It wasn’t that anything was amiss, quite the opposite actually. Her brother’s children came and went as they pleases, and left her well enough alone. Most of the rest of the pack did too, which suited her just fine.

She had even eased up on the alcohol a little since her encounter with the tiny wolf down by the delta. Her donkey had taken to biting her if she got too carried away or too far from home, so she did her best to keep the ass happy. But for now? Well, it had been a busy day, checking stores and scouting out where the herds were travelling (they were coming closer now the weather was warming). She had stretched herself out, front paws dangling off the edge of the cliff, eyes squinting against the setting sun. She looked over the sound, the canyon a narrow slash of blue against the grey of surrounding stone. With any luck, there would be a glut of salmon in the Autumn, it would give them plenty of time to consider crafting fish traps, and nets.

"speech"

Well, he should probably start telling people about the whole puppies thing. Tenshi was far enough along that it was safe, and he had every inclination that it wouldn't be long until she started showing. The viking puppies were going to be numerous, if their bloodline was any indication. Big, healthy litters filled with thriving pups. Viðarr knows just who he wants to be the first to hear the news. Though things had been strained, his siblings are still the most important thing to him. His family. Their family. Their family was growing.

Róta's love language is substance abuse, and he knows better than to darken her doorstep without a bottle. Tracking her wasn't necessarily hard, but it took a little practice. Reclusive ass, but that's fine. She'd found herself a ledge in the fading sun, somewhere with a nice view of the Sound. He couldn't fault her for that, it sure was nice up here. "Refill time?" Viðarr lifted his chin to the dregs of warmth from the sunset, allowing it to fall over his face for a moment. Drawing to sit beside his sister on the ledge, offering her one of the pair of bottles in his grasp. "We are celebrating." He declares, a glimmer in his icy gaze. Like they needed an excuse to drink.

"Viðarr"

Róta turned away from the sunset to look at her towering brother, a smirk painted on her face. "Are you telling me I need a reason to drink now?" She gestured to the open spot beside her, taking the offered bottle and prying free its stopper. It wasn't often anyone sought her out, so there must be news to share, or someone (or something) that needed its ass bitten was her next best guess.

"I was just thinking, it's only Spring, but we should start making traps for when the Salmon come into the sound. We could probably even catch enough to trade when the snow sets in." It was small talk, because she wasn't unobservant, and felt whatever he needed to tell her would come with some weight. Best to enjoy the moment while it lasted, no?

"speech"

A hearty chuckle as he settled down, uncorking his own bottle. "You, no. I feel like I do." He allowed his long limbs to stretch before and behind him. Lounging on his side, peering out over the Sound. While he'd initially had thoughts that didn't include the Maw, he wasn't sure he could imagine life anywhere else now. Sure, he still held ill will toward the pack that now called their original stomping grounds home, but this suited them so incredibly well. Viðarr was pleased with the mountain and how life was coming together upon it.

Róta brings up the salmon, and he hums softly in agreement. "Get the yearlings to help you with it, they should learn." He nodded, an eyebrow lifting. Would she be willing to take on giving that lesson? Viðarr could hope. "Things will get very busy, very soon. I feel better when I know you're keeping an eye on things too." He spoke, steady gaze remaining on the Sound and the setting sun before them. Viðarr knew he was making a heavy ask, but he trusts Róta more than any of the others, as much as his own wife. He knows that the can't do this entirely on his own, and the pack is stronger together. They would always be stronger together. He's grateful for that. For her. Even if he doesn't always have the best way to show it.

"Viðarr"

When he suggested she ask the yearlings to help, her right ear gave a flick, and there was a minute tick in her jaw that quickly dissipated. She dispelled any hint of tension with a flick of her tail, like a nervous cat. Ha! that bought a grin to her face. She wasn't exactly role model material after all. At least yearlings were adult shaped, just a bit simpler in the way they saw things too. If he thought it would do them good to learn, well, ultimately, it would leave her with more time to get shitfaced at the end of the day, so who was she to argue? "If they cry, I will send them to you," she teased, "and if their baskets break and we all starve in the winter, well, lessons are important." She shrugged, a toothy smile showing that she was, of course, joking. If she was teaching them, they would learn properly, and she wasn't above making them re-make their traps until they were perfect. After all, there were other fish in the river to test them on before the giants came in from the deep.

As for things getting busy, she arched a brow. "Are you planning another raid? Or do you just like to torture your poor sister with secrets?" She could feel it now, charged like the air before a storm, she could even taste the petrichor. Róta didn't really want to know, did she? But she would ask anyway because what was life if it wasn't pain? It felt like lightning would break from the clear sky and drive her into the rock beneath, she was almost certain her hair was standing on end (it wasn't, but that didn't stop the jolts from coursing under her skin and stealing her breath away).

"speech"

The viking king gives a brassy chuckle, lounging on his side. There's something golden about moments like this. In so many ways, they're still little kids, teasing each other. Now they're threatening to weapon little kids to tease each other-- what's something that feels a bit like a pyramid scheme but (allegedly) isn't? Another long drink from the bottle. "Soon another raid, yes." Though Viðarr's tone is a bit offhand. There's something else that would be... busy.

"After Tenshi has the pups, a raid to celebrate. Somewhere down south where it won't be so hot." A glimmer in his eye. Right, that was why they were celebrating. Another long drink from the bottle, happily looking out over the world below. Maybe it was going to his head. Really, Viðarr couldn't be happier. Yeah, he'd take this excuse to drink, thanks very much.

"Viðarr"