She grunted loudly, teeth gripped tightly around the flat stone as she dragged it away from the wall towards a nearby copse of cedar trees, intending to set it down beneath the trees. It didn't take her too long to drag it the short distance, and by the time she sat back to make sure it was in the correct spot, faint rays from the morning sun were just beginning to light up the sky. Ears tipping forward and a soft gasp leaving her maw, Iðunn began to hurry her preparations, not wanting to miss the perfect moment to begin her preparation. If she waited till the sun had risen it would be too late, and she wouldn't go through with her prayer if everything wasn't set up perfectly. Iðunn gathered up her small selection of mushrooms and herbs, more than enough for a few bites and a little extra just in case, and set them down in a small pile next to the flat stone. She then brushed away any dirt from the stone with her paw, making sure it was clean before carefully setting down the chipmunk corpse on top. It had left its home in the trees the prior evening, likely foraging for food, and much to her delight, as only a decently fresh offering would do, and hunting for a small morsel was almost impossible during the night. Sitting back on her haunches, her eyes were firmly locked on the horizon as she waited for the sun to begin to peak over, and only then would she begin her prayer for a bountiful and splendid day, for the God she was about to call upon was Delling, the God of the dawn.

The fire-furred woman started her day with a yawn and a stretch, her toes waving in the air as she bowed down in the direction the sun would soon rise. Her tongue rolled up towards the roof of her mouth before lolling from her parted jaws. Bleary eyes blinked and she gave herself a shake for good measure. The weather was strange her. It wasn’t like home.

In her still-half-awake state, a tantalising scent wafted to her on the breeze. Ears perked atop her head and her tail waved lazily at her back, green eyes swinging this way and that, trying to pinpoint the fresh scent of decay, her mouth already watering at the prospect of a lazy meal.

There was Idunn, with her eyes all but closed locked on the horizon like that, no doubt about to pray, and laid out in front of her and ripe for the taking was a fresh and juicy chipmunk. An ear flick was all it took to shake off any trepidation the younger wolf might have had, a sly grin crossing her features as she lifted a paw and lowered her head. With her gaze focused elsewhere, there wouldn’t be anything to tell her it hadn’t been one of her gods that snatched it away… she just had to be quick…

Muscles bunched, the girl bounded forward, aiming to snap up the morsel before her cousin knew what was happening. It was barely a bite after all.

“Speech”

lightning struck and I found my thunder

Iðunn sat as still as a statue, her only movement the rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, and the occasional twitch of her ears. She hadn't been sitting there for long, gaze locked on the horizon as she waited for the sun to begin to peak above it, before the scent of one of her cousins wafted towards her in the air. An internal sigh went through her body, the only visible sign being a slightly extended exhale, but she didn't move a muscle. Of course Róta was here, more than likely wanting to mess around while she was getting ready to do her prayer. It wasn't the first time, and it definitely wouldn't be the last, but she had to admit that the younger Trygg had some life and ferocity to her which Iðunn begrudgingly accepted as part of her daily life now. She had hoped her cousin was just going to sit back and observe, maybe try and distract her, but when she spotted movement from the corner of her eye she clenched her jaws together tightly, the tip of her tail flicking in annoyance. The prey animal was an offering to the old gods, not a meal for them to eat. If Róta was hungry she could go find her own prey to hunt. With an even and emotionless tone to her voice as she spoke, sounding almost bored, Iðunn turned her head just a fraction to face her younger cousin who was pouncing towards her. "No." She didn't raise her voice or get mad, as that wouldn't work anyways, and instead just offered up a somewhat scolding word, before taking a front paw and moving to slam it down calmly atop where Róta's head would be as she made a mad grab for the chipmunk. Iðunn wouldn't be gentle, and wanted to force her cousins chin down onto the flat stone, maybe making the younger woman bite her own tongue to teach her a lesson (that likely wouldn't be learned regardless) that the offering was not meant for them to eat. Iðunn vs Róta for Dominance Round 1/? Age: Over 1 year Size: Large Build: Light Skills: Beginner Healer & Beginner Hunter

Róta was so close, her jaws parted widely set to snap down on the chipmunk when a single word broke the relative silence. It was punctuated with a sudden force on the back of her head, teeth clamping down on her extended tongue as her head drove into the stone where the offering had been laid. Her sharp and sudden yelp filled the air.

She could taste blood, but it wasn’t of prey, and it dripped onto the stone beneath her. A low growl formed in her chest, a feral look in her sharp green eyes and in the snarl that she gave as she regained her footing and whipped around to barge into the larger wolf with her chest. “Starving will kill me, it won’t kill them!” Her reach was hampered by their height difference, and she didn’t really intend to hurt her cousin, just get her blood pumping enough to endure yet another boring small game hunt. Her grin and growl turned more mischievous as she tried to grab onto the other woman’s shoulder to give her a better chance to throw her weight around.

“Speech”

lightning struck and I found my thunder

]

Róta vs Iðunn for Dominance
Round 1/2
Age: over 1 year
Size: Medium
Build: Heavy
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Hunter

As her paw successfully made contact, she heard a dull thud of bone hitting rock, and a loud yelp from her cousin. She frowned as Róta snarled and whipped around to try and bowl her over, swiftly moving backwards with the motion in an attempt to not be fully knocked over. If she fell to the ground it was all over, as even though Iðunn was taller, she was much lighter in terms of weight, and her cousin would have a very good chance at simply sitting on her and keeping her in place. As she was pushed backwards, she dug her hind paws into the ground to push back with her strength, wanting to keep Róta from just continuously pushing her further away from the chipmunk, the thought of putting too much space between her and the offering filling her with annoyance. She knew Róta would take any chance at all at snatching it right under her nose. Iðunn held back a scoff at her cousin's dramatic words, but her ears flattened back against her skull to show her displeasure at the meaning behind them. But she didn't say anything in response, for she had nothing of value to add, and her words likely wouldn't be payed much attention until the worst of the scrap between them was through. Róta then seemed to switch around her plan, moving to grab her shoulder. She hissed at the contact of teeth to her flesh, but held her ground, stamping her feet into the soil to try and prevent herself from being tussled around. Her cousin was aware she had an advantage when it came to forceful actions, and Iðunn wanted to try and minimise any chance of herself being tossed about like some kind of puppy play toy. Iðunn then lifted up a front leg and made to curl it around her cousin's neck, using the front portion of her body to push down with all her strength to try and force the younger Trygg down into the dirt, preferably shoving her face right down into it so she got a mouthful of sand, grass, and maybe even some bugs. That'd be her breakfast this morning, instead of the offering Iðunn had dutifully hunted the previous night and kept safe from scavengers, so as to give something of value to the old gods as she prayed. If Róta didn't want to hunt her own meal, then Iðunn was perfectly happy allowing her to go hungry that day, and so she threw all her annoyance at being disturbed into her downward shove, hoping her cousin would wriggle out from under her before she properly got her point across. Iðunn vs Róta for Dominance Round 2/2 Age: Over 1 year Size: Large Build: Light Skills: Beginner Healer & Beginner Hunter

The satisfaction of finding her mark was short lived when her cousin lifted her front leg, throwing it across an auburn shoulder. Never mind. She still had a half crazed grin on her face, blood dribbling from her parted maw as her sides heaved with excitement. This was how she preferred to start her day anyway.

Róta adjusted her mark, dropping her head and splaying her paws against the downward motion. With a rapid thrust she bought her (as they often liked to comment, very thick) skull up, aiming to drive the wind from the taller woman and use the opening to snatch away the chipmunk as her spoils. If the gods had any baring on their lives, they might like to intervene to save their meal. The spoils always went to the victor.

“Speech”

lightning struck and I found my thunder

Róta vs Iðunn for Dominance (and a snack)
Round 2/2
Age: over 1 year
Size: Medium
Build: Heavy
Skills: Beginner Fighter & Beginner Hunter

And the winner is...

Róta

Iðunn must give up by submitting, fleeing or passing out. Totals: Iðunn: Attack Roll: 48 Defense Roll: 7 Agility Roll: 83 Perception Roll: 61 Total: 199 Attack[48] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 48.00 Defense[7] + 5% Bonus[0.35]: 7.35 Agility[83] + 5% Bonus[4.15]: 87.15 Perception[61] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 61.00 Total[203.50] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 203.50 Róta: Attack Roll: 24 Defense Roll: 11 Agility Roll: 89 Perception Roll: 98 Total: 222 Attack[24] + 5% Bonus[1.20]: 25.20 Defense[11] + 5% Bonus[0.55]: 11.55 Agility[89] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 89.00 Perception[98] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 98.00 Total[223.75] + 0% Bonus[0.00]: 223.75

~Permission was given from Nacho for the slight pp

Róta was surprisingly quick in slipping out from under her leg, and just as quickly as Iðunn had tried to essentially stand on her cousin, she was thrust backwards and up. The air was pushed from her lungs as her cousin's skull hit her right in her breast. She exhaled heavily, wincing as the force of the shove sent her stepping backwards, and it was then she decided it wasn't worth trying to continue to stop Róta. Her cousin clearly had more than enough fire and tenacity brimming inside her today, and Iðunn didn't feel like dealing with it, especially as with a quick glance at the horizon she could see the first proper rays of sunlight. There was no time to be screwing around now, and she purposefully stepped to the side to let her cousin snatch up the chipmunk that she so desperately wanted. She could hear her cousin snickering as the younger Trygg swiftly scurried off to snatch the chipmunk where it was carefully laid out. Iðunn rolled her shoulders and neck, taking a few deep breaths to settle herself and get the wind back into her as she watched with a keen eye, making sure Róta didn't disturb the small pile of herbs and mushrooms she had laid out next to the flat stone. If she couldn't offer up a self-hunted piece of prey, then the blood her cousin had dripped onto the stone would have to do. Maybe Delling would find the whole thing amusing and grant her a blessed and productive day even without the offering, as blood itself was also a powerful sacrifice, even if it had only been a few drops. "Now off with you, unless you'll sit there quietly as I pray." Her words were directed at Róta with a firm sternness and a steely gaze as she then moved to sit in front of the flat stone, preparing herself to begin the ritual with practiced ease.

The satisfying sound of air leaving her cousin’s lungs was all the cue she needed to scamper towards the chipmunk with a snicker, scooping the offering up and disposing of it in two short snaps while her cousin caught her breath. It was barely enough to touch the sides of her stomach, but it was a start.

Iðunn recovered surprisingly quickly, regaining her composure and moving back to commence her ritual with nothing but the smattering of blood Róta had left on the stones. When her cousin spoke, the girl openly snorted and sneered. “I have given the gods enough.” There was a bitter weight to her words only the cleric would understand, and irreverently she turned her back on both her cousin and the ritual. She would need to bring down something bigger than a chipmunk to fill the hole in her belly (and heart).

“Speech”

lightning struck and I found my thunder

-Róta exit-

She inhaled deeply at her cousin's words, ears twitching as she regarded the younger woman with a steely gaze, softened only by understanding the meaning behind the words themselves. It had been an unfortunate occurrence of events, but she stood by her part in it, and felt no remorse or regret over what had happened. Whatever emotions Róta felt, as justified as they were, were her burden to bear. But perhaps if there came a day when the younger Trygg wanted to talk about it, Iðunn would listen openly without any judgement. Not bothering to respond back, she watched silently as Róta turned and left. Had the sun not begun to start rising over the horizon she might have watched her cousin leave, but as there was nothing else she could do for the woman and her time was running short, Iðunn quickly began to set everything up. A few bites each of the mushrooms and herbs were chewed thoroughly and swallowed, her gaze focused on the horizon as the top of the sun peeked over, sending a wave of rays out that had her eyes squinting half-closed. She sat there as the sun slowly rose, and only once it had fully cleared the horizon line did she begin to speak, placing a front paw reverently atop the few drops of blood on the stone. "Hail Delling, perspicacious and nurturing God of dawn. I ask you to accept this offering of Trygg blood unwillingly given, and bestow upon my family and I a bountiful and plentiful day, allow us to thrive on this day, and we will praise your name further more as the days go by. Hear my devout prayer. Hail to you Delling." She would sit there for a few minutes more, allowing the mixture she had eaten to take full hold as the first rays of the sun shone down upon her body, and only when the thought sin her mind stilled would she open her eyes to gaze upon the rising sun with a smile on her face. Today would be a good day, she could feel it.

~exit