He'd left a note in the dirt beside the main path leading away from camp. He'd told Sanngriðr to tell whoever she saw. It was time for all of them to come together, to meet, to speak. Judging by how high and how full the moon had been lately, this would be when Midsummer would be if they'd been in the motherland. Less and less, he'd been referring to the place they'd hailed from as home. No. It was simply the motherland. This was home now. This was their home now. This place wouldn't be getting rid of them. The Tryggs were here to stay. He'd tracked and brought in a pair of small whitetails today. What was a meeting without a feast to go with it? They sat beside the fire that crackled merrily in the pit. Dusk. Supper time. Time that everyone be winding down from whatever they'd been up to that day. Víðarr had been busy making preparations, readying for this gathering. Hell, he'd even had to prepare to do it in the common tongue as well as the mother tongue, just in case. There was no telling who exactly would be joining them for the announcement that he was going to make. As the moon began to show in the not quite dusk, the shadow figured it was time. Sitting in one of the well settled spaces around the fire pit in their camp, Víðarr tipped his head back and made the call for his family. It was time. VÍÐARR Ragnarök awaits.

deadline for first post is going to be around the 17, but I might start round 2 sooner if it seems like everyone is here beforehand

Seemingly right on time, the shadow's call rings out. Sanngriðr smiled to herself. It seemed like Víðarr had well and truly made up his mind. When he'd stopped her in the morning, asking her to tell the others if she saw them, the valkyrie just knew. She knew that he'd set his mind to things. She knew that he'd done it. Really, she couldn't help but be proud of him. It seemed that her little brother had really grown up, and he was going to take this life and make it his own in every way possible. Good for him. Supper was laid out near the fire, and Sanngriðr could smell it as she neared. She offered a knowing smile and a nod to her brother before taking her seat opposite him, across the cheerfully crackling fire. It smelled wonderful, but it could wait. There would be plenty of time to celebrate the midsummer amongst themselves. The woman was relaxed as she settled on her haunches, remaining quiet other than a greeting. The others would arrive soon enough. A family meeting. The valkyrie was prepared to translate if necessary, depending on who joined them. Trust. There's plenty of trust here. Around her, an air of excitement seemed to swirl about. Midsummer was the most lovely time of the year. New beginnings were about to come along. Though there were going to be growing pains, Sanngriðr was prepared. Ready. Excited. Together, they could take on the world. SANNGRIÐR Kom och hata mig.

Rōta had been ranging, getting a feel for the place since it seemed like they were going to stay put. She had even been giving Idunn a break in the lead up to midsummer, maybe they would think she was turning over a new leaf, or some bullshit. A girl could dream. They probably just knew she was just waiting for them to lower their guard.

The smell of cooking meat caught her attention more than the summons and she joined her siblings with a crooked smile and grumbling stomach. The rusty woman nudged her nose beneath each chin with a grumble of greeting and moved off to the side, making a show of huffing and sighing, flopping her rump to the ground and scratching at the fur around her neck. She didn’t want to wait for the others to arrive, but understood her siblings probably wouldn’t stand for it if she tried to grab and run. Clearly Vidarr had something to say, and San was there to back him up.

“Speech”

lightning struck and I found my thunder

She had been busy reading the note left beside the main path when Víðarr called out. What perfect timing. Her paws lead her back to the main camp, the scent of smoke wafting her way just before she caught sight of it. Sanngriðr and Rōta had already arrived, and so she spared no time in making her way over with a dip of her head in greeting to all three of her cousins. Hopefully they would not have to wait long for the others to arrive.

Iðunn sat down beside Sanngriðr, closely eyeing the other Trygg woman from her periphery. It was a wonder Rōta hadn't snapped up a morsel by now, but it seemed she was putting on a show of restraint tonight. She might have cracked a small smile at that if it wasn't for the consistent aching pain in her upper jaw that had been plaguing her for nearly half a moon cycle, even with the pain remedies she had access to. To be frank it made her quite irritable most days, and she had mostly kept to herself to limit the chances of her snapping at any of her cousins. But this gathering seemed unavoidable, and so she sat there with as much of an indifferent expression as she could plaster on her face.

Wight is out exploring the nearby woods when Víðarr’s voice rings out. White dipped toes pause mid-step, head tilting slightly as the cosmic colored wolf ponders if she should join the meeting. The call had been for family and, while she not related by blood, Wight feels bound to this family. Mind made up, the nebula cloaked wolf sets a quick pace to join the family by the firepit. As she approaches, Wight dips her head in greeting to Víðarr and the other gathered wolves. Sitting as far off to the side and out of the way as she can, the nebula hued woman settles onto a stack of furs and slowly slides down onto her stomach. Duel-toned eyes search the faces of the others wolves, trying to see if they are as surprised as her about the call. She waits with the others in silence, waiting for the rest appear and the meeting to begin.

"Wight Baade"

Bodin had been out hunting, as was his way. The hulking man had a sack full of summer ptarmigans between his teeth when the call rang out. Rather than going out of his way to take them back to food storage, he simply took the birds with him. Coming into the clearing, the galactic brute noted those that were already present. He bestowed friendly nods to the group, gave a lingering look to San, then went and deposited himself on the furs beside his smaller, though equally galactic sister. The man leaned in to gently nose her cheek, still amazed that she had made it off of their island home in one piece. Sliding down to lay on his stomach, Bodin tossed the bag of dead birds off to the side. He then turned his attention fully to Vidarr, who would apparently be the speaker this evening. "Speech"

The last of the siblings would finally make their appearance, Auðr had been farther from them the most as of late, their curiosity drawing them further south for the majority of the time they'd arrived on this continent. It was known that they'd return though, they were not a deserter and though they shirked the limelight they knew well enough where they slotted into the family dynamic. Víðarr's call reached them and Auðr would turn their wandering paws towards family, towards home.

Their slate gaze roved over the gathered wolves and much like their cousin Auðr was a little surprised to see that their sister was managing to hold herself back from the delicious smelling meats. Auðr lifted their gaze to seek out Víðarr's gaze, gave their brother a nod and then settled themselves at the back of the group, close enough to obviously be there and paying attention but with the safe distance of their role, the silent brains, the villain of the day.

Speech

Image by Atreum9

After the call, they appeared one by one. To his surprise (though maybe not, as there was food involved) Róta was the first. Iðunn not long after, settling at Sanngriðr’s side. Tove next, and Bodin behind her, to which the shadow offered a smile and a nod, a silent greeting. They were part of this family now too, and Víðarr was happy to see that they knew it as well. Auðr was the last to arrive, and the shadow met their gaze. They’d speak together later, after their meal. There was much to discuss, but he was glad that the last of his siblings had returned home. Quite a lovely sight, his family pulled together as they were. He was also glad that he’d practiced his announcement in the common tongue. With a gaze around the circle to each, Víðarr took them all in. “Thank you for gathering with me, tonight.” It felt strange to be so formal. He took a deep breath, did his best to relax. “I am grateful for you, for all of you. For this family, and us being together. I love you all dearly.” Not often a man of words, the shadow took a moment to consider them all in turn. Strength in numbers, and strength in family. Gods, how strong they were. “This place that we’ve found, it’s starting to feel like home. I would like to make you a proposal tonight, with the gods as our witness.” Víðarr sat a bit straighter, taking a breath. “I would like to bring us together, formally, as a band. If there are no objections, I would like to sit at our head, but I want it to be clear that everything we do is together. I offer you my heart, and I ask for yours in return.” For someone who was so unused to talking (especially in the common language of the land), he was doing alright. The time that Víðarr had put into practice was really paying off. “Like in the old country, decisions are a vote. All big decisions, starting with this one.” He took a breath, taking a moment to look to each of them once more. How would they react? It was important, though, that they be on the same page. Víðarr was able to relax a bit more, having spoken his mind. VÍÐARR Ragnarök awaits.

sorry that this was a couple days late, I haven't been feeling well T.T
deadline for the second round is the 26ish, but I may make the final post sooner if it seems everyone has responded before then <3

As one by one her family gathered, the valkyrie offered a look to each. Iðunn settled by her side, though she looked… not the most well. Her forehead creased for a moment, studying the priestess. What was on her mind? Sanngriðr would speak with her later, she supposed. The valkyrie took notice, too, of Bodin’s return to camp. It was as if she could feel his gaze upon her, though her heart squeezed she wouldn’t turn to look. No, she had to play it cool, at least for now. The most surprising appearance of all, though, is Auðr. They’d returned, at last. Sanngriðr wondered what news they brought, and could only hope that there was information to share. Though Sanngriðr knew the proposal that was coming, she was nearly surprised by the show of emotion that came with it. Uncommon as it was for her brother (or any of them, truly) to display feelings as publicly, she understands the weight that it carries. It was a heavy announcement, one of new beginnings. To the valkyrie, it was the very last decision that would keep them from ever returning home. An ending, a new beginning. They’d put down their roots here. They didn’t need to fear, they didn’t need to go back. For that, she was grateful. “I’m in favor.” The words came from her chest, from her heart. She would stand by her brother’s side as she always had. Everything Sanngriðr had done from the start of this adventure was to support a better life for her siblings. Though this was a new beginning, it was in the spirit of her quest from the very start. SANNGRIÐR Kom och hata mig.

Róta was growing impatient as each wolf took their sweet time filing in, each seemingly surprised to not find her neck deep in the deer. Well if they didn’t hurry it up, she’d do just that.

Her rump gave a little wiggle of surprise, her tail thumping the ground when Auðr made an appearance. She gave them a lopsided smile, happy to have some brains back to direct the brawn, but there would be time for tackling and pestering later. Her attention turned back to Víðarr with some surprise when he began speaking in common. Well, things certainly were changing. She couldn’t keep the amused smirk from her face. First Iðunn, now her brother. Miracles would never cease, but she couldn’t ignore the scent of the roasting meat anymore.

“If I say yes can I eat already?” she said the words with good humour, clearly insinuating that she hadn’t felt needed to be asked in the first instance, moving towards the fire without waiting for an answer, knowing someone would stop her if she was getting ahead of herself. She’d only put up a token scuffle, what was a party without a few blows?

“Speech”

lightning struck and I found my thunder

Bodin appears and makes his way to Tove’s side, her big brother nuzzling her cheek in greeting. Tove smiles warmly at him, leaning into his bigger frame as he settles onto his stomach. She gives a small hum of contentment before turning her head to give her full attention to Víðarr. Duel toned eyes watch him with great curiosity as the shadow speaks. A smile appears when he speaks of family and Tove leans into Bodin’s side a little more. When he speaks of making a band and then puts it to a vote, Sanngriðr is the first to speak up. The smile Tove is wearing grows, the thought of his sister being the first to answer warming her heart. Róta is next agreeing to it… if she can eat. With that, Tove looks to her brother, the miracle of finding him alive still fresh in her mind. Turning her duel-toned gaze to Víðarr, the nebula colored wolf says, “I’m in.” The simple words binding her future to the group.

"Tove Baade"

Tove was the next wolf to arrive, though she sat away from the three of them. Iðunn stared silently at the woman unblinkingly for a few moments, until she finally returned her gaze back to Víðarr. She'd take the time to figure out Bodin's sister another time, perhaps when she wasn't feeling so irritable all of the time. It would do no good to snap at their newest member out of annoyance. Bodin was next, and Iðunn felt like she would have needed to be blind to miss the extended stare he sent Sanngriðr's way. It was almost enough to make her smile, knowing what she knew.

As a surprise Auðr showed up, sitting quietly at the back of the group without any comment of their own, and she would be lying if she said she wasn't happy to see them. The two would need to catch up at a later point in time, as Iðunn wanted to know what they had been up to all this time. But Víðarr began to speak then, and she quickly looked his way, a soft hum in the back of her throat at his use of the common tongue. At least he had been practicing.

For a man of so few words he spoke many, and she felt her heart swell with pride at the sight of him truly becoming the man that she knew him to be. He would make a good leader for their group, and she would do anything and everything to make the transition to an official group as smooth as possible. Sanngriðr was the first to speak up in agreement, swiftly followed by Rōta who moved closer to the waiting food, as impatient as ever, and finally Tove.

"You have my allegiance," she said with a deep and intense look at Víðarr. Whatever he needed she would be there to help however she could. This was the start of something new, and they would all need to protect each other to assure their survival in this strange and new place.

The wolves filed in and eventually Vidarr began to speak. Everyone listened with rapt attention as the man informed them of his intention to turn their ragtag group into a band. It was simply a change of words for Bodin. They were essentially already a band, a group, a traveling pack. If Vidarr wanted to call them something different, so be it. After the man spoke his desires to the group, he asked the rest to vote. Bodin wasn't particularly keen on setting himself up in a pack, but... San was here and, as he listened, she agreed, supporting her brother. Tove agreed as well and did so quickly, to the galactic brute's surprise. She'd been with the group for such a short amount of time... could she really make an educated decision in this matter? The rest of the wolves agreed as well. Bodin didn't want to be beneath another's rule, but he would try for San and Tove's sake. In the end, the giant man merely nodded. "Speech"

He listened one by one as they each confirmed, feeling his heart swell as he did. Though generally stoic, having each confirm their willingness... it was a lot. It was a good lot. Víðarr couldn't help but be grateful for it, for them. For each of them in turn. Though their family had been patched together, the remains of two families now... it was wonderful. All of it was well and truly wonderful. The shadow was able to relax now. The anxiety, the tension that had come with the announcement that he'd been holding in, all of it melted away. Grateful. Grateful for all of them. Víðarr really and truly was. Gods, how he loved them. "Thank you. All of you." The gaze that he cast about them all was gentle, a smile playing on his lips. Víðarr looked to Róta in particular as he spoke next, before looking to the others as well. "Well, then with that, let's eat." It was with a rumbling chuckle from his chest that he cast his muzzle toward the pair of deer. Though there was more than enough food to go around in camp, there was something special about this meal. The new beginning that came to all of them, and would shape their futures in ways that he could only dream of. He'd allow the others to go first before taking a cut for himself. It really was something special, at least for him. A special night for new beginnings... for all of them. VÍÐARR Ragnarök awaits.