she'd seen Hannibal with Deathbelle at the Blot, cementing that the Ashen wolves were still around. it only caused her to be reminded that she needed to talk to Valkyrie. but seeing as the Viking woman felt their traditions were important, Dutch wasn't going to sour the mood at the festival. she'd talk to her after everyone left. she had paced around, chatted with the Hjarrandi and their guests before excusing herself for the night. her pregnancy was becoming more apparent and she felt she should at least rest more. now that the sun was up and the people had all gone home, she approached Valkyrie. "hey, Valk?" the dwarf would call out, trying to find the band's leader. was she still sleeping from a night of partying? Dutch murmured sympathies, always having such a bad headache after her own partying. shaking off the moss that she had collected for a makeshift den during her time with the Hjarrandi, the dwarf hovered around the festival's grounds. with her was the armor she was making for the Ashen empress. it was done now, to be presented as a goodwill gift when she joined the pack.

 

As she did every morning, Valkyrie had risen with the sun. The blot had gone about as well as could be expected considering the diverse makeup of those gathered and though she had indulged in the many festive offerings, she had kept her wits about her. It had been tempting to sleep in but she knew there was still work to be done. She'd tended to her captives, who were tucked safely away and well beyond the reach of the blot's participants, had a small breakfast and was now returning to the festival grounds to mingle with those who had stayed for the promise of things to come.

Dutch's voice reached her ears and pulled the tall woman from the path she had been on. Valkyrie had a pretty good idea what the diminutive woman wished to speak to her about. It was about time they address her pregnancy. A bastard herself, Valkyrie's opinion on illegitimate children was a bit softer than the norm. It was softer still when the woman in question didn't share her roots although she did still consider an out of wedlock pregnancy the mark of a fool.

As she slowed to a halt before Dutch, Valkyrie noticed the armor at her paws and quirked a brow at her. Something for the market, perhaps? Maybe she'd guessed wrong about the woman's reason for summoning her. "Yes, Dutch?"

""

Dutch knew that Valkyrie deserved to be told, same as Hannibal had. the Hjarrandi had housed her, trained with her, fed her. they were kind and decent. "I'd like to leave, Valkyrie" the dwarf said now, breathing in deep with only the comfort of her unborn children for something to hold onto. she felt like swaying drunkenly. "I'm pregnant" Valkyrie had probably noticed her pregnancy but chose not to say anything. Dutch didn't know if that was a blessing from the ancestors or indifference by the bandleader. "I was invited to join a pack, by the father of my unborn pups" she'd add "my children... deserve to be safe." and band life was not safe for newborns. surely the woman saw that? but it wasn't all bad though. she'd gesture to the armor. "but I secured trade with the pack, the Ashen wolves. they will give you food for this armor and more work if you approach them. your band will flourish in my absence." she made sure of that. she wanted to give back to the Hjarrandi for all they've done for her. though it was mostly a business tone, Dutch knew Valkyrie hadn't gotten as close to her to talk like old friends. there was never a time with all the work and preparing they did for the Blot and Market. the dwarf felt a bit sad for that. she only joined Ashen for her children. she wanted them to know their father and wanted them to be surrounded by family. no matter how foreign the wolves of the pack were... no matter what they said to her, Dutch would endure it.

Valkyrie listened intently, her mood unreadable as she considered the situation at hand. Though it had been a reasonable assumption to think impending motherhood would change things for Dutch in someway, the Drottin hadn’t anticipated she would want to leave the band.

“The father, can he not come here? You and I have an agreement, surely he can respect that and come to you. And your children will be as safe with us as they would with any pack.” What could a pack offer that a band could not because a fixed position?

Valkyrie didn't seem to be getting it and the dwarf shook her head. "he is an alpha" Dutch went on, recalling Hannibal's words to her. he ruled alongside Deathbelle, and would ensure their children grew up loved and welcomed. she had to trust him. she knew that the Hjarrandi would look to these unborn children and call them bastards. even if Valkyrie was kinder than most Vikings, that's all they'd ever see. "he can't come to me, no." asking Hannibal to leave his status as an alpha behind for her was unfair. they weren't even mates. she sighed. "it isn't fair to ask my unborn pups to live a nomad life, Valkyrie. in Ashen, they'll be with their family. they'll be able to decide on what they want to be." they'd have more freedom, but Dutch bit back saying that. she was never one of the Hjarrandi; she had been a little dwarf trailing after them for months now, interested only in honing her crafting skills. she never felt like one of the band. they may have been from the same land, but Dutch had grown in a different setting. who knew if Ashen was going to be home either? "if it's our arrangement you're troubled about, I've done plenty of crafting to ensure Market Day is a success for the Hjarrandi" Valkyrie would find the fruits of her labor in her old den. stocked to the brim with various items that Dutch had made. but after Market Day? she wasn't going to be here.

 

It didn't matter to Valkyrie who the father was or how important he was to wherever he belonged. She hadn't made a deal with him. She'd made a deal with Dutch. To say she was disappointed in Dutch's decision was an understatement. She'd thought she'd chosen her band members well; selecting only those possessing the loyalty and drive necessary to make Hjarrandi work. With this one she had been mistaken. "His position is of little consequence to me. You and I had a deal and that is what matters."

"Fair," she scoffed. "If we're going to talk about fairness what about Hjarrandi? How many wolves are you letting down by leaving? We will be short a fighter less than a season after returning to Boreas and at the beginning of raiding season no less."

Valkyrie shook her head, the corners of her mouth turning downward in displeasure. "You knew what you were getting into when you joined; if you didn't think you could keep your word why did you come?"

""

Dutch's patience was wearing thin. she had tried to be respectful to Valkyrie and let her know, instead of up and leaving them without a word. making them worry about her whereabouts, only to show up randomly in their presence, slimmer than before. without her pups, with them somewhere else. "I didn't ask for these children" she'd try to keep her tone civil despite her inward rage that the band leader was refusing to see reason in favor of her ambition. she kept her tone polite "but they're here. it's my choice and my fault it came to this; don't punish them, Valkyrie." you're better than that she wanted to scream. she had believed in the woman, but now it was hard to see that she had ever respected her. pride was a downfall, and expecting motherhood knocked her own right back to the earth itself. "the Hjarrandi has no base, no formal land to call their own. you'd be exposing my children to the elements and predators, right before winter starts. without a suitable den and support, they'll die." Dutch went on reasonably. especially since Valkyrie had probably made a few enemies with 'market day'. capturing the denizens of Boreas and holding them hostage... the dwarf had to worry about people seeking revenge. hurting her children wasn't beyond anyone's capability. "I wanted to give you the respect you have given me by telling you to your face" Dutch was no coward, however much this hurt now "I wanted to tell you I'd be leaving instead of up and going without your knowledge. you would have wasted time and energy trying to find me" maybe it was a mistake to even come to see the bandleader. she'd shake her head, not wishing to go on about 'fairness' and 'owed debts'. all she had done was travel with the Hjarrandi to Boreas; she didn't owe them a life debt. nobody has saved her life. she worked her ass off to provide for them and it was being thrown in her face. it was clear this was not home. it was barely a house. "what would you have me do, Valk? tell me; I don't know what else to say or do." she'd slip back into a defeated sigh.

 

"Oh please," she scoffed. "Since when do we not have dens? When do other predators dare approach us? When do the elements plague us? If you sleep in the rain or in the cold or where bears might eat you, it is no one's fault but your own. We do not own land, I will agree to that much, but we are not vagabonds with nothing but pillows of dirt and filth."

As for Dutch coming to say tell her of her wishes... "Leaving without a word would not have been wise, there we agree." If Valkyrie had been forced to track her down she would not have been happy with Dutch when she found her.

Valkyrie was quiet for several moments as she considered Dutch's last handful of statements. "Fulfill your obligation. Your honor and mine demand it."

""

yes, the Hjarrandi were not savages but Dutch failed to see how they'd be protecting her pups during raids and kidnappings. "it isn't just about a den and safety" she protested "it is about their right to know their family, that their family have the chance to love them and accept them." because she was not part of Valkyrie's family. that much was clear; the woman only saw her as an object to be used, to make stuff until her paws fell and her blood bled the ground red. she did not fight to keep a friend; she fought to keep a tool. Dutch felt used. how could she let herself be used, when she had wanted to do the using? the little dwarf's voice was hard but full of deep regret that she had to come to this. that she had to resort further to what she knew would be true if Valkyrie did not let her leave "the father knows of these pups. he will fight for these pups. his pack will too, if I fail to come as I promised him" her eyes swam with an unreadable emotion as she continued on, as if she was resigning herself to the fate she had played a part in "I don't want a war. I don't want anyone - Hjarrandi or Ashen - to be hurt over one night of lust." she admitted that she was not mated to Hannibal, that they only shared these children and nothing more. that he was not important to her in that special way that most parents were to each other. she knew this all. she knew that giving up her freedom to anyone was killing her. Ashen or the band, she was at the mercy of others. be it Hannibal or Valkyrie. "do you think I'm worth that? worth the lives of your people? I don't" Dutch added in, frowning slightly. "If I cannot leave for Ashen, how will my children be protected? we are raiders, crafters, and traders; we are not babysitters. a crying child will alert enemies of our location. resources will be diminished to feed them." she was trying to think of everything at once and was failing in doing so. "will you keep me here, against my will?" her voice was small and defeated entirely now, her head hanging from its proud gaze. she had assumed Valkyrie was her friend.

 

Valkyrie's expression hardened, her pale blue eyes suddenly like ice as Dutch threatened to sic the father on her. "My people know what they signed up for. If necessary they will go to battle and defend our honor in the name of Hjarrandi no matter who stands against them."

"If "one night of lust" and its consequences mean so much to him," Valkyrie said as she adopted a low, predatory stance, "Then he can be the one to compensate Hjarrandi. If it is a whore he wants then he will have to pay a whore's price. Then we will be even."

Intent on forcing the woman to submit, Valkyrie leapt at Dutch. Her goal was to wrap her clawed paws around Dutch's neck while biting the woman's scruff at the base of the head in order to gain control of her head. She intended to twist to her left and force the woman to the ground.

Valkyrie versus Dutch for Force Claim (right to retain?)
Round One of ???
Size: Extra Large
Build: Light
Defensive Accessory: Bear Mask
Companion 1: Macaque, Battle
Companion 2: N/A
Mutation: Retractable Claws, Battle
Disability: N/A
Fight Skill Level: Master
Specialty: Berserker

""

how did it get to this? Dutch had reigned in her anger, her rage and tried to use reason. but reason? that was never her strong suit. she tried to make this bitch see, what, an alliance to be formed from this? that pack and band could be unified and kept in business? that it'd be beneficial? no, she was kidding herself. "damn it, Valk!" the dwarf snapped at last as the Viking tried to grab her. call her a whore, call her whatever she fucking wanted but nobody was going to hurt these kids. "I'm not risking these lives because of your stupid ego!" she was close to birthing them, and she had carried them to term without much trouble. she would not risk a miscarriage or abortion. at this point, she didn't care if Hannibal would free her either. he wanted the kids, not her. she wasn't in some grand delusional state about her importance. Dutch protected her large belly, tucking her legs under her as she fell to the earth with Valkyrie above her. she glared openly but made no move to defend herself. days away from giving birth, she wasn't allowing a fight. she promised after fighting Sirius that she was done until the pups were born and older. "I'm not fighting you" she spat angrily, seething with rage "I concede." but she got nothing from it. losing a friend, an ally... if she even was her friend at all, to begin with. she just fuckin' hoped she was worth the aggravation. Dutch was nobody and nothing; she was a tool to be used by anyone who needed her skills. but the pups - her children - were innocent. they would be kept out of this stupid feud if she could manage it. but their fate and her's... that wouldn't be Valkyrie's to choose. Dutch took the joy out of that. "take me to market then. I don't give a shit who buys me." as long as they were safe. ooc; dutch accepts the loss with as much grace as she can handle.

Dutch submitted and Valkyrie released her immediately and then moved to stand before her. Valkyrie was the picture of tranquility as she studied Dutch - she’d more or less won, hadn’t she? - and she would make no further moves against the little woman unless she resisted. “Perhaps,” she purred. “In the heat of the moment you didn’t hear me.”

“You’re not going to market my dear harlot. If he cares for you at all, your john will pay for you.” Dutch has been in the band for less than a season. Though they had traveled together Valkyrie felt as though she was finally learning who Dutch was. The dwarf was thoughtless and capricious. She didn’t know the meaning of loyalty and thus she was no friend of Valkyrie.