CODE & ART © SKELLE 2022
"Speech!"
Winter was in full swing and with that came his birthday. He was never sure of the actual date, but rather celebrated as the season came into full. He lost his parents prior to even turning a year, so knowing the actual date was nearly impossible. When Jokull would choose to celebrate his birthday, he would spend the day doing much the same as he had done in the two prior events. He would sleep in, hunt himself a meal, and travel to the frozen lake to enjoy his birthday dinner. Tonight, he would enjoy some fire-roasted hare. Since the lake was otherwise void of life, he would be forced to pack the necessary tools to travel from his home in the field and prepare once he got there or he would be 'enjoying' cold fish. He at least wanted a hot meal on his birthday.

He always waited until nightfall to arrive at the lake, fascinated by the bio-luminescent creatures beneath the ice. Dropping his makeshift pack onto the ground around the lake, he began unloading what he needed to start a fire and quickly tossed some fresh snow over the wrapped fish to keep it cold. He seldom came across others this far north and seldom left the comfort of his frozen home. He rarely met others and often kept his distance anyway, lowkey fearing the day any group travels this far north to settle. This had been his home for three years now, something he wasn't exactly ready to give up.

Within a few minutes of starting, Jokull got the fire started and quickly began preparing the fish to cook. Once he got it over the fire and all he had to do was wait, he turned and faced the lake. With clear skies, the stars were incredible and combined with the plankton moving and pulsing beneath the ice, it was beautiful. He rarely got the time to enjoy anything for himself, living alone in the frozen north wasn't exactly easy. As the fish cooked over the fire, his stomach rumbled pleadingly as the scent filled the air. It needed some more time to cook, but he was almost too hungry to wait.

Pyrite was a young she wolf, but everyday of her life she knew the harshness of the Northern reaches. There was no forgiveness here, so it was only smart to work closely with her family. She didn’t often stray very far from her mother or father. Along with a challenge they were the only other constant. Her family meant everything. Pyr devoted her days to the tiny family group, but they worked together to survive like a little tribe and it was everything she wanted. The north was harsh but it was her home. She was most comfortable in the ice and the snow here with her kin.

They didn’t often see other wolves, they had their own territories to hunt and most kept to themselves. The majority of Boreas, she assumed, didn’t enjoy the chill of the north. Not that she knew much beyond her life here. She was out traveling with her father right now, scouting new lands, taking note of migration patterns. She still had so much to learn from him, it was a good one on one experience.

Pyrite had wandered away from camp as the night fell, she told her sire not to wait up and went out to explore on her own. The small young woman was fox like and easily traversed the top of the snow on her dainty paws. She was drawn in the direction by the eerie glow, but her curiosity was really piqued when she smelled cooking fish. It didn’t take her very long to see the fire as well as its master, and she hesitated at the edge of the light unsure if she should intrude upon this stranger.

CODE & ART © SKELLE 2022
"Speech!"
The crackling of the fire was soothing to the man in the otherwise silence of the late night. He watched the plankton dance together beneath the layer of ice, their color pulsing as if to a song only they could hear. Between them and the brightness of the clear, starry sky, it quite bright out compared to usual. The glow of his fire stretched and danced across glaciers and the pillars of ice jutting from the lake and shore. It wasn't until he broke his gaze from the bio-luminescent creatures and turned back to his nearly finished meal over the fire that he saw a face on the other side of the fire, barely aglow with it's light.

There was a first for everything, but he hardly looked surprised even if he felt it. The visitor was small, though, very small. A small frown pulled at his lips, assuming her to be a young child lost in the harsh north instead of a nearly grown woman with only the fire to illuminate her dark face. "Are you okay?" He asked quietly, never one to speak first in most situations but the worry of a possible lost child had him acting out of his usual character.

The sound of the fire and the soft light that illuminated the area put her into a sense of security. Her father always had some kind of fire lit so the sound and sight of her made her think of home and safety. Maybe she really should have been more on guard. Especially with this massive stranger in front of her. Pyrite believed she could take care of herself, and mostly she could. At the very least she could make a run for it, but when his eyes lifted to her obscured features she felt no alarm beyond the subtle flutter of her heart. She didn’t often meet strangers, so this was quite the experience for her. Finding someone in the frozen lonely North wasn’t an everyday experience. Especially not in a magical place like this one.

Her golden markings flickered in the firelight as their eyes met, and she knew she was discovered. The man did not make any motion to lift himself from the ground as he watched his nearly cooked meal. Pyrite hadn’t meant to interrupt but her curiosity rivaled that of a feline. She expected him to shoo her off, there wasn’t much charity in a harsh place like this and everyone who lived and survived here was well aware of that fact. If you could not provide for yourself you were already dead.

His deep voice barely disturbed the air, like she would imagine the snow and ice itself to sound so did his voice portray his home. ”I’m fine,” she spoke softly as her golden gilded paws carried her a couple of fearless steps forward so he didn’t have to squint to see her. ”I’ve never been here before, and your fire drew me in.” Pyrite admitted just as softly.

CODE & ART © SKELLE 2022
"Speech!"
Jokull couldn't expect to be the only wolf out here and had to assume that some time or another someone would come around. Whether it was tonight or any other night, it was going to happen eventually. He wasn't too bothered by it, especially since they seemed anything but threatening. He knew better that to assume that though, even if he did believe her to be a child in the few moments before she spoke and stepped closer to the light.

Though, when she did finally answer his question while he was relieved to hear that she was okay and just simply curious, he was pleasantly surprised to hear and see that she was older than he initially thought. She was tiny, though, and he couldn't help but think it to be cute. The fire danced in her icy eyes across from him and he was lost a moment before snapping back to reality. "Where are my manners? Forgive me; my name is Jokull." He introduced himself and left a natural pause for her answer before suddenly becoming worried the fish was burning and it started to smell like it was.

He moved the fish from the fire sighed a bit, though was relieved the food wasn't entirely ruined at least. "Well, it's a little burnt, but would you like some dinner?" He asked somewhat awkwardly. Was it more rude to offer burnt food or to not offer at all? Was it even appropriate to ask the young woman if she wanted to eat with him?

Normally Pyrite only associated with her kin, she didn’t go very far from them and really they were the only wolves around. After their pack dissipated it seemed like the Northern reaches had become even more desolate than before. Not that that was entirely true, but as Pyrite saw it she and her family were the rulers of ice and snow. There were indeed other sentient beings that made their home here, and this huge man happened to be one of them. From the scent of this place this was where his primary residence was, and there was no big or real mystery keeping her from the conclusion of why they had never crossed paths.

Their eyes met for a brief moment, and where she might have gotten nervous as she searched his bright blue eyes she felt no threat from him. This intuition became backed by words that were softly spoke as he talked about lost manners and eventually introduced himself. Pyr gave a little nod of her head in return along with similar sentiments. ”Pyrite Destruction.” Other than basic etiquette the young woman wasn’t a very good speaker. Like the world around her she had no time for pomp and circumstance. She wasn’t rude most of the time.

Then, even more surprising, Jokull offered her a place at his dinner table. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, she knew there was no charity in the North nor was there any such thing as a free lunch. She would have to repay him if she accepted. ”That’s very kind of you,” she answered, debating as her gilded paws carried her closer if she should decline. ”I’ll accept if you allow me to reciprocate.” She would not be in anyone’s debt.

CODE & ART © SKELLE 2022
"Speech!"
It had been quite a long time since Jokull had interacted with anyone up here and perhaps that was why he went out of his comfort zone to invite the woman to his meal. He wouldn't lie, having some company for the first time on his birthday dinner would be nice. It wasn't often he got to see others, let alone felt inclined to talk to them.

She responded with her own name and he smiled at her, finding her name to be quite interesting. "Destruction? Need I worry about what you're capable of?!" He joked, knowing full and well that big things could come in small packages.

Jokull moved the fish off of the fire to cool and reached for his bag to find a bottle of wine he'd gotten off a trader some weeks ago when she responded to his offer. "Having someone to spend my birthday dinner with is more than enough for you to give in return," he said with a smile as he handed her a plate with the less burnt of the fish. "I hope you don't mind sharing the bottle?" He asked as he sat it between them, taking his own plate then and sitting down at the edge of the fire.

Maybe it was her company that was the true repayment. She didn’t smell a single other wolf beyond him around here. Wolves were social creatures and expecting him to not cater to a guest was perhaps a mistake. She had her family to rely on, but that didn’t mean Jokull wasn’t lonely. Pyrite had already decided at that moment that she would linger here in his presence.

”It’s a very old family name, but don’t let your guard down.” She warned him as golden gilded paws carried her closer to the fire before she lowered herself to her gray blue haunches. Eventually he admitted to what she had suspected, he was a little lonely and her company was plenty payment so he might celebrate his birthday with another soul. Pyrite tilted her head curiously but didn’t press any questions that suddenly popped into her mind. Like why it was he was alone now.

”If you insist.” She conceded as the fish were taken from the fire. ”Happy birthday.” She offered him sincerely if not a little seriously as he brought out a bottle of wine and asked if she would mind sharing. Pyrite hadn’t ever drank before, her father was a crafter but he did not make liquor. She was more sheltered in that regard. ”I don’t think I mind. I’ve never drank before.” She admitted tentatively as she accepted the second fish for her own dinner.

CODE & ART © SKELLE 2022
"Speech!"
He chuckled at her words with a slight smile, making an effort to remember this should he ever get on her bad side. "Note taken, don't get on Pyrite Destruction's bad side." He repeated back to himself with a cheeky smile, stealing a glance of her from the corner of his eye to see her response. His focus was drawn to his meal for a moment, bringing the bottle to his lips as she spoke and admitted to never drinking before.

"Oh? I'd offer you something else instead, but I'm afraid it's all I have." She was young and although not much younger than him, he didn't want to make her uncomfortable. He'd have to remember to hold back some, to refrain from drinking too much. Even if it was his birthday, he could have fun without getting drunk. The wine would just have to make for a pleasant meal, at least until he saw the young girl back home.

She was surprised how open he was with her, when she and most of her family were so icy. If he lived alone maybe there was a reason for all of that. Experiencing it was refreshing, but she wasn’t under any illusion that she was special, someone alone like this could attach themselves to anyone who happened by. This just so happened to be the young Destruction girl. She gave him a cheeky grin as he teased her, but Pyrite had already decided she liked this man.

He hadn’t expected her to admit that she hadn’t drank before. To say that Pyrite was sheltered was perhaps an understatement. She knew how to survive in the wild unforgiving north but she certainly didn’t know how to party. Her lips never touched liquor, nor recreational herbs.

”No, there’s no need to trouble yourself.” Pyr shook her head and tentatively lowered herself to her belly in front of him as she hesitantly smelled the inebriating beverage. ”I’ll try it.” She offered with more confidence than she felt before taking a small sip. It was not what she expected, but at least she didn’t spit the liquid out. As she swallowed there was a pleasant warmth that coated her throat. It wasn’t the greatest taste she had ever experienced though. ”That’s… Something.” She chuffed softly as her gaze lingered on the dark liquid.

CODE & ART © SKELLE 2022
"Speech!"
The girl seemed alright with trying the wine and so he watched, wondering what she thought of it when she tasted it. It wasn't for everyone and it wasn't something he enjoyed very often, either, but it was a nice change of pace every now and then. The unforgiving north had little in every way, so treats were nice even if they weren't your favorite.

"There's definitely better tasting drinks out there," he paused to laugh before continuing. "Have as much or as little as you'd like," he offered then and moved to take a few more bites of his meal and giving her time to do the same. He wouldn't argue that the fish tasted better with the wine, but if he were really being honest it would only take a few more drinks of the wine for it to start tasting better too. Though he wasn't sure he wanted to tell her that, in case she got a little carried away he didn't want to be accused of anything later.

She wanted to reserve judgment on the wine, but the majority of her feelings were negative. The taste was not pleasant, but the warmth that began to spread in her belly and down her throat was almost pleasant. The man chuckled almost amusedly at her answer, mentioning that it wasn’t the most pleasant of tastes. There had to be some other reason that wolves consumed the stuff, and she would soon find out if she kept drinking.

”You’re very kind.” She answered simply in return as he offered her as much as she liked. The warmth was an interesting feeling, she couldn’t deny her curiosity about it either. So Pyr took another sip before enjoying a bit more of the meal he offered. Her bright eyes shifting from the fish to Jokull’s features as she did. The warmth in her belly grew as the wine made its way through her system and she began to feel the effects more heavily. Her eyelids grew a little heavier, and the weight on her shoulders lifted as euphoria hinted at the edges of her consciousness. Pyrite took another tentative sip, encouraging the strange feelings within.

Her inhibitions were carefully stripped away, and the quiet girl looked back up to the man as she licked her lips after finishing the fish. ”So, you’re all alone out here.” She started as she crossed her golden gilded paws. ”Should I be worried?” He had mentioned the threat she might pose, but why was it that Jokull was on his own?

CODE & ART © SKELLE 2022
"Speech!"
He'd be lying if he said he wasn't watching her between bites of his meal and sips of his own. He was careful about it though, sneaking glances rather than making it obvious by staring. Even in the darkness of the frigid north, the brightness of the ice around them cast enough light for him to take in her features while he finished his meal. Gold etched into her darker face and toes, body lightening into a pale blue. They didn't look too dissimilar honestly, mere opposites whereas Jokull himself wore his darkest colors if he had pants (and knew what they were to make the association). Even in the flicker of the flame he could tell their eyes matched, though by now he was most careful to not be caught looking and was right to do so as she questioned him similarly to how he had teased her.

There was really nothing he could say that wouldn't make him worry if the roles were reversed. Even those with the worst intentions would've lied in favor of gaining trust, especially that of a young girl. He wouldn't say that she went as far to make him uncomfortable, but he certainly hoped that he hadn't made her feel as such. Even with the wine settling within, he was sober enough to act appropriately and even if she hadn't intended for it, wasn't going to add to what he'd already had. More wine probably wasn't the best idea, at least not if he wanted to keep her comfortable with his presence while alone in the middle of the frozen no where.

"I hope that you aren't, but I'd understand and you're certainly free to leave whenever you'd like." He didn't want to stop her, and with the wine he wasn't sure how she was handling it. Some it would make friendly, others flirty, and he'd even heard of some that it made aggressive. Even if he didn't want her to leave yet, the strange feeling she would inevitably feel from the wine if she wasn't already did make him somewhat nervous.

From the way she relaxed after the dinner should have told him what he wished to know. Pyrite was a wild animal, guided primarily by instinct so she might survive within the unforgiving northern reaches. Her family was the reason she lived so long, as Jokull weakened her defenses and offered her the gift of wine. She could feel the tension in her muscles ease away as the first tastes of alcohol took her. Pyr was lucky to have found a man with such honest intentions. The sober part of her clinging on prayed it was true, and knew the possible mistake she could be making.

There was something about him that made Pyr feel safe. Maybe it was his kindness for a stranger when he was so familiar with the pressure of their home. To his possible detriment he invited Pyr to his hearth to share both food and beverage. He could take advantage of her if he tried hard enough, but the tiny Destruction had no fear as she found his icy gaze. A playful smirk danced over her features, ”I’m not,” She assured him with a grin. ”You’d find yourself having a real hard time if you tried to stop me.” She assured him with a confidence that was far bigger than her tiny form. It wasn’t the alcohol speaking either.

”Honestly,” Her expression grew a little more serious as she leaned back, admiring the feeling of the wine sitting in her belly. ”I don’t really see anyone besides my family, it’s really nice being out here talking to you.” She admitted truthfully, a confession that might not have been coaxed out without the drink.