Windsong Fjord beautiful hell

 

Kjors offered a one-shouldered shrug.  He’d always thought ‘Mother’ to be more of a title than a name, but he supposed the younger wolf wasn’t wrong in her observation.  If She had a different name, it’d been lost when his father was murdered.  “Yer naw,” he affirmed.  “Think plen’y notice.  Naw all of ‘em care, mind.” He grunted at the thought, brow furrowing.  Some didn’t understand what they were observing, like Nova here, but he got the notion she’d never acted destructive purposefully.  There were those wolves that did, simply out of greed or general disregard.  One didn’t need to know the All-Mother to understand that was wrong.

At her admiration, Kjors only shrugged again.  He huffed.  Praised was a foreign concept to the grizzled male.  “Naw.  Jes’ raised in a pack tha’ respected Her properly.  Ain’t seen much a’ tha’ in these parts, t’ be honest.  Lived south a’ here.  Mountains.”  Not too far from a shore, for he’d made it to cold, rocky cliffs before traveling northward and inland, eventually finding a home in the Ruins of the Wildwood.  “Ah’ve a priestess.  ‘Er.  Prophet.  Th’ Mother will talk t’ her in dreams bu’ – She talks t’ all a’ us, y’know.  Th’ little things.  Th’ weather, a hunt, somethin’ tha’ seems like fortune ain’t, naw really.  It’s Her.  Jes’ cos She don’t tell us clearly Her will doesn’ mean She ain’t communicatin’.” 

It was getting a little out of his comfort zone.  The wolf could only hope he was communicating properly.  He glanced towards the sky briefly.  “Ah – can teach y’more, y’know.  If y’like.  Ah was taught th’ Lore and th’ Way.”  He paused, clearly struggling with how to phrase what he was to say next.  “Bu’ – mos’ packs don’ follow th’ Way, so.  Might mean leavin’ where yer at, if yer gonna live proper.”  

to have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you

KJORS SØRENSON

to feel your weight in arms I'd never use

It was like something had taken residence in the hollow of her chest, a small flickering flame that yearned for kindling. She had been searching for something, and without even knowing what it was, she had found it. Pure coincidence had brought them together, though on second thought it couldn't have been that simple. The deer she'd followed had taken her here, to meet this stranger and learn of the Mother. It was the Mother's way of revealing herself to her. Nova would be a fool to not heed the messages she was being given, they could not be any clearer than this.

She sharply inhaled when the one eyed male mentioned he could teach her more. Already she wanted to see the priestess he spoke of, and her paws tingled knowing that here she stood on the threshold of the gates of knowledge. It was with extreme self restraint she kept herself from begging that instant that Kjors take her on as a student, his mention of the possibility she would have to leave her home to do so the only thing that gave her pause.

To take his lesson to heart, that she belonged truly to herself, she would have to leave the Pines to follow the pull of her heart. And truly her pack was no real anchor, but she was not so callous to abandon her daughter without a word, and even Iopah deserved more than that.

"Sir, I would love nothing more than to learn what you can teach me of the Mother's way." She said as she licked her lips, wide yellow eyes blinking. "But I have a daughter. I must speak with her first." She said, hoping he would understand.

The wolf waited patiently for Nova to digest his offer – thankfully, it did not take long to decide.  Her answer was the one that he’d been hoping for, and while it would have been ideal she follow him right away…her reasons were something he could understand.  Not every mother, he’d come to learn in his time with Hearthwood River, would abandon their child as easily as @Avari once had.

Kjors bobbed his head and took a step back, allowing her space to return from whence she came.  “A’course,” he answered easily – it was true she might never return at all, but he was not fool enough to think he could force a wolf into the Mother’s fold.  That was not how the world worked, and would not please Her in the least.  “Room fer yer daughter, too, if she’s so inclined.” That she was not at Nova’s side probably meant the girl was old enough to fend for herself, regardless of the decision.  And if they went their separate ways?  Well, certainly, he would do what he could for Nova, he supposed.

With any luck, Karina would return by then.  She was much better with emotional things like loss.  His mind turned to Davin briefly, and then thoughts of the disloyal wolf were dashed as he inclined his head.

“Go north, t’ the trees tha’ touch th’ sky, when yer ready.  Ah live ‘long th’ river, were th’ water meets forest an’ they’re no banks at all.”

With that, Kjors nodded again, and bid the woman farewell.  Now they part – it was up to her should they meet again.

Exit.

to have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you

KJORS SØRENSON

to feel your weight in arms I'd never use

All wrapped up!  :D