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henke
Skalavik King
8 Posts
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Post by henke on Mar 20, 2020 3:38:54 GMT
 HENKE
When Henke was just a young child, he'd been traded into slavery. His masters had been cruel and callous, he'd seen no future for himself, and thus didn't hope for anything better. But fate had deemed him worthy of rescue, apparently, and at the first chance he got he fled carried by determination and a will to live unmatched. He would become more, he would protect his ideals, he would thrive and impart equality and fairness to those who otherwise would see none.
It felt like a lifetime ago, a lifetime of learning and training his mind and body, he had to be ready, he had to defend this place and his people. But Henke was not weak as so many liked to assume, his strength was in his resolve and his tenacity and determination. They would thrive. They would rise.
He'd always been drawn to the sea, the way it stretched into forever refusing to be bound by land the way rivers and lakes were. It was playful and welcoming, but unforgiving if one refused to respect it. The peninsula seemed like the perfect place to begin his legacy, lay down roots, and build a new home.
Henke drew in a deep breath as he padded with his awkward gait along the water's edge, just deep enough that waves lapped gently as his legs. The air was crisp and cool coming off the water, with a breeze that tousled his shaggy fur pleasantly even under the sun's warming gaze. He felt at home here, and with time he hoped many more would as well. He was sure Bjarni had been close by, but he knew the tiger to come and go on his own whims, and he was content to have a moment alone anyway.
When he was content and resolute in his decision, he drew further into the greens of the peninsula, finding a place where his voice would be carried on the wind. He threw back his head and let a long howl pierce the serene atmosphere, letting any in range know that he was here and this was his home now.
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Bjarni
Skalavik Earl
10 Posts
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Post by Bjarni on Mar 20, 2020 4:58:18 GMT
 Bjarni Idunn It was the escape he had led, freeing those who had been trapped by flames that rose so high. The brands upon their fur would never fade and scars would continue to haunt those that had survived. Freedom had come at a price, his place in the world from before having been destroyed upon his choices. It was nothing, but the sting of the pain that encroached on his waking moments often pulled his heart apart. Had he made the correct choice?
He had left behind his family, his friends, his leader and clan. All for the sake of those they had captured? Tortured beyond recognition and when finished threw them aside like broken toys? Granted, his parents, they were the offenders here. The wrath he had seen at their paws when given to those who were not deserving of such a feat of violence. It sickened him, he couldn't stand by now could he? It was his own path now, how he would march on like the beat of a war drum across a field.
Right now it was the beating of his wings in the air. The steady thrum of wind surrounding him as Thermal Balance kept his body from freezing.
Bjarni's form was massive within the air, blotting out the sun over the ocean in his form. His russet fur was dampened with moisture, horns held proudly above his head as he flew. His eyes wandered, unsure of just where he was flying towards. Everything had been lost in the panic, he could still remember his sister's scorn against him. That she would find him, that she would come for him, for what he was unsure. He was half tempted to just stop, let his wings rest and allow his body to careen into the water for the final time.
That's when the call came fourth.
He recognized that voice, the one that had haunted him for so long. It was more than enough to get him at full speed, wings thrumming through the air in rhythm to his heart. Soon enough the land came into view, the ground full of sand and plants he hadn't seen before. His eyes widened, taking in the sight of the scarred male who had called for the meeting. Would this be their new start? A place to call home and protect with his life? He had failed before, the horrors still fresh in his mind, this was now his chance to make it right.
Bjarni came in for a landing, his wings beating harshly against the ground and a heavy thud followed with the contact. Those golden wings folded against his sides, his multiple tails thrashing against the air in agitation. He wasn't sure he would be welcome here, let alone was the request he was about to make be heard. He knew he was strong, that his will was like no other, and that he would defend those who were honest and kind with his life, but there was always a chance.
"Allow me to join you, as your Duke and second in command." He stood proudly, tails curling about and wings raising slightly in defense.
"You've seen what I can do, that I can protect and keep things in line." With that he'd leave it, his flimsy reasoning in place. He had nothing left to say for himself. In such a strenuous time it was the best he could do.
He wasn't an actor and couldn't lie to save his life, his regret and pain showed easily upon his features. Here he was, lost, but in dire need of some form of control. He wanted his power back, but was unwilling to step on and kill to gain it. He was at another's mercy, and for once, he wasn't annoyed but afraid. Afraid of being left completely alone, of having no one left to care about him should he perish.
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henke
Skalavik King
8 Posts
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Post by henke on Mar 20, 2020 5:20:29 GMT
HENKE
His ears flicked to attention at the sound of wings that broke the calm seaside sounds. He stood and squinted his eyes to glance around the sky, until a familiar form came almost careening into view. He remembered that form, he remembered the tiger it belonged to when he landed heavily against the dirt mingled with sand. He was wary, Bjarni had helped him find his freedom, but he also didn't entirely trust that the other hadn't come to exert his own force and dominance. He would have flicked his tail up if he had more than a scruffy stump to do so with, but he tried to square himself up regardless.
Amusement lit up on his features at the rather bold request that fell from that mouth, not a greeting, not any words, just an immediate demand, "someone's got a brass pair," he scoffed, jumping down from the rock he'd been standing on with just a slight stumble on the side missing a leg, "forgive me for my wariness, but how do I know I can trust you?" He tilted his head to the side as he scrutinized the tiger, having to look up a great deal to see his face, "it'd be awful easy for you to overpower me and take my place, and I refuse to be anyone's slave again." He sneered the words out a little, before sighing and glancing to the side.
"I have seen what you can do, you're strong, and I could use the muscle," he admitted, "but why would you willingly follow a creature that was once a lowly nothing? What do you stand to gain?" He held his head up, even if his height didn't come close to Bjarni's, he still couldn't let himself look weak, especially not to him.
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Bjarni
Skalavik Earl
10 Posts
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Post by Bjarni on Mar 21, 2020 3:51:46 GMT
Bjarni Idunn Bjarni watched, listening and snorting out a choked laugh at the saying of brass. His mouth twitched with a smile, looking away when the trust between them was non-existent at best and hostile at worst. He was only slightly offended, after all only he could know just how much he lost. The canine before him knew nothing, he had just been worried about saving his own life and that was something Bjarni could get behind. He was small, but someone with only three legs had survived. It wasn't like him to just follow blindly, he wasn't taking anything less than a council rank if he could help it.
His old self was slowly coming back at the thought of just joining the canine before him. It wasn't hard to imagine a cozy life in a place like this. Plenty of water, of sunshine, food if you could catch it. He couldn't fathom going back to what he had left, sure his family name had power but he wasn't going to be able to claim it. He hadn't been able to stomach their way of life, and really, was he ever going to need it again? No, he didn't think he would. A new name then, a last name fit for himself.
"You should trust me because I helped you escape, I can't stomach what they've done and for that I've forsaken their name." He smiled, head being held proud in the sky with a warmth upon his face. "Bjarni is myself, but my name will be Bjarni Idunn, warrior reborn."
His tails curled behind him, wings fluttering at the sudden realization of what he had just done. Names were power, they determined who you gained from and just what you were worth. He was no longer there, and it was no guarantee that this place would have anything similar. What else did he have? Nothing, no family, no home, not even his name anymore. He was a fresh start, a new creature who needed a new rank, what better than to be a second in command?
"I have nothing left to lose but everything to gain." His smile turned a bit forlorn, wanting and desperate to no longer feel so alone.
"I no longer have family, nor home, nor place. Here, I can be something, someone useful." His eyes filled with a fiery determination. "I can protect those who need it, I can save those who are lost and I can make something of myself untainted by others. Now I shall ask again, allow me to be your Duke, a second in command in this new world order."
He would leave it at that, standing proudly and yet burdened. This was his last hope, his last chance, where would he go if he should fail? Go back to such a loathsome existence or return to where he had fled in hopes of a simple mutilation?
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henke
Skalavik King
8 Posts
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Post by henke on Mar 23, 2020 6:33:49 GMT
HENKE
Henke paced as the tiger pleaded his case, and perhaps there was truth to those words. He wasn't so blind that he didn't see the things Bjarni had risked in freeing him, however, kind words and kind actions could easily mask venom and malice...He knew this as deeply in his bones as the instinct to breath. It had been beaten into him, and he refused to so easily believe words alone.
He finally stopped pacing and just observed him when he gave his new name, an inquisitive and intelligent expression on his face, "names mean more to you than they do to me, I only ever had my name, but it matters that you made the decision all the same," he nodded, before his expression hardened just a touch, "I've had mistrust beaten into the deepest parts of me, I hope you can understand this, I don't mean to be cruel," he glanced away, "I'm only being careful."
He looked thoughtful as Bjarni continued to talk, though again it was simply more pretty words, he seemed to be good at using those. Finally there was silence though and he drew himself up as much as he could given he was vastly smaller than the tiger, "if you truly want to prove to me that you intend me no harm, then I will put you on probation," he tried to muster up authority in his voice, something a slave was not used to, "until I can be sure that you're my friend, and not a wolf in sheep's clothing, you will be an Earl. You wish to defend? Then you'll defend." His expression softened and he chuckled, "prove to me that you mean those pretty words, and I'll consider giving you more. Fair?" He waited for the tiger's response, if he would fight him on it or accept the words and their reasons.
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Bjarni
Skalavik Earl
10 Posts
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Post by Bjarni on Mar 23, 2020 7:16:16 GMT
Bjarni Idunn Bjarni couldn't help the annoyed huff that built up in his system, but he swore he would play nice here. When this was all said and done he could go back to being on his own path. He could start again here and that was exactly what he was going to do. He didn't really want to hear the story the wolf told him, after all, it was his ex-family that caused all of that pain. He couldn't help the angry yet absolutly defeated look that overcame his own features when it was mentioned. He doubt he would ever truly live it down. He didn't need to live it down though, he needed it to fuel him, to show him that he could make it better, that it could be better.
He held his head high when the rank of Earl was given to him. He sighed, showing his acceptance. It wasn't a preferred rank, but it would do. He did want to protect, he would protect. It might just be him and the wolf, but that was all he needed. A family was family no matter how small and fragile it got, he would swear to that.
"I humbly accept the rank of Earl my King." He stepped into a bow, wings floating out in a slightly grand display of gold and white. "I am forever at your service until the day I die, and with time I hope, become a friend."
With that he raised his head, coming to a sit before the wolf in front of him. He then realized he had no idea what the wolf was called, he had a name, that much was certain, but what? He couldn't exactly ask it now, not after what he just said. Careful to not let it show on his face, he instead gave a small smile. He was already relieved, he had a home now, a place to stay. Now he had a small family, no matter how tiny and fragile with so little trust between them. They were a group, two souls and one having pledged to follow the other. A contract a lives, and he was ready to hold up his end of the bargain.
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