-private thread-

Spring was barely breaking. The only signs of warmer weather were the tips of grass gently peering past their snowy blankets. Aksel was out and about again, curiosity driving him forward though he had to admit he was a bit bored. Nothing interesting had happened in awhile and he was getting restless. Thoughts drifted casually back to Warja, the girl that couldnt’ stand him. Aksel let out a laugh. She was fun, even if she didn’t like him he rather enjoyed their little rivalry. Aksel froze, glancing quickly behind him. He could feel it, the sense of being watched and it made his hackles raise. Bears were bound to be waking from their naps and it occured to him that he would make a rather good snack for a bear. Definitely time to get going…  "Speech"

Dægmar was in a foul mood. Winter had finally passed as relieved her of her damnable heat but of course she couldn’t resist messing around and look at this… she was pregnant, she was sure of it despite her body barely showing any outward signs. Again! This time she was pretty sure the father wouldn’t be interested in keeping them and she was sorely tempted to look for a way to rid herself of the little beasts… but then there also was the thought, so daring, so strange she almost didn’t dare thing it. She could actually raise them. Dægmar’s thoughts drifted back to her run in with Acadia, one of her daughters and she had to admit they were on her mind. Lyonovei had a stunning build, clearly meant to be a warrior. Could she perhaps train the pups? Treat them more as soldiers rather than children and have her own personal little army? It would be terribly useful. It seemed like Dægmar was off to a new pack almost every week. She scowled… hopefully Valentine would have better luck hanging onto his pack than the previous leaders she’d served under.

Lost in her thoughts Dægmar almost missed the young man that crossed the old deer trail right in front of her. Eyes widened as she caught the markings on his coat. It couldn’t be…. it was the sickly little boy from her litter with Loki. By the gods, he survived! Grinning and brimming with curiosity she moved to walk along next to the man, body moving stealthily to be as silent as possible. “Another one of my offspring and the father is no where in sight. I’m starting to worry.”

"Speech"

-private thread-

Aksel’s mind had settled quickly as he started walking again. A spring in his step the young man was practically humming until out of the blue a woman appeared right next to him, her voice shattering him out of his reverie as he let out a yelp and skittered to the side, ears back, hackles raised. His jaw’s fell open but not to ready for battle, more out of shock as he noticed the uncanny resemblance between himself and her. Slowly, his brain started to sort out her words. Offspring… offspring… Aksel’s jaws clicked shut as glared at the woman. “I believe your mistaken. My mother is Imena of the once Valhalla.” Quickly ridding himself of this nonsense he turned to walk away.  "Speech"

Imena? Pfft! Who the hell was that? Another of Loki’s lovers she supposed. Dægmar moved to place herself in front of the boy, a warning growl slipping from her throat. “I think we both know that’s a lie. Go ahead and hate me for it if you wish but I wasn’t done talking to you yet.” Hackles laced down her back as she eyed the boy, her intense emerald gaze meeting his own mismatched glare. Well… it seemed he had one of his father’s eyes and one of his grandfathers. She grinned, maybe he had his grandfather’s talent despite being of a smaller build? “Tell me boy… has your father bothered to teach you anything of battle?”

"Speech"

The woman moved in front of him and Aksel returned her growl. He was smaller than his siblings but he’d worked hard to learn to fight and was no novice. If this woman insisted on getting in his way he’d bring her down, regardless if he shared some of her genetic material. Anger was swirling hot in his stomach. What was she doing here? Why now? And why was she so casual about having abandoned them? Any mother should’ve been weeping for forgiveness but she was treating him as if she’d simply misplaced an old deer carcass.   “A real mother wouldn’t have dumped us… a real mother…” Aksel’s teeth grit and he shook his head, no he couldn’t do this right now. Eyes opened, glaring fiercely at her.   “I know plenty of battle, I’ve trained with my uncles and dueled with rogues so I’m warning you right now… get out of my way.”  "Speech"

Dægmar grinned as he threatened her, pleased to see that the boy had some back bone and on top of that battle experience. Well, at least his time with Loki wasn’t a complete waste. Hmm… perhaps she could start adding to her army right now? Mehh…. maybe. The boy certainly didn’t seem to fond of her. She rather doubted any of the spawn from that litter would willingly follow her. Oh well, it wouldn’t hurt to see if he’d be worth her time. “Judging from the rest of your siblings wandering about like aimless fools I’m guessing you didn’t know this Imena all that long and she probably didn’t bother to come looking for you. I also don’t seem to see your father anywhere, hm? Now isn’t that odd… but alright, alright, I’ll go. But at least I came to look for you, chew on that for awhile.” It was a lie, but a pretty one. Dægmar turned to leave, walking several paces until she'd heard the sounds of the boy turning and walking away. She whirled around her self to face his retreating rearend, acting as if she’d forgotten to say something but instead her defenses flared up and she charged. Fangs parted and she leapt, parted jaws seeking to tear into the top of her hips, bother her front limbs lifting off the ground seeking to wrap around the front of his knees to pull back sharply as she slammed her chest into his hindquarters. She was going to teach this whelp a lesson he wouldn't soon forget.

"Speech"

Aksel sensed the change in the atmosphere before the attack landed, he'd just started to turn as the woman slammed into him. Pain blossomed in his head as fangs tore into the flesh on top of his hips, her chest slam sent him stumbling forward but he'd managed to keep his footing, limbs spreading to bear her weight, she wasn't that much bigger than him after all. He was no longer a little child. With little flesh to give her a solid grip Aksel's limbs coiled under him as he launched forward swinging around to face her and tearing himself free of her grasp. Defenses locked in tight. How dare she…. anger suddenly exploded within him. This lowly bitch… HOW DARE SHE TOSS THEM ASIDE! The were living creatures! They were not trash! HOW DARE SHE! The boy charged, fangs parting as he dove in low for her left front leg , head tilting to the right. He wanted to grasp that limb and shred it. His right forepaw lifted as he sought to bring it down on the toes of her left forepaw.  "Speech"

Dægmar grinned and licked the blood from her maw, quickly catching herself before she fell to far forward, rebalancing quickly on her paws. Well, at least the boy wasn't afraid of pain and his defenses were well set but how about his attacks? He charged in and she swiftly lifted her left foreleg, body shifting slightly to the right as she sought to get the limb out of reach, his fangs tore moderate lacerations down her foreleg and she grinned before her head dived down to seize the whelps muzzle and lock it shut. He was a mouthy little shit after all.

"Speech"

Aksel's fangs snagged Dægmar's leg but not soon enough to get a grip. He swore loudly, legs back pedaling just in time for her fangs to score moderate wounds across the top of his muzzle, but he'd managed to avoid a hold. Her jaw clicked shut and he charged again this time seeking to tear into her right cheek and maybe even her right eye, blind her for her crimes so everyone would see!  "Speech"

He moved well for a young wolf, it was clear he was trained but he was letting his anger rule him and his attacks were simple and straight-forward. Not strategic like she was expecting from one of Loki's spawn. However, he was fast and he'd locked her in, twisting her head even further to her own left she'd managed to spare her eye but Aksel's fangs tore deeply into her right cheek and held fast in a hold. Well, well…. what a little brat. She snarled then threw her front legs forward seeking to wrap them around the boys neck and twist to her right to drag him to the ground at the same time she sought to twist her head to let the thinner flesh tear that she might violently pull herself free.

"Speech"

Victory! Aksel felt his heart leap, he'd missed her eye but with her face in his grasp he had control over her most powerful weapons. And that was when her forelimbs wrapped around his neck and she tipped to the side, Aksel released his grip in surprise and tried to pull back but to no avail, she had him caught. He hit the ground on his left side and the two met in a clash of fangs that ended in her seizing his lower jaw between her own, his own top fangs resting over the bridge of her nose. And then, as if in slow motion she jerked her head and body back in the other direction to her own left and Aksel shrieked, quickly getting to his paws, trying to follow her as she fractured his lower jaw. Eyes watered, he stumbled back as she finally let go a choking sob falling from his damaged maw. If he'd know anything about healing he'd have know that the fracture was hairline but the pain was still startling. Mismatched gaze turned to glare at the woman as he reset his defenses, preparing once again to fight.  "Speech"

Dægmar got to her feet, emerald gaze eyeing the spawn of her loins, her voice spilling from her bloodied fangs smooth as silk.   "Surely you did not expect me to leave with out giving you a little test?  Or that I would go easy on you?  Chin up kid, you're not that bad but you could use a little polish." Tongue snaked out to lap at the blood that was spilling over her muzzle.  Gaze softened for just a second but the wraith quickly recovered.   "I don't suppose you feel better after tearing into me, hm?"  Her questions were all met with silence and she laughed.   "You've torn up my beautiful face.  Whatever will Hati say?  Ha!  I don't blame you if you hate me, it's well within your rights but… you're at a crossroads.  Who do you have looking out for you right now?  Yourself?  If I were crueler you could be dead or violated or any manner of nasty things.  So if you ever decide you want to test yourself, to protect yourself, to be a part of something greater than yourself… visit me in Imperium."

Her voice suddenly fell quiet as she turned to leave, head twisting back to gaze at her son.   "I abandoned you because I knew I believed I could not be a mother.  I can lead and nurture warriors… not children and your life would've been cruel so I gave you to a father that loved you.  I feel I should get some credit for that decision."  She followed the boys gaze to her bulging stomach and let out a barking laugh.   "Would you seek to look over them?  They are your siblings after all, but I don't think it's in your nature boy.  Family or not." It was the point on the exclamation.  He could preach all he wanted about her abandoning them but he wasn't that different.  He couldn't stand being tied down any more than Loki could.   "I'm here.  They're not.  Make your choice." Stretching lightly the woman turned and left.

-exit Dægmar followed by Aksel exit look at me I'm lazy-

"Speech"