He gave a soft snort of laughter at that. “You can call me Strai, you know, if you like.” He offered. Though he liked calling her Tox, it was his name for her, that no one else could use. Any idiot with half a brain could call him Thrall, but she was the first wolf in Heiðinn after the Demon himself that he had extended an offer to use his nickname. Not that it mattered or anything. As he followed that train of thought, Delphi got up. He didn’t pay much mind to it, expecting her to be doing something with her medication again. Instead, she got closer, coming into his personal space. His ears went flat as he watched her. Half expecting her to attack him. Instead, she flopped down beside him like it was as easy as that. Curling up against his side. He didn’t move. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he was frozen. He could hear his heart suddenly pounding in his chest, loud enough that surely she could feel it through his coat. She was touching him. They weren’t fighting, and she was touching him. His first thought was ‘gross’ his second was that it actually wasn’t… awful. It was kind of awful, when you considered the only time another wolf had been this close to him, it was to fight. His parents did not cuddle, even when he was just a tiny newborn sucking at her milk. He drank, and then he was pushed away. He didn’t know how to react. He was full-on panicking, actually. "Speech"

He doesn't move and Delphi is unsure whether or not it is a good thing. She doesn't move either though. Staying put against his side with her nose tucked under his paw, she continues to look up at him. From what she can see from her position, he doesn't appear... okay. Delphi stills herself for a moment to focus on him. To feel the erratic pace of his heart, his shallow breaths, feel the way his muscles are tense. Was he panicking? Her brow scrunches as she slips her nose out from under his paw and lifts her head to get a better look at his face.

"I-I can go b-back if this is to-too much," there is an awkward and embarrassed tremble in her voice as her lips pull down into a frown. So maybe she really had invaded his personal space. Too much, too soon? She didn't mean anything by it. It was just... when they were half entangled hanging over the cliff... it has felt so nice. His soft fur, his body heat, the up and down of his ribs as he breathed. There was something about being close to someone that was more comforting than any medicine could provide.

He took another couple of quick breaths, and concentrated on her voice. Having anyone this far into his personal space was unusual and frightening. Not that he was scared of anything, of course. “I’m not scared of ‘nothing” he muttered, his heartbeat still as erratic as wingbeats. “Just caught me by surprise, is all.” He put his head back down on the coat, and closed his eyes. Everything was fine, see? He wasn’t some stupid wolf scared of a tiny little thing like her next to him. Everything was okay, and he had nothing to worry about. He tried to project that thought across his body as he lay there, stiff and unmoving, but with his eyes closed. Maybe the feeling would go away, eventually? "Speech"

His grumbling words have her rolling her eyes and letting out a sigh. She could tell by his body posture and the way his muscles tensed that he clearly was not comfortable with her being close. Him being caught off guard was probably the most truthful part of anything he'd said thus far. A light giggle leaves her as she figures she would maybe mess with him a little bit. Rolling slightly so that she was pressed closer into his side, she curls her chin to look up at him again. "You suuuuuuure you don't want me to go back?" Delphi teases as she reaches up to bat at one of his crystal spurs with a paw. She would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy this. So used to cuddling with her family that any sort of closeness with others was welcomed in her book. Well, at least when she was in a good mood.

While the majority of him was still frozen, he began to frown as she started to giggle. He wasn’t entirely sure he trusted that noise. Sure enough, her following words told her just how much fun she was having at his expense. He gritted his teeth, determined not to let her see how she was affecting him. She reached over and batted at one of his spurs, and he growled at her, before - finally - forcing himself to unfreeze. Just enough to pull a paw out and stick into her stomach. He stretched out his toes as he attempted to tickle her. The rest of him was still held stiffly straight as if any amount of give in his body was cause him to break. “You suuuure you want to stay?” "Speech"

His growl had her wondering for a moment if she’d gone too far. Her paw retreated from his crystals and her eyes widened slightly. Just as she is about to say something else, his paw reaches over and pokes her belly. When his toes stretch out, it hits something that forces her to start giggling. How long had it been since she’d been tickled? Tensing and flexing, she tries to roll away but can’t. Her giggles continue until she can hardly breathe. “Is that all you got, Thrall?” She seethes at him between giggles and harsh exhales of breath.

As she started to squirm and giggle, he felt himself more in control again. It wasn’t so bad, when she was freaking out in her own way beside him. A smile even started to twitch very subtly at the corner of his lips, and he turned a little more. Rolling over to free his other paw, and that one of course immediately started to attack her as well. Digging in with his toes at any points he considered soft, he continued his onslaught. And he was merciless in his violent attack, as well. “How about now, Tox?” He demanded in response to her question. "Delphi" & "Strai"

Before she can gain any sort of control, she feels him shift. Her eyes are squeezed shut now as she fights back the giggles. Rolling against him so that inevitably her belly is showing even more, she picks up her hind legs and attempts to kick his paws out of the way. Delphi's giggles are uncontrollable as she feels the tears of laughter prickle at the edges of her eyes. Hardly able to breathe, she resists giving in. "Is th-that," more giggles in between the words as she sucks in a breath, "all you," a quick exhale as she inhales again, "got!" Delphi has to spit the word out. Trying to find the strength to "fight" back, she continues to try and kick his much larger paws out of the way with her hind paws as she continues to try and bury her back against his side. "Delphi" & "Strai"

She rolled, and began to kick at him, and he swiped at her smaller paws as he attempted to move around them and continue his siege on her soft spots. Her paws were little, but they dug in when they kicked at his own paws, and he was finding it harder and harder to tickle her. For such a simple exercise, he found himself out of breath pretty quick. Or maybe that was from swallowing his laughter. He was determined not to let it out. He wasn’t having fun you didn’t just ‘have fun’ with your enemy. One of her flailing legs socked him in the face and he had to pause to catch his breath. “I yield, I yield” He said. "Delphi" & "Strai"

As she flails about, she is taken by surprise when her paw connects with his jaw. Suddenly, the onslaught of tickling subsides and Strai is yielding. Practically buried into his belly fur, she twists around to get a better look at his face. Her breathing is ragged and her tail lolls out the side of her mouth. "Why is laughing so exhausting?" Delphi asks with a dramatic flair of wiping her paw across her brow. Letting out one last giggle, she reaches a paw up to once more bat at one of his cheek spurs. "You were having fun though, right?" She feels vulnerable, stupid, and embarrassed asking the question and suddenly her eyes are moving away from him toward the fire. Ugh, why did she have to say that? It was like the words came spilling out of her mouth unbeknownst to her. Really, she did want to know if he was having fun. But he wasn't having fun, he hated her, right? Scrunching up her face, she doesn't move but feels tinier than she ever had before. "Delphi" & "Strai"

She was moving around again, he could feel the way her fur brushed against his as she did so. Then her eyes were meeting his. He looked back at her, trying to glare, but not quite finding the right energy for it. “Maybe because you're stretching your flabby stomach muscles?” he told her, but there wasn’t really a bite to his words, just a hint of teasing. Her next question surprised him, and when he glanced at her again, her eyes were elsewhere. She was still finally and he felt a little less vulnerable with her beside him now. It was still weird and unusual, but the play had helped to calm him down. Gave him a chance to see that it wasn’t awful. But how to answer her question? Was it so terrible to admit that he had fun? He shrugged, and didn’t say anything. Resting his head on his paws again. "Delphi" & "Strai"

His silence is... maddening in a sense. She shouldn't care. He didn't like her. He had been to her, but then again he had saved her life. She had brought him down here and he had allowed her to curl up beside him. Even tickled and played with her. Which seemed unusual. How confusing could this boy be?! Delphi wants an answer though. It was unfair to leave her questioning his feelings. Frustrated, Delphi pushes into him and lets out a soft grunt. When that clearly doesn't work, she reaches forward and grabs some of his fur between her front teeth and pulls on it. Not too hard, but just enough to get him to look at her. "Cat got your tongue?" Delphi says, her face a mixture of teasing and worry and a whole bunch of other emotions she couldn't really understand. "Delphi" & "Strai"

Delphi was apparently very determined to get an answer out of him. He felt her teeth in his coat, and his ears slicked back as he turned and glared at her. Or tried to, anyway. Her expression was an odd mix, but not one that was threatening. She looked like the answer meant a lot to her. But why? “Play is for babies.” He muttered down at her, his own expression conflicted. ”ButIguessitwasfun” his voice was barely above a whisper, and he twisted a little to try and look away from her, despite her teeth in his coat. He felt like admitting it was admitting weakness. Why did she have to go and make everything complicated all the time? "Delphi" & "Strai"

With his fur between her teeth, she watches him carefully. What was he going to say? The anticipation makes her heart race. Seconds pass until he grumbles. Her ears flick back in response before pressing forward. Letting go of his fur, she rolls her eyes again. "We are babies you idiot," Delphi says with a dramatic sigh before resting her chin down on her paws for a moment before a big smile spreads across her face. She can't hide the wiggle of her tail and butt at the fact that he admitted that he had had fun with her. It was as if the old Delphi was back. While chaotic and very emotional, it was the optimistic and happy-go-lucky side that had been hiding all along. "Deny it all you want, but we both know you have fun with me," she says quickly before getting maybe a stupid idea. Rolling slightly away from his side, Delphi hops up onto her paws and then quickly scrambles up onto his back. Plopping herself down so her legs are splayed over either side of him, she rests her chin on top of his head. "See, isn't this comfy?" Delphi asks as she tries to lay still with her eyes closed. It was something she did with her larger siblings and father. Since she was so small, it was easy to fit on top and once Strai was big enough, she would probably be able to curl up too. "Delphi" & "Strai"

“Vikings don’t get to be babies.” He said, his voice a sullen mutter. He was just quoting his mother now, repeating things she had told him in the short time he had had her. But he turned his eyes back to her, and watched the joy that seemed to wash over her. His ears were still back, and he watched her as if she was a poisonous snake, and any movement might set her off. He made a face at her at her declaration. She was nothing like anyone else he had ever known. His people were so serious, so dramatic and stern. She was… something else entirely. A hurricane. She went from sad to happy so easily, and the expression she was giving him now set his heart fluttering in such a strange way. She rolled away from him, and he thought that maybe now he’d actually get some peace and quiet. Really, he should have known better. When she hopped over to him, he froze again, watching her in alarm as she suddenly crawled up his back. Climbing really did seem to be her thing, he just didn’t expect himself to be one of her victims. He flicked his ears back, towards her. She was warm, and he could feel her heart beating through their connected coats. He told himself that if he wanted to, he could just lean back and throw her off at any time. She’d probably bang her idiot head, too. Instead, he remained still. “Bony weirdo.” he muttered. "Delphi" & "Strai"

Bony weirdo was a new insult, but she ignored it. Instead, she wiggles slightly, digging in her elbows between his shoulder blades. Getting real comfortable, Delphi closes her eyes and lets out a satisfied sigh. "Can we sleep now?" Her voice is soft as she yawns. "Almost dying is exhausting," she says afterward as she peels one eye open to glance down at him. Her mind is still reeling, still confused, still a jumbled mess. While she wills her heart to stay slow, she can't ignore the way her belly flip-flops and how nice the warmth from his body feels. Did she actually hate him or something else? Did you sleep on top of your enemy? Should she get down? No, she was comfy. There was no turning back now. "Delphi" & "Strai"

He gave a long, exaggerated sigh. As if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders. "If you must." He agreed. He did not believe he would ever agree to another wolf. But this blasted, annoying and strange wolf wasn't just anyone. She had pulled him out of the lake, and mended the cut on his leg. She didn't obey the rules of the world as he knew them. He thought of how he had felt when he saw her slipping off the cliff's edge. He hated her. Stupid, crazy, toxic wolf. 


He rested his head back on his paws and gave another soft huff, but didn't move or disturb her from her perch, instead he closed his eyes. He was warm and fed, but he didn't think he would sleep, not while Delphi was resting on him. But he would let her sleep.

If you must. What did he mean by that? Was he not okay with her perched upon his back like this? Would he not be able to sleep? A burst of concern makes her eyes open. Even though he hasn't moved, hasn't pushed her off, she wonders if he is only doing it for her. As much as she wants to stay atop of him, she doesn't want to prevent him from sleeping either. Rest was important and while she still insisted she was more into poisons than healing, she still understood the basics. Now that they were warm, dry, and fed, they would need to rest at some point. Her heart picks up a notch as she hesitates. She is tired, yes, but his words convince her that he won't be sleeping if she stays where she is. Letting out a sigh, Delphi slides from his back onto the space beside him. Of course, it had been too much. She was always too much. "We both need sleep," she says as her excuse though she's yet again, hurt her own damn feelings. Boy was she an actual idiot. Not like him though. Wandering the few feet over to the fluffy pile of furs that she had been laying on previously, she curls up into a ball and places her chin on her paws so that she can see him. "Better?" Delphi asks in a quiet voice and raised brow. "Delphi" & "Strai"

In an off twist of fate, he found himself disappointed as she slid off his back. Was she becoming a point of vulnerability for him? He was afraid she might be. Honestly, more fuel and reason to hate her. He didn't want anyone to make him weak. 


She rolled next to him, and for a moment he thought she might stay there. Then she was up again, moving back to her own bundle of furs. He narrowed his eyes a little at her. Wondering why she had moved. When she asked if it was better, he almost laughed. Yes, definitely. But also no. But how could he say that to her? He didn't understand it himself. "I can breathe now I don't have your dead weight on me" he said instead. Sucking in a deep breath and letting it out again as if to prove his point. "Go to sleep, Tox. We're at a truce tonight."

Her ears flick back as he says he can breathe better now. Even added in a deep breath to prove his point. Ugh, he was impossible! Delphi snorts in his direction, her own eyes narrowing at him as she tries to read through something. If there even was anything. Was there? No, couldn't be. He said it himself then. They were at a truce. Yes, that was a good way of saying it. Knowing that he wouldn't attack her or be a thief, it helps settle her mind. Feeling slightly restless, she closes her eyes. "Go to sleep yourself," she insists back, lifting her lip to sneer at him before tucking her nose under her leg. Soon, due to sheer exhaustion, she is drifting off to sleep. "Delphi" & "Strai"