He had washed ashore up north. The seas had been treacherous. Torben knew his makeshift raft hadn't the strength to sail around the world, but he had accepted his death all the same. When it did not come, he thanked whatever gods looked down on him here. Leaving the broken wood behind, he lumbered further into this land. Without knowing where he was, he could not hope to go back. Did he even want to? There was nothing left for him there, back 'home'. The stars looked strange to him too. Torben settled down for the night, resting against a tree among the forest. He scratched his back against the frozen bark, feeling the healing sting of wounds and carefully avoided where they were as he did so. When that was done, he lowered his massive body to the cold earth. His fur kept him warm, even if temperatures dropped during the night like he assumed they would. This was as close as familiar as he'd get to a location. He had lived near a woodland upon a time. Now, he had nothing. As he listened to the crackle of the night, he piqued up when steps seemed to head his way. Tired, weary and still waterlogged, he let out a grunt of acknowledgement. Or was it a warning? SPEECH HERE

Now moving back north, it felt as though Sybil was pacing in circles, just at a much larger scale.
The lack of activity in winter had eased her into her surroundings, but at times she wished she
had been overwhelmed by new life rather than smothered by cold wasteland. Without friends
or family to help pass the time, the clock seemed to slow to a snails pace and the spirit felt
like chewing her nails off. Instead she continued wandering, waiting for something to happen.

She slinked through the massive trunks of the redwood trees. Ever since she had entered that
crypt, it felt like the world had grown while she wasn’t looking. The trees, the landscape, even
the wolves. It made her feel small, and she wasn’t used to the feeling. She was finding that
she didn’t like it very much.

With the wind behind her, she didn’t notice the other pale wolf until he grunted. She jumped,
blue eyes darting to a man sitting by one of the gargantuan trees. Another big one, but older
it seemed. She felt he wouldn’t be as easily startled by a strange, whispy fae lurking the woods.
“Hello?” She tested, limbs ready to spring if this man decided he didn’t want company. By the
looks of it, he’d had enough trouble for the night.

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A thin looking girl appeared. His fluffy hackles felt himself relax. Though he knew better to assume she was of no threat, she seemed to be cautious. Again, the stars twinkled above him. He craned his neck upward. They seemed to be drawing Torben toward focusing on them. He could make out the north star, but the others... He should have paid more attention to Father's lessons. The old raider had travelled farther than him, and learned essential skills in order to survive harsh environments. But Torben was alone now. Without a tribe or family to back him up. He returned his crimson eyes to the girl. "I didn't mean to start you" he grunted once more, but it formed words instead of senseless growls "do you live 'round here?" He knew how that sounded, so he proceeded to continue "wanna know if there are any tribes this far north, or if I should move further in." He wanted to know of the packs, and this girl seemingly appeared out of nowhere. Surely she lived close? If she did not live around here, he'd resist cautioning her. The girl didn't need it, not at her age. But he was worried about her wandering around in the dark alone. SPEECH HERE 2/3 - studied the stars 0/3 - explore land (red forest)

Sybil had trouble surmising the ages of the wolves she had met so far, varying so wildly in size
and proportion as they did, but she knew that this one was the oldest she had encountered so
far. Which wasn't saying much, mind you. She supposed the older wolves had better things to
do rather than wander around far from home. She noticed the similarities between their coats,
both thick and pale, though hers had a subtle curl to it that his didn't. They were both built to
withstand cold, though with how wet his was it probably wasn't much insulation.

This meeting hadn't been planned it seemed, though Sybil was still ready to run if she needed
to. His gaze drifted skyward for a time, but returned to her again as he addressed her directly.
He was direct, but not oblivious of himself, and not hostile either. He seemed tired. "No."
She said, unbothered by this line of questioning regardless of his later addendum. There was
no harm in it, even if intended that way. The girl had no home to return to at the moment.

"No tribes that I know of up here, there's quite a few packs settled around the mountain to
the south though." She offered, head flicking towards where Fenrir's Maw would be on the
horizon. She only had the names of two of them so far.

"Have you just arrived here?" She queried, familiar with the line of questioning. Perhaps
she and him had more in common than their coats.

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No tribes. Only packs. A more organised community, with rules and leaders to follow. Tribes were communal, did not expect loyalty from the start. He bit back a sigh. Of course it wouldn't be that easy to find a new place. He didn't want to pledge allegiance to someone he barely knew, who he knew would barely want to know about him. Alphas were... fickle. They kept to their followers, and rarely focused on the lower folk. The girl smelt of no pack, even if she could direct him to one. "I see" Torben commented, disappointed "and aye" North Star aside, he knew no others to help him travel. He didn't need to inspect them again, even if he lifted his eyes to them with a grimace "stars here are strange, and I'm a stranger to them too." Perhaps his land was another world? He didn't recognise some of them even with the north one. It stood to the semi-reason... He didn't like it though. It meant he was far, far away from where he started. "Washed ashore down that a-way" he rumbled, his eye to the left now. The ocean around this island seemed treacherous.   SPEECH HERE 3/3 - studied the stars 0/3 - explore land (red forest)

The wisp heard the disappointment in the older man’s tone, and it intrigued her. Maybe there was a difference, or maybe he just wanted to be left alone. He’d accepted her company though, so unless he was being awfully polite it seemed the former would be the case. “Is there a difference?” She asked politely. He had looked to the stars before, searching for something in the depths. It struck her now that he was trying to use them to navigate, and she felt like kicking herself for not doing the same when she first got here. It wasn’t something that came naturally to her, she was still in the middle of learning before the… interruption. She moved closer to sit next to him, with a good amount of space between them of course, and looked to the sky, only glancing down when he explained to her where he had come from. She didn’t quite know what she was looking for, but the stars certainly seemed different. Or maybe they were the same, and she had forgotten what they looked like. She felt like she was losing her sense of direction, losing herself again amongst the foreign constellations. ⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

"Aye." He tried to decide where to start, focusing on his old constellations instead of the new ones that threatened his sanity. Torben did not move as the girl came to sit near him, staring across the woodlands. If he knew this was called Red Forest, he'd probably chuckle. Then he'd get it. Redwood trees, not actual red colour. The specific tree dwarfed the other species. "Where I come from, we see old gods in our sky" Torben lowered his skull to his massive paws, finding comfort in old tales and telling them to new folk "while some ain't worshipping them in this day, we still view 'em as important" he tried to think on it more, finding his mind muddy and tired "there's Odin and his two birds for one." He extended a paw, scratching a tall wolf with two avians circling him. He connected the larger points together, making a triangle shape. "You see it in the sky, with the northern star... but I can't in this world." SPEECH HERE 3/3 - studied the stars 1/3 - explore land (red forest)

Sybil’s gaze gently drifted down to earth again as the other wolf began to speak, lowering his own head down to his paws. His exhaustion was almost tangible, the girl felt her own bones ache in sympathy as he moved and spoke. Maybe the sight of a sturdy looking beast like him had given some kind of subconscious permission for her to feel her own tiredness. She’d been walking a while. The man rumbled on about gods in the stars, carving symbols in the earth with a giant paw as he spoke. A wolf and two birds, a constellation. Sybil was not the religious type, though she held no ill will to those who where. She knew a couple, or had known a couple. She doubted she’d be seeing them again. She looked up again, not as long this time, searching for the constellation he had drawn, but Odin was not present just as the man had said. “This world?” She repeated, curious of the meaning behind his words. ⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

She did not seem to fear him. It was a good thing, considering he meant her no harm at all. Torben would have been offended if he ever saw someone accost such a young lady. He gave a tired, little nod. "There are worlds beyond homelands" he knew the Great Tree had branches and roots everywhere "Yggdrasil" he scratched the image of a tree "like the ones in this woods, though much much bigger." His red eyes focused on the type of trees in the Red Forest. Named for the redwoods. This far north and the trees would never turn a beautiful shade of red in autumn. It was quiet here, even if he spoke and she spoke. Beneath the snow, life flourished. Seeds and acorns were added to the location, fit to burst into trees of their own. Yggdrasil had nine roots, but the branches could be as vast and tangling as the ones here. "We were taught there are nine different realms" he spoke quietly to the girl "in the roots, reaching and snaking out." Different roots, different locations. But - "No one speaks of the branches. They touch, mold together... The barriers are down. People slip into different worlds all the time." He drew a small line to one branch and the next. Perhaps that was easier to explain than how he got here. Torben couldn't remember the journey. Did he really just slip into another world? SPEECH HERE 3/3 - studied the stars 2/3 - explore land (red forest)

The spirit slunk down to rest on her stomach completely, observing the stranger's scratching with gentle interest. The stars had told her nothing, but at least folk tales would give the girl something to chew on. The wolf carved the image of a tree in dirt, naming it 'Yggdrasil'. The word was alien to her. Another language perhaps, though she tried not to pay unimportant intricacies much mind. 'Like the ones in this woods, though much much bigger.' Sybil mimicked the shifting of his head as she too gazed upon the towering monoliths surrounding them. How long she wondered, did it take them to grow to this size? It was difficult to conceptualise just how older they were than her, than the both of them. Wolves only lived to about a decade, it was impossible to imagine what it would be like to live through 50. The man continued, speaking of the nine realms in the roots, and the instability of the branches. Was that where they were now? The girl wondered if she too had quietly slipped into another realm, a different existence. The crypt had certainly looked like a portal when she had rushed inside for shelter. "What was your world like?" She asked, content to listen and learn about the other wanderer some more. ⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Her question made him pause, staring across the Red Forest instead of answering right away. A bittersweet feeling rose in his chest, making it subtly hurt. "Much like this one" Torben replied, giving a nod to their location "though I saw land stretched beyond this wood, on the raft I had traveled" he glanced beyond the forest, a creeping smile on his features "plenty of other systems. Of different domes." But that wasn't what she asked, was it? He took a breath and willed himself forward. "We had a crisp breeze like this northern one, all year round" Torben replied "it came from the mountains, where a smaller group of wolves lived in harmony under the earth" Dwarves, they had called themselves "the mountains, aye, had a snow cap every season. It weren't too hot, it weren't too cold. Comfortable in the comfort of friends and family" he paused, taking note of the redwood trees "mostly pine, long with redwood trees surrounding our camp." The trees had been massive, like these ones. He could look up and not be tickled by the branches and foliage. If he lifted his head here, it would be the same. Even at night, it was secluded and dimly lit by flickering fires. Torben wondered if the gods of old looked down on him here, or if he was alone. "Our camp was built with a huge wall surrounding it, wooden in nature" he rumbled "plenty of dens, tents and the like." SPEECH HERE 3/3 - studied the stars 3/3 - explore land (red forest)

His pause told her this was a difficult question, but it wouldn’t stop her curiosity. He briefly pondered what he saw on the raft, and Sybil’s interest in his story multiplied tenfold. Systems? Domes? Had he caught sight of this great tree’s branches? Pup-like delight was hard to tamp down, the girl was still a child by many definitions after all, just not her own. Unwilling to derail the conversation just yet, she let him continue. He spoke of his land and Sybil thought of hers. His was a communal place, smothered by towering trees and guarded by mountains. Hers was of rolling emerald green hills, livestock and humble living, whispers of wealth on the horizon. Pleasant summers and bitter winters, nothing seemed to change but the seasons. She did miss it, the familiarity. The false sense of stability the repetition had given her. When everything was so big and new she found that she wanted to return to those hills and well trodden paths more than anything. New information woke her from her nostalgia, mind returning to earth. The man described his camp, a humble affair surrounded by walls, as if echoing the surrounding mountains. Their purpose intrigued her. “Walls? Why did you need them?” Young mind already conjuring up towering beasts lurking in the forest, or armies of thousands looking for an opening to attack. ⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

"Cause" he replied to her inquiry, a soft but forlorn grin "not everyone is friendly." It was true in any life, any realm or land. Not everyone had the best intentions. The wall had been defensive, but also displayed the camp's strength in the way it had been built. Torben knew his family had raided many locations before settling, so it was easy to imagine enemies at their door. But peace had been brokered between the different sub-races. The dwarves in the mountains. The elusive lithe-bodied wolves in the woodlands. Then it was them, giants and former Vikings. They had to contend with their own kind attacking them. "If ye live long in this life, ye can imagine... enemies ain't hard to find" he sighed "sometimes, yer past catches up with ye. Even if it be a different generation payin' for it" His family gone, the bandits hadn't cared who had been involved or not "my folks and their folks fought to get their place. Some others didn't like it. They stewed, waited for weakness to set in." Diplomatic or resting on their laurels... SPEECH HERE

Torben replied matter of factly, leaving Sybil a bit disappointed. Maybe there wasn't that much to say, but the yearling wanted something to chew on. Walls were walls it seemed, no matter were you went. Built to keep out bandits and bears, and not much else. It wasn't the case, but Sibyl assumed it so, in a sort of grumpy teenage pessimism. Most settlements her family passed had walls, some great and towering, some little more than piles of rocks to keep livestock in. Neither ever seemed to see much action, a gesture at defense. But the old viking continued, still painfully vague in his wording. Was this what it felt like to talk to her? Best not to dwell on that. Still, she got the gist. She wondered, if her ancestor had held his tongue, if they would still be living as royalty. Maybe the art of foreseeing would still be alive, and she could learn it truly. Pointless wondering of course, the ancient magic was carrion and her generation had been left to pick at the scraps. Maybe for the best then, that she hadn't been left to watch it disappear herself. That's where her and Torben's story split though. Where the carcass of her legacy rotted quietly, his was fresher, and vultures had circled around it as coyotes closed in. Someone had been waiting for his to die. No one noticed when her's did. She'd let him elaborate in the quiet, if he did so, expectant in her silence. ⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

She seemed curious about him. Torben realized she was probably prodding gently for information, having an inquisitive mind. He didn't like to speak much about himself, or speak at all. His throat burned with dehydration and his mind was a mess. Too fresh, the slip into this world. Too fresh, the loss of his people. He felt his head drooping the more they spoke, and it was only politeness that caused him to keep going. "They killed us" he spoke quietly, wearily "raided. Burned our walls. Killed women, chil'ren... They didn't care. We took their land, y'see... Years ago. Before I was even born" but the sins of the father were the sins of his children "m' people were raiders, upon a time" Torben was not sure if anyone survived, but he didn't have hope "drove out folks who lived there. Ye, we probably deserved it. But they didn't hafta kill everyone." Grief was clear in his tone, and his red eyes were uneasily reliving the raid. SPEECH HERE

And it seemed the scavengers had closed in. She watched in silence, eyes flickering with something unknown as the old viking described his tragedy. Her expression softened, if you could call it that. Nothing more of a adjustment of the ears and the lowering of her eyelids. The land she lived on had been taken too, but she wondered if anyone who remembered was left to enact their retribution. To some degree, she'd welcome it. It'd certainly been long coming, and she wouldn't mind seeing those castles crash down from their place in the horizon. The foundations had been built flawed, to build her legacy upon them would be to welcome its entropy. But Sybil still dreamed of more. Torben's story was a raw wound, but she did not worry about reopening it. He had offered this information after all. Even though it might've been difficult for the man to revisit, he'd survive. Thus, she felt no guilt for her silent queries. She'd let him finish his tale if he chose. ⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

"They came to our camp in the night" Torben said gravely, but wearily. The lashes of his eyes closed several times before he jolted awake "took no prisoners" His body drooped, still much too tired from the slip into this realm. The girl did not offer the name of this place and he took it as a sign she was a listener "managed to escape." She was but a wraith, a trick of the deep woods. When he woke up, she could very well be gone. A figment of his imagination. This time, he yawned. Even the action was pained, his body still sore from crashing into the shore. "Ev'yone... dead..." Torben's head slipped and fell, hitting the earth. His eyes closed and he murmured more or less now. If the girl remained, she would hear his night terrors. The twitching in his sleep was broken only by the anguished yowls coming from his muzzle. He hummed low, growling. Fighting invisible foes. And it was as he feared; they truly were dead. He was the last of his tribe. /fade exit through sleep SPEECH HERE

His fatigue was catching up with him, the threads slipping from his grasp, clear from the slurred words and pauses between. Sybil couldn't help draw a comparison to a wounded, dying, man choking out one last message. Was this for her sake, his, or did some part of his mind loathe to leave this particular tale unfinished? Regardless, he had earned her respect, and perhaps even sympathy. He fell away, finally, a quiet surrender as his head rested on frozen earth. Their time together was over it felt. The girl rose, gentle wind rustling her pale curls. She regarded the man with a neutral eye, standing above him. His sleep was not to be restful. She recalled her own nightmares, remembering how her mother would comfort her as she squirmed and cried. These were not the same dreams, that was clear as day from the hurt he had just shared with her. Still, she bent down and kissed his forehead, nothing more than a mere brush of lips. Part of her felt ridiculous doing it, she was a child reassuring a adult much larger and older than her, and chances were he wouldn't even notice. But it was all this girl, this gentle spirit, could offer. She would not linger much longer. Like the ghost she was assumed to be, she faded into the dark. [exit] ⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅