Maki spent a lot of time on her own and that wasn't a bad thing! It was easier to think and daydream alone, to let herself get carried away with little fancies that soon developed into whole stories with twisting narratives, lore and character backgrounds that were so detailed and complex even she had trouble remembering it all sometimes. She wished there was some way she could record it all, share it with people other than word of mouth. Oh to be a wolf, with no access to the internet or fanfiction sites. She loved her family so so much, but apart from a favoured few they didn't always care for her stories. Daddy tried to listen but he was always interjecting with what he thought should happen, totally ruining Maki's flow and her Mums...She sometimes felt like they just didn't get it, or her. Her siblings were always busy doing stuff, especially Delphi who was too cool and a girl boss to even want to spend time with silly Maki moo.

Woe was her.

Except not really.  The Steppe made the perfect backdrop for a dramatique~ scene she'd cooked up in her mind. What if....the two love interests went to a masked party? She could easily imagine it, the dancing and twirling, the tension mounting as they held each others gazes from across the dance floor- or steppe? She hopped up onto one of the fallen slabs of stone and dropped down into a dramatic bow, her tail flaring up as she rose and twirled in a neat little circle.

Auðr was taking their time today, they were enjoying the scenery, as much as one could in this weather. Though it seemed someone else was enjoying it more than even they were. A young wolf, probably not even a full year yet and yet easily dwarfing them. They had noticed that many of the wolves their brother had brought with him were just as tall as he was, which meant Auðr was small here. They paused their meandering, still quite a distance from the stone monuments the child appeared to be playing on, and watched. They weren't totally sure they understood what the child was doing but the bow was hard to miss. A small single chuckle twitched their lips upwards as they approached the pup and the stone monuments.

"Frun," they said as they approached seeing the child better now, "what occasion is this?" Their accent was thicker even than Víðarr's, more stuttering. They still weren't totally used to speaking anything but their mother tongue. Still they would attempt to communicate with the others and they were curious what exactly the girl was doing in her play.


"Hover for translation"

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Bylgja had taken rather quickly to her new life. This place, she decided, was perfect -- the healing-warrior looked upon her packmates with a quiet, delighted sort of smile. She had been without company for some time, after all!

But here, Bylgja roamed, and--

oh?

There was a rather funny display going on ahead of her, and Bylgja picked up her pace to approach the young wolf, who appeared to have quite the flair for dramatics! So Bylgja laughed, deep, booming, and dipped her head as she approached. The initial bow became a little deeper as she approached Auðr and the child. Bylgja grinned at the duo.

"I think she is dancing!" Her accent, thick, heavy. "If only we could dance so well."

Maki felt a rush of embarrassment, her cheeks flushing hot when she realised she'd been caught. She stumbled, nearly tripping off the side of her little stone stage, her ears flicking backwards. Viking folks were so blunt, straight to the point. Though they didn't say so in so many words it felt very much like a what are you doing sort of question, with extra judgement sprinkled on top. Maki flustered but did her best to regain what little sense of decorum she had with a brief clearing of her throat, shoulders set square as she stood a little straight. Yeah, she was dancing, what of it? Very YA protag of her, very boss bitch.

Another Viking made their way onto the scene, one addled with lines and markings and- okay, they looked really dang cool.

"Yeah!" She confirmed, immediately ditching her attempts to be a cool and normal seeming person. Oh, the joys of youth, discovering oneself. "I was practising, someone ought'a ask me to dance one day at a fancy party and I need to be ready."

Auðr hadn't necessarily meant to stop the child but admittedly a less than perfect grasp on the tongue probably did come across as more blunt than they normally were, which yes, they were. The blinked down at the girl as she seemed to gather herself, almost challenging them, and the barest hint of a smirk tugged at Auðr's lips. They turned to look at the woman as she approached, inclining their head slightly and considering her words. Dancing eh? The child it seemed had found her voice. Auðr's brow quirked.

"The only dances I am aware of are those around hearth's or in honour of the gods." Not entirely correct but in truth Auðr still thought of nights in the mead hall when it came to the idea of dance. "I would be interested in expanding that knowledge however." They glanced at the other woman for a second, an amused glint in their eye. Auðr was no leader and they weren't what most might consider friendly but they weren't a miser either and regretted interrupting the child's play.


"Speech!"

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The burly warrior considers both of her companions equally. With a big grin, she directs her gaze to Auðr-- her tail wags and she steps forward, head up and chest puffed out.

Her pelt is marked thoroughly already. Exploits written upon her coat. "There are other dances!" She exclaims, before she rears up onto her hind legs and hops, thrice, forward. When Bylgja lands, one paw is placed further forward-- the front right. "We had dances like fight and war where I came from. To tell story."

Bylgja raps her paws against the ground. She glances to Auðr, again, and dips her head to them before --"I am not the best of dancing teachers! But I will show you both." She trotted to Maki, grinning down at the kid. This was going to be great.