was sated at least and then moved out into the cool night air. He needed the freshness and took the breeze in gratefully.
Thoronir wandered around camp, until he spotted legs sticking at the edge of a tent where soft moans came out from. He moved with some curiosity sitting beside the legs and poked them. "What are you doin?" he whispered.
Not expecting anyone to have seen her, much less be poked, the girl jerked away from the tent and rolled over and just as she was about to scream, her hand slapped over her mouth.
"Th-Thoronir!?"
Thoronir fell back on his butt and grinned at her. "Sorry," he murmured. "But you're not supposed to watch the couples when they do that. It ruins their moment. Besides what d'you wanna know about that anyway?"
Brynhalla turned beet red.
"I- I- I wasn't.."
But oh how she was. Holding a breath, she released it hotly through flaring nostrils as she glared at him.
"What are you doing here?" Unless to do the same? PERVERT.
OOC: LOOOOOOOL
Thoronir shrugged innocently. "I was just taking a walk," he said with a shrug. "Getting some fresh air. Want to walk with me? Beats sitting here watching them make love." He shrugged again until a pause in the moans made him look at the tent flaps and to see a rock fly out at them. He scampered backwards, grabbing Brynhalla with him.
Brynhalla was barely yanked away by Thoronir in time, the rock missing her face but hitting her right on the rear. She let out a yelp, but stumbled as she ran with him and rubbed at the red mark the rock had made on her as she rubbed her butt cheek.
"Yeah, sure, talking a walk," she said with a roll of her eyes. Everyone knew any boy out at such an hour was only after one thing! But haughtily, she ran with him, not exactly wanting to get another rock tossed at her rear.
Thoronir giggled as he pulled her along, running through the sand until they were behind his father's tent. "Sorry about pulling you too hard," he smirked, letting go of her hand .
He didn't have to give her her hand back, she YANKED it away and cast him a glare.
"Yes, well- now my rear is smarting because of that rock!" She narrowed her gaze. "Why'd you have to cause such a commotion?" she hissed.
"They would have found you anyway and the punishment likely would have been much worse," Thoronir quipped and moved around behind her, lifting her skirt to look at the small wound.
"I'm the healer's son, I know what I'm doing," he said a he inspected it and let his hand splay against her bare buttock, pressing around it. "Oh you'll be okay. It'll just be minor bruising."
Brynhalla gasped when he lifted her skirts and tensed and blushed at him touching her. But the moment he finished his assessment, she clocked him, right across the face.
Thoronir blinked for a minute and then suddenly his head was spinning. He spun on his heel and fell sprawled on the ground when he finally came to, and his jaw cracked back into place. Sitting up he blinked at her. "What was that for?"
"What do you mean what was that for?" She hissed, hands clenching into fists. "You just looked up my skirts!" Without permission! The nerve! Healer or not- he gave her no warning and with a huff, she began to storm away. She didn't need the gangily boy to be her evening escort anyway. To think- he just, just...
Any other boy she might have felt excited for..
But not HIM.
Oh right! He wasn't supposed to do that. He blushed. "Oh! I'm sorry," he said, climbing to his feet. "I didn't see anything!" He dusted himself off and smirked as she walked off. "But..you do have a nice round bottom!" he called after her.
A handful of sand came hurling his way before Brynhalla came back and shoved him into the dirt.
"Don't you dare say that again!" she hissed, kicking more dirt his way. What if any of the others heard him? After what happened this morning, they might think they're a couple! And the LAST thing she wanted to do was consider Thoronir as a mate!
"S-sorry!" Thoronir yelped as he was shoved into the dirt with a grunt. He shrugged and climbed to his feet again. "I just said you had a round bottom. Because it's true."
She could not believe him as she gave an angered roar and kicked more dirt his way before storming off. She'd show HIM who had a round bottom!
Thoronir blushed and stared wide-eyed as she stormed off, brushing the sand off of his face as he blinked at her departing form. He shook his head and smirked, walking back toward his father's tent until he was sure she was gone.
Too angered to sleep, Brynhalla found herself at the training grounds and with no one around- there was no one to get in her way. Thankfully, the grounds were some distance from the sleeping tents that huddled so closely near the massive bonfire that still roared in the center of their village, but out here- the air was cold and crisp on her skin, but the cold was inviting.
She was hot and sweating in no time, limbs moving swift and deft as she worked her way through the training bit, using the wooden staff as her weapon of choice to keep herself well balanced. And high kicks and heavy punches were delivered through a harsh series of dance like steps before the girl halted to one side, after a few of the practice dummies had fallen, leaving nothing but their featherand straw stuffing dusting the ground.
The shadow that moved out towards the training grounds caught his eye. And from the way it's hips moved, he figured it was Brynhalla. After the beating she'd given him, and him watching her walk away, he knew that ass anywhere. In a manner of speaking of course.
Thoronir, he couldn't help himself as he followed silently behind her. Soon he was surprised to find her practicing in the training camps. He gasped silently and when he saw straw flying, he was beaming as he peered out from behind another dummy.
"You fight beautifully," he said, grinning ear to ear.
Caught off guard, she gasped and whirled around- and pointed the end of the wooden practice staff at his face.
"Thoronir,"s he growled through pants. "What are you doing here?"
Thoronir put his hands up defensively. "I was just watching you. You move so gravefully. But you know you're not supposed to be learning to fight. You are a girl! It's a shame...though. The tribe could use a warrior like you." He smiled and his eyes observed her form.
"What do you mean because I'm a girl?" she replied defensively, and gave his stomach a light jab with her staff. "Girls can fight!" And to prove her point, she gave him another jab again. Though they couldn't go off to war- females who COULD prove themselves, (like her mother..) were a valuable asset on a hunt. And she knew that was the fate for her. To become a huntress- and a damn good one. I twas in her blood. She was destined for this!
Thoronir took a step back, holding his stomach from the jab. "You know what I mean... But that doesn't mean you don't fight wonderfully," he said with a small smile. "Who taught you?"
Her eyes narrowed into slits.
"My parents," she said, puffing her chest out proudly. THen added, after a moment's hesitation. "And my half- brother, Darkrom." And with a raising of her chin, she also added, "And myself. I practice a lot at night." She was determined to prove herself and ever since she was able to- found time to steal away and practice the art of battle and the hunt as best as she could.
He didn't know but an idea suddenly came to him. "Could you? Could you teach me?" he asked with less gusto than he attempted.
Brynhalla, who had been wholly ready to defend herself, was shocked when he posed his question.
"What?!"
Was he crazy!?
He didn't know what possessed him to ask. But once he did, he found he couldn't recant it and he found a fire growing in his belly. "Train me, teach me to become a warrior! A hunter!"
Brynhalla made the most incredulous face as it twisted up in indignation.
"But you're the son of a healer!"
That was almost as crazy as her own dreams of becoming a war hero.
Well.. you know, almost.
"But I don't have to be! I can earn my place among them if I tried hard enough. But I cannot even earn the right for them to teach me without knowing just a little of the arts of war. Please... I'll...I'll do anything you want!" he said, eagerly.
Brynhalla's face was still scrunched up at the idea.
"What? No!" Why would he think she'd care!?
Though as she turned to walk away, the idea of him wanting to do anything for her made her wonder- just how much of anything..
but she shook her head.
No, no! She couldn't get caught up with someone- even fi..
she understood at least a bit where he was coming from.
Ugh, why couldn't one of the other boys ask her this? Then she'd know of all sorts of things to ask him...
Thoronir's eyes narrowed as he watched her turn and walk away. "I'll tell people you were training, if you don't train me! You know you're not supposed to, even if your da's a warrior!" he called after her.
At this threat, Brynhalla halted in her tracks. Her hands tensed around her wooden staff before she turned towards the healer's son and suddenly whirled around in one swift motion- and pointed the wooden staff at his chest.
"What was that?" she said, prodding him with the end of it. "Are you trying to threaten me, healer's boy?"
Thoronir fumbled with his confidence and he chewed on his lips, stepping back at her prodding. Then he mustered his courage again and stepped forth, letting the staff poke into his chest. "Yes, I am," he said sternly. "Train me. Or the whole village will know."
Brynhalla hesitated. There was one thing she prided herself in- it was her identity- and if he spoiled that; oh... she would hurt him so hard that he-
It was then she realized..
She could hurt him now! And a wicked grin twisted across her lips.
"Ok! Training starts right now!" ANd in one fluid motion, she whirled the staff back, around and down between his legs, kicking them up from under him and laughed as he fell onto his back int he dirt.
"Gotta be quick, healer's boy! Or you'll end up boar food!"
Thoronir had half expected something like that but that didn't mean it didn't hurt any less than it did when the air was knocked out of him. He wheezed until he could feel his lungs again and then promptly breathed, climbing to his feet. He kept his distance, putting his hands up. "Then where is my weapon?" he asked stupidly, watching her warily.
"You're a warrior," she said, smirking as her eyes sparkled playfully int he night. "Be creative." And she waited for him to be in a fighting stance before aiming for his legs again.
Thoronir skipped back, giving ground when the staff came for him again, and this time he lunged forward, trying to tackle her and pin her once more to the ground.
But she had swiftness he did not, and soon he was on his back again, she over him, nearly straddling him as she pressed her wooden staff across his chest and held him firmly in place.
"You're making this too easy, Thoronir! Come! I thought you didn't want to be a healer's boy! Now fight me as if you were a man! A hunter! A warrior! Those who cry out for death and blood!"
Removing the staff, she got to her feet and danced around him, eyes sparkling in the night as she watched him, body crouched like that of a tiger.
Thoronir got up, and again he was on his back. He was getting dizzy from all the knocking around he was getting, but he was dogged and persistent, and he instead bided his time, refusing to allow himself into her range as he looked around and spotted a spear on the ground. He dove for it and rolled, holding it in both hands, but it was clear he had no idea how to properly wield it.
The very action made Brynhalla snort.
"You know the spear end faces me and not your feet." She gave a playful laugh and twirl of her staff. "Well now, let's see you try to use it, healer boy. Come on! Come at me!" She taunted, and paused in her circling to at least give him a shot.
"N-no," he hesitated, switching the spear around. "Y-you come here!" he barked back.
"As if. You want t be a warrior? Then you need to learn to use those legs!" And her eyes danced as she looked them over- such thin, stick like things. However did they keep the tall boy erect? Laughing, she tore away from him, body whipping through the air so fast her long, wild hair carried behind her.
Thoronir grit his teeth as she danced around, taunting him. He didn't move from his place. Instead he crouched low and used the moment of her distraction to fire the spear at her. It flew with remarkable precision - likely beginner's luck - singing through the air, spinning even as it darted between her legs, ripping through the lower part of her skirts and landing in the dirt with a piece of the cloth attached at the point.
Brynhalla came to an abrupt halt, eyes wide, heart beating well into her ears as she stared at the healer's son in disbelief. Fear and excitement welled up inside her. He had nearly torn off her skirts. Her lips twitched into a small smirk before her own staff moved up now to bat his spear away.
"Lucky shot!" she told him, pink-blonde hair falling over her face as she grinned.
Thoronir was confident with that blow even as he had missed. He gave a small smirk and approached her again, giving up his fighting stance. He kept watching her as he moved back toward the spear. He plucked it from the ground and he pulled the piece of cloth from the tip and tucked it into the small carry-bag on his hip.
She gave a playful smack to the spear.
"Come on. Stop getting distracted. You'll never become anything but a healer's boy if you keep that up!"
Thoronir smirked at Brynhalla and with a quick flick of his wrist, the twisted the spear and swept Bryn's feet out from under her.
Too bad she had seen it coming from a mile away, and though she let him down her- she wanted to show him things were not as they seemed as her wooden staff struck to his belly, then knocked his own feet out from beneath him. She rolled away and got to her knees, then grinned over him triumphantly.
"Just because you can floor someone does not mean they can't floor you. You need to disable and disarm. Especially if you know they are faster, better.'
Thornir hit the ground hard. He spat out to the side and made a face at her. "I'm starting to think you just enjoy beating me to a pulp," he muttered and wiped his mouth. Thoronir shot at her, pressing his spear's blunt end to her ribs, no longer fearing hurting her, and he lunged for her again, hoping to use his strength to bear down on her - or what there was of it despite his skinny body.
The jab to the ribs was unexpected but before he had a change to tackle her, she rolled away and hefted up her staff and stood defensive and low as she crept around him like a stalking cat.
Thoronir raised the spear high like a staff and brought it down with savagery upon her head. But his own legs were prepared to jump back, and he did before she could advance upon him, whirling the spear in his hands and studying her movements. He circled around her for a brief moment before kicking dirt up at her and charging again, swinging the blunt end of the spear down toward her left side.
Brynhalla blocked the first attack to her head with ease, the noise of the wood clunking against the blunted metal before he aimed another blow at her through dirt. The dirt blinded sided her, and a lucky catch had her staff blocking his next move, but it also set the girl off balance.
He pressed the assault and spun on his heel, twisting his hips to kick her in the gut. But the move was enough to make him loose his own balance and he fell on her quite hard. His knees were scratched and scraped but he still kept his speat in hand and pinned the broadside of it against her neck.
Brynhalla couldn't believe his luck as she panted beneath him and tried to hide her smile.
"Beginner's luck,"s he said, sticking her nose up at the air, but not moving to shove him off. Something about him winning sent a thrill through her, especially when he was overtop of her like this. Good thing no one was watching...
"If that's what you need to tell yourself," he said. But he did not grin in triumph. He shifted off of her and kneeled off to the side, still peering at her warily. "So you'll train me then? I mean really train me. Not just use me as a sparring bag."
Brynhalla sat upa nd punched his arm suddenly
"I think you don't realize that a training partner is your sparring bag!" she told him, chin up and smile toothy and wide.
"Then you should realize that a sparring bag isn't much of a training tool if you don't teach it to fight back!" he said with some indignation, nursing his arm with a dirty hand. "Teach me to fight, I mean the proper stances, the way you're supposed to move, to forsee an enemy's attack on you. I'm serious Brynhalla...there's nothing else in the world I want more."
She flushed at the notion, for she herself had the very same dream. ANd despite her initial loathing of this healer's son, she found herself unable to deny him.
"Yeah, sure, but if you return home with a bunch of bruises after our matches, don't say I didn't warn you. Now come on, let's get out of hte dirt and move into the trees. We'll have some more privacy there."
He beamed boyishly at her. He simply couldn't help himself as he got up and clasped a hand around her wrist to help her up before running off into the trees.
Running off after him, she rolled her eyes at his eagerness. She had been that eager once- and if she were not to easily blinded by her pride, would realize she still was. And once they were int he trees she laughed and wove between them, wordlessly enticing him into a chase as she slipped between the shadows.
Thorornir let go of her hand when the chase began and he tried to grab her with one hand as he ran past her. "I thought you could run faster than that!"
But when he ran past her, she cheated a bit and shoved him towards a tree before she laughed and moved in the opposite direction of him and - swift as a cat, began to climb one of the trees to get out of his reach.
He nearly bashed his face into the bark at her shove. He growled a little and watched her scale the tree with ease. He went after her and jumped up the scaly bark with a great dela of effort. He climbed up onto one of the lower branches and watched her, looking for the best avenue to catch her.
Bryn stuck her tongue out at him as he tried to climb. "What's wrong? Got logs for feet?"
"Better than having monkey brains," he quipped and jumped up to one branch, grabbing on to it barely before vaulting himself onto another.
She remained on one of the higher branches, trying her luck by hanging down off of them by her legs while she was upside down. Now her long untamed locks of her hair were hanging beneath her head as she laughed.
"I bet you can't do this!"
"Now what would I wanna do that for!!" he growled playfully. He stood high on a branch before reaching a few branches just below her, clinging to a twig as he peered up at her. "Y'know I can see your bosoms from here!"
Gasping, she blushed and made a face.
"Then why are you staring?" She said, moving her hands to cover them so he couldn't see, when she began to lose her balance as she gasped and began to slip from the branch.
"Only because you wanted to display them to me!" He howled with laughter but his eyes suddenly widened when he saw her slip. He lunged his arm outward, snatching her right wrist just in time before she could smack into the powerful bough below.
Brynhalla let out a yelp as she dangled in his grip by just her wrist. And after a moment of quiet panicking, she shouted, "Pull me up into the tree!"
By the spirits! He better not let her fall!!!
He wasn't strong enough to lift her, not like she asked him too. But his grip was sure and he did not let her go. His nails dug into her arms his grip was so tight. "C-Climb onto my arm," he said, straining a little. "I've got you!" He leaned back, trying to pull her up as well, and she went up little by little, inch by inch.
Eventually she was pulled up into the tree and once her feet were on solid ground, she clung to him and caught her breath.
"That was close." And as she peered up, so were they!
Thoronir clutched her tightly into one arm, holding it about her waist, his other arm still clutching the bough above his head. He looked at her curiously, his eyes searching her face, his heart racing, though he didn't know if it was due to catching her from her fall or something else.
"Maybe.. maybe we should take this lesson back to the ground," she said after a time, and moved to slip out from his grasp, and slowly made her way down from the tall tree and into the sandy dirt of the plains.
Thoronir nodded sheepishlt, blushing a little. He climbed down too and once he reached the ground he picked up his pactice spear and held it firmly in hand.
Once on solid ground, she took a moment to appreciate the ground beneath her feet, and leaned against the tree as he picked up his spear.
"Do you really think you can do it? I mean, become a warrior. Everyone expects you to just become a healer"
Thoronir had straightened, expecting another fight and visibly relaxed. "Of course I can. I think my knowledge and learning as a healer could only help me as a warrior. I can heal more immediately rather than having to cart hunters back to camp to wait for treatment." He kicked a rock idly. "I can be both. I know I can." He gave her a hopeful smile, sweet and bright, clearly visible in the moonlight.
"Tch," she looked at the ground with a shake of her head. "You know that sounds crazy, right?" But she smiled anyway."A healer and a fighter...." And as she mulled it over she spotted her staff and contemplated how to begin their training again.
"You sound a lot like my father. But at least he isn't opposed to it," Thoronir chuckled. "I know it's crazy... But if it wasn't I'm not sure I wouldn't even be willing to try. Everyone just sees me as the healer's son, clumsy and bumbling...but I'm not!"
Brynhalla bit back her tongue as she studied him.
"Well, from up there in the tree, you didn't seem so clumsy to me."
Thoronir furrowed his brows confusedly. "Oh..um...thanks," he murmured, smiling sheepishly. He expected a biting remark. "I couldn't let you spill your head out on the ground. I wouldn't even have had my healing kit with me."
Brynhalla made a face.
"So you didn't want me to drop because you couldn't heal me?" she gave a light punch to his arm. "Some hero you turned out to be." ANd she skipped off among the trees before he'd have a chance to stop her.
"No, I-!" But before he could answer her she stunned him with a punch and he laughed. Chasing after her, he called out her name, but he started to laugh a little too hard. "Get! Bryn! Get back here!"
Naturally she didn't listen to him as she began to weave herself in among the trees. Though where his laughter echoed into the night, hers echoed within her eyes.
Thoronir's feet beat the ground hard as he dashed after Brynhalla. She was ridiculously quick and weaving between the trees only drove him to run faster. He was slender enough zip through them with equal ease and before long, he was at her heels.
Just when it seemed Thoronir was about to catch her- the young woman paused suddenly and in the few steps it took Thoronir to catch up, she shot a foot back out suddenly to trip him as she laughed.
The tumble had him suddenly vault over onto his side and he sliding across the foliage on the ground. He groaned and reached for his head, his temple bleeding slightly.
Brynhalla turned with a laugh.
"You're suppose to dodge! You have to think quick if you're going to be a warrior! If you chase someone they could turn on you at a moment's notice."
Though now as she stood over him, she placed her hands to her hips and crouched down before him, only then noticing the blood.
"Geeze, did I really make you scrape your head?"
What a delicate flower! Though she did feel a bit guilty for it.
"Gah," Thoronir groaned and wiped the blood from his head. He plucked a freshly fallen leaf from the ground and spat on it before gingerly applying it to his head. "Well sorry. I didn't realize that was a part of the training. It won't happen again. But you oght to be careful who you trip behind you. They could suddenly-"
Thoronir grabbed her by her legs suddenly and yanked her forth to fall on top of him and he laughed as he tried to pin her to the ground like he had before.
Brynhalla let out a squeal and tried to stave off a laugh as she squirmed beneath him.
"Th-Thoronir!"
But even she had to be impressed.
"Okay, okay! I see your point! Now get off of me before someone sees us!" Though there was no one around to see...
Thoronir couldn't help himself. He was grinning from ear to ear and laughing a little. He kept her pinned, hands on either side of her head.
"Why? Afraid yto be seen getting bested by the healer's son?"
"What?" She flushed at that and well- she had been more concerned about their pose.
She narrowed her gaze haughtily.
"No." She glared up meanly into his eyes. "No one would believe you anyways. I'm more concerned of them catching us like this!"
"And what's wrong with how I've pinned you?" he asked, a little stupidly, though he was straddling her than the other way around. "My hold is good. My grip is better than it was the first time."
Brynhalla gave him a meaner glare. How could he not get it?
"I mean- our position." She said through her teeth. "We... we got made fun of earlier for the same thing. Now get off!"
Thoronir grinned knowingly then, realizing their position was rather compromising. He got off of her and sat to the side, peering up to the stars. "Fine, you tadpole. Whining for your momma."
She punched his shoulder for that remark.
"Shut up! I was not!"
Thoronir held his arm gently. "Hey! That hurt!" He laughed again and made a bawking sound like a chicken. "You were practically whimpering!"
Growing more than angry, Brynhalla growled at his teasings.
"Shut up!" And she kicked at his leg.
"Like a kicked dog," he howled with growing laughter, holding his leg as well but continued to laugh until his stomach hurt.
"I'll show you a kicked dog!" And she continued to kick at him and beat him over the head with her fists. "Don't make me get that stuff or I'll-"
"What's going on over here?"
She saw a man with a torch light heading their way as she gasped.
"It's Valkier!" And she took Thoronir by the arm. "Run!"
Oh she hit really hard. Even for a girl and he'd likely be sore in the morning, but he suffered her abuse, knowing now he could get a rise out of her. He would feel a little bad, maybe later. But for now in the adrenaline of the moment, he was content to simply run.
He held the spear in one hand and ran along behind her as Valkier looked on through the dark. He was the son of Vuldur, the very hunter that pounded his worthlessness into him, and Thoronir only knew what kind of things he would say if he caught Bynhalla and he out here in the trees.
Once they reached the edge of the trees, she doubled over to catch her breath.
"That was close." And after a moment of panting, she suddenly punched his arm.
"Next time you call me names, I'll kick you somewhere you don't want me to!" she warned, bt smirked anyways and ran off into the empty field without him.
Thoronir nursed his arm, but he was watching her run away, his eyes lingering on her backside before he turned to run back to camp toward his father's tent. He quietly slipped inside and retired to his bedroll, falling asleep with an unusual smile on his face.
Thoronir rose early the next morning and was spry and quickly jumped to his studies. "What is the matter with you this morning?" his father asked. Thoronir just shrugged and gave him a smile.
"I feel good this morning."
"Did you mate?"
The question made him blush and he fervently shook his head. "No! Of course not!" he stammered.
Thranneik just chuckled and shook his head. "Okay. When you are done washing up, go out and speak to Varissia and Fahnill to see if they have spare goods from the animal they killed last night. I can use them for my next batch of frolis serum. Vuldur has a nasty scab on his arm that is festering."
The young teens might not have mated, but last night, Brynhalla had all the energy and exuberance as if she had. She was excited beyond words and had trouble sleeping, so when Thoronir would approach her family's tent, she was still sleeping the day away inside...
Thoronir smiled at Varessia and Fahnill and bowed before them as was customary. "Hello Thoronir," she greeted. "How may I help you,"
"Ah yes. Thank you for letting me in," he murmured, standing from his bow. "Father asked me if you had any unused supplies from last night's kill, perhaps some animal fat, horns? Anything will do."
"Ah, yes, we had saved some just for you. I'm surprised you had not come earlier. Come, just over here in the tent. But do not mind Brynhalla, she has yet to wake. Lazy child." And as the pair entered intot he tent, it flooded with light as the girl groaned and moved to bury herself beneath her fur and hide pile of blankets until there was only a small wisp of her hair in sight.
He thanked Varessia and followed her into the tent and saw Brynhalla bury her face. "Morning, Bryn," Thoronir said kindly.
Hearing his voice broke her from her grogginess as she tensed and from inside the blankets came a timid, "Thoronir?"
"Hello!" Thoronir smiled at her as he helped Varessia rummage through a box in the back of the tent. Most of the items he needed were put into a small bag as he mostly ignored a sleepy Brynhalla.
As they rummaged, she sheepishly poked her face out from beneath the blankets and eyed his form suspiciously. What was he doing in her tent? She knew why he was there but...
Her eyes narrowed as she fought off a yawn, but failed and yawned anyhow.
When he was done collecting his items, he turned back from Varessia and thanked her, moving back toward the tent entrance and stepped over, Brynhalla. "Pardon me. Bye Byrnhalla!"
Hearing the jabbing tone in his voice, she was NOT going to settle for that in HER home. Throwing ff the covers she tackled him and pinned him tot he floor.
"What did you say to me!?"
ANd her mother only gasped.
"Brynhalla!"
But she didn't let up and growled at him. She was not a morning person. Not at all.
Or after noon person, considering how late it was in the day.
Thoronir fell to the floor and dropped the entire bag he'd been carrying, spilling it's contents and with her pinning him down, his eyes were wide with confusion. "What?" he stammered. "I said 'bye Brynhalla'!"
"No!" Her eyes narrowed on him dangerously. "You called me Dumbhall." SHe growled. "I heard it!"
Varessia gasped and mved over to drag her daughter off the healer's son.
"Brynhalla! Really now, he said nothing of the sort! Now, apologize t him this instance! And for knocking over this supplies, you will help take them back to his family's tent. Now go on. Apologize."
"But moooooooom..."
"NOW, Brynhalla."
Sulkingly, she bowed her head to Thoronir.
"I'm sorry I accused you of calling me names," she said through her teeth, and moved to help him clean up his stuff, but not without making a mean glare his way.
Thoronir was thoroughly flushed by the time she got off of him. And he would never admit it, but he was thrilled to the core of being beneath her, even in her strength, where instead most men might have abhorred and rejected it. He had to make sure he felt no ache in his groin and was thankful when he didn't as he helped stuff his supplies back into the bag.
"It's okay," he said softly, looking at Brynhalla from the corner of his eye. "You carry the horns and I'll get the bag. Thranneik will want these back clean."
Bryn made a face but obeyed and followed him outside of the tent. And as they walked, she took the horns to her head and snickered.
"Hey look- I look like a bull!" ANd she tried to head butt him with her set of horns as she held them to her skull.
"NO!" Thoronir shouted and ran across the series of tents in an effort to get away from her!
They probably looked quite the sight, as Brynhalla was determined to ram the horn bone remains into Thoronir's ass, and she cackled as she chased him, wind rushing through her skirts and hair.
A genuine fear temporarily possessed him as Thoronir weaved between pelted and furred tents and huts and leapt over a hunter sitting and stringing his bow. Valkier stood beside him and watched as the pair ran. It was an amusing sight. "Those two are at it again? Goddess willing, they ought to just mate already and get it over with," and the men around him howled with laughter.
Thoronir found Thranneik standing beside his larger tent and immediately ducked behind his father.
But his father wasn't going to save him as she rounded behind him with no.fear and aimed her horns for his rear while giving a meniacle laugh. His ass would be horned!
Thranneik whirled around in surprise, but did not stop her as Thoronir suddenly turned on her and as soon as she was close enough he wrapeed his arms around her waist and lifted her into the air. "NO!" He growled.
Brynhalla hadn't expected him to actually try to stop her, so she let out a gasp the moment she was in his arms.
"THORONIR!"s he said, horns still in her hands and pressed against her own head as if to be worn like an animal. Her legs were now pedaling quickly as she squirmed in his arms. How was he able to pick her up so easily!? But grunting, she realized how close she was and reached the horns forward now in her hand and poked him in the ass anyways with a laugh.
Thoronir jumped and yelped but his hold on Brynhalla was firm and he tried to squeeze her as hard as he could before he dropped her and she fell to the ground. He rubbed his sore behind and Thranneik reached out to snatch the animal horns from the ground and laughed his son's dancing around. "You help that girl up from the ground," he barked and glared at Thoronir.
"But father!"
"Help her."
Thoronir gave a huff and clasped Brynhalla's hand before pulling her to her feet. "Sorry."
She winced the moment she was dropped, the skin on her knees having been scraped off from the fall. But she wasn't going to cry over it, even if it hurt. So instead, when she was pulled to her feet, she promptly punched Thoronir's shoulder, hard.
Thoronir rubbed his arm after she punched him and he clenched his fist but did not retaliate. "Ouch. You hit too hard. Goddess, I said I was sorry! Besides...thanks for carrying the horns," he murmured, looking at her with a quirked brow.
Brynhalla made a face.
"You know.I wouldnt have had to carry them if you would have just let me sleep." Her bed had been so comfortable!
"I didn't bother your sleep!" he growled indignantly. "I was just getting the left over ingredients. You're the one that got up and thought I called you Dumbhalla! Which I didn't! You should take those cottontails out of your ears and leanr to listen, or else you really will be Dumbhalla!"
Her face quickly turned red in anger. She could.t.believe what he just said, and dove after.him, tackling him angrily to the ground with a.mighty roar.
Thoronir knew it was coming and yet somehow it still managed to surprise him when she threw all her rage at him. He howled and grit his teeth, fending off whatever blows she'd thow at him. Thranneik turned suddenly, shouting for Thoronir to stop, but the boy was seeing red and he wouldn't let Brynhalla beat him senseless for speaking his mind.
Brynhalla was just as blinded by her rage, but as they stumbled and he- barely managing to keep her strikes at bay, she noticed something distinctively THoronir's hanging off the side of hte tent. It was a wolverine toothed necklace, and she snatched it up after rolling off of Thoronir and made off with it into the nearby tall brush.
Thoronir was so preoccupied with defending himself that in the sheer moment it took for her to climb off him and snatched the necklace he had prized himself in obtaining, the teeth of a wolverine. His father never permitted him to wear it, at least not in public, without it coming into question as to how he got it but he was not a hunter. And when she suddenly bolted, Thoronir felt his heart sink into an icy belly and he bolted after her soon enough.
A cackle of laughter echoed behind her as she gave a whooping call and continued to run through the tall grass, grasses that were well above her head in height- ignoring all warning calls from Thranneik and focusing solely ont he chase away from Thoronir.
Thoronir would have hesitated initially at the sight of the tall grasses, as he was only a few inches taller himself. But the thought of her necklace being lost to him was a hurt to his ego, however meager it was to begin with. Perhaps it wasn't as great a creatures such as the one her parents had brought in only a day ago, but it was a kill he had succeeded in all on his own and something he was more than proud of.
"Get back here!" he howled, running away from his father despite his calls to leave her alone.
Not about to listen to him, Brynhalla continued to weave through the grasses, her laughter soon fading and the only noise behind heard was their bodies pushing through the grass.
Thoronir followed her doggedly and his legs being longer than hers were able to cover more ground quickly and was soon at her heels. "Brynhalla," he panted. "STOP! Give it back! We're getting too far from the village!"
She wasn't going to give up, even as she heard him behind her and with a quick laugh, she darted in an opposing direction away from him, not realising the pair of them weren't the onky ones in the tall grass...
[
Quote from: visualspice on March 24, 2014, 01:06:47 AM
She wasn't going to give up, even as she heard him behind her and with a quick laugh, she darted in an opposing direction away from him, not realising the pair of them weren't the onky ones in the tall grass...
8D]
Thoronir was thankful for her laughter. It made finding her in the maze of grass even easier than simply where she had broke blades of plantlife. Her footprints were light, though partly evident and he tried his best not to get lost keeping track of them.
But something else caught his attention and he saw the grass had been broken not by feet, but what looked to be
many feet. Or rather paws to be more exact. Thoronir saw they had gone off to the side, and where his head could see above the grass where it was parted, it was quickly moving to cut off the path ahead of Dumbhalla.
Ahem...
Brynhalla, he corrected himself.
Moving swiftly,.deftly through the grass,Brynhalla moved with swiftness and grace...but so did the panther that was stalking her. She did get.much farther than another yard when her giggle was.replaced with a scream the moment the black beast pounced upon her, sharp teeth sinking into her skin.
"Dumbh....BRYNHALLA!" Thoronir suddenly cried out as he burst through the brush. The great cat had overpowered the smaller girl and in the heat of the moment, he had not thought about the consequences of his actions, what would happen if she were killed, or if he were killed as a result of the attack. The wild panther was large, powerful, almost fully grown and no doubt hungry for flesh.
Something primal was set off in the young boy, and adrenaline rushed through his body. As he came suddenly from the side, Thoronir threw himself at the panther with the added strength adrenaline had given him and he pulled the beast off to the side. The panther reared on him, twisting around with astounding flexibility and swiping at Thoronir's side, tearing through the flesh of the pelt-shirt he had been wearing and blood seeped from his side.
But Thoronir was only knocked to one knee and when the panther came in for the killing blow, he had twisted his weight, using his hips to meet the wild cat with equal force. Claws came at his back, slashing his body open as Thoronir's arms came around it's neck. The animal had not been expecting the returned assault and fell backwards onto its back.
The cat twisted around again, swiping at Thoronir's legs and tearing the fragile cloth that had been on his lips, leaving the healer's son covered in little more than blood, dirt and the ripped leather tunic on his shoulders, one he ripped off when it would only serve to strangle him. The cut to his hip made Thoronir cry out, but his eyes saw red and he put his arms around the creature's neck again, squeezing has hard as he could.
Stunned, Brynhalla lay there, blood dripping from.her neck as she watched the fight in stunned horror. What was going on. Was she dieing? Was he?
Thoronir could only partly fathom the strength of his desperation. His body was not built, or strong in the truer sense of the word, but his sheer force of will, desire to fight despite his fear made his hold on the cat throat crushing and the creature died with a pathetic half-growl as it tried to swipe uselessly at him. Thoronir could not be sure it was dead and held its neck still for all he was worth. His heart was racing and he peered at Brynhalla with wide eyes just as hot blood oozed down his back and side.
Finally breaking herself from her frozen stare of fear, Brynhalla took a moment to swear before she rushed towards where Thoronir now laid as a bloody mess over the animal. Not sure if it was dead, she rushed to draw out her bone dagger and dropped to her knee, cutting it desperately across the animals throat as hot blood spilled out of it. ANd not giving it a second though,s he moved to help Thoronir away from the animal while angrily kicking the carcass aside as she breathed heavily and looked at him.
"Thoronir!" she said, eyes wild and searching his. But the only thing she could think to say in the moment was, "You could have been killed!"
Thoronir looked up at her as the fire in him faded. He returned to reality and he felt the pain of his wounds begin to sting and throb. Blood covered his backside and he whimpered a little. "You-you could have too."
It was when this reality caught up to her did her eyes begin to waver with tears as she choked on her next words, the sound coming out very much like a sob.
"You... your bleeding." And she hesitated, not certain what to do, as panic, her own pain, and fear kept her frozen, stiff as a statue as she watched the poor healer boy bleed.
"H-help me up," he whimpered. He turned his hands to Brynhalla feeling no shame despite his sudden nakedness leaning heavily on his one uninjured leg. But he forced himself to stand on it soon enough and turned around to pluck Brynhalla from the ground, forcing his body into overdrive, carrying her in her panic and limping along.
It took her several minutes to become broken from her state of shock, but once she was, she was soon helping him hobble along through the tall grasses and back towards the village. She didn't know what to say, what to do, but kept close to him, leaning in beside him and hoping to the spirits he wouldn't die.
Thoronir didn't know what possessed him in that moment, but he was just glad that Brynhalla emerged from it largely unscarthed save for some of the blood that dribbled down her skin. The trek was tiring to say the least and his bleeding body protested my making him fall to his knees once or twice.
Though she too was in pain, she knew she suffered nothing like the wounds Thoronir had gashed across his body. Their sweat and blood mixed as she helped him along, keeping a calm and cool head as best as she could before they finally stepped out from the tall grasses and into the flat lands of the village.
"Just lean into me, we're almost there," she told him.
Thranneik remained there at the outskirts of the village and when he saw the bloodied pair of them appear, his heart just about stopped. He ran forth and met the bloodied form of his son and Brynhalla. "By the Goddess! What happened?" he breathed in his own disbelief. Thorornir was quickly succumbing to the pain as he limped through the grass and soon could not stand on his own. Thranneik relinquished his son from Brynhalla, throwing him up into his arms and rushing him back to the healing tent.
"There as a panther. In the grasses!" she began to tell her story, hoping her voice didn't sound as shaky as it was. "He.. it... It attacked me. Thoronir fended it off!" And she nearly shouted the words as she jogged along behind Thranneik, her heart hammering inside her ears while doing flip flops inside her chest.
Thranneik settled Thoronir gently onto a cot covered in furs. He was barely conscious as Thranneik gently turned him over and visibly winced at the visible wounds on his back and side. "Brynhalla. I need you do listen to me very carefully. Bring me the needle and thread from the corner there, there is also a flask, a waterskin and a small bucket with a sponge bring them to me as well. We must clean him and help ease as much pain as we can."
Bryhalla nodded and numbly went off to obey, scrambling to find the items where she could and dragging them back as she watched Thranneik get to work. She hadn't realized she had been crying a bit until her vision turned blurry ands he wiped them off on the back of her hand.
"Will he... will be be ok?"
Thranneik remained calmed despite the state of his only child. Thoronir whimpered from time to time but other than that, he had been simply still as he laid there. After cleaning his hands, Thranneik looked at the young girl and set his hands on her shoulders. "He will survive," he said with a nod. He cupped her cheek. "There there child don't cry. He will live. Brynhalla. You got him here in time. That is what is important." Thranneik gave her a kind smile before turning to his son and cleaning his back wounds. "Here take over. Be gentle with them, clean them thoroughly though."
"Me?" Her face twisted at the question while she gaped.
"But I, I I.. I don't know the first thing about healing!" And she gulped as the water basin and clothe were handed to her.
"Just follow my instructions," Thranneik said calmly despite the situation and patted her hand. "Just clean the blood and be mindful of his wounds. Be gentle. He is my son after all."
Brnyhalla's lips trembled as she hook her head.
"Okay."
And she focused on his wounds and winced. They looked nasty. Pressing the rag into the water, she wrung it out nad began to gently dab at his skin, trying to be mindful of the wounds, which she was afraid to get near.
"Just.. just let me know if it hurts, okay? I'm trying to clean these things out."
And she found herself sweating as she focused solely on his wounds.
OOC: YOu got post 16000 D8
Thoronir whimpered and winced underneath the feel of the cloth on his back and the gentle wiping away of his blood. But in all that had to be done, he never cried. His hands stayed clenched against the underside of the cot as his father came with a small vial filled from the flask and he helped pour it into his lips at a precarious angle.
It wasn't long before he closed his eyes and began to fall into a deep sleep. "There," Thranneik said, gesturing for Brynhalla to light a candle. "Hold the needle over the flame, it will cleanse it from any negative energy within it."
Brynhalla remained close by and obedient. SHe held the candle close, it's light dancing across Thoronir's sleeping body as she watched Thranneik work quckly and carefully to save his young son's life.
Once the needle had been cleansed Thranneik began to put a healing serum into the grooves of the cuts before stitching them shut. Despite the water, blood still seeped from his cuts and Thoronir twitched every now and then. "Hold his hand, please," he requested as he worked. "He needs to know someone is there for him."
Bryn had been holding her breath,a nd once a new set of instructions was giving to her, she released the breath and moved to crawl nearer to Thoronir's side. She was sweating, her heart was racing fast, and as she held onto his hand, she gave it a gentle squeeze.
"You'll be okay, Thoronir. And just think.. when you come around, you'll have proud scars to show for it. And you can tell everyone you ... you killed that panther." She brushed away some tears. "Kill that panther, just to protect me."
Watching as Thranneik work,s he curiously peered over him now. "Is it possible for Thoronir to keep the panther for himself? I mean he could use the bones and teeth for a necklace. To.. to show everyone what he killed."
Thoronir's mouth quietly twitched in a smile that appeared at the corner of his mouth though he was fast asleep and if she looked carefully she would have seen the slight muscles of his arm twitch in reaction to her hold. It tethered him to this world, as Thranneik had thought, working quietly on his back and stitching his back closed. He only peered up once to Brynhalla, watching her face and saw that her words were genuine.
"I don't see any reason why not," Thranneik replied quietly, and smiled softly at the young warrioress, or hopeful, should he say. "If it is his kill, by rights it is his to claim. It looks like his wounds are closing up nicely. Perhaps it is morbid of me to say, but at least the cuts of the panther are clean and straight, so they are easy to close. Ahh, see, they are coming together now.... Brynhalla...you were careless to lead my son into the grasses like that," he commented lastly. But his eyes were not filled with anger.
"But I know Thoronir, and I know he would not have let you been hurt by that creature. He is braver than others may care to recognize."
Brynhalla kept her eyes downcast as they were shamefully glued to her lap. But then she peered down at Thoronir, through a shaggy framing of her hair.
"Yes.." she murmured. "He is definitely braver than I ever gave him credit for." Perhaps even braver than herself.
Soon his wounds were closed up and Thoronir laid easily on the cot, breathing steadily. "Come child," Thranneik said, turning back to Brynhalla. "You are not unscathed yourself. Let us deal with your wounds."
Blinking, Brynhalla had all but forgotten herself. But she obeyed, silently moving towards Thranneik and offering her scraped shoulders towards him to heal.
Her wounds were considerably easier to deal with and after he had washed his hands, he tended to her wounds. "Thoronir won't hold it against you...if that is what worries you."
Brynhalla blinked and peered up at Thranneik.
"It is not that," she said, and stared glumly back at her feet. She chewed on the inside of her cheek. She wasn't sure if she ought to tell his father what his true plans were- and that he wished to train with her. Frankly, she wasn't sure if she was the right sort of teacher, not after what just occurred.
Thranneik looked up at Brynhalla and observed her expression, readily seeing her troubled but not pressing the issue. "Whether you know it or not, I think Thoronir thinks might highly of you. I think in some ways he wishes he could take your place, to learn the ways of the warrior, of hunters, but I don't think he admires you any less because of it. He likes you."
Brynhalla looked up at Thranneik with a frown.
"But why would he like me? I just try to steal his portion of food,"s he mumbled, peering back down at Thoronir as she idly played with the fur trim on her skirts.
Thranneik gave a soft chuckle. "Because he sees what others often discount. He sees the fire in you. I see it too. I think he is drawn to it in fact. I think that is why he admires you. Even if you steal his food. That is simply what children do. For you both are still children and not have come of age yet."
Brynhalla puffed out her cheeks in order to hold her tongue over such a remark.
"Yes,"s he grumbled. "We have a lot of growing up to do." But did she hav eto explain they were close enough to being of age? Really.. she didn't see herself as a child. Maybe Thoronir with his gangly limbs but she? Well, she was already starting to bud into a woman.
He knew it was only a matter of time before his son turned into the young man he knew he was to be. "In mind, though not in body." Thranneik smiled thoughfully and patted her shoulder. "All done."
Once he said she was done, she rose to her feet but hesitated. Should she stay or go? Peering over sheepishly through a framing of her untamed hair, she chewed on her lower lip.
"Can I stay until he wakes up?"
Thranneik washed his hands and his eyes softened in sympathy. "Yes you may," he said and offered her a smile before disappearing in the rear of the tent. It would be a few hours before Thoronir actually woke up. In that time the panther had been found and hung just outside the tent flaps, the animal skin stetched out for all to see.
Thoronir blinked and grew confused at who he saw in front of him. "Brynhalla?" he breathed quietly.
Brynhalla had nearly fallen asleep,a nd when she heard his voice, she 'awoke' with a start. She hadn't realized she had been holding his hand and suddenly dropped it as she exclaimed, "Thoronir! You're awake!"
Thoronir winced at the volume of her tone and blinked at her curiously. He had felt her hold on his hand but made no comment on it as he slowly turned over to lay on his uninjured side. His wounds slowly throbbed but at least they were no longer bleeding. "I am awake," he murmured withaa smile. "I also feel a draft." He leaned his head down and furrowed his brows. "Why am I naked?"
Not realizing the boy had been naked this entire time, she gasped and cupped a hand over her lips, and found herself unable to stare away.
"I err.. the panther," she began hastily. "He.. he must've tore them off!"
Thoronir blushed a little under the circumstances, the effects of the serum Thranneik had given him still wearing off, but otherwise he seemed largelt unfazed. "Ohhh ...okay," he murmured. "For a moment, I would have thought you tore them off. But then I remember you're Brynhalla." He laughed a little. "I'm glad to see you're okay, however."
Brynhalla's face immediately went red.
"ME TEAR THEM OFF!?" She stared at him indignantly, even as her voice barely managed to squeak out that exclaim. "What!? Why would you blame me?"
Thoronir smirked a little. "Oh I don't think I need to tell you why," he muttered and winked at her. "But even if you didn't erm...it is a little awkward to be without my kilt. Could you get me a blanket from the corner over there?"
She couldn't believe he just said that! And she gaped at him, debating smacking him or not. He was lucky he was injured! But with a huff, she snagged a nearby blanket and threw it at him.
"There!"
Now he had his stupid blanket to keep himself covered!
Thoronir pulled it around his hips and smiled sheepishly at Brynhalla. "Thank you," he said. "Did you tell my father what happened?" This time there was a hint of nervousness in his voice.
She hesitated before nodding her head.
"Y-yeah. He... he knows we were in the tall grasses. And about the panther." She flattened her lips, trying to fight back a smile, but she still foudn ehrself blurting out."But everyone is so excited that you killed the panther! You should see the gifts people left you outside of your tent! It's like, you're famous now or something."
And she was a little bit jealous. Just a little bit.
Thoronir's eyes widened and his face blanched in disbelief of his own. His blush only deepened and he smiled sheepishly. "Yeah...but I'm still just the healer's son. That much is evident." He took his scrawny arms and flexed their meager build. "Look I'm a real warrior," he said in jest and laughing as he did so.
Brynhalla snorted.
"Warrior nothing, hero maybe- but you still have a lot to learn." And she paused to think it over.
"How did you manage to kill that panther anyway?"
His expression sobered considerably. "I'm not sure," he answered honestly. "The whole thing is a bit of a blur really. I just remember feeling desperate, like my very life depended on protecting you so I attacked it. I saw red and I put my arms around it's neck and squeezed as hard as I could. Until it stopped struggling. I didn't really think...that I could kill it."
Brynhalla stared at him before finally releasing her breath.
"Yeah. I didn't either. I thought we'd both be killed for sure."
"But we're okay...or mostly okay," Thoronir said with a cheery smile. "The only thing is though I'm sure your mother is going to throttle you. No doubt she heard what happened. "
Brynhalla cringed at that statement, but quickly toughened up.
"Yeah well, she has no reason to be upset. Nobody died. And you got a lot of respect from the village. The way I see it, you should be thanking me!"
Thoronir was clearly amused by her statement, instead of the rage any other male would have felt. "I know. And I thank you for letting me save you. And...for not telling Thranneik about our...um, arrangement."
Brynhalla instantly quieted at his comment. Her lips flattened as she dropped her gaze to her lap.
"Yeah well.. I didn't want to get us in more trouble,"s he muttered. Then, peering over at his wounds, she inquired, "So how do you feel? I bet those are sore. They look it. And I bet you'll get some pretty cool scars, too."
"Sore doesn't even begin to describe how I feel. But...I feel a lot better than I probably did a few hours ago," he muttered with a grin. "What about you? How do you feel?" His hand reached out and gently grazed the patchwork on her neck, likely done by Thranneik.
She reached a hand up to ghost over the wounds on her neck as well.
"Sore." She smirked. "But I'll live." ANd she moved to punch his arm. "No small thanks to you. But hey, they brought the panther back here for ya. If you'd like, I can help make you a necklace out of it's bones and teeth."
"Ow! What is wrong with you?" he grumbled, rubbing his sore arm before beaming at her. "I'd like that. Maybe you can make an armband too Or an earring. You'd look nice with a fang hanging from your right lobe."
She blushed at the suggestion.
"But it's your kill..."
And to take any item from the kill meant...
well.. if they were of age it would mean they were mating, or had mated, or some such thing and thinking about that made her cheeks heat to pink.
Thoronir tilted his head. "It wouldn't have been my kill if it weren't for you," he smirked. "But if it hurts your pride to accept such a gift, then I understand."
Brynhalla felt strange, and shifted uneasily beside him.
"Yeah, but it wasn't like I helped. It was my fault it even happened."
Thoronir's smile sobered, even just a little. "Yeah it is all your fault. But as my trophy, I can bestow any part of it I want to whom I please. We may not be mates, but perhaps we can be friends?"
She faltered, flushing at the idea of mates. SHe dropped her gaze and played with the fur trimmed edging of her skirts.
"Yeah... I guess so."
"Good!" Thoronir grinned and flicked her nose lightly. "I will be okay now. Maybe you should go back to your parents. We can train in a few weeks when I'm more healed up."
Bryn looked up at him with a gasp. Leave him now?
"But, but... You just woke up."
Thoronir shrugged, laughing again. "Or you can stay," he murmured. "I just thought you might be sick of me all ready."
Brynhalla blushed but moved to shake her head.
"It's just.. it.. it would be rude of me to just.. you know, leave."
Thoronir chuckled again and his hand reached for hers he gripped it in his and ran his thumb along her fingers. "Thank you."
Brynhalla blushed and yanked her hand away, and dropped her gaze to the floor.
"I don't think you should be thanking me... I mean, I already feel incredibly bad for what's happened."
"I'm thanking you for watch over me," Thoronir clarified and chuckled. "Help me up then. I don't want be stuck in bed all day."
Brynhalla blinked.
"But.. shouldn't you be resting?" she questioned, but helped him up anyway.
Thoronir sat up with a great deal of effort and finally got to his feet. "Goddess above," he muttered with exertion. But he could stand on his own at least.
Brynhalla snorted as she heard him exert himself.
"Thoronir!" she scolded. "I really think you ought to remain in bed. What if your wounds reopen?"
"Then thank the goddess I'm already in the healer's tent," he beamed and steadied himself. "They might, but I don't want to lay in bed all day. Besides I don't want to miss the feast outside! Surely everyone else is going to have a piece of that panther and I'm just going to get the scraps."
"Not if I have anything to say about it! But come on, if you're wanting to walk so badly, let me give you a hand." ANd she moved to his side and offered her shoulder for him to lean on.
Thoronir leaned on her and slowly shuffled out of the tent and out to the camp feast outside. The skinned panther hung over a spit as it was slowly cooking. "It smells delicious!"
OOC: He WOULD say that u_u
-----------
The crackling aroma of the panther cooking over the fire sent a rumble to her stomach. He didn't have to tell Brynhalla it smelled good for her to agree.
"Yeah, I'm not sure there's enough meat on it for the whole village, do you think?" She turned to regard him curiously, then, realizing how close they were, she quickly looked away, her cheeks still flushed, especially after a few of the other villages spotted the and began to gush over the pair of them- or rather, over Thoronir.
"You're a hero, healer's boy!" One villager exclaimed.
"Wear that panther pelt proudly. ANd you should make your mate a necklace," another said, winking at the pair of them as they were walking along. The little jab about them being mates almost made her lose her footing but she paused now anyway, figuring to let Thoronir bask in the moment of praise.
To say the praise made him uneasy was an understatement, but in all his years, he never expected such a thing to happen to one like him. He only ever wanted to make Thranneik proud. Though he knew no matter what he did, he would be proud, it still didn't change the fact that sometimes Thoronir felt it was simply not enough. And he wanted to prove it to himself more than just his father that he could be a warrior.
Thoronir thanked the hands around him and gestured to the panther. "Please, everyone eat! There's enough to go around," he smiled and hopped along with the crowd, leaving Brynhalla behind. But in a moment's notice, he had his share and another clay bowl filled with meat and whatever rice was available. "I brought some for you Brynhalla," he said, moving away from the other villagers and back to her.
Brynhalla soon found herself as nothing more than background noise. She felt awkward at best. She normally was the center of attention, and to watch Thoronir abandon her so easily to bask in his praises...
Well, she was a little more than jealous. Though she couldn't deny she was proud of him either, and couldn't whole heartedly be angry with him. He did, after all, save her life. REmaining on the outskirts of the crowd, she was greeted by her parents (who demanded she explain) and once that was all said and done, she found herself still too anxious to want to eat- and kept away from the food and in the shade of some trees. But when Thoronir approached her, she peered up at him curiously, and tried to hide her eager smile.
"Today turned out to be quite the event,."
Thoronir sat beside her, crossing his legs and holding his plate in his lap. "It has, hasn't it?" he said, agreeing with her. He turned to look at her curiously and smiled. "What's that grin about? You look flushed too!"
Brynhalla didn't realize she was flushed and when it was brought up, she cringed.
"Er, maybe I'm just flushed since I'm hungry. I haven't gotten in line yet to eat. Though I'm not sure if I could eat." Even though her stomach rumbled to give her hunger away.
Thoronir pushed his offered bowl of food to her. "There. Now you don't have to wait in line. There's not going to be much left of anyway."
Brynhalla's eyes went wide as she shook her head.
"I.. I couldn't accept! You... you need your strength be.. because of your injuries!" And she shook her head again, refusing to accept it- even if, part of her wouldn't mind sharing.. with him. And still, she blushed over it all. By the Goddess! What was going on!? Maybe she was sick...
Thoronir frowned a bit and set her bowl on the side then and then back to his own plate on his lap. "Well if you're going to force me to eat for two, then I guess I'll just have to eat two then," he said with a sly grin and began to munch into his own meat.
Brynhalla's face twisted in confusion.
"Wait- you purposely went out of your way to get me a bowl of food?" She shook her head in disbelief. "What if I had already eaten?"
"How could you have eaten when you were with me that whole time? And they only just now cooked the large cat," Thoronir said. "If you really don't want it, then say so, Bryn. I got it for you. It's still hot too."
Her face went through a series of expressions before she sighed and shook her head at him.
"It's not that I don't want it I.... I'm just surprised you thought to get me some is all.." she said, and picked up the bowl, and picked at the meat. Oh, did it ever smell good. Not wasting any time, she began to break the meat into pieces and started shoveling it into her mouth as she moaned at the taste.
Thoronir smiled at the way Brynhalla ate and he mimicked her out of small comfort really, even challenging her to see who could eat the fastest.
Brynhalla only looked up when she had her cheeks puffed with food, and seeing how Thoronir appeared to be challenging her, it only drove her to eat faster as she continued stuffing the food and rice into her face.
Thoronir ate voraciously and stuffed the rice into his mouth until grains were sticking out of his mouth.
Growing angry he was trying to beat her, Brynhalla dropped her bowl and took her hands and SMASHED his puffy cheeks in.
"HA!"
She'd show that stuffy-faced fool!
The resultant smashing of his cheeks only made the food in his mouth spew out at her and he opened his eyes, widening them when he saw her face covered in chewed up meat, rice and saliva.
Brynhalla clearly had not thought this all the way through- and simply stared at Thoronir with all of the food on her face and person before suddenly giggling as she tried to keep down her own cheeks full of food.
Thoronir threw himself backwards, at the protest of his wounds and began to laugh loudly as well, holding his stomach that began to sting from the sudden force.
His laughter made it worse, and soon, she was picking up her empty bowl and spittin gout her half-chewed food before she laughed and laughed. THough she was a disgusting mess, she seemed not to care, nor that they were wasting food before she shook her head at him and said, "You would laugh at me for such a feat!" And then proceeded to take up a wad of pre-chewed food and flung it at his head in playful retaliation. Let's see how he liked it!
Thoronir was too busy laughing to care for the food she chucked at his head.
What!? Was he really laughing still?! Well, so was she, and to make matters worse, she chucked more food at his face as she fell into a fit of giggles.
OOC: Such children XD
"What's this?" Thranneik said abruplt, staring at the pair of them.
Brynhalla was started by Thranneik's sudden appearance as she whirled around and gaped at him, face going flush. She had no idea what to say- and felt incredibly foolish to be caught with his son- both of them covered in pre-chewed food like fools.
Thoronir blanched and quickly sat up. He didn't know what to say either, but soon Thranneik smirked and started to laugh himself. Thoronir smiled back and he cleaned his face as he peered at Brynhalla. "Maybe we should go back inside my tent. I'm rather tired."
Brynhalla gave a nervous smile and shook her head.
"No.. I think I need to wash up. A trip to the river might be in order!"
"Take Thoronir there," Thranneik instructed as he helped his son climb to his feet. "He is quite filthy and a wash in the river will do him good. Then you will rest boy!"
Thoronir looked stunned at his father until he hobbled along after Brynhalla.
"What!? Take him with me?" Brnyhalla gaped. But by the look on Thoronir's father's face, she wasn't going to argue. She moved to lift the tent flap after brushing the mushy food from her face.
"Come on, Thoronir, before the sun is completely down and we freeze to death in the river!"
Thoronir smiled inwardly, but wouldn't dare show it to Brynhalla for fear of her wrath and moved quickly after her. His wounds were stiff but they still allowed for a great deal of movement and he hobbled after her.
With Thoronir following her, she made off quickly to the river, shouting over her shoulder for him to catch up. But by the time they got to the river, she was pushing her way through the reeds.
"Ok, a few rules first before we go bathe,"s he told him, after ensuring the pair were alone.
"You don't look at me and I won't look at you when you get undressed." It wouldn't be proper anyways, and she wasn't confident enough in her body for him to just.. see it.
"Don't be silly," he muttered with a half-scowl. He wouldn't look at her anyway. Not that she had much to show anyway. It's not like she'd look anything like her...mother. Not yet at any rate. Thoronir moved uneasily through the reeds and found himself in enough seclusion to undress from the spare kilt he'd worn and slipped into the water first.
She cast him a mean glare before sneaking off into the reeds and quickly wriggled out of her clothing, leaving them in a half folded pile at her feet. Then tip toeing away, she sunk into the waters, but upon hearing him, she turned around and sunk down low into the water so that her body was covered and hidden in the deep, cool current.
"Did you bring the cleansing oils?" she asked, hoping he'd remembered, because she clearly forgot!
Thoronir swished around and moved back to the bag sewn into his kilt and he waded to it. "Here!" he shouted and produced the clay jar, sealed with a leather cover and tossed it through the reeds.. "Catch!" And chucked it in her direction.
Brynhalla snapped her hands up to catch it, but the oils went straight through her hand and splashed into the water behind her, causing Brynhalla to wince and flash her companion before she settled back into the water.
"THORONIR!" and with a huff, she turned around to swim off and retrieve it before the river's current took it away.
Thankfully the clay jar didn't get very far before it was snatched up. Thoronir didn't have a very good arm couldn't throw a rock to save his life. Despite the fact that he had just killed a panther to save his life and Brynhalla's, it didn't change the fact that his skill was still considerably less than others - at least not overnight.
Thoronir moved back toward his side of the stream, sticking to the reeds and waiting until he was well concealed before dunking his head below the water and pushing it out of his face. He hadn't seen much in the way of revealed flesh, the reeds had been in the way and his eyes lingered on the jar.
Despite it appearing as if Thoronir made no reaction to her sudden jump, she was thankful not to get any attention from it as she flsuehd and turned away so her back was to him as she opened the jar. Setting it in the river so it could bob and float beside her, she began to lather herself down real good before recapping the oils and turning to him.
"Here, catch!" and chucked the jar at his head.
The jar landed with a ripe thump and Thoronir took the jar in hand, rubbing his sore head with a spare hand. It was gong to be difficult bathing with all the stitchings, as fresh as they were and he moved farther away from her to hide in the reeds as he opened the jar himself. She took more than she needed, he observed with a deep frown but took the rest for himself and started with his dirty hair, and slowly moving down toward his chest and arms.
Brynhalla worked as swiftly as she could to bathe and once she was all done, she was sneaking off to dry in the reeds, but as she reached down for her clothing- she gave a scream. There was a snake in her clothing and she awkwardly backed away from it.
Shit. It was a poisonous one, too!
He would be lying to himself if he thought he could through with bathing without stealing a glance at her. The reeds blocked much of his view, but what he could see, the reeds did much to conceal that fact. His eyes lingered subtly on her form as she quickly washed and he found himself allowing a small grin, and even a slight blush before resuming his own bathing. She didn't have much in the way of a body, but Thoronir knew now what her budding form would hold in the fullness of time.
The scream however, caught him off guard. His heart leapt into. his throat as he tore through the reeds. "What's the matter this time?" he breathed, peeking through the dry reeds at her clothes. The serpent rattled loudly and hissed and a chill ran through his spine and his eyes caught their ruby forms in time.
And now both of them were standing there, dripping wet and naked before the treacherous eyes of the snake. Though modesty was the last thing on her mind as she felt her throat seal shut in fear.
"Dont... make... any sudden moves,"s he said, as the snake continued to rattle it's tail and keep it's head erect.
"Then maybe you should back up then. Slowly!" Thoronir cautioned just as the nake bared it's fangs and lunged for her. "Brynhalla!" His voice echoed out along the river, but he did not remember shouting it as he lunged forward and abruptly grabbed her by the arm, yanking her back from the snake.
It happened in a rush, in a blur and before the strike had come she found herself being pulled up against Thoronir. ANd she stumbled back against him, arms out, cautious, protective as she felt her heart racing inside her chest. Though now there was more distance between them and the snake- the snake was very much still hostile and staring their way as it rattled it's tail again.
Thoronir stared intently at the animal and when he was sure that Brynhalla was out of harm's way did he back away from the animal. He looked across from him, seeing a piece of deadwood that stuck out form the reed. In that moment, he lunged for it. It seemed the snake had the same idea and attempted to lunge for him just before he could reach it.
Thoronir fell and he stumbled backwards into the reeds and took the piece of wood in hand. He raised it savagely over his head until he slammed it down, smacking the serpent as hard as he could.
Brynhalla flinched, only when she thought Thoronir might be struck, but twice in one day she was surprised to find her new 'friend' having saved her from an animal attack as she watched in mild fascination as the animal was struck dead.
After a long pause, she released a nervous laugh.
"Are you sure you need my help in becoming a warrior? That's twice in one day you've killed an animal." Though she left out of the obvious fact both times it was in attempts to protect her. That very thought, however, sent a flutter through her heart, and a burning through her body.
It was easier now for Thoronir to come too, the crushed skull of the serpent laying dead just inches from the water. He blinked a few time, breathed softly enough to still his heart and it was only then did he notice their proximity - and their complete nakedness. He blushed, at a loss for words at the moment, as he stared at her and her chest and became completely flushed.
"Uh...Yeah, I do. These were just accidents," he said quickly, tearing his eyes away and back toward the dead snake. "You should get dressed. The snake is dead."
Brynhalla paused a moment, her entire body frozen in a moment that rose her mind and body to knew levels. But something about what had happened stirred inside her a crazy notion as she turned to Thoronir and looked boldly in his eyes.
"Maybe we shouldn't dress yet."
And her eyes wavered, her face turning pinker.
"Maybe we should... you know, mate."
And though she had no idea how to actually accomplish that, part of that added to the thrill of her asking, and well- she couldn't deny that, she kidn of wanted him to. He did save her life so many times, she felt as if she owed him at least that.
"I mean.. you know. After all you've done for me... " she only faltered then, gritting her teeth a little. "To let you be my first."
ANd now her heart was hammering inside her ear and he entire body was probably red with a flush.
And it only occured to her then he could refuse her- didn't want to..
or if he did, that well...
what did mating entail? Did it hurt? Would it feel good? She didn't know, but she wanted to find out- and with him. Something primal, but also something calling drew her towards him, desiring to connect on a level not just of this world. But she couldn't know that. ALl she knew was what she was taught. And she knew mating was a big deal.
And so was saving someone's life.
"Huh?"
He couldn't have possibly heard her right. Thoronir reached up and scratched his ear and blinked at her. His face, however, had only grown hotter and the thought of such a proposition - from HER - no less made his blood run hot. He didn't know what to say, but something about her tone told him she was serious.
But...she couldn't have been. With him? No, she couldn't have been.
Then suddenly he smiled a little, exhaling a laugh and jerking his head. "But we can't mate. You're the daughter of the best hunters in the village. And I'm just the healer's son. It...it wouldn't be right," he said softly, but his smile faded, and his eyes looked more than just a little somber.
"Besides you shouldn't tease people like that. Mating isn't a joke," he said softly and turned around to walk back through the reeds toward his own clothes. She wasn't serious. It was so obvious it was a trick of some kind, to further tease and humiliate him at the nearest opportunity. And as payment? For saving her? The whole idea seemed too far-fetched.
"Besides, I thought you were saving yourself for Valkier!" he bellowed back.
Thoronir had no idea how much he crushed her when he did not take her offer seriously. And though she had never cried before, at least not publicly, she felt the fresh hot tears of rejection sting at her eyes.
A fool! She was a fool! And the last remark was enough to drive her insecurities home. With an angered sigh, she scooped up her clothes and rushed away from him, not caring to see him any more. IN fact, she wouldn't care if she never saw him again so long as she lived!
She could not believe this! ANd as she ran, she found the tears letting loose until she was far enough in the brush to drop away into the tall grasses and reeds to hide away from him, to steal a moment to herself in this world, and to bury her face into her fur-trimmed clothing and sob off the embarrassment.
Thoronir felt shame of his own. No, she couldn't have been serious. For he'd always been the butt of cruel jokes, seen as no one of particular import, kicked and teased and abused. He was just the healer's son! Thoronir burned in his own shame as he strapped on his own kilt and took back the jar of bathing oils and stuffed them into the pocket before running back to camp, despite his wounds.
He ran slowly, then faster and faster in his frustration. Until he reached the training grounds and looked across it. It was dark now...and most of the hunters were asleep or making love to their partners. Thoronir found if there was anytime he could train it would be now. He didn't need Brynhalla, he told himself. He didn't need anyone. They didn't give a damn anyway. He picked up a staff and proceeded to beat a straw-stuffed dummy mercilessly.
When her tears were all shed, she felt so hollow and miserable, and it was getting late- the moon was already out and she- still hadn't made her way back to the village. She wasn't sure she wanted to. She felt like such a fool and as she traversed the reeds nearest the river, the dead body of the snake came into view. He just left it?
Blinking, she peered up to see if Thoronir was around.
"Thoronir?" But when no response came, she frowned. Bending over, she picked up the snakes dead body and studied it in the moonlight and reflected back on what had happened to result in her feelings now.
Maybe she was a fool. Asking them to mate-
It was a big deal.
And they were, well, kids but....
She peered over at the river and watched the moonlight dance across it.
How was it that the kid she had grown up to tease, one she loathed suddenly became so important in her life. She never liked him like that, not enough to mate-
Yet he was the first boy she ever asked.
And she had been afraid and excited.
But then he laughed at her and she dropped her gaze shamefully to her feet.
Maybe she should just head back to the village....
but part of her felt too ashamed to go. All of the pride of her youth, deflated in just one day. But she had good reason to finally question her own skill-
After all, Thoronir conquered so many things that she could only ever dream about. And part of her didn't want to go back unless he could prove-
She could be as good as him.
Or even better.
Thoronir trained harder than he ever had in his life, even with the limitations of his wounds. He pounded the staff until it snapped in two and the dummy was no more than a pile of straw. But it was useless since he had no idea what he was doing, or even if he was doing it correctly.
Then he fell into a heap on the ground in his own exhaustion, catching his breath. And when he did he felt his eyes brimming with tears, at his own incompetence, at his impotence. He didn't often fell sorry for himself, but when it came down on him, It came down hard.
On her way back to the village, she found herself taking the long way and in the night, she could hear someone training. Curiosity drew her to the training grounds,a nd she was surprised to see Thoronir there. He was training so hard, but his form needed a bit of work. It reminded her of when she first tried to train. She had been a stubborn mess.
Seeing him finally finish, she slung the snake towards him and said, "You forgot something by the river. Here, catch."
The voice startled Thoronir into wiping his eyes furiously. The last thing he needed was for anyone to see him crying. But he made a face when he saw it was only Brynhalla and jumped when she threw the snake at him. He blinked at it. "What would I want that for?" he asked with mild confusion.
Brynhalla rolled her eyes. She knew, by his reaction, he had been crying- though she didn't know why. If anything, it made her a bit upset. She was the one that got laughed at. Why would he be upset? Was it that horrible of a thing she had wanted to mate with him?
"To eat it of course," she told him, and stuck her tongue out at him. "And to make a necklace of it's teeth. Or maybe earrings. I dunno. It's your kill. You're supposed to take pride in it." She gave a shrug. "And snake skin can make really cool stuff."
Thoronir stood up, dusting off his legs. "I don't want it. I don't even really like snake. It tastes funny," he murmured with a somber frown. "You keep it. You can make whatever you want out of it."
Brynhalla made a face.
"You say that but you want to be a hunter? What do you think hunters do Thoronir? And you should be proud of your kills, not angry over them."
Boy was he dumb! He had a lot to learn!
"A hunter can also choose to do what he wants with his kills. And I only killed it to protect you," Thoronir said. "It's not a price to be paid. You should keep it. I want you to have it."
Well was he trying to make her angry.
"Well I don't want it!" she angrily spat back. "I brought it here for you because-"
Because why? And the more she thought on it, the angrier she got as tears threatened her eyes as she felt them prickle them, almost painfully. She shook her head and blinked them back.
"You wanted me to train you- and I'm telling you what the rules are."
Even if unspoken. Sheesh! What hunter would refuse a kill?
"And I can't accept it,"s he said through a cringe.
Maybe if they had mated- but he denied that and well- it looks like they never would. Mate that is.
And he hadn't even promised her to try it later. He probably wanted someone else to mate with. There were alot more pretty girls than her anyway.
Thoronir looked at her skeptically then sobered. "You're still going to train me?" he asked softly, a higher note in his voice. "Even after what I said." He reached down and picked up the snake carcass and slung it around his neck. Well the skin was quite nice and he had a few ideas of what he could make out of it.
Brynhalla flushed when he called her out on that, and turned stubbornly to look away.
"Well, why would I be offended?" she huffed. "Mating with Valkier would probably be better!"
Yeah, take that stupid healer twig-armed boy! Even though, you know, that would be totally gross.
Thoronir shouldn't have expected the sharp pang in his gut when she made that declaration and the sharp blush that splayed across his flesh. Thank the goddess he was already flushed from his futile training. He held the snake for a new seconds, kicking at the dirt before he looked at her with a frown. But he forced a small smile and nodded. "Good," he shrugged. "I'm glad. I'd hate to get inbetween you two."
Did he really just say that? Her anger could no longer be contained.
So she punched him. Hard. Across the face.
He deserved that. The blow nearly knocked him off his feet and made his head pound. But something inside him sparked, deep down from that sharp pang in his gut that had initially made him blush. He didn't know what he was doing when he did it but suddenly he stepped forth, despite the redmark across his face and he pressed his lips against hers, lightly, hesitantly but with a growing force until his nose was pressed into her cheek and eventually he pulled away with an audible lip smack.
Despite the thrill in the moment, and not entirely hating the kiss and well, possibly liking it- she slugged him again.
"Thoronir!" But her face was too red and her brain too gummed up for her to even think of a response, so instead, she turned away to storm off- even as her legs felt like rubber.
Thoronir staggered backwards, holding his jaw and cracking it back into place. She did hit awfully hard for a girl and he felt himself blushing but couldn't help the shock in his gaze as she stormed off, her gait awkward as her legs refused to cooperate with her.
And then he allowed himself a small smile. When her back was turned of course.
And that's when she turned too sharply and walked straight into a tree.
Thoronir snorted and tried his damnedest to keep from bursting out in laughter. When his shuddering subsided he called out to her. "Are you all right?"
She heard his snort and knew he must be laughing, and growled angrily while rubbing her scraped shoulder before angrily punching the tree. Which was a bad idea because it hurt!
Cursing through a breath, she stormed off without so much as another word.
But she still couldn't believe it! He kissed her! He actually kissed her! Athra, save her!
Thoronir was holding back a giggle still and snorted loudly until his laughter rang out all across the training ground. It was high time he went home too he supposed, but he wasn't going to do that while she was still out there.
She caught enough of his laughter to know what had happened, and once she was out of his line of sight, she rushed back to town. Little did she know her parents had been worried sick over her- after all, the whole panther thing from earlier; and found herself beneath their scolding gazes before her mother took her into an overwhelming embrace. Though she was lectured, she had a hard time letting their words settle in. Seems like she'd be stuck cleaning horse poop all week for her transgressions.
But as usual, when left to her own devices, Brynhalla slept well into the afternoon the next day and was left relatively undisturbed- but she barely got any sleep anyway, so she was glad for the small reprieve. After all, later that day she'd be shoveling shit.
[LOL! 8D]
Thoronir had never been abused by his father, never struck or beaten like other fathers who were't so easy on their sons when they had done something wrong. Thranneik however would likely have some lppng and arduous chores for him to do, even with his wounds. In the days to come, the pelt had veen carefully sewn into a cloak and the teeth had turned into a necklace and arrmband and the snakeskin had been turned into an armband, purposefully decorated with fangs in the side of it and fashioned for an arm the size of Brynhalla's
Within the weeks it took to heal, Thoronir had kept his distance from her until the next time they would meet at night on the training ground. Thoronir had recovered easily, the stitches carefully removed from his back and he hid the armband away in his pouch when he went to the field.
The pair had avoided one another for the majority of the day, but after Brynhalla was done shoveling shit, she felt like shit and was moving towards the river to clean up when she noticed someone in the training grounds. It was late, and being the ever curious one, she tip toed over there to have a peek.
[I thought that was a timeskip?]
Thoronir stood a little aimlessly, looking at the empty field, and his smile faded at finding it empty. He kicked a few rocks here and there, idly, boredly.
OOC: Yeah? I'm confused on your ooc comment though XD I timed skip to the next day and Brynhalla sleeping until afternoon, then in my last post, did another time jump to the night since yours implied it was night anyway XD Where's the confusion?
---------
Finding it vacant, she sputtered through her lips. How boring. Turning around, however, she practically tripped over herself when he noticed Thoronir was nearby, observing the field as well. Seeing as he was distracted, she took a tiny rock and chucked it at him, but before he could catch sight of her, she ducked down low in the grasses to hide from view.
[I thought I time skipped several days like until Thoronir was completely healed. Not that it matters, I guess]
Thoronir held the back of his head from the impact of the rock and turned abruptly around to find nothing behind him. He frowned and went back to kicking rocks, but not without having only handily in his palm.
OOC: ohhhh, I mighta mis-read XD yeah we can assume that *is slow*
sorry 8D
I was just like 'whaaaaaat is he talking about'
but yeah I get it deerrrr
We can just assume she's been shoveling shit for a long time? 8D
Cause he totally has to deal with her reeking of horse poop u_u
-------------
And just as he went back to what he was doing- she threw another pebble at him and trying hard not to snicker.
It was hard not to miss that one and Thoronir swung around in time to catch the snicker and chucked the rock in her direction. "Brynhalla! Come out from there! I can smell you anyway!"
But she didn't come out. In fact, she no longer made a sound, and simply watched him from the deep grass.
Thoronir was getting impatient and saw a larger rock on the ground. He moved forward, plucking it from the dirt and with a running start, he hurled it into the grasses.
Too bad he missed by a mile, and Brynhalla had gotten to her knees like an animal, stalking him in silence, making barely a sound as knees and hands made their way through the grasses. And when he hurled the rock, seconds after- she sprang at him- roaring like a panther and pouncing ontop of him, pinning him to the ground with a growling laugh.
Thoronir yelped when she pounced on him. His skin scraped against the dirt. Thank the gods that his wounds had already healed over. "Brynhalla!" he howled in anger, his face red. "You smell like shit!"
"Yeah, that's because I was just shoveling it!" she cackled at him with a proud grin and remained pinning him down.
"What are you doing out here anyway?"
Thoronir sneezed forcibly and made a soured face at her. "I was waiting for you. I thought we were going to keep training? Unless you changed your mind."
Brynhalla blinked before moving to sit ontop of him, rather than pin him down.
"What?" she wrinkled her nose. "You're early for training." The stars HAD only just come out, after all!
And she still needed to bathe. Ugh. She smelled so bad. Which is precisely why she remained seated upon him.
Even Thoronir had to admit their...positioning was rather intimate and frankly he had half a mind to push her off, especially because she stunk. "Well, then I can wait for you," he said after a while. "Go bathe!"
"Okay, but you should carry me, I'm exhausted!" she said, throwing herself over his form in a dramatic fashion so that her back was against his chest and a hand lay draped across her forehead.
"Cleaning the horse's mess is exhausting work!"
And she still had another week of doing it!
"Ouch! Grugh! You're heavy!" Thoronir grunted with extreme effort to shift out from underneath her. "C'mon then," he murmured, rolling her off of him and pulling her up into his arms.
Brynhalla gasped as she found herself scooped up into his arms. Laughing, she draped hrself out into his grip.
"You know I was joking." And she gave him a cheesy grin. "But I won't complain."
He should be carrying her stinky ass anyway! It was sort of his fault she was smelly anyway!
"Don't be so dramatic." Thoronir grimaced, turning his face away and sniffing away from her. When they made it to the river, he ceremoniously dropped her stinky behind into the edge of the waters.
With a yelp and a splash, she landed in the river.
"Ouch! Hey! Careful where you're dropping me! These river rocks hurt!"
Gritting her teeth,s he rubbed at her poor ass and sat up, her skirts not suctioned to her body and gushing wtih water. Sighing, she just shook her head.
"Guess it's wise to bathe in my clothes anyways." They needed a good wash!
"Sorry. But yeah...keep those on," Thoronir commented idly as he climbed back up onto the bank and played with the dirt.
She shot Thoronir a haughty look and splashed him with river water.
"Not as if I'd get undressed in front of you ever again," she stated, before turning her back to him and swimming out into the deeper part of the river.
"Not that I'd ever want to see you naked even if you did!" Thoronir shot back and took a rock and cast it after her into the water. He go up and walked away from the ledge, further south of the river until he found a pile of rocks he could play with. of course it only entertained him for so long.
He had always been a curious boy. A devastating fact that had often caused Thranneik headaches none too few in his lifetime. It wasn't uncommon for Thranneik to suddenly find his son missing from his bedroll and furs in the morning because he'd gone wandering off in the fields.
And now that Brynhalla's back was to him, something else struck his mind and he wandered along the bank of the river until she was in sight and there was a convenient amount of tall grass for which to conceal himself in. Thoronir ducked low in the reeds and huddled his legs close to him and peeked between the reeds and grass, eyeing her from his place of concealment.
SHe didn't bother casting him a glare. She was just going to ignore him and took out her bathing oils and doused herself and her clothing down well. She was sudsing up underneath her armpits when she chanced a glance towards the river bank.
Blinking, she peered around, but saw Thoronir was no where in sight.
She looked around a few more times, concentrating on scrubbing down her hair real good before rinsing off and sitting on a nearby rock in the center of the river as she worked at cleaning her feet and boots.
It was about this time she grew a little anxious.
"Thoronir?"
But there was no sound, except the chirping and buzz of night insects humming through the reeds.
Thoronir stayed quiet, at least as a means of giving her peace and privacy though he wanted only to watch her. It was curious, really, the nature of the human body, as mortal as it was. He wondered why the Goddess could make something so wondrous, so frail and fragile. It was only now that he noticed how budding she was. The hard rocks on her chest were steadily starting to protrude and soften and something in the thought of them made his blood hot. He himself wouldn't be growing much any time soon. He was tall, but thin and gangly and Thoronir understood why Brynhalla would want to mate with someone like Valkier, who had grown into the body he was meant to possess. But he didn't understand why she would care to mate with someone like himself.
Yes, they were most suited to be together of course, whether they chose to simply mate or bind together in marriage. He frowned in thought but he supposed there wasn't anything he could do about that matter. Surely he kissed her, but he did that mostly to prove to himself that he could. And he smiled to himself at that thought.
Working at washing her other foot, she peered around, a bit annoyed, as her cheeks puffed out, full of breath. But she still saw no sight of Thoronir and internally shrugged as she went to rinse her legs off and moved back into the river now, bending over as she went to clean what was up under her skirts.
Thoronir ducked further into the grasses before grabbing a few rocks in his hand and when she bent over, he promptly chucked the handful at her rump.
She released a yelp the moment the rocks collided with her ass and immediately whirled around and screamed, "THORONIR!!!!!!"
OOC: I initially wrote "TENRAN!!!!!!!" 8D
It was then that he tackled her and tackled her hard into the water, lifting her clear off the ground before body slamming her into the river rocks. He scrambled quickly away and back into the bushes, sticking his tongue out at her.
Perhaps she could have had fun with it, or would have, had something else not happened that left her stunned in the water with her eyes wide and bulging. She remained still fo ra moment, red seeping out from her back where he had slammed her against a sharp rock which had inadvertantly, cut deeply into her. But after a moment of realizing what happened, she choked on a sob as her eyes welled up with tears.
Thoronir paused by the bank, just moments before he heard the sobs behind him. He paused and watched her for a good long second before stepping closer. "Oh...Oh, Brynhalla...I'm...I'm so sorry!" he said softly. "Don't cry! I...I'm...so sorry." And he was quick to rush to her and carefully, slowly pluck her up from the water and into his arms, carrying her to shore.
The sharp gash fromt he rock was enough to wind and stun her for the moment- long enough that she did not fght him scooping her up into his arms. Securing her arms around him, though barley, she found herself suddeny on shore, and her back side aching and trickling wtih warm blood.
And when she opened her lips to speak, somehow she could not- for some reason, fear kept her throat sealed shut.
The cuts were not as bad as he thought they were but a two of them took off skin and would need to be cleaned and closed, Thoronir thought as he turned his head to look behind her. He held her across him, sitting on the bank and holding her too him, feeling ashamed for what he had done, forgetting that though he was small in stature, he still was male and stronger than her in some ways. Holding his hand over the wounds, he put pressure on one of them to keep it from bleeding it out too much. "Shhh-shhh," he murmured. "It's okay. You can beat me up later. I won't even put up a fight. Promise."
Brynhalla winced, and the moment she realized what he said, she gave his arm a slug and gave him an angered face through tears.
"Next time, I'll shove you into the river rocks!"
"Ouch!" Thoronir frowned, but didn't grow angry. "I'll hold you too it, now hold still. Here lie on your belly, I'll take care of this." He helped coax her onto her stomach before he found the needle and thread he always carried with him inside the pouch on his kilt, and quickly got to work, cleaning out the wound gently and sealing it up. "There, there, now."
Brynhalla winced as he tended to her wounds. Though she surprised herself when she was able to stave off a few yelps. Though tears did prickle in her eyes, and when he was all done with it she peered back at the wound with a frown (not that she could see it) before peering over at him.
"You know, if we keep giving each other scars, we might end up looking like my dad."
And her father was pretty famous for his war wounds.
Thoronir had the good humor to laugh at least even in such a moment. "I'll take that as a compliment," he admitted and smiled at her, though his eyes were apologetic. He said no more and simply sat down beside her and presented his chin. "Go on then, clock me. I know you're gonna do it anyway."
"Compliment?" She was taken back, but to see his smirk made her smirk and she clocked him, right across the face- and hard. And it only made her smile widen.
His ears were ringing from the blow, but he expected it was to come at some point or another. He cracked his jaw back into place before suddenly lunging forward and pressing his lips against Brynhalla's.
She could have punched him again, but she didn't.
ANd instead, found herself throwing her arms around him and holding him tight as he kissed her. But when their lips pulled away, she smirked.
"You call that a kiss?" And she moved her body to lean into his as her arms wrapped around him tight, her lips crashing into his as she kissed him deeply, excitedly and unknowingly full of need.
Thoronir's cries were muffled beneath her force, but he soon softened beneath her embrace. He kiss was weird with more pressure and he gave a turn of his head to breath. "Why did you put your tongue in my mouth?" he whispered.
Brynhalla flushed.
"Haven't you seen the others doing it?"
"I guess I never noticed," Thoronir replied honestly and blushed. But he smiled again. "I didn't hate it."
She punched his shoulder.
"Well don't get any ideas. It won't happen again." And with a fluff of her hair, she moved to leave him.
"Good. Your breath stinks anyway," Thoronir sniffed and sat climbed back to his feet, and walked back to the training ground.
And that's when she kicked him in the ass- literally.
Thoronir jumped three feet into the air and held onto his behind the whole way. "BRYNHALLA!" he howled. He rubbed his butt and abruptly dashed after her.
But she evaded his hands and skirted away, laughing as her boots slipped and sloshed through the muddy river bank. It was a difficult feet, but hey- she liked things difficult and soon found herself rushing up a hill side, only to find her boots sticking to the mud as she gasped and fell to her knees, and found her legs and hands soon covered in mud.
Thoronir barked her name again, chasing after her until he caught her in the mud. He pinned her against it, his own knees and hands and legs being covered in it. "I thought we were gonna train!?" he growled.
Brynhalla let out a yelp.
"Not after you said my breath was smelly!" she told him defiantly as she squirmed beneath him, mud slicking up her back and latching stickily to her legs.
"Cmon! I didn't mean it. You're just so mean sometimes! You can't expect to be so mean and not have someone talk back to you because of it. But I'm sorry. Let's just go train!"
"Train?!" she said, exasperated at such an idea. "Is that all you really think about, Thoronir?"
"Well, what else is there to think about? Do you think I just want to be the healer's boy for the rest of my life?" he said with a frown. "I want to do more than just make medicine all day."
The words made her skin burn as she peered up at him. It was then she recalled why she wanted to help him- and how she became his friend. He had a softness to him, something gentle, but also a determination she could not fathom. But it was that fire she admired.
"Okay," she told him softly, with a crooked smile. "But you kind of have me pinned down int he mud."
As gentle as he was, there was also a strength that he did not always let other see, that others didn't always want to see and when she acquiesced to his wishes, he rolled off of her and took a handful of mud and caked it on his face. Then what was left over, he slathered it across her cheek, smilingly playfully. "Thank you."
Seeing him try to paint himself with mud, she shook her head.
"You're doing it wrong." ANd she moved to lean forward on her hands and knees and gestured for him to come close. And she studied the mud layered on his face and moved her fingers across them and began to work out a gentle, intimate design across his face. Her fingers would be soothing, soft and the drawings, something she intently worked on- as she always enjoyed body art, even if it was just mud.
Thoronir felt a stillness in that moment, at least one caught in his breath that made him pause. He watched her and felt a chill course through him when she offered to paint his face. He followed suit, dragging his fingers along her chin, but he did not work as intently as she did on him. "What are you drawing?" he murmured softly. "A panther?"
She looked up at him, a tenderness showing in her eyes.
"Yeah..." She said, slowly drawing a whisker. Then she gave him.a lop sided grin. "lucky guess."
"Well, I'm drawing a snake on you," he murmured with a playful smile. He drew the fangs on either side of her mouth. His hand came up, cupping her cheek, marveling at her eyes and his own widened at the revelation. He didn't even realize he'd been smiling.
"A snake?" But her eyes shined at the realization as she looked up at him.
"You know panthers eat snakes."A nd she punched his shoulder. "Maybe I should change what you are."
"Oh they do? I wouldn't worry about it. But I'm no more a panther than you are a snake," Thoronir chuckled and took his muddied fingers down toward her neck, dragging the mud along her throat. "We both probably look pretty funny. But at least you don't think anymore."
Brynhalla's smile stretched a bit crookedly.
"Except of mud." Her eyes danced. "But I like the smell. It smells of the earth."
Thoronir's own eyes glowed as he peered at her. His hands drifted back up to her cheeks. And before he realized what he was doing, he leaning and kissed her.
The fluttering in her belly tickled through her veins and heated through her belly. A kiss was only a kiss,but to be kissed like this, with mud on their faces, their bodies so close..
She knew it was something else.
And one just does not simply kiss. And kiss a girl so many times before...
"Can we mate?" she asked, when the kiss was broken. It was an innocent inquiry, but nothing to tease about this time. After all, she only presumed it was proper. They had kissed, he rescued her-
what was really holding them back?
ANd for some reason, she liked the idea it was Thoronir.
"If not in the reeds... in a tent.... tonight?"
She pressed her lips together, and stared up at him, wondering if he'd deny and laugh at her again or..
actually say it was okay.
The question struck him as something different this time. His eyes searched her face, though they were both caked in mud, he could see the seriousness in which she murmured them. There was nothing opposed to it in his tone, but there was still a degree of uncertainty. "But..what if we get caught?" he asked.
"Who would see? Who would know?" she asked, and the more she did, the more she urgently wanted to try this with him. But she bit her lip, wondering if he was as uncertain and fearful of it as she was. "We're old enough.." Or so she believed. She knew others younger than her who were already mating. And they were at the age where hormones dictated all.
Thoronir flushed at the thought. He was still hesitant, unsure about it. His hands remained on her face and their faces close, but a breath away. "I don't know," he answered honestly. "But...I thought you...wanted to mate with Variek? Everybody knows it. You're always looking at him. Probably because he's bulky like his father."
Brynhalla flushed when he called her out on this.
"I.." Well, she kind of wanted to, but in a sense he was attractive-
It was completely different in the way she felt drawn towards Thoronir.
"Well, maybe I used to." Her flush turned hotter. She had a lot of.. dreams about him.. and not one of them was innocent. "But he's not the one I'm asking to be my first."
And she bit her lip. Maybe he just didn't want to...
Thoronir's face felt like it was on fire, as did the rest of his body and he gave her a breathy smile at her declaration. "I'm just...nervous is all," he admitted. "I didn't think anybody would want to mate with me. So I never gave it much thought. I...I ..." Thoronir leaned in again, quite suddenly and kissed her again, this time with more force. "I want to be worthy of you," he murmured.
She felt her belly flutter as she kissed him back.
"Well.. we.. we could at least try it. I.. I'm not sure how to do it. So maybe we.. we could just.. just see what happens, you know?"
She bit her lip and looked into his eyes at his last statement.
"You're worthy, Thoronir. Or I wouldn't ask you to be my first."
"I...I don't feel like I am," he said, eyes somber. "I feel like you're only asking me to settle something between us...like you owe me something. But you don't. You have the prestige I couldn't ever have. You're the daughter of the best hunters in the village...I couldn't ever be worthy of you."
His hands never left her face however. "But I wouldn't be afraid to try." And a smile grew on his lip.
Brynhalla had been holding a breath, getting ready for a second rejection when he mentioned he wouldn't mind. And then her face went beat red.
"Oh, I, er... r.. really?" She was smiling, gods, why couldn't she hide her smile?
She turned away, and tucked back a smile.
"Well I.. if .. do we .. um.. want to try it.... here? Right... now?"
Oh.. where they really goign to do this? She felt so hot all over it was unreal.
"Um...I" his blush deepened and he smiled sheepishly. "I don't know. Where...do you want to do...um...it?" He gave a soft breath, releasing her face.
"Well do.. do you want the whole camp to know we're.. we're mating? Then we could go back and into your tent." She bit her teeth into her lower lip."Or do you want it to be more private- we... we could just do it here. Let it just be between us."
Just in case one of them got this wrong- and well, would her parents be upset she was already in a tent before her coming of age ceremony? She wasn't sure. But she felt so nervous, her hands were growing sweaty. And if her face wasnt' caked in mud, he'd see her fierce blush.
His blush only deepened and he gave a laugh in an attempt to stave off his nerves. "Why don't we just keep it between us..." he said softly. "I don't think Thranneik thinks I'm ready to mate just yet. I'm almost seventeen...but..." He stopped there and tried to relax. They were still in the cool mud by the riverbank and he knew that if he kept putting it off they weren't going to get anywhere. So instead he leaned in again and pressed his lips softly to hers, pecking her lips softly and hesitantly putting his arms around her.
Brynhalla held a breath.
"We're old enough to decide what we wish to do." And this bold statement made her body heat with fire, so when he kissed her, she put more power into her own reply, releasing breaths through her nose and moans through their kisses as she let her kisses light their fire.
Her breaths and motions only served to encourage him. Soon Thoronir's hold on her increased, his arms tightening around her like a vice and he deepened his kiss, feeling along the hollows of her mouth. He tasted her, mimicking what she had done to him and offering a breathy moan of his own. His entire body was practically on fire, and he felt a familiar stiffness in his groin. "Goddess above," he murmured, turning his head the other way to regain his breath and kiss her furiously.
Their kisses were intense and with their bodies so close, she gasped through kisses, feeling the bulge of his groin even through their clothing and instinctively began to grind against him, letting their bodies meet in attempts to mate him through their clothing. And at such a sensation, she was shocked and clung to him, and could do nothing to stop her body from it's natural reaction as hips rocked against his and lips sealed more completely, though hot breaths were released in between.
Thoronir leaned back against the mud and though she tried to mate with him through his kilt, his eyes clenched tightly, feeling the sensations, the moistness, but feeling something wasn't quite right. "I think you're supposed to be naked," he grunted and bit into his lip. He kissed her with growing vigor, holding her hips, as insatiable as she was.
Brynhalla flushed but continued to kiss him. But after a moment,s he paused to peer down at him through half-lids.
"Then take off my clothes."
Thoronir's hands were busy fumbling with the straps of leather shirt, but when he failed to pulled apart the straps, he began pushing it up over her head.
"H-Here," she told him through a breath, a gentle hand on his. "Let me help you."And she moved fingers to blindly flick open the clasps of her shirt, and in a few small motions, her shirt was released, and dropped away as she tossed it into the reeds.
She blushed, knowing she wasn't a full woman yet, but she had small, subtle mounds of a growing woman- enough that his hands could take in fully.
"I.. I know there's not much to see," she began, biting her lips as her breasts were half hidden behind her ratty hair. "But you can touch them- feel them if you want."
Thoronir paused and looked at the small roundness of her breasts that would grow in the fullness of time. His hands instinctively went around them, his own hands large, though thin and not yet strong. He was gently, gracing the soft flesh underneath them before letting his fingertips drag upwards, playing along their tips.
"They're beautiful," he murmured as he explored their curvatures. Her nipples were erect, hard, and he pinched them lightly before moving his hands down along her belly. His groin ached with anticipation, and he knew it was only fair if she explored his body on her own. He took his hands from her body before reaching down to his own kilt, slipping it off his hips and adjusting it around her, exposing the erect member from between his legs.
Being it was more or less her first time truly seeing that, her lips fell open as she gaped. And as her body was now aching from the way Thoronir touched her- she found herself a bit numb and dizzy, and almost too afraid to reach out and touch it. So for now, she simply stared.
Her staring did nothing to help him however and he flushed in both the heat of the moment as well as embarrassment. "I guess it's too soon for that then?" he asked with a great deal of hesitation.
Her eye lashes fluttered as she realized what he just said.
"Oh!" And her cheeks heated any more.
"N-no! I just.." and here she stared at it some more. "I.. am... can I touch it?" she asked, not quite sure if she was supposed to.
Thoronir blushed even more. He felt like his eyeballs were on fire with the way she stared at him...and at her words, a flutter burned in his stomach. "If...if you want to," he murmured.
Carefully, she moved a hand forward, and touched the end of his cock. Her eyes were so big to take it in.
"How does it feel?" she asked, curious about it as her hand moved to smooth across it. "When I touch it?" And more curiously, she inquired, "ANd how did you hide that under your cloth!?" It seemed so big! Did he always have such a thing hidden beneath such a small cloth!?
The spark of her touch sent shivers through him and Thoronir audibly gasped at the sensation. He'd had erections before, for what young boy didn't, but to have someone else touch it was another matter entirely. He watched in as much fascination as she did. "It feels...nice... I like it..." he murmured in a shuddered breath. "It aches. I mean...when I...um, get excited, it gets...um, stiff. And bigger. A lot bigger. Is it...too big?"
Brynhalla blushed. Bigger? Her head was whirling as she cupped a hand around it, gripping it lightly to feel just how stiff it was before she gripped it tighter. "Thoronir, it's hard like a rock!" What was the purpose of that? "Is it.. is.. this what it does when a boy's ready to mate?" And the very idea fascinated her- but how did it help? And what made it grow?
She shook her head.
"And no, I .. I don't know if it's too big. I'm... I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with it really." And she felt so embarrassed about it. "Do we just rub it between my legs?"
She had no idea it had to go in her for a proper mate.
"I mean that's..that's where I feel good."
And it made sense to put two aching points together.
"I-I think so. I know a man mounts his woman, he has to get on top of her, but sometimes the woman can get on top of the man, like what you were doing, except they're usually naked," Thoronir muttered, shivering still in small waves of pleasure at how tight her grip was. It felt achingly good, and the coolness of her hand sent even more shivers through him.
"I think you have to sit on it. But without your skirt."
She felt her heart now in her throat.
"Sit on it?" The idea heated her all over. She swallowed.
"Oh... okay."
And she moved to do so, but nearly forgot her skirts, and.. embarrassed slightly, moved to untie it before letting her skirts drop into the reads.
When he saw the skin of her womanhood, Thoronir just about exploded - in more ways than one. "Goddess above," he murmured and reached out to her, his hands touching her hips. He brushed his hands along the skin above her sex and coaxed her over him, guiding her to mount him.
Brynhalla obeyed, a slave to her desires as she spreads her legs open and crawled ontop of his hips. Though they were not joined together, and their bodies still had some distance, she found herself peering down at him for just a brief moment of hesitation before allowing her body to sit over his. And a jolt of pleasure shot through her like no other, to feel the skin of his warm sex against her own made it turn alive and pulsate as she sat upon him. And instincts kicked in and let her body do the talking, as she rocked her hips lightly across his length. But since it took them forever to even get this far, she was already soaking wet, and soon his cock was glistening with her eagerness.
The sensation of it all was just too much. Her lips fell open, her eyes began half lidded as she trembled.
"By the Goddess, Thoronir..."
Thoronir moaned audibly at the sensation of her hot sex beside his cock. It lapped at his long length and he found himself suddenly trembling. It was too easy to let go, to suddenly allow himself to burst at the mere thought of mating, and mating with Brynhalla no less. He wasn't sure if they were doing it right, but they must be doing something right at the pleasure their sex made. Thoronir suddenly leaned back and bent his knees at an angle, letting her back rest against his thighs. "Bryn...this feels like heaven...I couldn't imagine it was anything like this," he said in panting breaths.
"Neither did I." And at the new angle, she gasped softly, feeling the tip of his member prod her on occasion and not entirely sure how to react.
Slipping within her made Thoronir gasp suddenly, his eyes wide and he peered up at her. "Wait..." he murmured and adjusted her hips against his, feeling his member just at the lips of her sex and after a moment of hesitation, he coaxed her down onto his cock, slowly, feeling a whole new sensation of her tightness passing through him. "GODDESS ABOVE!" he cried out.
It burned. It hurt. But she was so hot, the sensation only helped to build the desires roaring inside her like a flame. His cries brought forth a moan,a nd their actions brought them to a whole new level.
"G-Goddess!" She said, moving her hips awkwardly, testing his cock within her as her muscles spasmed, uncertainly, but eagerly. "Are we..?"
"Y-yeah. I think we are," Thoronir panted, his heart racing a mile a minute. He was lost completely to her sensations, for she covered him like a glove and he felt the tensing muscles of her sex flexing and moving. "Gods... You feel...feel." By Athra, he couldn't even find the words to describe how good it felt to be connected with her at last. But he wouldn't trade the feeling for anything else in the world.
It still hurt. Goddess did it hurt, but it also felt good.. felt amazing and she did not want to stop.
"Gods... Is all of it inside me?" And curiously she peered down to watch as his cock slid in and out of her.
"Not...not all of it," Thoronir grunted. "Well, most of it." Thoronir leaned up on his elbows and sat up enough to undulate his hips, to push himself as deeply within her as he could and moving his hips to the rhythm of his breath. They were fumbling still, but he suspected that figuring it out would be easier if they worked together.
"Athra's name! Thoronir!" She cried, feeling him move within her and shivering. She still had yet to figure out how to handle a man's sex, but her own sex was unable to stop spasming as that very irradict response was building up a swelling of pleasure and heat.
And to watch his cock disappear in and out of her had her breathless.
"Goddess, I can't describe this, except my mind and body feel as if they're in a fever and I can't stop moving my hips..Goddess..." She shivered and.closed her eyes. "Does it feel this good.to you? I mean it kind of hurts, but its.a good sort of.pain.what does it feel like to you?"
His mouth hung open at the building of the pleasure that coursed through him. Thoronir's arms held her behind, pushing her down onto him and coaxing her to move with him as his body explored hers. "I...I don't even know how to describe it... It's....thrilling. You feel so warm, snug...like your body's hugging mine," he panted, and pressed his forehead against hers. "Lay...lay on your back."
He rolled them over and positioned her back against the mud, pulling her hips higher onto his. The angle gave him a greater range of motion and he was able to move deeper within her, feeling the slickness give way to her heat.
At his direction, she peered at him through half lids.
"Oh.. okay," she whispered. And obeyed. She was his, all his, and he need but say it and she'd do it. Her mind was in a frenzy, and her body had to breed. There was no logic. Only heat, and once she was laying on her back in the cool mud and he upon her- it felt perfect. She loved being taken this way, with him on top of her and moving within her with little resistance, to naturally dive into her and to unite their bodies in impassioned heat.
Her eyes rolled close as her limbs entangled around him, adoring the sensation of being taken for the first time. Oh how dangerous and naughty they were. What if they were caught? What if they got in trouble? But she didn't care! Let it be so! She loved the daring thrill of it, and even though but a few short weeks ago she hated him- now she wanted nothing more than to be fucked by him.
"Goddess Athra.." she whispered through a moan. "I want more of this! More!" she cried, and clung to him needingly. "Oh mate with me, Thoronir! Faster! Please!" And her legs hitched up higher, and she, clung more tightly a she felt him move within her as the pleasures rose to new heights and sensations that came far taller than the grasses that hid their sins int he night.
The cries that had erupted out from the outskirts of the village alerted a few of the men that had stood watch nearer the edge of the training grounds. Among them was Vuldur, the lead hunter who had took the first watch and would switch out with his replacement in the next hour or so. But the sound that had captured his attention echoed out across the expanse of the grasslands and he took two more men with him to investigate.
He held onto his spear and his two men held bows as he moved out toward the river, the grasses swaying with the wind, gently. It wasn't the mere wind of course, for it was gentle this night. He heard another cry, but it was indistinguishable. "WHO GOES THERE!?" he bellowed.
Thoronir had been making love vigorously, following Brynhalla's instructions when he froze at that familiar voice. "Goddess!" he said, scrambling off her and staying low in the bank and on the reeds. "It's Vuldur. Let's get out of here, Bryn." He snatched his kilt and her clothes as well, as he took her hand and pulled her down along the bank of the river.
Brynhalla let out a sharp cry as she was pulled along, but was quickly holding her breath as her heart was thumping inside her ears. Goddess! They were going to get caught, but she moved as swiftly s she could, but after having her legs open for so long during their sex, her legs felt funny and she prayed tot he goddess her legs didn't give out!
Thoronir pulled her as gently and as quickly as he could. Vuldur's party was getting closer but they stopped at the edge of the river and the light of his torch reflected at the edge of the water and reeds.
Thoronir paused several yards from where they were and paused, holding his breath. After several minutes Vuldur found nothing and he moved in the direction opposite them. Thoronir released a breath and glanced at Brynhalla. "That was close."
His smile widened. "We should go into the trees. There's a nice little brook there by some berries. We can mate there... Unless you wanted to go back to the village?"
Brynhalla flushed. The almost being caught had her even hornier than before and she found herself not hesitating to reply. "Sure. I just want to mate. My body is going crazy!" She told him, honestly. "But if we go back, won't it be hard to do this in secret?" Of course, that made her desire sky rocket even more. What was wrong with her? Her brain was on fire, but so was her body.
"I menn if we go back, we cannot mate. Vuldur will tell everyone and I don't want others to know more than they have to until we wish to tell them. I would stay with you out here to mate. Let's go to the brook," Thoronir said and took Brynhalla's hand in his as he led the way into the trees on the otherside of the river.
"Y-yeah, I want to keep doing this,"s he said, flushing over the idea. "It... it's a lot of fun." And she squeezed his hand as they walked. "And.. you make me feel incredible when you're inside me." And so many other things.
Her words admittedly made his blood run hot. Thoronir had never expected to take a mate, let alone Brynhalla who up until then had been the bane of his existence. He gripped her hand and when they were close enough to the trees, he stopped beneath a beam of moonlight and turned to her. He parted her hair and looked at her, one hand at her cheek, another at her waist and soon he leaned, to kiss her deeply.
She could't believe it either. It was so crazy, and to think- her first time- and many times there after, would be with him. Perhaps it was the idea they shouldn't, and the fact he surprised her with true strenghth in other means outside of just a rippling body. Either way, she wanted him. Badly. And her hormones were raging.
"Mate with me here?" she asked, though it almost sounded like a command.
Thoronir gave a breathless nod. He leaned his forehead into hers and dropped their clothes beside him and he leaned down to lift her hips onto his, and he could feel the eagerness of his member, throbbing renewed. He felt it smooth against the softness of her sex, for he pressed her back against a tree and proceeded to feel her more, explore her before entry. "We will...will still train though, right?" he murmured before sealing his lips to hers.
She felt a fluttering at the tips of her toes and fingers as he leaned over her, pressing her against a tree and teased her entry way. She was incredibly wet, and offered little resistance for him.
"Y-yeah... of course," she said, smiling through a breath as they kissed. "And maybe on days you do good.. we.. we could do this again."
Because she liked this, and always wanted to do this. It felt so great.
Thoronir's heart raced a thousand times faster than he ever thought it could. Soft whimpers coursed through him. He soon felt the tip of his sex seeping into her here and there until he felt brave enough to slip into her all the way. He moaned loudly into ear.
"We can do this more!?" he couldn't keep the surprise out of his voice. "I would...like that... I...I'm glad I can do this with you."
Brynhalla whimpered as they continued to mate.
"Goddess Athra... yes,"s he breathed, eyes fluttering closed. "Just keep moving like that. Oh, it feel so good..."
They fumbled a little, slipped on his hold of her once or twice, and it got a little messy, but soon enough they got the hang of it and before Thoronir knew it, he was a sweaty heap on the ground, his heart pounding. He was burning all over and he could feel the hot rush of his seed pouring into her and he leaned his head at an angle to kiss her brow. "Goddess above...That's what that's supposed to feel like," he panted.
She was breathing and panting beneath him, having no idea he had peaked, for she was so hot his seed just melted within her. She shivered in the after math and peered up at him, a small smile on her lips and her eyes nearly closed.
"Goddess... you made me feel incredible."
"I hope so," he said with a smirk. "I feel pretty incredible." Their bout made him tired and he was content to lay there in the grass, the sound of the brook echoing beside them and his hands moved through her hair, combing through it. "Did you feel it? I mean, that explosion of pleasure that came at the end? I did...it was amazing... We should try different ways...I mean when we get better at it."
"Explosion?" She flushed. Could he feel when she came? Though when his erection was removed from her body as she shifte,d she let out a gasp and thought she had peed herself, but it was his seed spilling down her leg.
Some of it spilled onto his leg and he looked down, seeing a white substance dribble out in the darkness. "Sorry. It gets a little messy," he murmured and leaned in next to her. "I thought it stayed inside though."
Brynhalla didn't know WHAT to make of the mess, but seeing as he seemed a bit familiar with it she began to realize..
"So you... you made that mess?"
And then it began to make sense. The bit of his semen that dribbled out was the seed she always heard about men gave to women when they mated. And so it was sealed. She had taken his seed. And so now they were mates.
"Y-yes," Thoronir replied with a blush. But he forced a smile onto his lips. "After I get excited...if I get too excited, my...member bursts and that stuff comes out of it. Well, now you know the rest."
Brynhalla flushed at such a description.
"So my body made you.. made you do that?"
Her stomach fluttered over the idea. She peered down her leg. "But if mating is so messy.. how can we do this in secret?"
ANd she was using some nearby leaves to clean herself off with before peering over at the water.
"We can bathe after I guess," Thoronir suggested, sitting up and peering across to the brook. "Or...maybe it'll be easier if we mate in the water, this way the mess will wash away with it and half the work is done for us."
Brynhalla blushed.
"But wouldn't it be louder in the water? I mean.." She blushed even brighter. "We'd be making waves..."
"Probably. But at least it'll be easier to clean and we can still mate and keep it secret. When we're ready, then we can tell our parents," Thoronir said with a resolute nod. He leaned down to kiss her cheek before rising and moving toward the brook, cleaning off the excess of their shared sex.
Brynhalla flushed at the idea and moved to stand beside him as she washed off.
And numbly nodded as well. To think.. they'd get a chance to do this again, and she grew quiet thinking over that- what her parents would think when they eventually found out...
and what the others would as well.
They seemed quite an unlikely pair, after all.
Once he was clean, Thoronir scraped the water off of him and donned his kilt once more. "Brynhalla..." he murmured, only casting his eyes on her. "I just thought it'd be worth mentioning...but you're the prettiest girl I've seen."
Brynhalla drew in a breath,a nd nearly choked on it. Her cheeks heated to pink as she nearly went crossed-eyed over such a statement.
She didn't even know what to say! Did he mean it? He couldn't possibly..
Thoughs he knew she wasn't ugly- there were far more attractive (and developed..) girls he could be saying that to-
and then the factor of...
What did she think about him?
Thoronir blushed at her lack of response but he didn't say anything more on the matter. He waited until she was ready before taking her hand in his and gesturing in the direction of the village. "We should get back soon. They might worry."
It took her a second to respond as she nodded her head and numbly followed.
"Y-yeah. Go back." But even as she moved, her legs felt like lead. She was reluctant to go but... he was right. She chewed on her lip. She'd rather spend more time with him, figure this out but her tongue wouldn't allow her to talk. Boy did she feel stupid and blushed, realizing how rude she must've been after such a compliment.
And now she felt even more stupid to want to react. Oh well. She supposed it was too late.
"We can take a walk, just enjoy the air," Thoronir said. He was quiet for a time, trying to coax Brynhalla along. "Do you think we could try again tomorrow night?" he asked softly. "When we're done we can mate..." He blushed at the thought.
SHe was practically stumbling over her own two feet to follow him. Pausing, she blew some strands of hair from her face and nodded.
"Yea..enjoy the air," she said a bit sadly and peered over her shoulder at the disappearing location of where she had lost her virginity. But then at his inquiry to train, she turned to him, but before she could respond-
He said he wanted to mate again.
And her face turned red.
"Y-yeah,"s he said squeezing his hand and leaned in closer to him. "To both."
Thoronir actually laughed. "Though which one first?" he asked, smiling and leaning into her as well.
"I thought you wanted to train first?" she told him, beaming. "Or are you already craving mating me again?" And she gave him a sheepish but playful smile at that before dashing off away from him playfully, and dropping his hand as she did so.
"Hey come back here!" Thoronir laughed and happily gave chase. "You can still run after that!?"
Brynhalla laughed.
"Of course! Wasn't like we mated for hours!" she jested, remembering how some of the adults talked about sour legs from such things. Hers were sour, but she was young and it didn't take much for her to bounce back as she ran and laughed.
"It was still longer than either of us have ever mated before," Thoronir called after her and ran hot on her heels.
"That's because we never mated before!" she called back with a laugh.
"Don't make me mate with you again," Thoronir threatened breathlessly. He nearly had her. She was within his grasp!
"Again?" She laughed, and practically squealed to see how close he was. "You'll have to catch me first-" and before he knew what was going on, she paused, turned around and ran at him, barreling him over and using his falling form to kick off and jump up to a nearby, low hanging tree branch.
Her legs dangled and she kicked furiously until, after a few grunts, she as up in the tree with a triumphant laugh.
And Thoronir lay in the grass and dirt quite still and unconscious.
Once she was settled int the tree branch, she sat down, legs dangling over the side whcih she lightly kicked.
"Thoronir, come on, nobody is going to believe you're dead. Now get up here and chase me!"s he teased.
Thoronir opened one eye at her and stuck his tongue out at her. "Can't blame me for trying," he quipped before pulling himself up into the tree and scratching at his chest. "C'mere!"
She stuck her tongue out at him.
"You gotta at catch me! I'm not just going to throw myself at you!" And with a laugh she climbed higher.
Thoronir pulled himself up through the tangle of branches. He was lithe and light and he was able to move through them like a monkey. He was just under her feet and touched her toes.
Brynhalla gave a yelping laugh and playfully kicked at him to thwart his approach. But at her antics, she nearly fell, but laughed after she caught herself, but was now dangling with her ass half out of the tree.
Thoronir, reached up and around the tree and grabbed her ass, pushing her up further onto the branch. "Careful," he murmured, half-laughing and used that opportunity to vault himself further up into the tree, soon beside her.
Brynhalla snorted.
"Careful? I laugh in the face of danger! Ha, ha, ha!"
"Oh yeah! Well you're butt is as bare of any scars as a newbon babe!" Thoronir griped. He lunged his arms out after her.
"Is that supposed to be a jest or a threat?" she said, but when he lunged at her, she squealed and giggled and tried to move away, but there was little room left at the end of the tree branch, and she was as cornered as a cat.
With her backed against the trunk of the tree, Thoronir captured her within the vice of his arms. "Why not both!" he laughed as he held her.
Brynhalla gasped and clung to him.
"Thoronir! Careful! " And she peered down from the dizzying height. "I don't want to fall!"
"Don't worry," he said, turning his head toward hers. "I've got you." He smiled toothily and clung to the branch with one arm and her with the other.
Turning to him, she flushed as she realized their closeness, and felt herself burn all over for it.
"I... I see that." And her eyes flicked to his lips before looking up into his eyes, and in the moonlight, it shown his face in a while knew light to her. Though before, she wasn't sure how attracted she was to him physically, for so many men had such impressive builds compared to him, and much fuller faces- but at this angle, in this moment- she found herself breathlessly staring at him- and at a complete loss of words.
Perhaps Thoronir was not quite impressive in body as most other men. He still had growing to do after all, and even his face hadn't filled out completely yet. But his eyes glimmered in the moonlight and he viewed her through the same bluish veil amidst the rustle of tree branches, leaves, and the glitter of stars above. She wasn't pretty in the traditional sense of the word, but Thoronir saw that fire within them, just under their surface that sent a shiver through him. And he said nothing for fear of breaking the silence.
The moment was intense, but also tense and awkward as she gazed upon him- most of his body hidden by the moon. And perhaps it was because of the moonlight, or the dancing or stars, or something else entirely... But what she said was spoken softly, truthfully, "I want you to take me in this tree. To mate with me again." Because whatever fire he had started, spread wildly through her body and was burning within her once again.
Thoronir adjusted his footing and turned around in the tree. He felt her breath, her words, though he didn't yet respond and he pulled her close, leaning into her, allowing her body to press against his as he backed her against the trunk. "I will mate with you until the dawn comes," he murmured and kissed her hot and fiercely.
Arms came around him, clinging tightly as they kissed. And she moaned through it, slowly opening up her legs. The idea of so much mating thrilled her. Surely they would get in trouble for it... But she was okay with it. So long as they'd get to mate now.
Thoronir never once gave much thought to the consequences of their endeavors. Perhaps it was the thought of making what they were doing seemingly forbidden that made it even more exciting. Thoronir mounted her hips onto his as the clasp of his kilt was discarded and he grimaced at the tension of his groin and the fire that squirmed in his belly.
She worked at lifting up her skirts, but found herself slipping a little as her breath hitched.
"We'll.. we'll have to be careful. So we don't fall," she told him, awkwardly clinging to him and trying to slowly position herself beneath him. But the bark kind of hurt, and the tree was just wide enough for her to lay on it- but not sparing an inch on either side for her to really move. Perhaps that aided in the thrill of it, but either way, she went back to clumsily kissing him like a fool.
"We won't fall," he murmured, breathing between kisses. He supposed - or rather hoped - that their kissing improved with practice and he grew hazy with their efforts, letting her lips massage against his as he lowered himself down onto her and hesitated for a moment before he joined within the moistness of her sex.
Their kisses had improved, but she was still a ball of nerves. It had hurt the first time they did it- and now was no exception. But the moment he got past the initial push of insertion, she released a breath through a long kiss and closed her eyes tightly as she clung to him fierce.
"By Athra's name... Thorornir.." she moaned. "I can't believe we're mating again."
He moaned loudly in her ear. The tightness that enveloped him was almost more than he could bear and by her words, he shivered and trembled. "We'll get better at this," he grunted. "The more we do it I mean."
"Y-yeah," she said through breaths, gasping each time he slid into her,a ndt he more he did, the deeper she could feel him go. "Just don't forget not to have us fall," she said, biting nervously into her lip and tensing her sex all around him, fitting him tightly, hotly, completely.
"Don't worry. You're safe here with me," Thoronir panted as he moved his hips in time with her with hers, feeling himself gloved by her warmth and pushing in deeper than he had before. He also moved harder and faster, trying to maintain their place in the tree, but it was difficult the better it felt. "If it hurts too much, Bryn, just say so and I'll stop," he panted again.
Oh, it hurt. But perhaps only the first few thrusts- now the pain was only concentrated on her back that was beginning to feel raw. She shook her head.
"It.. it doens't really hurt. It feels too good to hurt."
For it was true, the burning sensation he brought upon her was mesmerizing, and was pooling together so many sensations that were intense- any pain, if any at all, that was felt, was but a side thought to the pleasure coursing through her as she moaned.
"Does.. does it feel good for you, too?" she asked, blinkingly.
Thoronir moaned, his eye lids clenching tightly as he thrust deeply and quickly within her. He pounded her with increasing intensity, all the while his arms clasped tightly around her. At last he opened his eyes, pressing his forehead against hers and he smiled. "It feels like paradise. Amazing...incredible... Goddess...ugh. And incomparable."
And not just because he had nothing else to compare it too.
Where he had many words to describe it, she had none- and was stunned by the intensity behind them. And they made her melt, her body yielding to his so that he more easily moved through her with every thrust.
"Goddess Athra..." she breathed. And even as this was their second time of it, it was still hard for her, even now, to wrap her mind around-
Thoronir, the healer's boy- had been her first-a nd now second, and for all she knew... many more. And if they kept this up, who knew what else. Mates for life were something rare, but in that moment- the Goddess knew she was only thinking about him.
"Brynhalla," Thoronir whimpered a little. "I want to feel your excitement. You're body peaking...please."
Brynhalla moaned and writhed beneath him, but his words elicited a whimper.
"Oh, how I want to.." she admitted, the heat in her body rising stronger. "But I fear my fear of us falling is preventing me from ever screaming out." She bit her lipa nd looked at him through half lids. "But Goddess... Thoronir, whatever you're doing just.... Just keep it up!" And she clung to him, her sex tightening around him again as she did so, and she was soon panting at his ministrations, feeling her body in a whirl wind of pleasure she could not explain.
The tightening of her sex nearly had her over the edge. Thoronir groaned and grunted with effort, holding himself steadily over her and holding her close to him with his arms to secure her to him to ensure her she was safe in his arms at the least. He slowed his ministrations, focusing more on a particular point that felt immeasurably powerful for him and he nursed there, deeply and powerfully.
As Thoronir was listening to his body, it was as if he were listening in to her's as well. For as his dick slid in and out of her, slow to move, gentle but lengthy, she shivered. It felt so good, and she melted beneath him, moaning and whimpering at their sex.
Thoronir could feel his trembling grow more and more intense as their lovemaking continued, and he panted hard to try, fearing his heart would be just about ready to pop out of his chest. "Brynhalla, I can feel it... Goddess!" he grumbled, taking her lips suddenly in his.
The heat was powerful, surging through her in a rise and she- unable to contain it. She was too far into this now and could not stop herself, and suddenly she was clinging to him tightly and screaming out- her voice echoing into the night. Her body stiffened as she clung to him, her sex pulsating rapidly as she gave way to an explosion of senses that racked her body and sent her into a frenzying shock. And when it was all over with, when she was done writhing over his length, she settled into a pool of contentment beneath him, breathing hard, breathing soft, with her eyes delicately closed.
Her excitement was all he needed to cum and he jerked his body at the sudden rush moved into her warmth. "Goddes above... Mercy...mercy," he panted atop her. He melted into contentment above Brynhalla before he found strength enough to hold himself above her. "At least we didn't fall out of the tree."
She opened a single eye to peer at him as she grinned.
"Yeah..."but then her nose caught wind of the stench beneath his arm pit and she wrinkled her nose. "Goddess! Thoronir, you stink!" But she was smiling anyway.
Thoronir's eyes lit up. "I do?" he beamed. "That means I'm becoming a man. At least that's what father said."
Brynhalla just stared at him before she snorted and looked away.
"And as if what we just did didn't count.." she muttered.
"It means I'm growing still. Watch before even you could believe it, I'm going to be built like Vuldur or some of the other hunters," Thoronir teased and kissed her again.
Brynhalla flushed at the idea, but she couldn't visualize it.
"I'd have to see it to believe it, Thoronir. That would require alot of growing up!" she teased.
Thoronir snorted, blushing. "I might not be as big as Vuldur, but just you wait and see!" He grinned at her before dismounting and climbing down to the branch below. He stretched and stifled a yawn. Extending a hand out to her, he smiled and said. "We should be getting back."
Once their bodies were 'dis-united', she squirmed a bit to feel his sex dribble down her leg. She wasn't sure she could ever get used to that. Turning to where Thoronir went, she delicately followed behind him, took his hand then jumped onto the ground.
"We might need to visit a river again. You made a mess between my legs." And she gave a shake of her head, but smiled anyways. After all, it was her body that made him do that, and though it felt a bit.. disgusting afterwards, it still turned her on none the less to think he was depositing his seed within her. And it was also something so intimate, like a secret, that only both of them could share.
"Okay. I'll help you clean up. Sorry." His smile was sheepish but soon he hurridly dragged her along toward the river. "C'mon slow poke!"
"Ack!" Brynhalla was practically tripping over her two feet as he pulled her along. "Thoronir! Wait up! My legs... they feel strange!" And it was his fault, after all!
"Quit complaining," he laughed and continued to drag her along.
Brynhalla gave a huff and found herself still tripping over her own two legs as she suddenly tumbled forward, and latched onto Thoronir's arm with an "Oof!"
Thoronir caught her and pulled her to her feet. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"I told you!" she said with a huff, clinging to his arm."My legs.. they feel as if I've been running for miles. The muscles hurt!" Though it was the insides of her thighs only- for she wasn't used to keeping her legs spread open for such a long period of time. "It just feels weird to walk!" Not that she couldn't walk, and thankfully, as the pair were walking her legs were starting to feel less strange.
Thoronir paused and looked back at her. An amused smile played on his lips, but he tried to hide it. He blushed outwardly and squeezed her hand. "I think I have an inkling as to why. I heard women talk, when they gossip like old pea hens, some of them brag when they say sometimes they mate so hard, they can barely walk!"
Brynhalla nearly tripped over her own two feet again as her face went beat red.
"Well I know that!" she spat. That much was obvious! She shook her head. "But I guess now I know where that comes from..." And she idly rubbed at her muscles, just to give herself something to do as they walked- though she still felt incredibly awkward.
Thoronir looked at hands. "Did you want me to massage your thighs for you?" he asked, perfectly serious.
Brynhalla shot him a look.
"What!? NO!" ANd she pushed passed him. "Let's just get back to the river before we get caught!"
And his seed stained her clothes!
It had been a perfectly innocent question in his mind. But they came upon the river soon enough and he stepped hesitanty into the water before dunking himself into the icy water.
Brynhalla wasn't about to get herself all soaking wet, and after depositing her skirts aside, she sat down in the more shallow ends of the water and began cleaning out between her legs, contemplating how she even came to this part of her life. She had always wanted to know what mating was like- and now that she was actively doing it.. she wasn't sure how to feel- except flushed, and quietly she continued to clean herself.
Thoronir didn't care about not wetting his clothes seeing as how they'd dry on the way anyway. He kept his back turned to Brynhalla since he knew she'd want her privacy, despite having seen her completely naked already.
After a few moments, she curiously peered over her shoulder at Thoronir- and after a while of letting the thoughts roll around inside of her head, she found herself asking, "So... I... is it really official? I mean like... us sorta of... you know.. being mates?"
"Huh?" Thoronir asked tentatively, unsure if he heard her right. "Mates? Like...like lovers?"
"I.. I dunno. Yeah, I guess. I mean theyre kind of the same thing, right?"
"Yes, they are the same thing," he murmured with a ripening blush. His lips turned into a smile. "Then...yes. I guess we are."
Thoronir wasn't the only one who went completely red. And for the life of her, all Brynhalla could reply was, "Okay."
At her expression, Thoronir frowned a little, mistaking it for something else. "Oh...did you...intend to be mates with another boy...from the village?" he asked sheepishly.
At such a suggestion or idea, Brynhalla didn't know what to say. For once n her life, her normal confidence was over shadowed by such an uncertain thing. They were both trekking into unknown territory, and while it was exciting to learn and discover all of this, she was also scared for it as well. So when he brought up any inclination of doubt, of her affections elsewhere- well..
perhaps if he had asked a few weeks ago it would have been true-
and even she was uncertain how it had changed.
But it didn't mean the effect did not sting. And at such a remark, her eyes suddenly teared up as her hands clenched into fists. And she punched him- hard. And found herself staring at him with wide eyes before- dashing off into the forests, saying nothing at all as to why that even happened.
The punch, frankly was jarring, but Thoronir was staggering only a few seconds before he noticed Brynhalla had left her clothing beside the bank of the river. He wiped his cheek and grabbed them up, walking back to the village. She'd find her own way, eventually.
It wasn't until it was the middle of the night would Thoronir feel a gentle pinch on his arm beneath his blanket- and if he were to awaken, he might notice a Brynhalla sized shaped beneath his covers before she hissed softly at him, "Thoronir... wake up. I need my skirts back." Because whenshe arrived home without them well....
Let's just say it was a little more than embarrassing- and she could not sleep that night for the life of her.
Thoronir jumped at the presence of another body, a particularly warm very naked body next to him. "Brynhalla!" he nearly cried out but caught himself just in time. "Oh...well, you just ran off without them," he hissed and moved through his blankets toward the rear of the tend, moving his things around and producung her skirts. "There."
Brynhalla pinched his arm and wriggled beneath his blankets to get dressed.
"Why didn't you bring them back to my tent?" she hissed.
"Why did you run? Didn't it feel a little cold to you?" he snickered and laid back down on his bedroll. "Quit your wriggling! You're letting the warm out."
Brynhalla pinched him again - this time more aggressively, and aiming to leave a mark.
"I hate you Thoronir!" she told him angrily. "You're a cruel boy and I wish we never mated!"
"Ow! Quit it!" he muttered and reached for her nonetheless. "Don't say that Bryn. I don't have any regrets, whatever you might feel about it. I enjoyed mating with you... I just thought...well, I was just practice. I wouldn't blame you if I was. I mean...there are other, better boys in the village."
"What?" Brynhalla had been nearly in tears. "What do you mean 'practice'?" Did men and women just go around trying this thing out?
"Oh...I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings," he murmured. "It's just that most others don't care about my own feelings, so I usually assume they just do whatever they want without me in mind." He shrugged. "But some people do... I thought you just wanted to mate just to see what it was like."
Brynhalla only stared at him, and stared and stared.
"Well didn't you want to mate for that reason with me, too?"
She was curious, yeah- but that was only part of it. Part of her did want to be official mates with him. But not when he was treating her like this! Practicing? Was that all? Angry tears shown through, but she ignored them. Maybe they'd go away.
"Well, they'll be no more practicing if that's how you feel!" And she turned promptly away from him to leave.
Thoronir just blinked at her. But it was too late and she was already on her way out, leaving him no window to answer. "Goodnight then...Dumbhalla."
For the next several days, Brynhalla purposely ignored him. She was not about to let that boy get the better of her. Practice! Ha! She's how him! And she'd show everybody! She didn't need him and his mating practices to get by... even if she... at night, had to sate herself while thinking about him and what they'd done. Though she tried to imagine it with other boys, her fantasies somehow had always turned back to him.
So one frustrated night, she went to the practice grounds to release the pent up frustrations Thoronir had caused her, not realizing she was making more noise than intended. In truth, she just wanted to practice in peace!
"Need a practice dummy?" Thoronir asked from behind her, holding a beat-up staff in his own hands.
Brynhalla whirled around, breathing heavily and pointing her wooden practice weapon at him as she growled.
"Thoronir! WHat are you doing here?"
"I came here to train," Thoronir smirked at her, wiggling the stick. "I'm sure you're still mad enough, you could beat me with a stick. Well, here's your chance."
She narrowed her gaze and gave a chuff.
"Of course I am!" And without warning, she jabbed the thing at his gut.
Thank the Goddess he'd come to expect that kind of low blow from her and he'd in a way come to prepare for it. In the few days they'd been apart, Thoronir had taken to small, but effective feats of exercise and while his frame remained slight and thin, he was developing thin but wiry muscles along his abdomen and he felt the blow at least a little less then he otherwise would have. Thoronir swung the stick around smacked her on the ass with it.
Not expecting him to so readily fight back, let alone get a hit onto her ass, it set her off balance and she toppled forward onto him with a yelp.
When she fell into him, Thoronir's arms wrapped around her and he grined knowingly. His lips were close enough to kiss her, but he refrained from doing so and instead tickled his nose against hers and released her from him. He laughed and danced backwards, circling around her.
Thoronir's surprise nose cuddling took her by surprise as she gasped and turned red faced. But his sudden laugh brought her back to the moment, and blindly she continued to swing at him- her form all wrong and her timing, completely off.
Thoronir leapt backwards, just barely out of reach of her grasp and he swung his staff, playfully tapping her stick with his. "Come on? You call that training?" he asked incredulously.
Brynhalla gave an angered cry.
"It's not training!" she roared. "This is for real! And I'm challenging you to a real fight!" And with a blind quickness, she aimed a cracking hit towards his head.
Thoronir blinked and the crack rang out against his skull. He staggered backwards and held his bleeding forehead. "Ow!"
His painful cry was drowned out when she moved to ram the end of her practice weapon into his gut painfully. She was pissed and he was going to pay!
The pain was evident in his expression and he only cried out a little then. He still had his staff in hand and he wacked Bryn on her side as hard as he could.
She was surprised by his attack, and the whack was painful, and it stung- and she wasted no time in trying to smack him hard back- right on the thigh.
Thoronir howled and used his arms to scramble backwards. He ran into a straw dummy and pulled himself to his feet. "What's the matter with you!?" he asked, now thrown back defensively.
"YOU are what's the matter!" she barked, and moved in attempts to whack him hard with her practice sword again. "I told you this was a real fight! And I meant it!"
"But why?" he asked, staggering backwards and giving ground once more. But the second the pieces of wood clacked together, the notion clicked with him. What he'd said, what he questioned her about. Thoronir spun the stick, and sidestepped her next blow, wacking her again in the ass.
But this time when Brynhalla was taken off guard by the stick to her ass, she whirled her weapon around again and aimed to strike out at his legs in a powerful, low swipe.
Thoronir grit his teeth at the swipe against his legs and he fell where the blow that knocked his foot out from under him. He had a longer reach than she did with his staff and as he fell, he swung the stick out blindly at her legs.
It was a direct and unsuspected hit,a nd Brynhalla went down- right ontop of him, and when she landed painfully upon him, he'd be able to see the whites of her eyes and teeth as she glared at him- and he'd also be able to see the tears.
It was then that Thoronir paused any further attack on her when he caught her eyes. His expression was somber and he frowned deeply. "Don't cry Bynhalla... I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by it..."
At his words, she began to choke on her sobs as she pushed herself away from him, abandoning her weapon as she ran.
Nope not this time, not this way and Thoronir had had a first hand look at the pain evident in her eyes. The second she was off the ground so was he, bolting after her and grabbing her by the arm. "Brynhalla wait!" he called after her. "Wait! Don't run."
Finding herself caught within his grasp, she gave a yelp and tried to pull free.
"Thoronir, let go of me!"
Thoronir did not oblige her and only when she wriggled enough did he feel his grip slip and he let it remain that way. "Fine. If that's how you want it."
When Thoronir finally released her, she had been giving one final jerk in attempts to release herself as well, and found herself caught off guard as she stumbled onto the ground. Miserable and still crying, she choked on her words.
"Of course that's how I want it! Leave me alone! I never want to see you again!"
He was so mean and cruel! How could she had ever thought of him so differently? HOw could the entire village be so deceived!? Though as much as she wanted to run from him now, she couldn't shake the weight of her tears away, nor the painful pang that shot up her leg from when she twisted it whens he fell. So she remained there, pathetic and crying.
"Okay I'll do what you want," Thoronir said with a solemn shrug. "What do you care anyway? You're too stubborn for your own good. So you'll just sit there and cry forever until you die." Thoronir sighed and sat down beside her. "I said I was sorry Bryn, waht more do you want from me? I didn't mean I only wanted to mate with you for practice, I thought I was just practice. I didn't think you cared...I mean you always bullied me and made me feel bad until we started this thing... I'm sorry. I still want to be mates...I always did, I just didn't think I was good enough for you."
Brynhalla was a wreck emotionally. She felt so pathetic and vulnerable to be simply crying in front of this boy of all people. But at his words, she only sobbed more.
"You mock me!" she siad, gritting her teeth as tears streamed down her face. "You mock me now like you mocked me before! Why would I do all of those things if I hated you? A girl doens't just.. just.. give herself to some.. some boy unless she wants to, Thoronir!" That much, at least, her mother made clear to her when trying to explain it all. And she made it seem so sacred and wonderful...
And it was. And now she knew not what to think of it. She was still so confused and so hurt.
"And I know I bully you, but I can't believe you'd think... think that of me!" But the more she thought of it, was she awful to him, even now? And the very idea made her start crying again.
"I know...I realize that now. And I'm sorry Bryn," Thoronir said and turned toward her. "I didn't mean anything by it. I realize it was something special...and it still is. I wouldn't ever think of you as just some girl that wants to give it away for no particular reason. Please stop crying. Please forgive me..."
"But I can't stop crying!" She sobbed. "I feel so stupid!"
Thoronir instinctively put his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. He rubbed his hands along her back and buried his face into her hair.
Brynhalla sobbed as he held her, sniffling as tears soaked his skin. She found herself clinging back to him, despite feeling so embarrassed, and muttered against his exposed skin, "I'm sorry, Thoronir. I never realized I was taking advantage of you- bullying you I mean." So it made sense why he might not take her so seriously.. but now she had to wonder if he had obliged her for the same reason, and that fact alone made her feel awful. No wonder he was upset when he brought it up- but at least he also realized why she was just as well.
He was prepared to put it behind him even as he held her. "It's all right now. Shush," he murmured and held her all that much tighter to him. "It's behind us now. I'm sorry I had such little faith in you. I know better now... And maybe you do too. It's okay."
His comforting did help, but her sense of doubt could not be so easily quelled. She was too young and unsure of herself, despite the confidence she always swung around in public and was known for. But this? Well this was different, so very different, and she hadn't been held by anyone like this for a good long while- She always feared such embraces made her feel vulnerable. But she supposed it was too late for that.
After a moment when her tears had calmed, she finally lifted her gaze to Thoronir, but before she could even speak a word, an arrow flew over their heads, and a group of men sprang from the bushes and began to charge towards the village.
Brynhalla's heart leaped into her throat.
"The Dujhari!"
The arrow made Thoronir nearly jump out of his skin and his arms instinctively tightened around Brynhalla when the men emerged from their hiding places. He threw his body over hers as more men emerged and a sudden war horn was blown on the other side of the village. The pounding of hooves of horsemen quickly coming in from the northern point of entry. Thoronir quickly stood as he heard cries emerge from tents and the voices of men rallying their forces.
"BRYN! WE'VE GOT TO HELP PROTECT THE VILLAGE!" Thoronir heard himself bellow. But his face wasn't twisted in it's usual fear, and his eye displayed a small confidence, despite the terror rising around them. He pulled Brynhalla to her feet and dragged her from the training grounds.
This felt far too surreal, and as she was dragged along, the only question she found herself asking was, "How?" They had no weapons, except the wooden fake ones. How were they meant to fight men with real weapons using those?
Thoronir shook himself and his head. "I don't know," he admitted. "We'll have to look into Vuldur's tent! He'll have some weapons! Spears! Swords!"
"Vuldur? But his tent's so.far away!"
Thoronir shook her. "Do you have a better idea?"
"No, but!" Brynhalla snapped her lips closed. "Do you think we'd make it in time?" Because right before them their entire village was awakening into chaos.
"We have to try," Thoronir said with a resolute nod as the horse men were started to trample through tents and others were being run down as they roused from their cots. "Let's move!" He dragged her along back around the outskirts of the village, hoping to get to Vuldur's tent on the other side without being noticed.
Screams and flames erupted all around them, but it seemed the attack wasn't with the full numbers the two had spotted earlier.
"Thoronir!" she hissed, grabbing onto his arm before the pair of them entered into Vuldur's tent. "Where id the other tribesmen go?"
"I don't know, but we can't worry about that right now. Get Vuldur's warhorn, blow on it! Like your life depends on it," Thoronir grabbed a spear and a boomerang and a larger sword that seemed too big even for him. "Here," he said, throwing her a sword of her own. "You know how to use that better than I could."
Brynhalla took the horn and sword and peered into Thoronir's eyes, before nodding and takign the horn to her lips. Blowing into it, the horn emitted a sound like the howl of a wolf, and carried through the entire camp and brought to life the rest of the warriors, who were ready for battle in seconds. Continuing to blow intot he hrn a second time, she kept the sword frmly in her grasp and dashed off to follow behind Thoronir's lead.
It was a shame, however, that Thoronir had no idea what he was doing or where he was going. A Duhjari spotted the pair however and turned his horse upon them, charging in their direction. Thoronir turned around and turned his spear upward against the ground just as the horse was nearly on them and the point pierced through the flesh of the beast and into his heart, sending the animal reeling backwards and falling over the side, knocking the rider off with a devastating fall.
Brynhalla was stunned by such an action, her lips gaping as she scrambled to make sense of the moment. But when the tribesman tried to stand, Brynhalla let out a noise and hurled her sword at him. It came with little resistance, as the man was unarmed, and his arms were cut and blood splattered as she had cut deep. The man gurgled out a cry, and though Brynhalla froze in fear for that moment, seeing him reach for his weapon made her react again-a nd this time, her next two slashes silenced the man into death.
Thoronir didn't let himself linger on the shock of the moment and pulled Brynhalla along with him toward the rear of the village. Men were already roused and hurrying to their defenses, and Thoronir was at a loss at which direction to take. "We're being quickly surrounded...what do we do Bryn!?" he breathed.
"I.. I don't know. But we can't stay here! Come on!"A nd she grabbed onto his hand and rushed off, pulling THoronir along with her as they ran along the outskirts of the village.
"Get them, don't let them escape!" someone called out on a horse and two more horseman were bearing down on Thoronir and Brynhalla even as they ran. They moved out beside a tent and just when the horseman seemed as if they were going to run them down, five men emerged from the that tent with massive spears that caused the horses to pause suddenly in their charge, sending the men vaulting from their saddles.
Thoronir stood back for a moment as the men threw themselves on the two flung horsemen and savagely pierced them with those spears before looking up at the horses. "The horses, let's get up on them!" he hissed and ran for one of them. He didn't have much experience in riding, but most young men were taught to be somewhat competent on horseback, even mildly so.
Brynhalla nodded, and scrambled to grab the reigns of the one horse before launching herself into it's saddle Then, turning to Thoronir she gasped when she noted a lone attacker was coming at him from behind.
"THORONIR! LOOK OUT!!"
Thoronir turned around in the saddle and held the heavy broad sword with one hand just as the attack came charging in from the side. The horse instinctively moved out of the way and his left hand clutched onto the mane of the animal, while the motion sent his arm vaulting outward and with all the strength he could muster he detached the man's head from his shoulders in a fatal swipe.
Brynhalla stared in shock, and it was enough time to distract her from the sudden on slaught of arrows sailing their way. Though most sunk into the grasses, one hit her directly on the shoulder as she let out a yelp of pain. Fighting the urge to panic, she fought to control her horse that was just about ready to bolt.
"Come on, Thoronir! Before they skewer us!" Or behead them, just like Thoronir did to that man. WIht a quick kick, she coaxed the horse forward and it bolted through the village with unmatched speed.
Thoronir did all he could not to scream watching Brynhalla get hit with that arrow, though he himself remained largely unscathed when suddenly she bolted and he darted after her. Wherever they went, others that were clearly not of their tribe tried to pull them from the horses, but Thoronir swung that heavy blade outward and took a few with him as they went, leaving a trail of ripped flesh and blood.
As they tore through the village, Brynhalla took sight of all the carnage, then noted a familiar face.
"MOM!" But that was all it took to have Varessia become distracted long enough for a man to hack a heavy slash into her arm. Gasping, Brynhalla forced her horse forward. "MOM!" ANd cutting into the men attacking her, she helped her mother down the criminal before leaping off her horse.
"Mom- do you know what's going on?"
"Yes, the Black Sun tribe is attacking.. we knew this might happen... but we never considered it'd be so soon," she said, trembling as she clutched onto her wound.
Thoronir threw himself from the horse's back and the animal bolted away in the chaos of cries and bloodshed. He ran to Varessia and turned to her arm. "I can patch that, " he said quickly. "Where is my father?"
"I-I don't know. I don't even know where Fahnill has gone. My thoughts were to rally the other men," Varessia breathed and winced once Thoronir had gone about to bind the wound with a piece of cloth from his waist pouch.
While Thoronir acted quickly in patching herself up, she gasped when she realized...
"Brynhalla! You're injured!" And to the arrow in her shoulder her eyes went and she gestured for her to come forward. "Come here, let me help you remove that. We can't let it keep in. It'll infect."
And she moved to grab the shaft, then snapped the arrow in two before tossing the piece aside then looked her daughter clean in the eyes.
"Now this is going to hurt. Just count to three with me. One.."
"Two.."
"Three.." And the arrow was yanked out in one motion, and Brynhalla's cries echoed into the chaos of the night.
Thank the goddess for those other screams that just about disguised Brynhalla's own and Thoronir watched with wide horrified eyes as he saw blood streaming from her arm. He acted quickly and pulled some dirt up into his hands, spitting into it until it turned muddy and moved to clog the wound.
Tears were streaming down her face as she choked on sobs.
"By Athra's name, it hurts!"
"I know, Bryn, I know," her mother siad, taking her into her arms before peering over at THoronir. "We've got to get you two to a safe place. But the fighting's just about everywhere."
"No," Thoronir said flatly, finding a strange time to find his courage, he knew, but his eyes were hard as flint rock. "I want to stay and fight, and protect the village. Brynhalla does too. We can help. Just let us."
Varessia peered over at Thoronir.
"You wish to fight?"
And despite her tears, Brynhalla sniffled them away and forced herself to her feet.
"Yes, this is our home. We can't just hang back and do nothing."
She saw the seriousness in her daughter's expression as she frowned.
"Your father had some spare weapons in his trunk. You could look there for some supplies. A dagger, another bow, some arrows..."
Thoronir was so certain Variessa would say no, that it was too dangerous and that they should be kept safe once more. He felt relieved when she relented however and he ushered Bryn out toward the tent and found the supplies she indictated. "Put that leather cuirass on," Thoronir instructed.
"The leather cuirass? But it's my mom's. I couldn't possibly fit in it!" she said, eyes going wide. But the sounds of war raging on just outside the tent made her cringe. "Oh... okay." And she move to slip it on, fumbling with the clasps. "You.. you should put on the other armor. Just in case." She told him, peering over her shoulder with an anxious frown.
The other armor was much more difficult to put on, but Thoronir managed the clasps well enough before grabbing his weapons and reaching for Brynhalla's hand. "Come, we have to help somehow," he said with a small gleam in his eye.
Brynhalla gave a nod, and with her sword in hand, she rushed off with Thornir out the back tent flap and into the fray. They had barely gotten two feet when a rogue warrior came out, shouting and throwing a spiked club at their head. With a gasp, she side stepped and slashed her sword against the man's body, then again as she watched him drop.
"Thoronir! Run! To the tree grove over there!" It was best to get out of the middle of this to assess what was going on, but as far as she could see- everywhere was chaos.
It was different when his own hand had come out and severed the head of the man that had first made the mistake of coming too close to him. That had come out as pure instinct, almost primal in the only matter of life and death, fight or flight. And all flight had left him in that moment. But this time, Thoronir was momentarily stunned when he saw Brynhalla lash out at the man that had come before them. He only had time to raise the heavy broad sword in hand before he was already down.
And when she directed him to run, he stood there dumbly for five seconds before bolting for the tree. "Bryn, come on!" he yelped out after her. There was space enough between clouds and pockets of fighting, men screaming, blood spraying out in waves and fountains, that if they could get to high ground, perhaps they might get a better view of what was going on.
Brynhalla rushed along, chancing a glance back only once to make sure Thoronir was behind her. Then, once they made it to the grove that sat upon a small hill, she paused a moment to catch her breath, eyes cleaving through the broad valley beneath them.
"Men on horses move to the south and are sweeping up eastward. But it seems most of these Duhjari have come from the west." AN her eyes tried to seek out if there was some source, but as far as she could see, there was no method to this madness, only blood.
Thoronir was horrified by the sight before him. He watched men drop like scorched flies after having strayed too close to a flame. "Gods! Brynhalla! What can we do? There are too many of them!"
"We have to do something!" Brynhalla shouted, despite the fear that shot through her like lightning and the way her heart was hammering nearly outside of her chest. "If we dont' stay and fight, we'll lose it all." Their families.. their lands... everything. Spotting a group of men nearing their little hiding spot, Brynhalla held a breath, waited for them to advance, before hissing between her lips.
"I'm going to take these men down."
And before Thoronir could stop her, the young girl rushed out from the woods and slashed at one of the men's back sides. He let out a yelp of pain and spun around, spear ready in his hand that he thrust out at Brynhalla's head. But the girl was young, quick and agile, and ducked the spear and swung her blade at the man's ankles, which elicited another shout of true pain.
"Brynhalla!" But it was too late. She was on the ground by the time the end of her name was called out. He watched her in shocked horror but somehow he knew he couldn't be worried about her, not for long at least. He needed to something, and he needed to do it now. Staying and fighting would only prolong their deaths. They needed something more and as he observed the horsemen trying to surround the village, he knew then he had to cut off their escape, to seal them in one area and bottleneck them.
Thoronir leapt out of the tree, shoving his fear aside and landing with a roll. Brynhalla would keep them busy for now. Few, if any, noticed him as he ran through skirmishes, metal clashing metal, men screaming in agony, the sound of hooves rushing all around them. "Kaal!" Thoronir cried out, noticing one of the hunters that had slain his foe before him. He rushed to him, helping him to his feet and letting him balance on his shoulder. "The oil! For the torch lighters? Where is it!?"
"In...In the Ira'Kur's tent. Why?" he grunted a little, finding strength to stand on his own.
"Is there enough to surround the village? We'll trap these bastards inside a closed space! We close them in!" Thoronir replied.
Kaal's eyes lit up as he nodded and he gestured to the fight. "But we can't carry it all, both of us. We'll need more men. C'mon!"
Brynhalla had enough skills to keep the men she was attacking distracted, but she had hoped she had a backing in Thoronir, so when he had not come, she realized her mistake, and quickly found herself out matched after only having outwitted but one man. Forced to retreat, she rushed off blindly, not certain where to go in all of this chaos and inwardly cursing Thoronir for abandoning her.
It was luck, insane luck. That was all Thoronir could possibly account for. And yet, never in all his life had he been prone to being lucky. But somehow they managed to collect several other hunters, pulling them from their dead enemies and routing them as they collected oil, surrounding the village and setting it ablaze. Horsemen dashed this way and that as the fire took hold, spreading faster than lightning. Some tried to leap over the flames, some managed to get caught on the other side and escape.
Then he head cries out from the other side of the fire, Thoronir turned about abruptly, watching as men attempted to surround... "Brynhalla!" he cried out and rushed after them. He knocked a stray horseman from his saddle and took the reins for himself, bolting after them and leaping over the fire.
With wild fire's looming in a circle around the encampment, those who remained fought fierceless, savagely, and Brynhalla soon found herself trapped. With men on all sides of her, she knew this was the end. Gripping her weapon tightly, she continued to stand her ground, waiting for the men to strike- waiting for the final blow. When a sudden wind gushed smoke in her direction, she used the minute distraction to slash out at a nearby tribesman. But her attack was met with the back of the man's weapon to her lip, and Brynhalla fell to her knees, tasting the coppery warmth of her own blood.
The horse screamed in his terror. The fire licked the bottom of his belly, but Thoronir would not let him burn, pause, or wait despite the animal's fear. The beaste bolted as the enemy closed in around Brynhalla and Thoronir slammed his heels into his side, holding out his broadsword. With a bloody song, the steel rang out a stinging tune as it cut through a man's head, disconnect it it from his shoulders. Several men parted, making way for the horse, one falling under it's sprint.
Thoronir resheathed the blade and as he came around toward Brynhalla, his arm shot out toward her and he hoped to the gods he had her in his grip.
He didn't have to hope or pray, for Brynhalla silently obliged, grabbing on desperately to that outstretched hand and using what strength she had to cling on, pull herself up and hold herself fiercely behind him.
"The whole village is in flames!" she exclaimed, breathlessly into his ear. "It is as if there is no escape!"
And she feared the worst, that it had been their enemy, trying to burn them all to ash. She had no idea the flames had started wiht the young, lithe boy who now rescued her and shared his horse.
Another man cried in agony, soon followed by the crunch of bone and flesh under poweful hooves as the horse bolted around once more and Thoronir unsheathed the broad sword at his side. The men that hounded Brynhalla paused only for a moment in fear before turning about and scattering.
The cries from the village turned into shouts. "Goddess." The words sliped from Thoronir as he watched the shadows fighting inside the flames. Steel still clashed, horses still shrieked, but there was something more to it as Thoronir observed them. Kaal and the others held the flames course before returning to the fighting and without the space to fall back, the enemy was routed, trapped within the confines of the fire. The shouts now were not of pain and death, but of victory.
Some horsemen attempted to brave the fire, some leaping over the flames, many falling into incineration by mounts that refused to jump, some got away still. But in all the fighting slowly began to cease and soon the air was filled with wafting smoke as the fire too was put out.
Brynhalla watched as the scorch earth scattered of men. She kept close to Thoronir in silence most unlike her. The moment was grave, sitting in the pit of her belly like a rock, and she simply remained seated in observation to the drying chaos with stilled tears in her eyes.
When he felt his stupor leave him, Thoronir turned to look at Brynhalla and his hand found it's way to the hand around his waist, holding it gently. "It's over, Bryn," he said softly. "We did it. We saved the village. We should check on your parents."
Brynhalla's lips parted at such a sound, her finger twitching beneath his grasp.
"Saved them?"
It was a dizzying concept, but the confusion was evident in her voice. Had they truly? And at what costs? The enemies were gone..
but how many were dead?
"Yes," he said, his tone grave. He nudged the horse into action and rode through the ashes, the horse trepidatious but otherwise moving. "Kaal!" he called out. "Where is Byrnhalla's mother?"
The older boy rubbed his brow, peering up at the pair. "I saw her mother by the healer's tent."
"Father..." Thoronir suddenly felt a ball form in his throat and he pushed the horse into action and ran off toward the tent. He climbed off, skidding to a halt and helped Brynhalla down.
Fearing the worst, Brynhalla dashed off towards the tent, ripping the door open and rushing inside. But she paused in midstride. So many people were sobbing, including her mother.
"Mom?" Her voice came out quietly as she took a step forward before her eyes went to the ground where her father lay before her and she froze stock still.
Thoronir followed behind Brynhalla, but ket a respectful distance when she paused. He too froze when he saw the sight of her father and a hand touched his lips. "Is...is there someway I can help?" he found himself asking.
The look her mother cast her said it all. And before Brynhalla knew what she was doing, she was tearing off into the forests, tears stinging her eyes.
Thoronir was torn. He stared at the lifeless body of Brynhalla's father and then to her mother and then to Brynhalla shortly before she tore off into the smoky night. He wanted to stay, to tend to her family, but he couldn't let her run off alone.
Thoronir ran out of the tent, seeing her off in the distance and nearly followed her when suddenly he heard the voice of his father. Thranneik waved his arms after him, running hard and heavily and suddenly the older man collided with the boy and held him tightly against his chest.
Tears stung his eyes as he squeezed Thoronir. "My son! I thought you were dead! Thoronir, we need you. The wounded are sprawled all over the village. I could use an extra hand."
"But..but father Brynhalla..."
His expression turned to ice. "Has something happened to the bird girl? Is she hurt?"
"Yes, and I have to tend to her," Thoronir said. "Her father...is in the tent."
Thoronir squeezed his father's arm before turning around and running after Brynhalla's direction.
This couldn't be happening. This couldn't be real. This had to be a horrible, terrible, cruel dream. Tears blurred her vision as she ran and stumbled through the darkness, and it was only when she tripped over the root of a tree did she catch herself and was forced to pause, and soon sobs became her. She dropped to her knees, finding no strength in the moment, and just continued to cry. But the sound of a horse traipsing past lifted her attention, and soon she was forcing herself off of the ground and trying to coax the beast to let her approach.
Those men would not get away with it. They would pay for taking her father's life.
The horse gave a quiet snigger, his skin trembled. He was still terrified in the aftermath of the battle and his rider had died. When the girl approached the horse chuffed and stepped away, unsure.
"Brynhalla!" Thoronir ran toward the pair and the horse spooked, running away from him.
"Brynhalla! Don't leave! Please," he called again.
Brynhalla whirled around to glare at Thoronir through tear filled eyes.
"You scared him off!" And she took a step back, her glare deepening. "And why not?! They killed my father! They've killed man others. They must pay!"
Thoronir softened his expression considerably and gently reached a hand out toward her, but did not move any closer than she backed away. "I'm...I'm sorry, Brynhalla! But, please don't do this. Revenge won't bring your father back. Please come back with me. You must be there for your mother... She wouldn't want you to do this."
"Yes she would!" she bit back, tears streaming from her eyes like liquid stars. "She'd want me to fight... fight until the end! To defend his honor!" Baring her teeth, she went on, growling, "You're a healer! You would't understand!" ANd she turned from him and ran off, running as hard as she could as her legs burned and her eyes were nearly blinding her with tears.
He couldn't let he go. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself if she went and got herself killed, which she inevitably would if she made it. He ran after her, moving quickly until he was beside her. "Brynhalla, please! She would not want a dead daughter! She would never forgive you for getting yourself killed and I..." He paused. "Please, if not for yourself, then for the people who hold you dear! Let us be there for your life...and you cannot live if you do this."
Brynhalla's emotions surged over the top, and turning to Thoronir she snapped, "I don't care! I have to do something! I won't be able to live with myself if I don't at least try!"
"I care!" he bellowed back, reaching for her arm and pulling her to him. He held her in a strong grip, one even he didn't know he was capable of. "I care, dammit and I'm not going to let you go out and get yourself killed!"
Thoronir's sudden embrace stunned her, not only in the strength of it, but at the words that accompanied it. And she found herself suddenly weak in his grip, her body trembling, before she began shaking, and trembling as she sobbed.
Thoronir knew then that he had been blessed that night, despite the loss his people had endured. His own father survived, though hers did not and he simply held her tightly to him, holding her in support of all she had lost.
"Why did this have to happen?" she said, choking out the words between sobs. "It's not fair! It isn't!"
Thoronir said nothing still. He still held her, arms wound around her small back. Tears stung his eyes as he too began to cry, but only for slightly different reasons than she. He feared she would go through with it, kick him away and come back a lifeless corpse. And that thought made him cling to her all the more.
"Thoronir," her voice croaked. "Thoronir, let go! You're hurting me!" For his grip was like a vice, and through her sobs, it was hard enough to breath.
He gave her no obedience and when she demanded to be let go, he turned his face to her and kissed her suddenly,hotly and possessively.
Brynhalla tensed and squealed and breathed hotly through her nose when they kissed, and writhed in his grasp, which was surprisingly strong. But after a moment, she melted into the kiss, kissing him back until she had to pull away to cry again.
Don't cry," he muttered and kissed her cheeks, wet with tears. "Please." He kissed along her mouth, but not quite on it. "Brynhalla ..."
She continued to cry, even more so now as she peered into his eyes.
"But I don't know what to do. Gods... Thoronir," she whimpered. "My father. He's gone. He's gone and never coming back!"
And so many others had fallen...
How could this have happened!?
How could the Goddess be so cruel?
"So is my mother and a lot of others before this moment and many more after," Thoronir said. "We must mourn them as proper but we can't bring them back."
It was here she tried to pull away from him, but after a futile moment, she just collapsed against him and sobbed into his shoulder.
"I know it's hard," he said, hugging her tighter,not tight enough to hurt, but strong all the same. He reached a hand up to wipe her tears away, thumbing them across her cheeks, leaving wet marks though the smoke that coated her skin.
"How can we even go on now? Everything's been destroyed!" she went on, shaking her head. "Nothing will be the same." And inside, the same phrase repeated itself as she shivered and still trembled with tears.
"Then we will rebuild," he said with a nod. "We will be stronger for it. We will grow up and your mother will want you to be strong and carry on her blood. Your father will live on with you."
She went silent, still clinging to her until her tears began to lesson. She didn't know what to say or what to do anymore. She felt so hollow, and everything seemed to hurt, but most of all, the pain was in her heart.
Thoronir struggled to let her go until he was certain she wouldn't do anything rash and he leaned down to pluck her from the ground, cradling her body like a small child. He was surprised at his own endurance, but he did not let his discomfort show as he carried her back to camp.
When Thoronir returned with Brynhalla in arms, her mother immediately rushed to him.
"Oh, Brynhalla! Brynhall! You had me worried sick!" she cried, her eyes wet with tears as Brynhalla found herself awkwardly standing before her grief stricken mother. And before she knew what was going on, her mother had her in her arms and was embracing her tightly- and soon the pair of them were both in tears as Bryn buried her face into her mother's neck.
"Please don't scare me like that again. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you too."
Thoronir let her go and watched them in dutiful silence as the mother and daughter embraced. A small smile touched his lips and he was warmed by the moment. But his place was not here. He quietly stepped away and moved toward the camp where the wounded and dying needed his aid. He was still the healer's son.
In the weeks to come, the village had healed and sent out many scouts to ensure the attackers would not come back anytime soon. But as things were on the mend, Thoronir's heroics were not left unrewarded, for once the village was ready enough, another hunt was being prepared for-
And Thoronir was asked to come along to train...
and to hunt.
When Brnyhalla found out about this, it was on the day the huntsmen were leaving. And she could not believe Thorornir never told her about this! So whens he finally found him, she walked straight up to him and slammed a fist into his face.
"When were you going to tell me?!"
His stomach was turning over and over on itself, wrapping up in knots, he was so nervous. To think, he'd been chosen! Of all people, he! The healer's son! He was excited and terrified of all things and was certain it was all some sort of ploy to humiliate him, or at the very least to simply have a healer in their midst when needed.
But when his father confirmed the hunters wished to take him for training, that the other hunters had vouched for his heroism during the attack, Thoronir was at a complete loss for words. He was absolutely ecstatic and yet...
"OUCH!" he howled, staggering backwards and holding his cheek. "Brynhalla! Why must you hit me?" He kept his distance in case she did it again and he stared at her with wide eyes. "I'm sorry! I guess because I knew you'd react just like this!"
"React like what?!" she spat, keeping her hand in a threatening position as she glared daggers at him.
"Like how you're acting now!" Thoronir said, keeping at least three feet of distance between them. "Why are you so upset anyway!?"
Brynhalla was taken aback when she was put on the spot and promptly growled.
"Because!" she spat, growling some more. "You shouldn't lie to me!"
Of course..s he was so upset to realize he hadn't even lied, but that was not the point!
"Well if you calm down, maybe I can explain," Thoronir said with a frown. He put his guard down only slightly. "I-I didn't tell you because I could hardly believe it myself. This is one of the most exciting things to happen to me since." Well, there was no need to mention THAT. "I guess I just didn't want you to know until I knew for sure. And now I guess you know. I'm sorry."
Brynhalla blinked before growing angry again.
"Is that all you have to say!?" she shouted, and moved to advance on him again.
"And you're not sorry! If you were sorry you wouldn't have lied to be to begin with, Thoronir! Do you even know what you've got yourself into!?"
"Yeah, well, I didn't lie and you know it. I just didn't tell you. So quit being mad and just be happy for me, even if you're faking it," Thoronir growled back. "I'm leaving tomorrow morning anyway. And I won't be back for months."
Brynhalla growled and went to strike him, but held back, tears now threatening in her eyes when he openly stated how long he'd be gone.
"You're horrible, Thoronir! I'm never talking to you again for keeping this from me!" And with a stamp of her foot, she turned to storm away from him.
How could he leave her now!? After all they had been through...
Didn't he care what SHE thought!?
Thoronir peered back at her with a deepset frown but watched her storm off in her irritation. He feared if he followed he'd get the brunt of her anger once more.
For the rest of the day she ignored him. Who did he think he was to keep such a secret from her? Brynhalla would die to go on such a hunt, but it was the healer's son they had chosen. So for most of the day she was inconsolable and it wasn't until later that night did she even dare step out of her family's tent. She had to make sure Thoronir was good and asleep. She didn't want to see him. She never wanted to see him ever again as far as she was concerned! But why was it, that as she rushed off to the training field, in the dark of night, did tears come to her eyes?
He was asleep. Somehow, despite his anxiety, Thoronir slept a full night and woke refreshed in the morning. His mind however, was not so refreshed and he had much on it. He tried not to let it bother him, however, as he gathered his pack the next morning and he hugged his father tightly. "I don't want to go," he said, bruying his face against his chest.
"Yes you do," Thraneik laughed and patted his son's head.
"Okay. But I'm really nervous. What if the other hunters don't like me?"
"They didn't like you before. They wouldn't have offered to train you if they didn't think you worthy." Thranneik pushed Thoronir off and the boy dragged his feet as he walked toward the awaiting hunters.
It was nearly morning by the time she finally found rest. And it was the sound of the horn calling after the departing hunters that had her awaken suddenly with a gasp. Throwing off her blankets, she rushed outside and into the center of the village, bare feet smacking the ground and heart beating nearly out of her throat. She hoped she didn't miss her chance to say goodbye. She prayed to the spirits she hadn't. As much as she was angry at him, she would hate herself if she didn't get at least that.
Thoronir was among the last ones as the hunters were filing out of the village. He had hoped he could see Bynhalla one last time, despite her anger. But she was a stubborn one. So he turned with a sigh before she came running outside, and he had not yet seen her.
When she arrived on the scene, the tribesmen were already making their way out of the village. There were so many going, for this hunt was very important to the Vahltrysse that it was hard for her to make out if Thoronir had left or was still among the last few. But then she saw him- that scraggily, lithe body of his with gangily limbs and large hands. She could never forget that body, he stuck out like a sore thumb. But he was too far away, and she- nearly out of breath, so whens he nearly ran over an elder woman carrying bread, she did the only thing she could think of-
She grabbed a bread roll and hurled it at Thoronir's head.
Thoronir jumped when the bread roll smacked him in the head. Turning around, he scowled until he saw Brynhalla. Then suddenly he smiled and waved his hand at her, stopping amidst the moving crowd.
Brynhalla wanted to run to him, to punch him, or to hug him, or perhaps both. But there was a sudden pinch to her ear as the old woman Zi'alga began to verbally chew Brynhalla out for wasting precious bread!
Thoronir smiled at the exchange and took a second to run back, with the soiled but otherwise still edible piece of bread. "Please, Zi'alga," he said, handing it off. "She didn't mean anything by it."
"Yes I did!" Brynhalla spat back, despite her ear being pinched. "Give me another bread roll and I'll do it again!"
Thoronir laughed and patted the old woman into surrender before she let go of Brynhalla's ear. "You could've just called my name. I would've come back to say goodbye," Thoronir said with a frown.
Brynhalla glared at him.
"Who said I wanted a goodbye?"
Thoronir blinked at her. "Then...you just wanted to glare at me angrily?"
Brynhalla was taken back when he said it so bluntly, and she fumbled in her accusing gaze.
"N-no! I wanted to throw many bread rolls at your head and cuss you out!" she seethed.
Thoronir's expression dropped and he frowned. "I don't have time for this. The hunters are leaving. I have to go."
Brynhalla's expression also dropped, fear gripping her chest as she stood there, completely at a loss of what to do. And when she heard the hunter's call for them- nothing could stop her from crossing the short distance between them as she kissed him- and kissed him with need.
His lips burned with her fire and he kissed her back, briefly. His lips broke away with a smack and he held her arm tightly. He waited a moment before pulling away, following the last of the hunters.
Brynhalla's heart soared, then fluttered as it began to squeeze with an anxious sort of pain as she watched him leave, but just as she got barely a few yards away she called after him.
"Thoronir, wait!"
Thoronir couldn't wait, not for long. So he kept walking, but he turned around, walking backwards as he did so. "What do you want now?" he said.
She threw a bread roll, this time to his hands.
"Take one for the road. I might get my ear pinched for it, but at least it'll help you not starve!"
That lanky boy needed some meat on his bones,a d the more she thought of it, she smirked at the idea of him ever having muscles.
Yeah, she could never imagine that. It was just too weird. To her- he'd always be the skinny little healer's boy-
and the boy who had somehow stolen her heart.
Thoronir smirked at the breadroll as it landed it in hands. He gripped it gently and laughed as the old woman that gripped her ear earlier, gave renewed assault. And with that he vanished into the crowd.
It would not be until months later that he returned. It was a long hunt, many moons of hard and arduous training, tempering his body into the strong young man he had become. He had not yet grown a full beard, but the stubble was apparent and when at last he saw the village in the distance, Thoronir's heart leapt up into his throat. He never thought he'd see home again.
Many moons had past and the village went on as usual. A few new babes were born in the hunter's absence, and though Bryn had not been chosen to go- she knew her place, but kept to her training, and spoke to her father in the late hours of the night. Last night was no different, as she prayed to the Goddess, and to the stars, and found herself falling to sleep, collapsed in a heat of sweat. She had almost forgotten the hunters were to return the next day, that was, until she awoken with a start, realizing the date and rushed off to the stream.
She scrubbed herself down with the lavender soap she had made in order to keep herself smelling fresh,a nd keep the sticky sweat off of herself, but as she was finishing her bath, she heard the wailing call of the hunting party on their return.
"Oh, shit!"
She dressed quickly, not bothering to dry off as her moist body pressed into her tight clothing, making it nearly translucent as it hugged her newly forming curves and growing breasts,t he nipples of which seemed to threatenly poke out as if to cut through the fabric she wore across them.
And her hair was much longer, with long pink bangs framing her face, and her eyes, which had been golden once before, seemed to shine more silver and blue now as she ran to the growing crowd in the center of the town and began to pick through the hunter's, trying to pick out the scrawny form of her friend so she could poke and prod him with questions on how his first hunt had gone-
and to let him know while they were gone- she had caught a wild boar and killed it on her own. Maybe she'd be invited on the next hunting party, but for now, her heart beat rapidly in anticipation to find him again- but as she looked, he was no where to be seen.
She pushed her way through, growing impatient as she always was, until one man hit her good with his shoulder as Brynhalla let out a yelp and hissed, "Hey, watch it!" Though she knew not the young man she snapped out as she looked past him and the others, still looking for the healer's son.
Thoronir paused in front of her as she had bumped into the man and he smiled. "You should say your sorry when you bump into people. You still haven't changed Brynhalla," he said with a smirk, after tapping her gently on the shoulder.
"Thoronir?" her expression brightened as she recognized the speak, but not the tone in his voice- but he just sounded older, she supposed-
that was until she turned around to look at the young man who poked her-
and all she could do was gape.
"I know the beard is a bit of a surprise," he said, scratching the light, patchy fuzz on his face. "I'm not sure I like it all that much either. But look at you! You're so beautiful!" Thoronir's arms came around her suddenly and pulled her into a hug.
Beard? Muscles and he was calling her beautiful? Brynhalla just about died as her face burned, but then something most unusual happened as his arms came around her suddenly in a hug, and the hunter-want-to-be tensed up like a rock.
Then shoved the young man away.
"No way!" she said, staring at him with wide eyes. "There's no way..... " and as she took a back, her face scrunched up before she began to see the once scrawny boy behind all the brawn. Raising a single brow, she then looked up into his face. "Thoronir? Is that really you?"
Or was someone playing a terrible joke on her? If so, she'd knock their teeth out! D<
Thoronir made a face at her disbelief. "Yeah. It's me, Thoronir. Is something wrong? I'm pretty sure I look the same," he said, feeling along his face.
"Wha- you... uh.... how... it..." Brynhalla was at a loss of words, still gaping before she forced her lips shut and shook her head.
"Thoronir! You.. you... you've changed!"
"I-I did? I guess I got a little bigger," he said with a sheepish grin. "I...I take it you don't like the change?"
Through her less-obvious gaping, a smile slipped across her face before she somehow managed to tuck it away. She shook her head furiously.
"N-no, it's just... just.... by the Goddess, Thoronir, look at those MUSCLES!" and just about everyone heard that exclaim as they peered over at the peer, and some of the elders simply chuckled.
"What did they do to you? Make you haul the horses around by yourself? Geeze..." and she reached out to touch his arm, and found herself gasping. "Your arms are like the trunks of trees!"
Thoronir blushed, his face beet red even in the intense sunlight. "Brynhalla!" he gasped and stepped back from her. "I'm not that bad. The other hunters are still much bigger than me. I just ploughed the rough patches we set up for vegetables on the hunt. I guess...I lifted rocks too? I don't really remember. "
"Wait.. bit didn't you get a chance to hunt? "
Thoronir then smiled and smiled wide. "I did," he said. "I killed a mountain lion. With my bare hands."
Brynhalla's mouth dropped.
"You lie!" She said, giving him a shove. "Where's the pelt to prove it?"
When she shoved him, Thoronir didn't move very far backwards. But he gestured down to his kilt.
It was strange not to have Thoronir be moved by her, even if it was a half effort. But then her eyes went down to his groin-
ER KILT, as she stared, and stared.
"No, way. No way! Who actually killed it?" But she held her breath, heart beating rapidly-
Was it true Thoronir did all of that?
If that was true... he really did change, and though it was for the better (for him at least) she was finding herself becoming very, very confused.
Thoronir chuckled and shrugged. "Okay so maybe I didn't kill it myself. But I did make the killing blow and they gave me the prize pelt as a reward."
Brynhalla growled.
"Don't you ever lie to me again, Thoronir, or I'll knock one of your teeth out!" she threatened. "But even still..." And here,s he gave him a bit of a sheepish grin. "It must have been something to go on that hunt...."
"It was the best thing in the world," Thoronir said with a small thoughtful grin. "I wish you could've come with me."
At that, Brynhalla's expression fell away, as did her eyes from her friend.
"Yeah well.... maybe next time, right?"
Thoronir smiled softly and patted her arm. "Enough about me. Hey let's go by the river, like we used to and go fishing? And you can tell me all about what you've been up to."
Brynhalla took a step back.
"You just got back from hunting and you want to go fishing?"
But thinking back to what they used to do in, around and on the river...
Her cheeks flushed. She hadn't forgotten all of their sex- though now....
What about now? Things just seemed...
Different. She swallowed back a lump that threatened to form in her throat.
"I.. Ig uess we could go there and play catch up. But I never was that much of a fisher...." and she turned from him, hoping to keep her pink cheeks from his sight.
"Then we can just go swimming or something," Thoronir shrugged and led her off. "Race you there!"
Brynhalla stood there, a bit dumb founded.
"Wait, what?"
Then huffed and made a dash, "H-hey! Aren't you tired from the hunt?" she said, but she couldn't help but run off anyway. She was too prideful to want to let Thoronir win!
He was strong enough to run long distances and sprint for longer. Thoronir laughed, though, knowing it must've been killing Brynhalla that he was in front of her.
He presumed correctly, and she felt the anger burning through her veins.
"Thoronir!" she cried out, when he was getting too far ahead of her.
Within a few minutes the river was in sight. Thoronir had reached it first and he stood triumphantly on a rock overlooking the the water and he howled with laughter.
Though when Thoronir stopped- Brynhalla did not, and ran full force towards him.
"I'm going to make you eat that river water, Thoronir!" she threatened, barreling into him and hoping to knock him into the current.
Thoronir yelped when she tackled him and they both plummeted into the freezing river. He howled this time in shock and he flailed in the water, as he fought to get his legs under him.
She was the first to break through the water, tossing her hair back in a laugh as she slicked water droplets away from her eyes.
"Told ya you'd eat the river," she told him, and childishly stuck her tongue out at him. "And how is it that you beat me anyway? You must've been doing a lot of sprinting on that hunt to have gotten so fast."
And as she looked at him,s he admired how his clothing hugged to his form, exposing all his muscles in their full glory.
Damn.... to think what a few long passing moons did to the boy! And he was no longer a boy, but quite evidently a man!
Thoronir still coughed and sputtered, clinging to some roots along the bank until he had his feet under him. He shook his hair out of his face and laughed. "Yeah, well I see you still haven't changed," he quipped. "But you did get a lot prettier." And with that he smiled.
Brynhalla jutted out her chin.
"You're just saying that because now I have boobs."
"Oh, those did come in," he snickered, and only then did they flicker to her chest. "I hadn't noticed until you pointed that out to me. I mean you're face, silly. You grew a lot in the time I was gone."
Brynhalla kept her chin up.
"Ha! You expect me to think you would admire my face first? I mean, come on, they're pretty nice," she said, striking a pose that squished them together, giving her some hefty cleavage as she grinned,a nd grinned big.
"You should see how some of the boys in the village look at me now!"
Of course....
she never let any of their advances get anywhere, even if she had been tempted to kiss that one boy....
Thoronir smiled and felt his heart skip a beat at the sight of her breasts. Goddamn... His smile faded a bit at the mention of other boys and he made a face at her. "Yeah well, they're boys. What can you expect? I'm a man now."
Brynhalla blushed and found herself speechless at his claims.
"Ha! Wouldn't you like to think that!" she said, and gave a playful punch to his shoulder. "You'll always be the healer's boy to me!"
"I'm a man!" he growled, a bit indignantly. "I'm not that skinny child anymore. I'm taller. Even you gaped at how big my arms are!"
Brynhalla laughed.
"Yeah, you've definitely grown, but you still whine like the old Thoronir I know," she teased.
"Says the girl that pushed me into the RIVER!" Thoronir griped and he swam toward her and splashed her hard.
She laughed again, even through the splash.
"Yeah, I pushed you in because you deserved it! Don't make me get some bread rolls!"
Thoronir laughed and grabbed her under the water, pulling her down and then to him.
Brynhalla gasped and took in some water, and sputtered it out all over Thoronir.
"Th-Thoronir!" she exclaimed through a choked breath. "You trying to drown me!?"
But she paused when she realized how close they were- body to body, skin to skin. And the heat was rising in places other than just her cheeks.
Thoronir looked at her in silence, before a grin grew on his lips and his eyes narrowed. "Yes!" he laughed and swam away.
And that's when she gave a cry and leaped at his back.
"Thoronir! I'm going to show YOU who'll drown!"
But she was laughing anyhow as she clung onto his back.
Thoronir fell forward into the water as she clung to his back and he tried desperately to shake her off. "Hey! Hey!"
Brynhalla laughed and laughed, refusing to let go.
Thoronir moved toward the bank and reached up behind him, pulling on Brynhalla's dress and pulling her over his head, throwing her onto the bank. Or trying to at least.
She let out a yelp, and somehow halfof her dressed got hiked up as she lay there, with her back sinking into the mud of the bank.
[Yeah, somehow...I wonder if her writer had anything to do with it. XD]
Thoronir stuck his tongue out at her and grabbed clumpfuls of mud and slathered them all over her face.
Brynhalla barely fought him off with a yelp.
"Thoronir!" she screamed. "Come on! I just had a bath before this!"
"Well, now you're having a mud bath!" Thoronir laughed, focusing on spreading the mud over her lips and chin.
Brynhalla tried to fight him off.
"Oh yeah?" she said, grabbing one of his arms and breaking away to cuff his ear. "That makes TWO of us!" she said, and grabbed a handful of mud and smooshed it all over HIS face.
The mud got stuck in his beard and Thoronir sputtered, stepping backwards and spitting. "Hey! No fair!" he growled and threw fistfuls of mud at her.
"What do you mean, no fair?!" she shouted, then gave a yelp and pushed away. "Thoronir! You got it in my hair!"
Thoronir turned and tried to swim away but he was caught in the current and was pushed back against the bank. So instead he climbed up on it and relented his assault.
Instead of fighting the current,s he laughed and just let the water take her, sticking her tongue out at Thoronir as she appeared as carefree as a bird-
or perhaps, fish.
Thoronir stuck his tongue out at her and pushed his hair out of face. "Watch out for that log!"
But Brynhalla sought to ignore him. He was probably lying anyhow-
you know, until the log actually hit her, and then she was floudering, eating water, and cursing as she tried to spit it out while rubbing at her head.
Thoronir ran down the length of the bank after she hit her head and he knelt beside her. "Are you all right?" he shouted.
She smacked water towards him angrily.
"Thoronir! How could you not warn me?"
Even though he did..
This was still his fault!
"I just wanted to see if your warrior sense would tingle," he said, smirking at her and holding her head despite her angry rant.
She shook her head out of his hold as she glared at him.
"Don't touch me! I'm mad at you!"
"I don't care," Thoronir shrugged as he went about examining her head, looking for any kind of serious damage. "Whine, whine, complain, complain."
She tried to swat him away.
"I told you to stop!"
"No," he said simply, immune to her blow. "You've got a little bump is all. Some pressure should heal that up. You're lucky nothing worse happened."
"Nothing worse like what?" she went on, jutting out her chin as she huffed and glared at him.
"Like say, splitting your head open," Thoronir quipped. "Come on, let me see to your bump," He pulled at her, out of the water, and up onto the bank.
THough she was still glaring, she finally let Thoronir tend to her. Though she REFUSED to look at him.
He didn't pay much attention to her stubbornness. Bryn would always be Bryn, after all and gently took to massaging her scalp.
After a while, she released a frustrated sigh, but there was something else mixed with it. The massage on her scalp felt so good, it was hard for her NOT to enjoy it, but she tried to look angry still anyway.
"You've been washing your hair more," Thoronir observed. "I can tell. I can actually run my fingers through it now." He laughed a little and rounded out the massage around the bump on her head. "There, that's better. The swelling will go down in a little bit. But you ought to be more careful from now on."
Brynhalla let out a snort.
"I thought you were inspecting my head, not my hair,"s he replied smartly.
Thoronir quirked a brow at her and tried not to laugh. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "You're welcome."
She turned away from him, still trying to be angry with him as she muttered, "I don't know why I'd thank you. It was your fault anyway."
"Well if that's all you have to say, I suppose it was nice to see you too," he said with a shrug. "I suppose i should go and greet my father now and leave you here to...soak."
She grumpily kept her back to him. As much as she just wanted to shrug it off... she was too stubborn to just let it be. That, and it was still awkward to see her friend so...
changed.
Thoronir stood there reaching up to stretch, causing all of his muscles to move with him, flexing in the sunlight with water still dripping off his body.
Brynhalla moved in a way to catch a glimpse of him, but was pretending not to stare. Then, after a time she sniffed and said, " I thought you were leaving? I bet your father has missed you."
Thoronir flexed and clenched his muscles for a moment, posing left then right. "Yes, I was. But swimming had me pretty tuckered out. Don't want to do all my stretching over there."
She snorted.
"Well if you're not leaving, then I will!" And she moved to splash past him and climbed up out of the river and onto the bank.
Thoronir moved toward her and pushed her back into the water before running off.
"THORONIR!" she screamed, and tore after him, chasing him all the way to town- in which the entire village turned to observe, and it put a lot of smiles on their faces. It was then someone turned to Thoronir's father and said,
"Looks like your son found himself a mate!"
Thoronir laughed wildly as he ran down the path that led out toward the training ground then stopped abruptlly, turned and ready for Brynhalla's assaullt.
Whatever Thoronir was waiting for would not come, for the young woman, in her rage, failed to see the pile of horse shit on the ground, and she took one step in it and fell forward, landing face first in the mud. And the ENTIRE tribe was there to see it, and many of them laughed.
Thoronir gasped, watching the fumble and stepping back a few. That was quite nasty in context, even nastier to see. One horse turned to look at her, a midst chewing on some grass and chuffed.
Thoronir's face turned red, from holding in his laughter as the village took part in one great guffaw. He just stood there, until the laughter was too loud for him to take part in.
Brynhalla scowled. What rotten luck! And she was about to chew out the entire village when her mother approached.
"Brynhalla!" came her voice, booming from behind. "Stop fooling around and go wash up now. You can't remain in the village smelling like that!"
Brynhalla made a face, but only nodded to her mother, then cast a venomous gaze back to Thoronir before she disappeared in the direction she had come.
Her mother shook her head before turning to Thoronir and smiling.
"How was the hunt?" And as she approached him she looked him over, her smile growing. "Seems you've grown up quite a bit since you've left. Look at you! You look like a real hunter now!"
Thoronir felt somewhat guilty for his desire to laugh, but in many ways he would have been perfectly justified. His entire life he'd been the brunt of ridicule and laughter and Brynhalla had brought her shame upon herself. Still however, he did not laugh and watched in silence as her mother scolded her.
"Oh. Ah, thank you," he said and bowed his head. "It is good to see you again Variessa. I hope Brynhalla hasn't been too much trouble when I was away."
"Too much trouble?" her mother could have laughed. "Oh not my Brynhalla, she is truly a goddess in her own right." And the sarcasm was thick in her tone. "It's best not to think about her," she said with a chuckle. "What sorts of things did you kill? I bet your father is proud of you."
Thoronir laughed and watched where Brynhalla had walked away sobered a bit. "I hunted a bear. Not alone of course. I got to keep it's teeth and pelt," he said proudly. "I hope my father is proud. I actually haven't seen him yet."
"A bear?" She looked impressed. "Sounds like we'll be eating good!" And she gave a thoughtful look and gestured towards the crowd, "I'm sure your father is around here looking for you. Is that him, over there? Perhaps you should go to him, hrm?"
"The perhaps I will. It was pleasant to speak with you again, Variessa," he said, bowing and turning toward the crowd. And there he soon saw his father and he paused and before he knew it he ran to the man and embraced him tightly.
Thranneik was nearly thrown off this feet but he laughed and beamed when at last he recognized his son. "Thoronir!" he howled. "Thoronir you're crushing me!"
Elsewhere...
Brynhalla moved to undress. She wasn't too far that she couldn't hear the entire village was alive with celebration. They were all excited the hunters were back, and it would take well into the night for the noise to calm down. For now, she just enjoyed this moment of solitude to collect herself, stepping out now, naked, into the water as she worked at rinsing off the feces from her foot, and the mud from the rest of her.
And though she was working on bathing herself, her mind kept drifting back to Thoronir and how much he had changed. She felt a familiar heat between her legs as she blushed. Gods... why did he change so much? And how? He looked so... so....
She grit her teeth, finding herself all hot and bothered before she dipped herself under the water completely to turn off.
It wouldn't do for her to get all turned on when well...
She wasn't sure what to make of her and Thoronir now. Before she well....
Well, it was complicated... but now?
Now she was finding herself insanely attracted to him, and it made her feel so inadequate to think about how much he changed. Perhaps she had changed a lot as well, but she was still only growing, still only showing blossoming signs of becoming a woman, and she began to wish her body would grow a little faster....
What if Thoronir didn't like her anymore?
Or wanted to take another for a mate?
She saw the way the other women were looking at him, and angrily she began to swim deeper into the waters, until all she could hear was the noise in her ears.
The welcome home celebration for the hunters was only just beginning. After sons greeted fathers and husbands greeted wives and parents hugged their children, all were beginning to gather around to eat. The food was to be blessed first, so that the Goddess would sanctify them in bounty and body. Thoronir spoke long with his father about his adventures and training and his father told him of some new herbs he discovered and had fallen ill without testing them first.
But amidst their conversation, Thoronir did not see Variessa approaching from behind. "Thoronir. Thranneik," she said. "Have you seen Brynhalla? She is taking too long. The festivities are about to begin and she must be present."
Thoronir stood and dusted himself off. "I'll look for her, don't worry. I'm sure she's safe and sound." With that he ran off toward the river.
By the time Thoronir made it to the water, Brynhalla was on the opposing side of.the river bank with het back to him as she waded in silence, her eyes closed.
"Brynhalla!" Thoronir called out loudly to her, cupping hands on either side of his mouth. "Brynhalla! Your mother calls, the feasting is about to begin! Come on!"
She tensed when she heard his voice, recalling her clothing was on his side of the river bank. She grit her teeth and said nothing, not sure what to do.
Thoronir sat down on the bank and watched her mulling over in silence. He criss-crossed his legs and plucked some grass from the ground, weaving them together with his fingers, slowly but surely until they began to form a necklace.
She peered over towards the river bank. Gods.. what was he still doing here?! How was she supposed to get her clothing with him right next to them? And though he'd seen her naked before... Things were, well... different now.
"Brynhalla," he said, smiling gently as he extended his grass necklace and held it out. "Swim over here. I have something for you."
As if she'd just go to him! She was naked!
"Thoronir, go away!"
"Oh come off it. I'll even close my eyes," Thoronir extended his hands out and clenched his eyes tightly. "I won't look at your breasts."
Brynhalla gasped and whirled around.
"That.. that's not it! I... I just don't feel up to celebrating!" she lied- well.. partially lied!
Thoronir gave a soft sigh. "Yeah me neither. It was nice, but I never did like being around too many people. Could I stay here with you then?"
Stealing a glance his way, she gave him a questioning look.
"Stay here? But the celebration's for you!"
"Nah, I'm not that special. It's really for all the hunters. You're mother just wanted you to be there is all," he said. He shrugged again. "But I don't mind staying here with you, keeping you company."
Brynhalla went quiet at the mention of her mom. She knew her mother kept her close, especially after the loss of her husband. Biting her lip, she puffed out her cheeks and still kept her back to Thoronir.
"I don't need company."
Though it came out less haughty than her other retorts.
Thoronir frowned. "Is something wrong? Did I do or say something that upset you?"
She went quiet, too embarrassed to respond at first. What was wrong with her anyway? But she was too stubborn just to wave it off as she muttered,"No. I just don't feel ... Well."
"Oh..." Thoronir fell quiet, awkward. "Maybe I can help? I still know some pretty good healing tricks." He smiled at her and threw the leafgrass wreath her way.
Leave her to fib on something he could easily catch her on. She still didn't answer him, not until she saw the wreath float by.
"I didn't mean like that, " she mumbled. "I'm just.... In a bad mood."
Thoronir sat with his bare feet dangling in the water and he frowned in Brynhalla's direction. "Oh...I'm sorry. If you..if you really want to be alone, I can go then. If you want."
She just went quite, biting her lip. She wasn't sure what she wanted. She felt so torn, so awkward...
so confused. Staring down at her warped and moving reflection in the water, she decided just to remain quiet. Thoronir could make his own decision- right?
Thoronir tilted his head in her silence and soon abandoned his own kilt and slipped into the water with her. He swam toward where the little grass wreath floated down to her and gently put it over her head.
She hadn't thought he'd actually stay, but when he moved near her, she found herself too afraid to lift her gaze to look at him. They were, as far as she could tell, both naked now as she felt her cheeks burn at the very idea.
But why were things so different now? Just because he had changed so much....
and the attraction to him now was so obvious...
Perhaps that was it- the fact she had given herself to him so foolishly when they were so young..
but now?
Now what?
She lifted her gaze to him, and didn't speak for a moment before moving to remove the wreath from her head.
"Are you really going to miss the feast just to put a wreath on my head?" and she looked as if she was going to throw it back into the water, but instead, just stared down at it, as if it were the most interesting thing int he world. Anything to avoid his eyes.
Thoronir took her hands in his and clasped the wreath lightly. "Yeah why not?" he asked and smiled, though she wouldn't look at him. He leaned in and gave her a gentle peck on the cheek. "I missed you Brynhalla. I'm glad to see you again. I really am."
Only then did she look at him, so many questions showing in her eyes.
"You missed me?" She asked, surprised. "But you were on your first hunt... Doing what you always dreamed..."
"True. But when the quiet came in at night and I was lying on my bedroll, I often thought of you. I wondered if you ever thought of me..." He blushed and gave her a sheepish grin. "I'm just glad to be back."
Her eyes widened at what he said, but she remained quiet, eyes glued to the waters.
"Of course I thought of you.." she said, anger evident. "I was jealous of you." And perhaps she still was. "It wasn't as if they invited me to that hunt."
"I know," he replied somberly. "But it was out of my hands. I wish you were there with me. I would have loved to hunt with you. You are Variessa's daughter after all, I'm sure she has taught you much that even I wasn't."
She turned away from him and kept her eyes across the river. She wasn't sure what to say, so she just sighed angrily.
Thoronir's expression turned somber. "I'm sorry. I guess I'm still a bit of a blundering fool," he said and blushed again. He moved to look over her shoulder and gave her a small smile.
"It's not that!" She snapped. "The whole village sees you as some sort of hero..... They're... Theyll treat you like a true hunter now. And they'll consider you for a rank with the warriors....."
Thoronir frowned at her temper. "I hadn't considered that," he said dropped his head. "And this bothers you? Greatly it seems. Why do you feel that way? You don't think I earned it?"
She went quiet again, her own mind crowded with too many thoughts and emotions.
And just when she thought she might have been safe, Thoronir leaned in and kissed her cheek.
She wanted to punch him, to chew him up and spit out his remains, but when he kissed her she froze up and without warning, she heard herself whimper out a moan.
Thoronir watched her face for a moment, his hands pushing her hair away from her face and he leaned in again, to kiss her other cheek.
And that's when it looked as if she were about to cry. But before he could say a word, she lifted her hands to his face and held his cheeks as she kissed his lips deeply.
Thoronir gasped amidst her kiss, but he kissed her back, deeply and wholly. His hands woved into her hair, holding her head and kissing her hard.
For the life of her, she could not help the burning sensation within her to want him, to have him, and it was evident in the way she kissed, in the way she pressed her body against him, and how she whimpered, "By the spirits, I've missed you."
"I missed you so," he breathed against her, his arms wrapping around her body, holding her tightly to him. He kissed her with intensity, increased fervor, panting between kisses.
And that's when one of the young boy's from their village giggled. Brynhalla tore away from Thoronir and saw the pink haired boy.
"Marrick!" she screamed.
"Here! They're over here!" the boy called. "Kissing in the river!"
And as she growled towards the boy, about ready to strangle him- she saw her mother, and THornir's father, make their way towards the stream. Gasping, she rushed across the river and over to her clothing and tried to get dressed as quickly as possible-
though it was difficult, considering she was still soaking wet!
Thoronir did likewise, and when he was dressed, he bolted after the laughing boy and clubbed his ears. The childed wailed in fury and disappointment when Thranneik appeared on the horizon.
"Father!" Thoronir said. "I found Marick here wandering too close to the river. That is not safe! You could drown and then what would your mother say?"
"That's not -" Thoronir rang his ears again with a proper yank on his ear and shoved him off.
"Silence. Protests will have you pelted with rocks! Now run off to your mother before she takes a switch to your hide!"
It was Brynhalla's mother that turned to Thoronir and gave him a look.
"I sent him here.." she went on, with a subtle smirk on her serious expression. "To find you." And she looked from Thoronir to Brynhalla. "Both of you."
By then, Brynhalla had finished dressing as she cringed at her mother's voice to peer her way.
Thoronir smiled sheepishly at Brynhalla's mother and he turned to Brynhalla as she finally redressed. "What's the meaning of this?" Thranneik said.
"Nothing father," Thoronir said. "I came to get Brynhalla, like I said I would. And here she is?"
"Then why were you in the river?" Vareissa asked. .
"We were swimming," Thoronir said, shuffling his feet.
"Do I need to ask Marrick to repeat what he saw?" Vareissa asked.
Thoronir rubbed his arm and shook his head. "No," he grumbled. "We didn't do anything though. Just kissed. That's all, I swear."
"Kissed?" And she looked between the two of them.
"Yeah, kissed!" Marrick called out. "Several times!"
"You little!" Thoronir lunged for the boy before Marick hid behind Thranneik and stuck his tongue out.
"Thoronir. This is most unexpected. But...not unwelcome," he said and nodded appprovingly at Brynhalla. "Is this true girl?" he asked.
Brynhalla remained quiet, as she had been this entire time, but when addressed, she cringed.
"Well...?" Varessia asked, to her silence.
Thoronir moved toward Brynnhalla and nodded to her, that it was okay.
"It err..." she began to say, her mind panicking. "I was just welcoming him back..."
And man did she feel so flushed for it as she dropped her gaze, wondering if her mother would chew her out for 'being' with a boy before she was even tested to see if she was one of the chosen females to become a priestess.
Not that she was really worried about it- she was hardly priestess material!
And besides...
... she already sort of, you know....
had a little bit of fun with Thoronir before he even left for the hunt....
and on more than one occasion. And thinking about that made her feel even more embarrassed.
Thoronir quickly nodded and stepped forward. "Yes. We just found ourselves in the spur of the moment. We intended on returning to the feast as quickly as possible," he said, trying to look more confident than he felt, but Thranneik's eyes were boring into his.
"Is that so, son?"
Thoronir nodded adamantly. "We are dressed now and nothing more came of it. There is no point in lingering on the topic. It's passed now."
"You may have become a hunter, Thoronir, but do not speak as if I am not present boy," Thranneik said. His tone was rather harsh, but not unexpected and Thoronir quickly nodded.
"Yes, father," he said and bowed his head.
"You two go ahead back to the village. I want to speak to my daughter alone."
Thoronir nodded sheepishly for a moment, giving a glance to Brynhalla for a moment before wandering off with Thranneik behind him.
Brynhalla didn't appear at the fire, but Varessia eventually made her appearance. No one seemed to notice her feisty daughter was not in tow.
But Thoronir did notice and when Variessa came near, he approached her. "Where is Brynhalla?" he asked. "What happened?"
Turning to Thoronir, she gave him a tired smile.
"She chose not to come." And she sighed. "Stubborn as a mule, that one. But don't worry about her, just enjoy the evening. You deserve it."
It was those very words that prevented Thoronir from enjoying himself the rest of the night. Sure he drank and ate and enjoyed the lively conversation, but he did not sing, nor dance and when the night came to a close, he preferred his solitude, sitting quietly the fire outside his father's tent, wrapping his arms around his legs.
Brynhalla's mother was not ignorant to the feelings she saw developing between her daughter, and the new young hunter. And though she knew she should go back to Brynhalla, she found herself approaching Thoronir instead.
"I noticed you didn't dance. Many of the village girls were sad for this."
[Stay back Mrs. Robinson!]
Thoronir looked up and smiled weakly at Variessa. He shrugged a little. "I didn't much feel like dancing. I ate too much roast. It was delicious! But you shouldn't be up. What are you doing wandering around?"
She gave a soft laugh.
"Would you want to go back to a brooding young woman? Though I suppose Brynhalla is asleep, or still festering within her own stubbornness.... but, well, I was going to go home and force her to sleep if she was not- but then I saw you here, all alone."
She gave a tilt of her head as she studied him.
"I couldn't help myself but want to ask why. But if you are suggesting it's the roast...."
But she said it in a way that implied she hardly believed it was that.
Thoronir blushed and smiled sheepishly. "I just like the night. I like the quiet. And after all the festivities, I can appreciate a little alone time. And from the sounds of it, many hunters are enjoying just being with their lovers again," he laughed and shrugged again.
"I had hoped that seeing Brynhalla again would be...different," he said and frowned. "Maybe she'd be...happy to see me."
Varessia studied the young man a moment before sighing and taking a seat beside him in the dirt near the fire.
"She's glad alright... in her own way," she told him, giving his shoulder a light squeeze. "But... it.. might not be a good time now. At least not for her. She is of age, you know... but as all young women... she has to go through with the ceremony first and I..." She hesitated, not certain she wanted to ask this but continued anyways, skirting around what she really wanted to know.
"It seems she's pretty taken with you and I...... would just rather not see her get hurt... If she is chosen to serve."
Thoronir's eyes widened just enough to show he understood and he cast his eyes off toward Her mother's tent. "When...is her ceremony supposed to be?" he asked tentatively.
"I know you've been away for a while, but these events are not post poned for other events, such as the hunt."
And at this, she smirked.
"Her ceremony is tomorrow morning."
Thoronir visibly blanched and his stomach turned. "No wonder she didn't want to talk to me. She can't be happy about that," he muttered and shook his head. "I suppose this will be a long night for both of us... Thank you, Variessa. For telling me. I..I think I can go to sleep now."
She gave a nod.
"Her future is in the hands of the spirits that protect us. Whatever her fate is revealed to be at tomorrow's ceremony, will surely affect us all."
And with a nod, she rose and moved off to leave.
Thoronir wished it had been Brynhalla that had told him. She was so damnably stubborn that he silently cursed her. And yet...she was too prideful to tell him. He should have guessed something heavier lay on her mind...and it was now on his as he tried to sleep, in vain.
He wasn't the only one that couldn't sleep. When Brynhalla's mother returned, she did a hell of a job pretending to be asleep, but the second she heard her mother drift off, she was out the tent flaps and running through the night. She got as far as her legs could carry her before her mother awoke to find the covers where her daughter slept were bare.
And soon, half the tribe was awakened to search for her- Brynhalla's mother hving a terrible dream reflecting that her daughter was in grave trouble-
or at least she would be after she was caught! But fear for her daughter was real and over came any anger she might have had as she and the other elder hunters began to call out for her as they combed through the lands.
Thoronir awoke to yelling, frantic and troubled and he rose from his bedroll and out of his father's tent. "What's all the yelling about?" he asked, pulling a hunter aside.
"Variessa's daughter's gone missing. She's sent out a search for her."
"Brynhalla..." Thoronir panicked suddenly and ran back into his tent, gathering his gear and broadsword, putting it on his back. "Where are you headed? I'm coming with you."
"My party is heading to the west wood, Variessa took the Northern pass, and the scouts left a while ago to the plains in the south." And he eyed the boy over. "Are you sure you wish to come?"
The forests, all knew, were rather dangerous- though perhaps, not as much as the Northern Pass.
At that question, Thoronir scowled dangerously at him and stepped forward. "Of course, I am!" he growled. "Do not ask foolish questions. Just lead on, man!" He pushed the man aside and moved off toward a party gathering to depart.
The man gave a nod, though he shook his head at the young man's retreating form. If he hadn't heard the rumors already about he and Brynhalla, he would have surmised that himself. He soon followed after the young man and called out the command for the men to move on. They shouldn't waste any time. Not when a life was on the line. And after the scouts had mentioned some of their enemy tribes were lurking near...
It was uncertain if a battle would not result from this.
Thoronir had mounted a sturdy horse, the strong beast antsy and eager to be off with the rest of the hunters that had gone off toward the South. He followed them for a time, but something told him to go east, separating from the crowd.
He heard a cry coming out from a copse, hidden between a narrow, treacherous pass, but Thoronir did not hesitate and dug his heels into the horse's side, riding off toward it.
But what he would find when he got there? Nothing.
Not even the wind, for it died down upon his approach. Though if he were to look hard enough, he might see one of the old, tall pine trees move. But it was a subtle movement, and before the winds could pick up, there was another noise- a grunt perhaps, and ... even a swear?
And though it would be hard to make out, Thoronir might have caught it-
a pink haired woman, struggling, (or something of the sort) high up in the tree.
Thoronir sat up in the saddle, frowning at finding nothing in the empty copse. He was tempted to call out her name when he heard the snapping of a branch and he turned around to the tree behind him. That was when he saw the pink hair.
"Brynhalla!" he called up. "Brynhalla? Are you all right?"
But no one replied. Unless you counted the wind that suddenly swept through and the sky darkening as clouds rolled in over head. And once the land turned black, something suddenly latched onto Thoronir's leg and attempted to pull it into its trap. For who could have known a mammoth black spider took up its home here? But soon Thoronor would know as his body was pulled towards a massive web.
[I thought prey got caught in it's web? Didn't know spiders had to drag prey to it.]
Thoronir cried out suddenly as he was being dragged down from his horse. The beast bolted the first chance it got and left Thoronir to be devoured as prey. He leaned up, using what strength he had to pull out his broadsword and lunged out at it. The tip of the blade just barely cut at the spider, and it released him, leaning back in time to miss the blade. But it was just enough time for Thoronir to scramble backwards.
He got to his feet, only to have them stumble underneath him, caught in a tendril of webbing and the stickiness was too strong to kick off from.
OOC: This spider has no patience? loool
---
The spider was unrelenting- and hungry. Not normally a predator that came after it's prey (for the spiders, they are patient creatures) but this one seemed to have gone mad! And was quickly hissing after Thoronir, shooting another glob of it's webbing in hopes to capture the fleeing man.
Thoronir slashed out at the webbing, but the blade was caught and stuck as it splattered across a tree. Thoronir yanked at his footing for all he was worth and tore the web, running out and back away from the clearing. But the webbing was everywhere and he found himself caught again.
"Brynhalla!" he found himself crying out. "HELP!"
And just as he had asked for- she was there- dropping from the trees at such a rate, her breathing was ragged and her body, covered in sweat.
"Th.. Thoronir!" But before she could say anything else, she noticed the webbing and dashed after him as he was being dragged away, readying her blade and slicing it into the webbing- though only half of it cut through, which made the pink haired girl swear.
Thoronir had never before felt such fear. And the great spider fed off it, dragging him backwards. But when Brynhalla arrived, he felt as if time stopped entirely, watching her sever the webbing. It was thin enough to break away from again, and he used every muscle in his body to pulled away.
"Brynhalla! Every exit is blocked with webbing! We have to kill it!" Thoronir shouted, pulling her back to avoid being shot at again. "I need to get to my sword."
Brynhalla turned to him, grimacing.
"I know that. Why do you think I was avoiding this area?" ANd with a shake of her head, she hastily and snappily added, "Why did you come? You know this area is dangerous!"
Thoronir punched her in the arm, despite the desperation of the moment, the very real possibility that neither of them might make it out alive. "I was looking for you, Brynhalla! I had to look somewhere! And so is everyone else! Let's just kill this fucking thing and get out of here!"
Brynhalla yelped.
"Looking for me? Why would they all-" but before she could finish that thought, the spiders large jaws struck at them.
Thoronir leapt backwards, pulling Brynhalla with him and eying his sword stuck in webbing on the other side of the net. "Distract the bitch!" Thoronir cried out to Brynhalla, dodging another strike out at him from the spider.
"Distract it?" Brynhalla paled at the idea, but knew they had little choice. Pulling out a sling shot from her pouch,s he scooped up a few nearby rocks and was quick to take aim. Thank the Spirits she had good practice iwth such a light weight weapon- after all, shooting rocks at Thoronirs butt when they were little had been fun!
But now she found herself raising the weapon and aiming the rock at the spider's eyes-
and soon laughed a pair of the rocks, that struck it and made the spider wail and turn on Brynhalla. And that's when she realized she needed to run!
But it gave Thoronir the moment he needed and the second the spider was out of the way, he bolted. Thoronir pushed every muscle in his body as he approached the webbing with his sword in it. The blade gleamed, waiting to be plucked from the webbing. Thoronir stuck his foot against the tree and grabbed the hilt of the blade, pulling with all his might to free it from the webbing.
And soon he tore it from the web and wielded it firmly. "Brynhalla!" he cried out as he ran after the spider and slashed his blade through it's back legs.
The large spider had just cornered the young woman, its front legs and jaws ready to attack. That was, until it reared back and hissed from the pain attacking from its rear.
Thoronir felt like his nerves were on fire. He was terrified of the very real possibility that he would die, here and now. But he was unfazed, and he was dauntless. He backed away when the spider turned on him, scowling at it and parrying jabs with it's pointed feet.
He slammed the sword down on it's head, smacking it with the pommel before slashing away another two legs, this time in the front.
The legs were cut deep enough the spider immediately withdrew. And it appeared as if the thing might stumble over, did it's other legs not catch it. And it was quick to erect itself once more before parrying again with Thoronir, this time, a lot more gingerly and quick as it raised up it's front injured legs and began to strike out with it's teeth.
Thoronir was put on the defensive, despite the blows he'd made. The spider's fangs were sharp and deadly and dripped with poison. Thoronir swung, but the spider backed off, and then quickly advanced, trying to close the distance between them. Thoronir ground his feet into the dirt, rolling off to the side, trying to round about the beast.
Even crippled, the spider was fast, and lunged out with a remaining leg and knocked Thoronir off to the side. He fell, as the spider crawled over him, and it shrieked suddenly as the blade stabbed upward, right through it's thorax.
"Thoronir!" She feared the worst and rushed over to where the spider had fallen, but the moment she rounded its side, one if its limbs struck out as it tried to get away, stumbling as if it were drunk and the limb, knocking over. Brynhalla.
Thoronir cried out, not in pain but in sheer force of will to push the spider's body from his. He dragged it off of him, slowly but surely until the thing was slipped off to the side and he pulled the sword from it's body. "Brynhalla!" he breathed and cralwed over to her. "Are you all right?"
Brynhalla was only temporarily stunned before she wheezed, "yeah, the damn thing just punched me with its leg. But I'll live. ". Looking him over, she asked, "what about you?"
He laughed and looked himself over. "I-I think I'm okay. I don't feel any pain." He reached down to help her up and he looked her over, seeing no immediate wounds on her. He didn't say anything else before pulling her into an embrace. "Goddess! I thought you were dead! I was terrified of what happened to you! The whole village is in an uproar."
Stiffening as his arms wrapped around her, the weight of guilt chilled her stomach as she grimaced.
"Really? They didn't just presume I was being Dumbhalla?"
"They don't know what became of you," he said, stepping back a little. "They feared you were captured or killed, or goddess knows what. Look, let's get out of here to someplace safe. I don't want to stand around in a spider's den lest it's babies come after us."
He stepped away, taking her hand along with him until they were out of the spider's nest. He whistled loudly, hoping his horse was still alive. After a few minutes, there was a neigh echoing loudly and the pounding of hooves drew near. Thoronir mounted the great animal when it drew near and he pulled Brynhalla up in front of him.
And they rode off. But noticeably not in the direction back to the village.
Brynhalla was content to remain quiet.in her guilt, but she looked up, she found herself asking, "Hey... Where are we going?"
Thoronir rode on in silence for a time when she asked her question. "To a sanctuary. Before we became friends, I used to come here all the time. It's okay, it's safe." He smiled at her and led them to a small inlet that was secluded beneath a towering cliff.
She quietly thought it over before asking, "But... Why?"
"Because I don't think you want to go back home just yet. Do you?" he asked.
Brynhalla bit her lip.
"But hasn't my running away caused enough damage? You could have died, Thoronir..."
"We will return in due time. I didn't get much of a chance to look you over first. And I can see if I'm really unhurt. Just to recuperate," he said and smiled at her. They stopped at the small cave and Thoronir dismounted and reached up to help Brynhalla down from the back of the animal.
Brynhalla was still quiet, still ashamed as she stepped off the horse and looked at the cave. She gave him a questioning look. Why a cave?
It wasn't a deep cave. But it was a secluded one and allowed them shelter. "Come," he said, and took her by the hand, unearthing the supply cache he had stashed beneath the dirt. It was there for a while now, but the herbs and poultices were still good and he pulled the waterskin from the saddle. "There," he said, and took a rag, and began to soak it, cleaning her arm.
Keeping quiet, she just let Thoronir tend to her before muttering, "Shouldn't you be tending to your own wounds? You're bleeding.."
ANd she looked at a gash on his arm with a frown.
"Oh?" Thoronir looked down and finally saw the cut on his arm, which was deep and bleeding down his arm. "I didn't even notice that." He smiled at her and gestured to her. "You first. I will live. It's just a flesh wound.'
Brynhalla gave a defiant snort and snatched the clothe away.
"No," she told him, with a testy look. "I'll tend to yours, first." And she moved to press the rag over the wound, hoping to clean up the clotting blood as best she could.
Thoronir just smiled at her and didn't fight her on the matter. He was more a mess than she was, and he said nothing during her cleaning. The blood dried quickly, and was starting to crust. "Thank you," he said, being sure to smile at her. "Are you sure you're not wounded? I saw some nasty scratches on your back."
"I'll live," she told him, keeping focused on his wounds and not looking up at all.
Thoronir winced when the cloth scraped against the wound he gestured to the right poultice. "Put that on it to stop the bleeding." He looked at Brynhalla and noticed a scratch on her face. He reached up to move dirt from her cheek and ran his thumb under the scratch.
At his touch,s he froze then jerked away, hair falling into her face.
She grit her teeth, mumbling something, before obeying his orders and trying again.
"Don't worry. You're in good hands. I'm the healer's boy remember?" he said with a smile.
It wasn't that. But what could she say? And she avoided his gaze at every cost.
"I feel like a fool," she mumbled feeling utterly horrid.
"Why?" Thoronir asked softly, curious.
She lifted her gaze at him, a sadness showing within her eyes.
"Thoronir.. you know why. We could have died today... And for all I know... others have put themselves in danger and... and who's to say they had any better luck than we?"
"True," he said with a nod. But his expression wasn't at all damning. "But you must've ran for a reason. What happened?"
Staring at Thoronir, she dropped her gaze with a shameful frown.
"I... I wanted to avoid the ceremony..." She told him, quietly.
Thoronir frowned thoughtfully, but he didn't question her. Instead he only nodded and said, "Oh." He continued to clean her wound on her aace before filling the wound with the contents of the poultice. "That'll heal up nicely."
Once he was done, she moved to stand.
"We should get going. The tribe's worried enough about me."
"And they will worry still even when you have returned, thinking you ill in the head," he said, catching her wrist. "Sit with me. Please. If I don't return you in relatively good shape, your mother will beat me, I can see it in her eyes. Or she will bed me. Either way, I will not enjoy it. Sit, you still have those scratches on your back."
Brynhalla sobered at that and was taken back.
"Bed you?!"
Thoronir grinned at her and gave her a sidelong glance. "So has this odd look to her eye ever since I came back, a half-lidded glance." But then he faced her. "I knew that would get your attention."
And at that, she punched Thoronir's arm.
And that was when Thoronir reached up and pulled her into him, kissing her fiercely. "I'd never dream of bedding another, Brynhalla. You ought to know that," he replied.
When their lips met, sparks flew as a jolting sensation struck through her body. She heard herself mumble and moan, lips clumsily replying before he pulled away to speak.
And what did he say? She was so dizzy that it took her a few seconds to really let his words sink in.
And at that, she gave him a shove.
"How do I know you haven't changed? You.. you certainly look like you've changed a lot since I last saw you."
And her head and body were swimming for it!
Thoronir tilted his head thoughtfully. "I may have changed physically, Bryn, but I'm still just the same Thoronir," he replied with a small smile. "We mated...we bonded...didn't we? Why would I just throw that away?"
At that reminder, Bryn's face went scalding red.
"I..."
But she didn't know what to say.
Thoronir squezed her arm and leaned in to kiss her brow gently, finding nothing to say himself.
Her eye's searched his in their silence, saying nothing as she studied his face. He had changed a lot, but as he said...
She could still see the same Thoronir in there she had fallen for not that long ago.
Thoronir blushed a little under her scrutiny, and he averted his gaze as his hand favored hers for a minute. He looked at her after a moment and nodded. "Let's get your back patched up, then we can go back home," he said with a smile.
And Brynhalla simply nodded, not knowing what else to say.
Thoronir tended to her in silence, well relative silence. He tended to her wounds, rubbing the poultice in them gently before patching her up in cloth bandages. He began to sing, softly, an old rhyme he remembered his mother sang, or must've sang to him before she died.
"Softly, now
The dawn will come
The birds will sing
The rivers will run
Your fears will fade
Come break of day
Come into my arms
Where you'll be safe from harm
Softly now,
Till the warming dawn
My little bird,
My wandering star"
At the end of the song she grew quiet, staring at the ground for a moment before musing, "I think my mother sang that once." She lifted her gaze. "I believe she learned it from yours."
Thoronir tilted his head. "Oh? I didn't know that," he replied. "Were they friends? My mother and yours?"
Brynhalla gave a nod.
"Yeah, I think so. But I never pressed my mom much on it."
"Funny that," he said with a small grin. "That they'd be friends."
Brynhalla stared at him, as if she didn't get it.
Thoronir smirked at her. "Because their children turned out to be such great friends," he said and stuck his tongue out playfully at her.
"Friends?" she smirked, and gave him a look. " Is that what you think this is?"
Thoronir furrowed his brow a little. "Am I wrong? Are we not friends?"
"Do you think... what we have, or have done.. does that... label us as simply.... friends?"
Thoronir blushed a little, he couldn't help it. "I..I don't know to be honest," Thoronir said softly. "I would hope it would make us....more than that. But when I returned, you acted so...indifferent."
Brynhalla closed her lips, unsure of what to say. Her eyes went to the ground as a few strands of hair fell over her eyes.
"Well, you came back looking different... I thought you would be different."
[cake back! 8D]
Thoronir gave a small smile toward her and brushed those few strands away, leaning in to kiss her gently. "Is it...too soon to say that I care for you Brynhalla?"
Brynhalla blushed at the kiss but jerked away at his words. And though she said nothing, there were a thousand questions plastered onto her face.
At that Thoronir frowned and ran a hand through his hair. "Yeah, I-I guess I'm still too young to really...know how I feel," he said trying to smile sheepishly. "I just know that whatever happened between us didn't change, for me at least. I-I just want you to know that."
Ba-dum.
Ba-dum.
Her heart was doing flip-flops within her chest, her eyes still speaking volumes on her emotions where her lips remain dry. What was she to say to that? That she'd been hoping he would profess that? That she'd been dreaming of that- and more fervently she'd she had seen him after so long?
But instead, she just stood there numbly, feeling too awkward and stunned.
Thoronir was silent and stared at her for a long time. He watched her eyes, their expression before he reached up hesitantly and brushed her hair away from her face. He leaned in and pulled her into an embrace.
And at that, instincts took over for she needed this, needed him- and to feel his warmth, his strength against her, she buried her face into his neck and clung to him, fierce.
Thoronir felt his breath hitch and he could feel his eyes well up. "Oh Brynhalla," he breathed as he hugged her to him. He tightened his arms around her, body stronger now than it had ever been and he was breathless from her touch.
ANd she could feel that strength in his embrace, but still said nothing, for fear she'd ruin the moment. But perhaps she didn't have to, as she could hear voices- far off cries just outside the cave.
They were familiar howls, the cries of Brynhalla's mother. And they gradually drew closer. Thoronir was content to just have Brynhalla with him, so much that he wished they could just spirit away. But leaving their families behind? Was that something he could do?
Thoronir pulled his head back enough to look at her and smiled at Brynhalla. He leaned his forehead against hers. "Time to go home," he said. "You're safe now."
Brynhalla felt her stomach drop, her mouth grow dry, but she shook her head none the less.
"Time to pay for my mistakes," she said with a small, forced smile.
If she looked at Thoronir's face she'd see his expression was no happier than hers and he held her still. "Whatever happens I'll be at your side," he said and nodded to her. When they were ready to go, and the cries drew nearer, Thoronir stood and helped guide Brynhalla and the horse in their direction.
If Brynhalla was to be in trouble, it was not evident in that moment when her mother found her.
"Brynhalla!" she cried out, and wasted no time in rushing over to their side, embracing her daughter and just holding her tight. "Thank the spirits... we feared the worse.."
Thoronir smiled at their runion and he was glad to see Brynhalla's safe return when the hunters all came back to the village. But Thoronir rode behind them, eyes solemn in the procession. Brynhalla could only escape her fate so long.
As they headed back towards the village, Brynhalla and her mother talked softly to one another. What they spoke of no others could hear, but it was evident it was a touchy subject, and both women looked a bit worn by the time they returned. And everyone was exhausted that night, but they still ahd time to make sure each tribesmen was safe and sound. And though the day had been long, Brynhalla found herself tossing and turning in her bed before waiting to confirm her mother wa sindeed, asleep, before sneaking out once again.
"Brynhalla, what are you doing?" Thoronir asked, as he had been walking along and found Brynhalla sneaking through the tent flap, just as the rest of the tribe was settling down to sleep for the night.
He had been given quiet thanks from his father and a few of the other hunters for Brynhalla's safe return. But the people were very tense. And all awaited what tomorrow would bring.
She almost jumped clean out of her skin.
"What am I doing!? WHat about you?" Sneaking up on her like that! ugh!
"I asked you first," he said.
Brynhalla wanted to slug his arm. But knowing it was childish she fought the urge, but also fought it incase Thoronir would whimper like a kicked puppy like he always did.
"That.. that's not what matters! You... You should oblige a lady no matter what!"
"You're not any lady. You're Brynhalla. I hope you're not running away again. I just bathed. If I have to go running after you again I'll get all sweaty," Thoronir said, crossing his arms over his chest.
Brynhalla huffed.
"I wasn't running away. I was actually going to sneak into your tent to wake you... Why are you still awake?"
Thoronir crossed his arms. He doubted her statements. "I'm awake now, as you can see. What did you want?"
At his expression she folded her arms across her chest.
"I'm not sure I want anything now."
Thoronir couldn't be serious for a long and he shook his head, laughing. "I couldn't sleep. I just came back from bathing in the river, like I told you. The village is very quiet tonight," he said, looking down at his feet.
At that, she noticed the silence too and cringed.
"Damn."
"We can still go back to my tent. I don't really want to be standing around. I think Thranneik is asleep anyway," he said and gestured for her to follow him.
At that, she peered up at him but simply nodded and shyly took his hand.
Thoronir led her though the quiet sighs of lovemaking that preceded some couples. And to the gentle snorings of his father's tent. He crawled inside, into his section of it, and sealed the partition that gave way to his own bedroll and things lying around.
Studying his portion of the tent, she remained quiet. Though a snore from his father had her nearly leaping out of her skin.
"It's okay, he sleeps like a log," he said softly and closed the partition between them. Thoronir sat down and invited Brynhalla to sit beside him.
Holding a breath, Brynhalla took a seat, and let her eyes dart around the room to avoid his gaze.
Thoronir looked over at Brynhalla. "You all right?" he asked. "You seem nervous."
At that, she took his hand suddenly and gave it a tight squeeze.
"Can I sleep here?" She asked him, softly.
It was a bold notion and Thoronir looked between her hand and hers. "Of course, Brynhalla," he said softly. "You can always sleep here if you want."
It was a bold request indeed, and once he agreed, she peered up into his eyes, really looking at them- a hint of questioning there to denote...
Did he know what that would mean?
Sharing one's sleeping quarters at such an age...
It would declare the two have already mated.
And Brynhalla was supposed to remain a virgin until her ceremony ruled out she was not to become a sacred priestess.
"Brynhalla. You look troubled. You worry about tomorrow?" he asked, peering into her eyes and knowing what she meant, but was almost afraid to say it. He kept her hand in his, however and brought it up to his lips, kissing her pulse.
She didn't answer him, but kept her eyes locked on his.
"Kiss me," she whispered. "You have been gone too long. Take me in your bed."
Thoronir's brow furrowed. "Brynhalla? You're acting strange," he murmured. He squeezed her hands together in his. "Tell me what's the matter."
She shook her head.
"I know I've been acting strangely." she whispered, impatiently. "But that's because- because-"
And her words fell short in a huff. "Because I felt strange to see you again. The fact I became more attracted to you now..... I was... well, a bit embarrassed. I.. I never thought things.. thigns would change between us."
Thoronir blushed at her revelation, though he had figured it some when they were in the river. "Bryn," he murmured. He didn't know what to say, but something told him, that wasn't really what she was feeling was it. It wasn't the only thing that was different.
He smiled instead. "What? You thought I just going to be the skinny healer's son for the rest of my life?"
Bryn's face went red.
"Well I- I..."
What was she to say to that!?
Thoronir leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips.
At that she tensed, but then pulled away, looking at him curiously.
"I.... I feel nervous," she admitted.
Thoronir's expression softened. "About what?" he asked. "Your ceremony?"
She nodded her head.
"That..." And her eyes lowered. "And to... be around you."
"Around me?" he murmured, though he too was blushing. "You don't need to be nervous around me."
"Yeah, yeah," she grumbled. "You're right, I shouldn't, but that's how I feel."
"And what do you intend to do about it?" Thoronir asked with curious eyes. "The Brynhalla I know isn't nervous about anything."
"I know, that's why its frustrating!" And she winced when her voice rose. Thankfully Throronir's father remained asleep.
At that Thoronir leaned in and stole her lips, kissing her with force before pulling away with an audible lip smack. "The Brynhall I know is fearless."
At that, she growled and leaped at him, pinning him down upon his bed with a triumphantly smug look.
"Yeah... fearless... except for this?" she told him, poised overtop of him, her body so close her hair was tickling his face.
"The Brynhalla I know is adventurous. Impetuous, and beautiful," Thoronir said, smiling up at her.
At that, she couldn't help herself but give him a cocky grin.
"And you're forgetting one thing..."
"I forgot nothing," he said with a furrowed brow.
And that's when she pinned him down harder and got right up into his face.
"That I'm still mad at you for being able to go, and I was not! I'm such a better hunter than you are! It's ridiculous!"
"Yeah? You don't seem that mad," Thoronir muttered with a sly grin. "
"Yeah... well.." she huffed at that. "Perhaps you're right... or.." ad here her fingers tip toed over his loin clothe. "Maybe I intend to punish you in some other way."
"You wouldn't dare!" Thoronir challenged, blushing hotly at the insinuation. But his eyes were smiling as he leaned upward and kissed at her neck, traveling down her throat.
At his kisses, she felt her hairs raise and a heat pool between her legs. To think... Thoronir had grown into this. For all it was worth, it was exactly how she had dreamed a man when she used to masturbate in her youth. But now they were both older... adults, even, it was still hard to believe he was all for her.
She let out a soft noise as her hand grabbed the loin cloth.
"You know me and dares.."s he went on, then gave a few good tugs and off the loin clothe went and sailing outside of his side of the tent. And though eh was fully exposed now, she didn't dare look at it- perhaps afraid her dreams would ALL come true.
OOC: LOOOOOL this post 8D
[Naughty Dumbhalla xD]
Thoronir yelped when she snatched the loin cloth from, well, his loins and there he was fully exposed. He felt like his face was on fire as he suddenly looked at the entrance to his section of the tent and waited a few seconds until he could be sure his father hadn't heard them. But when she suddenly turned shy, he grinned.
"Oh, come on, Brynhalla. What's stopping you this time?" he said and sat up, pulling at her top, and pushing it over her head. "We were made for this. Us, together, right?"
She shivered when her shirt was removed, and once it was, he was able to finally get a chance to look at her body and how much she had grown since his departure. She bit her lip, but gave a sly smile anyway before leaning forward and stealing a kiss.
"Nothing it just... feels like the first time,"s he whispered, her sex just barely brushing against his.
Thoronir gasped through their kiss, when her sex brushed along the tip of his cock. She was right, it felt different. After not seeing her for weeks, she had changed as much as he had. Thoronir viewed her chest and his hands curiously reached forward, her breasts larger than he remembered. His thumbs brushed across their tips and he leaned forward, kissing her chest.
"You're more beautiful than I remember," he said, looking up at her.
"You would say that," she said, blushing through a kiss. "Just 'cause my boobs got bigger."
"Well, your hair got a little longer. And you're cleaner than you used to be. And you've always had nice body," Thoronir hissed a laugh. He played his hands along her sides. "What, don't tell me you only like me for my muscles."
She had to suppress a snort.
"If that were true, we wouldn't have mated already," she told him as she gently lapped her sex against his, quickly becoming very hot and wet.
Thoronir closed his eyes at the feel of her body on his. He'd nearly forgotten how she felt, but apparently, she was quick to remind him. He leaned his head forward to kiss her softly, turning his head in gradually deeper into hers.
His deepened kiss was replied with a deeper one of her own. A hand moved to cup his cheek as she leaned in, growing hotter, warmer as she whispered, "Gods... I had forgotten how you tasted. How you smell... feel..." Though as her hands traveled over his body, this was certainly a new sort of feeling, indeed.
"Then let me refresh your memory," he muttered against her lips. Thoronir's hands clasped over her own, directing her explorations all over his form, from his chest to his abdomen and sides and back, releasing her hands. His lips traveled alongside her throat, breaking the kiss momentarily, feeling her pulse there.
Shivering at the sensations all the curves and hard angles his muscles elicited, her eye lids hung lower and her breath grew more shallow.
"By the spirits.."s he whispered, feeling her sex swell with heat and need. "How did you grow into this?" But he wouldn't be able to answer her as her lips claimed his as she kissed him deeply, hands tangling roughly into his hair as her groin met to his again in an attempt to take him, but clumsily missing and dragging her wet sex along his length instead. She moaned through another kiss and tried again, hitching up her legs in hopes to get him inside her. Gods did she need this. All of this. Even if, to her tribe, it could be a sin.
Thoronir was completely at her mercy, but he was not without his own mind in this matter. He whimpered to her touch, and kiss. For though they kissed plenty of times, it only got better with practice. He explored her hollows, running his tongue along hers and shivered when her body ran down along his. He shifted over, laying her down on her back and felt his tip prod against the entrance of her sex.
He did not enter just yet, slipping down along her clit before feeling his tip slip just inside.
Brynhalla was positively writhing. She moved beneath him and whimpered and breathed softly, and when his tip pressed into her folds, she shivered and closed her eyes tightly and found herself needing to dig her top teeth into her lip to stop herself from moaning too loud. For even though they hadn't connected yet, she was already feeling the tingling buzz of bliss.
Thoronir put a finger over his mouth and made a soft shush sound. "We don't want to wake my father," he whispered and kissed her softly to muffle her moans as he slowly slipped into her softness. Her body was hot and shivers sent him into a daze, but he wouldn't recede even if Thranneik did wake up.
At the very connection, to feel his large, rock hard cock inch it's way into her had her body aching as she arched her hips to meet his sex with her own, until he was completely swallowed by her warmth, and gripped tightly by it's soft interior.
By the Gods...
His muscles weren't the only thing that changed! In fact, despite being too shy to look at it, his sex had to have grown nearly twice it's size because it hurt so much going in-
but at the same time...
It was beyond heavenly.
Thoronir bit his lip hard in order to muffle his own utterance of pleasure. She was tight around him, just like he'd remembered she would be, but yet the sensations that flooded him were new all the same. And he breathed in hard, lungs gasping for breath as he fought to contain himself.
"You feel wonderful," he whispered. "Goddess above have mercy on me tonight."
Never once did her hips stop moving. To be able to feel Thoronir in this way again after so long...
She whimpered at his words.
"You feel wonderful, too."
"I...I care for you Brynhalla," Thoronir whispered to her as his hips moved sensually, slowly. He kissed her earlobe and his cock smoothed along her walls with need. This was new all over for him, to be able to feel her like this. Thoronir moaned softly in her ear, moving his hips a little harder against hers.
Her blood tingled at the confession, her lips parting open to release a soft gasp of appreciation for both the words, and the way his dick moved within her. She closed her eyes tightly, shivering and clenching her sex around him tightly before whispering back, "And I care for you."
It was hard to keep quiet amidst the writhing of their bodies. Thoronir could feel himself succumbing quickly to her body, for it had been some time since they'd made love. He was growing quietly frustrated, trying to hold back his moans as he paused long enough to readjust her legs on his hips. He shifted them both into a sitting position, coaxing her legs to wrap along his hips, and wrapped his own legs just beneath hers, knees outward as he slipped back within her folds.
The new position each opened their pelvises, allowing a greater range of motion. He whimpered audibly in her ear, feeling her heat and wetness within, and began to bounce her slowly on him.
This position had her finger nails biting his flesh as she was unable to keep back a moan that she breathed against hisshoulder and moved her hands to grip his hair.
Thoronir's moans were forced into pants as he breathed harder into her ear. He closed his eyes tightly, feeling himself starting to climax, but suddenly he yelped when something collided into his ear. He turned to looke at his father who was red-faced with shock.
"Thoronir! What have you done!?" Thranniek hissed, having torn back the partition. "And with Brynhalla..."
Startled and a bit unsettled that they were caught, she pressed into Thoronir to keep herself modest while she kept her gaze from her lover's father.
"Get away from her!" Thranneik said, pulling Thoronir off. He whimpered at being bereft of her sex but pulled away from his father, his arms swooping around Brynhalla.
"What? What's the big deal? We have not mated with others. We care for one another!"
Thoronir was defensive and he felt his face grow hot.
"You taint her before she could even be tested to become a priestess. Thoronir, do you not know our ways?" his father breathed in a mix of horror and disbelief.
"But....father... Maybe she doesn't have to-"
"That is not for you to decide, Thoronir. And you Brynhalla, what do you have to say for yourself?"
"Father, please don't tell her mother... "
"I asked her a question first. Brynhalla, you know this is forbidden. What do you have to say?" Thranniek said, his tone remarkably level.
Brynhalla's mind was in a whirl. What could she say? They had done this, knowing full well she wasn't allowed to- that it was also against customs and their religion. But they still mated, and several times....
Should she even say that? She grit her teeth, and felt even her ears flare hot in her anger.
"I... I know it is forbidden," she went on, still keeping her gaze glued to the ground. "But this.... this was my choice. I asked Thoronir if we could, I chose this, and I regret nothing!" And at that, she lifted her gaze, tryng to look strong and brave but there were hot tears swelling in her eyes.
Thranneik fiercely shook his head. "Brynhalla, you are too young to know what you want. You could just as easily change your mind tomorrow... And for Thoronir to go along with it anyway," Thranneik shook his head. He sighed. "I will not tell your mother. But this will not continue."
Thoronir clenched his jaw. "Father you cannot forbid us from being together."
"You should know better, Thoronir!" he hissed. "I cannot forbid her. But I can forbid you! You are my son and you will do as you're told. You will not see Brynhalla like this ever again. As for you Brynhalla, I believe you have your mother's tent to return to."
Brynhalla paled and turned to Thoronir.
Could Thranneik really do that? Could he really keep Thoronir away from her?
"I won't let you. I'm a man now, Father. I choose who my mate is," Thoronir said challengingly.
Thranneik felt more anger than he'd ever felt in his life. "Thoronir. You will DO as YOU'RE told! You will NOT humiliate our family! Or hers!"
"I care for her!"
"You're too young to know what that even means!"
Thranniek wasn't the only one who was angry, as Brynhalla took a step forward to retort, "We do care for one another. And have for some time! Our fate is our own! And this is the path we chose!"
At that Thranneik rose as if to strike Brynhalla, but when his hand flew, Thoronir moved between them and Thranneik's hand smacked hard across his son's face. Thoronir felt as if his whole cheek burned and he sat there stunned.
"Thoronir," Thranneik said, gasping. "I am sorry...."
Thoronir said nothing though tears welled up in his eyes.
Brynhalla was frozen. Had she just really seen that? And as the actions sunk in, guilt began to clutch at her gut. Bowing her head so that her pink hair fell over her eyes, she was quick to reply, "That... That was not meant in offense! I only speak the truth when it was asked!" And she kept her head bowed and awaited his reply with a held breath and her heart thumping in her ears.
Thoronir was still stunned, unable to say or do anything until Brynhalla broke the silence. He winced, as if slapped again. Thoronir got up from the cot, dressed and pushed passed Thranneik, running out into the night.
"Thoronir!" But he was gone before he could hear him.
And Brynhalla froze for just the briefest of moments before she too, was rushing off after him. Though she was a lot lighter and normally faster than him, he had grown stronger and was quickly making grounds away from her.
And this time it was her voice that carried after him, "Thoronir!"
Where was he trying to go? They were already caught.. wouldn't running make this worse? Then again.. she found it hard to imagine this could even get worse!
Thoronir did stop, finding his face streamed with tears. The cool night air caressed his warm flesh and he panted hard when he reached the river, stopping just short of crossing it. He was bent over his legs and he turned to Brynhalla when she reached him.
"We should runaway, Bryn. Together," he said, panting.
"Run away?" And though she had tried this numerous times before, hearing it from him made her freeze as her heart skipped a beat. Run away? Together? She wished she could say yes, but her tongue remained numb and useless as she looked at him.
"They will never let us be together," he said, eyes red with tears and face twisted in frustration. "Brynhalla...isn't this what you were going to to do in the first place? I'm with you. Wherever you want to go, we will! I'd follow you to the edge of the earth."
Thoronir didn't realize his hysteria just yet, only that he felt a burning desperation, a feeling of being closed in that made him want to bolt like a wild animal.
For once the girl was speechless. Yes, in her fantasies, in her dreams she wished to run off. But could she really do it? Could she really take that plunge with him? But she only needed a second to realize the answer, as she moved forward, taking his hand to turn and run off with him-
Only to halt in mid-run as Thoronir's father was now before them, arms crossed and angry.
Thoronir paused when he saw Thranneik. "Get out of my way, Father."
"Please, Thoronir," he said, relaxing and putting his hands up. "Don't do this. I am sorry." He dropped his head. "Please think about what you're doing. You would leave everything you know on an impetuous decision. It is not my place to dictate your heart. Your mother would not have wanted that. Nor would she have wanted you to run away from your problems. She did not give birth to a coward. Nor did I raise one."
Thoronir nearly stepped forth, as if to side-step him, but paused and didn't know what to say to his father. He was right, in many ways, but he was wounded and he remembered the sting of the slap. Of the sharpness of his words.
"I cannot stop you from how you both feel. But nothing can stop tomorrow from coming. Please, both of you...stay. If not for your families, for each other." And at that Thranneik looked directly at Brynhalla.
Brynhalla paled as her gut sank as if it were full of rocks. ANd for a moment, beneath his gaze, she almost forgot how to even breath. But when her mind returned, in a whirl wind of confusion and uncertainty, she realized then what tomorrow would really begin as she lowered her head in shame.
"Tomorrow... I will be exiled from this tribe tomorrow."
For she was no fool- she knew what the tribal laws were for mating and losing one's innocence before the sacred ceremony.
"Nobody will know, Brynhalla," Thranniek said, and stepped toward Brynhalla, but paused when Thoronir stood between them. However, even he knew the consequences of their actions. Brynhalla was no longer a virgin...and even after all this, he would lose her anyway.
"I will not tell a soul," Thranniek continued, his hands up peacefully. "Tomorrow will come as if normal... My son....Thoronir, you can't want Brynhalla to be exiled. Let this all be over with before dawn. Must I crawl on my knees and beg?"
Thoronir exchanged looks with his father and then his lover and he reached for her hand. "I don't want to lose you."
Brynhalla felt the weight of the world on her shoulders, her heart drumming in her ears. But she couldn't speak, not at first, for her throat was too dry, constricted. But once she found the strength, she took his hand and gently squeezed it before looking up into his eyes.
"You won't lose me," she told him, a promise in her gaze.
"But...what of tomorrow?"
Thoronir's expression remained troubled as he gazed down at her. He reached down and kissed her cheek softly, then her lips. "Don't leave."
Brynhalla shook her head and tried to smile for him.
"We shouldnt worry about tomorrow. I'm already not fit to become a priestess. Surely the spirits will see that."
"Then we leave it to fate," Thoronir said.
But at such words, even Brynhalla's strength easily wavered.
Fate...
Fate would decide this soon enough, so she thought. But even in this moment of grief, a part of her sobered as she turned to Thoronir's father.
"What we have done.... won't our secret weigh on you?"
Thranniek looked at Brynhalla with somber eyes. Still he shook his head. "Do not worry about me. I will be all right. It is safe with me."
Though awkward it might have been, she could not help herself but find her arm's around Thranniek. And soon she was sobbing through thank yous against his shoulder.
She did love his son,s he truly did, even if it was still developing. But that's what made it so great- that she and Thoronir could discover and learn it all, together.
Thoronir watched the exchange with a stunned expression, brows slowly lowering and mouth widening in a soft grin. His own father too was shocked, arms raised high over his head, but slowly they came down and around her small waist and he hugged her too.
"You should go home, Brynhalla. Before your mother awakens and finds you missing. She will surely die of a heart attack if she were to lose you too," Thranniek said as he pulled her from his chest and gave her another smile. He was surprised to find his own face streaked in tears, but he kissed her on the forehead and released her from him.
She nodded but did not instantly obey. That would not be very much like herself if she did. And she turned to Thoronir, feeling her confidence, her self worth returning as she stared into his eyes, then quickly crossed the distance between them to hug him, too.
If she were made of sand he was certain she would have fallen through his grasp. But she didn't she was as beautiful and as solid as ever and he embraced her possessively to him.
When they parted ways, Brynhalla was dragging her feet on the way back to her tent. Thankfully, when she returned, her mother was still sleeping, none the wiser she had gone. Slipping into bed, she tried to get some sleep, but couldn't rid herself of all of the thoughts that now plagued her. And tomorrow came too soon, her mother rising early and pressing Brynhalla to get up early as well. She bathed and dressed quickly, dawning the pure white dress of the ceremony and feeling the knot of guilt secure itself into her belly as she peered down at her reflection inside the water bucket she had brought to wash her face. And just as she was finishing, she heard the soft horn and steady beating of the drum.
It was time.
The steady beat of the drums could not drown out the drumming of Thoronir's heart. It pounded so heavily in his chest he could've sworn it was going to break out of him. He was so nervous, and why - he couldn't even say. He felt nauseated and the need to puke grew strong within him. A hand squeezed his shoulder and he turned back to Thranneik that stood beside him.
"Relax, Thoronir. She will need you to be calm too," he said to his son and patted his shoulder. "Take a deep breath. You are just as much apart of this ceremony as she is. We all are."
He could feel the heaviness Thranneik felt through the grip he had on his shoulder, until it slipped away and from the corner of his eye, he saw his father's head drop, just a little. But somehow, the old man smiled when he looked upon Brynhalla, and that was genuine.
The entire village had awakened for such an occasion. And the entire village was looking at her. She was decked out in the youthful attire of their goddess, Athra, and before her stood the Martrisse and a series of sacred, wicker baskets before her.
Though the sun had barely begun to rise, she could feel heat rise from her body as her heart pounding and her insides all tightened at once. Had she still been walking, as opposed to now, being paused before the Matrisse and the ceremonial fires lit all around her, she might have fainted. And at such an idea to appear so weak made her angry. It was that anger that sobered her, and she tried to remind herself the basket with the feather was not meant for her. So when the Matrisse went on with the sacred prayer, and Brynhalla was asked to kneel, she did so and was quick to make silent, fervent prayers to their goddess.
Then the mask of Athra was brought before her, stunning and adorned with many colorful feathers. She hesitated for but a moment before accepting the heavy piece and slipping it on over her head. And the mask was stifling, her vision, nearly blinding as she was asked to stand. She felt her legs become shaky as she did, and her balance was hard to keep, for the mask made her head weigh so much more. But once standing, she was aske to turn around, and to face the crowd of her people as they all began to repeat the prayer of their Martrisse, and soon Brynhalla was offered a sacred goblet filled with blood wine.
Asked to drnk it all, Brynhalla wasted no time in downing it all, and as the warmth rushed through her, she felt her head swimming. Soon the entire tribe was shouting, singing as priestess all stood around Brynhalla in a moving circle. When the song had ended, the priestesses stopped, and Brynhalla's vision was still swimming. She barely heard the directions for her to finally select as basket, and for a moment, remained frozen in place.
Desperately, she tried to see if she could deduce which basket held the feather so as to avoid it, but there were no indications or clues as to which one it might yield. She frowned, her mind racing, heart hammering. She felt the weight of everyones stares and closed her eyes for a moment, and prayed yet again.
'Please, oh, Athra.. do not let me get the feather.'
Opening her eyes, she stared at the priestess immediately infront of her, and slowly strolled up to her, with as much confidence as she could muster. And with her chin held high, she paused before her, her bravery waivering before she caught sight of the familiar eyes of Thoronir.
Her heart dropped and her stomach tightened as she felt sweat cling stickily to her body. She held her breath, dropping her gaze from his to the bakset before her before stepping forth and opening it. And she stared into the darkness, seeing nothing and breathed out a sigh of relief. That was, until a beam of sunlight came dancing from over her shoulder to reveal the white feather within.
Thoronir watched in silence. What had she expected him to do? Screaming out was not an option and already he had shamed himself and his family by being caught making love to one who would become a priestess. The gods were not fickle in their choices. Though Brynhalla was no longer untouched, if she was to be a priestess, that was the choice of the heavens.
Thoronir stiffened when the white feather was raised however, and he hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath until his lungs strained. He clenched his jaw, watching the priestess beside her, laying the feather on each of Brynhalla's shoulders.
"The Goddess has spoken!"
The moment hit her like a ton of bricks. She wasn't able to speak, move, or even hear. As the feather moved to touch her, blessing her, it all felt like the work of a ghost, and she- she was the one separate from this reality, as clothing was removed from her, and the entire Vahltrysse got to their knees before her, all repeating the ritual of prayer, and welcoming of another priestess so pure.
All but Thoronir. He did not kneel and remained standing where he was. One hunter noticed this and gestured to the man beside him. "On your knees. A priestess now stands before you," he called out across the sea of tribesmen.
Thoronir blinked at him and cleared his throat. "Sorry," he said, bowing his head and going to his knees. Thranniek looked at him with soft eyes.
"It is her time," he said in a whisper only Thoronir could hear. "Athra has spoken."
Once the entire clan was on their knees, the Martrisse approached from the center line. A small smile could be seen drawn across the older woman's lips, and at such a sight made Brynhalla's guts churn all the more. The Martrisse stopped before her, sighing lightly as she held out the feathered crown in her hand.
"Take this and wear it, as a symbol of our Goddess, to let her know you accept her fate gifted to you."
Brynhalla simply stared. The crown looked heavy, and it's meaning- permanent. She shifted uncomfortably, looking from the crown, back to the Martrisse when she caught sight of Thoronir in the crowd and froze.
But his eyes were not on her, and he was still. His father took his hand and patted his shoulder. It was all he could do to keep it together. Should they have run away? Would they have made it? This was the life that had borne them. And it was their duty to bear it right back.
Thoronir hadn't realized the tear that was streaming down his nose as he kept his eyes deftly to the ground. Until he saw the droplet in the soil before him.
The Martrisse prompted her again, and guided her to the fireside where the other priestesses had awaited. Only a select few had journeyed here for such an occasion, and their eyes lit up to see another priestess to join their ranks. The priestess were few and proud, and lived rather mundane lives- as it was all very systematic and according to Athra's will. But this ceremony brought in the possibility of new faces, and new night time persons to gossip with- and get more updates about the going ons within the tribe that were broken away from the informal summaries they received on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. In fact, most of the priestess felt so disconnected upon joining it was as if they abandoned their tribe and took up a whole new religion.
But their happy faces and glowing eyes as the women began their ritual, sisterly dance around Brynhalla was anything but welcome. And when coaxed to join in, Brynhalla could only clumsily move her feet before each new 'sister' crowned her neck with sacred bead necklaces, that weren't just beads- but also mixed with precious gemstones, feathers-
And bones.
After the ceremony Thoronir found himself lingering by the stream again where the lanky Dumbhalla had coaxed him into playing her foolish games. Their foolish games. Now they had both come of age and both were going to lead separate lives now. He felt his heart sink and his eyes burned.
But the emotion that burned up inside of him wasn't sadness. It was anger, that somehow all of this could have been better spent elsewhere.
He wiped his eyes and stood, taking a dip into the water, parting through the reeds.
There ceremony eventually came to a close, and Brynhalla was invited to sleep with her new sisters of Athra. Of course, she could hardly sleep, nor did she want to. She knew this would be her last day spent in the tribe, her last day of real, true freedom.
So when she slipped out, she was careful of it, making sure not to awaken the Martrisse, or any other priestess. As far as she knew, she was successful, and she moved deftly through the tribe, hoping to catch Thoronir before it was too late...
But too late for what? She had no idea what to say or do when she'd run into him...
But she knew this didn't feel right. And she'd never forgive herself if she didn't try to seek him out that night.
Thoronir would be by the stream for some time, the water rushing beneath his feet. He took in a deep breath. It was over and done with now. So why did he feel so horrible? He felt a pang burn inside his chest, and soon it felt too hot even to be inside his flesh.
Without another thought he undressed and left what little clothing he had by the reeds, taking a dip into the water.
When she found him by the water, she hadn't the gall to approach him. So for a time she studied him and the awful silence before she saw him move, remove his clothing and step out into the water.
She released the breath she had held and moved a bit closer, watching him against the moonlight before shedding her own clothing and stepping out into the water through the reeds.
Thoronir turned around and saw Brynhalla here. He sucked in a sharp breath. He said nothing and approached her. Goddess she was beautiful in the water, it made her skin glisten, the moonlight rounding out the shape of her breasts.
His hands reached out and grasped them. He didn't kiss her, not right away and leaned his face in toward hers, lips but a breath away.
She didn't move. She didn't have to. Thoronir came to her, and she lowered her lashes as his hands went to her chest. She released a soft breath, one that would tickle his lips, before her hands wrapped around him, raking into his hair and pulling him into a kiss powerful enough she wanted it to be a challenge to the gods.
How dare they give her the sign to become some temple rotting priestess. She had too many dreams, too many ambitions, and too many unchallenged feelings for the man she kissed. Hands hungrily roved his warm body, feeling every crevice, every solid muscle.
And as she moved, parting her legs just a little, she felt the need of his sex, too, as she slipped her heat along it, and deepened her kiss.
Their oscillation was wrought with passion, deep, hungered and Thoronir burned for her. She could surely feel it in the heat of his body in the fire in his loins. To feel her again, to touch her awakened something in him, one that wanted her to be his alone. Damn the gods, the world could burn for all he cared so long as they belonged to one another.
He moaned when he felt her heat open up to him, arms resting around her form and ensaring her in the strength between them. "Gods, Brynhalla...is this what it feels like...to love someone?" he breathed between kisses.
She trembled at his words, breath hot against his lips. She whimpered.
"Gods... It feels otherworldly," she breathed, lips finding his again.
Hands caressed her arms, leaning into her little touches while his lips leaned down to explore her neck, gently plucking at her throat. "Could I be yours, Bryn? Could we...keep this secret?" he asked, his arms gripping her tightly to him.
She shivered, the sensation tickling through her blood.
"Yes," she whispered. "Goddess yes." Hands found their way into his hair, raking through their unruly mess as she smashed her lips against his and began to take him with ferocious need. "I am yours and you are mine," she panted, hips moving. A hand rested against his cheek as she hazily opened her eyes to look deeper into his. "Forever... and always."
Making love in the reeds had water sloshing all about them, but it seemed to be their secret spot, shared when they were younger to now.
Thoronir took her with need, with longing, and thrusted deep and hard until he could his body quake on the edge of ecstasy. "Holy fire, sweet snow. Bryn I'm so close...I'm gonna," he panted, nearly whimpering.
"Do it,"s he whispered, her own body quivering. "Give me your seed. Mate me. Claim me as yours."
He whimpered at her words and he could hold back no longer. "Goddess!" He came hard until his arms felt like noodles, and he could barely hold himself up.
Somehow the pair found themselves lying within the reeds of the river bank, bodies hot, but the air, cool. She was still breathing heavy, still joined to him as she held onto him, listening to the breaths he made and the soft beating of his chest as her head laid against him.
She sighed, shivering.
"I want you more than for the night," she whispered.
"Brynhalla.... You will always have me," Thoronir said gently. "Because I...I" He didn't know how to say the words that twisted inside his stomach and wanted nothing more than to be given leave. "Love you."
He closed his eyes and turned his head to look at her. "But you are chosen. And you have been given a calling to serve our Goddess. I don't want to turn you away from your destiny."
She could have strangled him. Maybe she was.
"I serve no one! I have no destiny but my own! I'd spit on the Gods before I'd serve them, because they've gone and just spit on me!" She was so angry, she was shaking.
"The Gods know nothing of justice." she closed her eyes, hating that she felt hot tears. "Nothing."
Thoronir didn't realize how heavy the reality of it all was weighing on her.
He sat before her and carefully placed his hands on her face, brushing tears away. He felt contrite, and kissed her forehead softly. "Brynhalla.....my friend, my lover, I'm sorry. I knew but I didn't know. Please, don't cry. You must be strong. You must have will!"
He wrapped his arms around her buried his face into her shoulder.
But even as he did so, she felt so disgusted she in turn, shoved him back.
Thoronir fell backwards, holding himself. He was somber and he frowned deeply, rolling his shoulders and sitting beside her within the reeds. Nothing would let him leave though, and he wasn't going to let her be alone; not like this.
The quiet chirping of nightcrawlers around them gave a peaceful ring to the air, and he took a reed, ripped it, and quietly rolled it around his fingers, tying it into a ring.
She felt so disgusted with everything, and uncomfortable as his seed was beginning to leak between her legs. She wiped back her tears on her hands and sighed and moved to stand.
He stood up just when she did, watching her with the fashioned ring in hand and Thoronir glanced between her and the ring of reeds.
But she didn't see it. Her eyes and mind were elsewhere, and she hated that tears still blurred her vision.
"You.. you should go," she went on, wanting to sound stronger than she did, and hating that she had to wipe away more tears.