Dagrún was out traveling with Halla and when the'd stopped for a break in the gulley, Dag climbed out of Halla's travois and set about sniffing everything within reach. There were so many new smells here and so many plants. She didn't really know much about plants other than if you ate bad ones you puked and that was all she really needed to know but it was probably fine to smell everything. She hadn't gone far when her companion, Sperla the kestrel, stated that after speaking with Halla she would teach the pup to make fire! Dagrún squealed with excitement before the kestrel started going over how dangerous fire was and all the ways it could kill you. After a lecture that seemed like it was never going to end they got started. The first step was to build a fire ring so Dagrún got to work scratching and digging into the ground while her companion scouted out some pup-sized rocks the young girl could use to make her fire ring. The digging took some work as her cat like claws weren't the best for dealing with mud but soon enough she had a little circle for a tiny fire. The circle was about a foot in diameter.

Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi

With his mother’s blessings, Cairo had taken Ardyn out on a trip, just the two of them. In many ways, Cai was like an honorary big brother to the pups, or at least in Ardyn’s eyes. He doted on them and roughhoused gamely with the pups that wanted it, taking the boys on small hunts and teaching all five to fight when he had time between patrols and Master duties. Ardyn was growing fast, and had already matched his mother in height, with a lot of room to grow. Cai had skirted Aerie’s border, and they’d crossed into the south into a pleasant gully. It wasn’t long until Ardyn spotted movement ahead, even as Cairo had called out in greeting, “H’lo, Halla! How goes it?” There was another pup with the woman Cairo had called to, and Ardyn lifted a hand-like paw, waving cheerily, tail swiftly blazing in a firebrand in greeting as Cai nudged him forward in the typical, ‘Adults want to chat, go play’ gesture. Ardyn took in the circle, recognizing it for what it was and grinning. “Want help getting sticks and kindling?” He offered, head cocking at the girl. He was eager to help and make friends. He had plenty in Valhalla, but he was always glad to have more friends. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Sperla directed Dagrún to where a few rocks were and she started using her paws to roll them back toward the fire ring. Once there she started setting up the stones around the ring of dirt. "Good work, pup. Now we need sticks. Look for drier sticks of varying sizes for tinder. This will help your fire burn longer. We'll use some nearby dried leaves for kindling." Since it was fall there was plenty of leaves available. Dagrún nodded and started roaming about picking up sticks. Whenever she found one she thought was good she'd wander back to the kestrel with her tail wagging as she did so.

As she worked a dark-pelted boy appeared along with another adult who seemed to know Halla. She glanced at the older woman who nodded in greeting to Cairo. "Well, just taking in the last of the warm weather."

Dag left the adults to their grown up talk and focused instead on the boy who offered to help. She grinned. "Yea! We're gonna build a fire. Sperla's helping me My name is Dagrún Finnvi." She picked her stick back up and wandered over to the kestrel. The bird approved of each stick then showed Dag how to stack them. "Put the largest ones on the bottom and work to have the smallest ones on the top." Dag nodded and did so until her companion was satisfied.

Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi

Ardyn grinned as the girl and kestrel accepted his offer, turning to start gathering dry sticks and twigs as he added, “Nice to meet you, Dagrun. I’m Ardyn.” He’d gathered quite a stack of the required necessities, stacking them near the pit, within Dagrun’s reach but with enough distance from the soon-to-be-born fire to keep them from catching, by the time she was ready, and stood back to watch the girl stack the wood and kindle a fire when his hackles prickled. A huff, a grunt, and he saw Cairo pause in mid conversation, eyes popping wide before Ardyn himself whipped around to face the sound, bristling and taking a ready stance as a bear blundered near-sightedly into their midst. The black bear paused, probably surprised at the sudden smell of wolves, but recognizing that two wolves were pups… and it needed to pack on the pounds for winter hibernation. Ardyn though quickly, then shook himself, hard, flaring his black coat into a bright blaze of flame-light with the friction, just bright enough to draw the bear’s eye, jumping to the side to draw it, even as he heard Cai groan something about too damned brave for his own good. But it worked, the bear focused on him, and turned its back to the other three wolves before charging the flame-bright black pup. Ardyn dove to one side with a swipe of claws for the bear’s face as it barreled by. This time, there was at least one adult who would join the fight. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Dag grinned as the boy introduced himself as Ardyn. She appreciated his help with gathering wood for the fire. With the structure of the fire built the kestrel flew to the travois and pulled out a chunk of flint and a metal stick. The bird set them down on the edge of the fire ring. "Now, I'll show you how I start these fires. You'll want to aim for the kindling. It'll catch fire more quickly than the sticks. Strike the metal against the flint to make a spark. Try and get the spark to hit the kindling, like this." Sperla picked the metal stick up in her beak and clunched the flint between her talons. She then whipped her head to the side, striking the metal against the flint. She did this several times until at last a spark leapt from the flint onto the kindling. The spark slowly turned into a small flame that grew larger and larger as it consumed the wood beneath it. Hooray!

Her celebration was cut short as she saw Ardyn staring at something. She turned to see what he was looking at and her heart leapt up into her throat. It was a bear! Before she could react Ardyn drew the bear's attention. Oh no, he needed help! Grabbing one of the sticks with fire she bounded toward the bear and whipped her head to the side, slamming the fire into the bear's butt. It roared and whirled around toward's her. At that moment Halla leapt forward and grabbed Dag by her scruff. She dropped the fire stick in surprise as her caretaker attempted to carry the pup away. But with her mouth full she failed to see the bear's arm as its swiped her paws out from under her.

Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi

His victory was short-lived, as Dagrun drew the bear’s ire with a flaming stick to the butt. Cairo dove in as the bear swept Halla off her paws, latching onto the side of the bear’s thickly furred face and raking his paw over its muzzle, the bear claws on his bracer leaving ragged furrows in its skin, baring bloodied bone. Ardyn launched in from behind, taking what was quickly becoming his favorite method of attack on bears – and his mother would most certainly groan at the idea that he’d fought enough bears by now to even have a favorite method – landing squarely on the distracted bear’s back and clawing his way like a tenacious kittenup its back to its shoulders, raking its neck with his sabered canines as he gripped with his fingers around its ruff. The ursine bellowed and shook, rearing as it aimed a swipe at Cairo’s side. The chocolate splotched man dropped from the bear’s face and ducked under the paw, diving in and clamping his teeth shut on its bared gut, shaking his head from side to side. Ardyn, meanwhile, clung to the bear’s back like a bronc-rider, taking a firmer bite to avoid being thrown. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think

Dag hit the ground hard and scrambled to her feet. She turned to see where the bear was and saw Ardyn continuing the attack. She had to help! She saw him leap up on the bear's back and she quickly followed suit. With her claws unsheathed she scrambled up one of the bear's back legs. However, as the bear continued the attack, Dagrún got scared and clung to the leg for dear life, neither trying to go up or climb down.

Halla was quick to join the fray as soon as she rolled back onto her feet. As the bear reared and Cairo went for the gut she leapt onto the bears back. Her lithe legs helping her climb over Ardyn as she grabbed hold of the bear's right ear and pulled back hard, hoping to reveal its throat and give someone a good shot at at least wounding it enough to make it back down.

Ardyn Cadeyrn Aodhán Phoenix Adravendi

Under the combined assault, the bear was losing steam, though no less angry. It had two wolves on its back, two more heckling it from below. Halla’s yank opened the bear to fresh danger, and Both Ardyn and Cairo took the opening. Ardyn released his grip with one paw and slashed around the side, hard, sharp claws sinking into the bear’s neck and ripping back. Cairo lunged from below, raking with bear clawed bracers as his jaws clamped shut on the bear’s windpipe. He held on for dear life, squeezing as tightly as he could. The bear began to stagger, collapsing as the loss of blood from the wounded neck took its toll. Ardyn rode the bear to the ground, rolling free, and possible sending Halla tumbling if she’d stayed put when the bear fell. His head popped up, swiveling to look for Dagrun, eyes wide. The bear was still alive, but wheezing and not moving. Cairo took the last blow with a rip of his jaws in its throat. ”Everyone okay?” Cairo sounded hoarse, and a bit shaky, and a glance at him told Ardyn he was in for a major lecture on the way home. Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think