{ B } Courage and Confidence (Death Hunter & Fierce Warrior)
Posted: Tue Apr 15, 2025 10:18 am
"Did you ever think that you'd be here like this?" Gale asked.
This was not quite specified, but he meant here, in this valley of lush flowers and the scent of early springtime and the sound of birds twittering above their heads. This meant the soft rustle of their hooves in the dew-stricken grass and the taste of fresh raspberries on their tongues and the heady reminder that the swamp was waking up from its long months of winter slumber.
"This?" Fierce Warrior repeated, and cast a smile over his shoulder at Gale, his neck twisting so that he could look at the other kimeti. Around them, the varying creatures that always seemed to accompany the stag were frolicking here and there, some of them causing more hayhem than others, some just basking in the warm rays of the sun. One fish in particular was floating in a lazy circle near Gale's head (much to the irritation of his own tea dragon, who disliked almost all other animals).
"Not really," said Fierce, after he had taken a bite of another cluster of bright red berries. His mouth was a little stained from it. "I mean, I suppose i thought that I would eventually settle down. Perhaps take care of my children. Find someone to - "
He stopped talking, a flinch passing so quickly across his face that it was almost missed. Gale, who thought himself more attentive than most, did not miss it, nor did he miss the way that Fierce's eyes flashed with something like pain.
"At any rate..." Fierce cleared his throat, tail swishing in the damp grass. One of his shuppies leapt towards it with a barking sort of howl, teeth nippng and paws grasping until it was joined by another and the two of them began to squabble noisily amongst the flowers. "I suppose you could say that no one really expects anything. They hope for the best, and that's as much as we can do."
"Like with children," said Gale, eyes slightly narrowed, and Fierce offered him a wan smile.
"Like children. Did you wish for a blessing?"
"Yes." The answer came to Gale quicker than he had intended it to, his cheeks flushing a little. He had children already, of course, and he was proud of them, but it felt like it never became easier. He disliked the idea that he wasn't prepared for it after all this time, but at least Fierce had yet to judge him for it.
"Very well." The stag had turned his head away, gazing out across the valley with a distant expression on his face. "I bless you with the courage to know when to ask for help and the knowledge that your children will also inherit this gift. Your family will be strong minded and confident, taking after their parents, and they will know you well."
It was a strange sort of blessing, not quite the same as the ones he had had before. Gale opened his mouth to say something, but what came out instead was just a simple "thank you."
Fierce's eyes had come back into focus now. He craned around to look at Gale, and the smile was less wan now and more tired, more...resigned. Gale wanted to ask about it.
He didn't.
This was not quite specified, but he meant here, in this valley of lush flowers and the scent of early springtime and the sound of birds twittering above their heads. This meant the soft rustle of their hooves in the dew-stricken grass and the taste of fresh raspberries on their tongues and the heady reminder that the swamp was waking up from its long months of winter slumber.
"This?" Fierce Warrior repeated, and cast a smile over his shoulder at Gale, his neck twisting so that he could look at the other kimeti. Around them, the varying creatures that always seemed to accompany the stag were frolicking here and there, some of them causing more hayhem than others, some just basking in the warm rays of the sun. One fish in particular was floating in a lazy circle near Gale's head (much to the irritation of his own tea dragon, who disliked almost all other animals).
"Not really," said Fierce, after he had taken a bite of another cluster of bright red berries. His mouth was a little stained from it. "I mean, I suppose i thought that I would eventually settle down. Perhaps take care of my children. Find someone to - "
He stopped talking, a flinch passing so quickly across his face that it was almost missed. Gale, who thought himself more attentive than most, did not miss it, nor did he miss the way that Fierce's eyes flashed with something like pain.
"At any rate..." Fierce cleared his throat, tail swishing in the damp grass. One of his shuppies leapt towards it with a barking sort of howl, teeth nippng and paws grasping until it was joined by another and the two of them began to squabble noisily amongst the flowers. "I suppose you could say that no one really expects anything. They hope for the best, and that's as much as we can do."
"Like with children," said Gale, eyes slightly narrowed, and Fierce offered him a wan smile.
"Like children. Did you wish for a blessing?"
"Yes." The answer came to Gale quicker than he had intended it to, his cheeks flushing a little. He had children already, of course, and he was proud of them, but it felt like it never became easier. He disliked the idea that he wasn't prepared for it after all this time, but at least Fierce had yet to judge him for it.
"Very well." The stag had turned his head away, gazing out across the valley with a distant expression on his face. "I bless you with the courage to know when to ask for help and the knowledge that your children will also inherit this gift. Your family will be strong minded and confident, taking after their parents, and they will know you well."
It was a strange sort of blessing, not quite the same as the ones he had had before. Gale opened his mouth to say something, but what came out instead was just a simple "thank you."
Fierce's eyes had come back into focus now. He craned around to look at Gale, and the smile was less wan now and more tired, more...resigned. Gale wanted to ask about it.
He didn't.