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 Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2019 9:58 am
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They'd finally convinced him; Parth that is. Finch had been trying for a while to go on a viking again, to claim his reaver title. He'd resisted for many months but what had changed were his eyes. Parth heard the now-familiar breath of wings above him and felt relaxed in his step. He'd bonded with a falcon whose eyes were better than his had ever been in this lifetime. The bird was now his eyes and it had made all the difference. The ability to scout distances, pick out weaknesses, and generally have the advantage of the sky was something that Parth could not pass up. This was his first viking with Horos but it seemed the bird was just as anxious to roam and hunt as the lions were below.
Naturally Captain Sigurd took the lead, navigating familiar trails through the Roguelands. He'd normally have sought out prides that he knew to have more resources built up but with such new lions, it was best to take it easy this go round. He was also interested to see how Parth and his feathered friend managed. Sigurd was pleased when he'd been approached by his long-time companion with his interest in returning to viking... though admittedly less enthused when he mentioned the rag-tag group he planned on joining him. Still, the freeborns were strong and claimed to have been training. This venture was to see what they were about. If they had any muster to them, he'd invite them on bigger and better vikings in the future. If not? Better off at home with the weans.
The boys trailed behind their father, eager eyes keeping peeled for any potential opportunity to show their value. It had been a trial to navigate themselves from the Schnee lands to their father, where they met with the unexpected challenge of actually joining his pride. Young and fool hardy at they are, they managed to each duel in as freeborns on their first go. Now, so soon after, they are once more outside the Stormborn lands and seeing what it means to be a true Viking. They were anxious to prove themselves, pillage some belongings, and it was Fintan’s particular desire to find a thrall to bring back.
Their father, older and less eager, was leisurely keeping pace with the more experienced pair of their band. In truth, he was very pleased to finally be experiencing what was at the core of being a true Stormborn; not to mention getting to do it with his sons who’d finally joined him from their snowy birthplace. The father was most hopeful in seeing his sons prosper as reavers, though he did have worries... they had lived rather relaxed lives, without the hardening that the youth of Stormborn had the benefit of. It was going to truly be a trying time for them and it was his goal to see them through it, and ensure those important life lessons were learned.
***
“Alright, lads.” Captain Sigurd, brought them to a shaded baobab tree with a fierce expression. “We’re going to let beaky here fly over the area and bring back with us what he can find. We’ll go from there if there’s anything worthwhile around. If not... we move on at dusk. Got it, feathers?”
“The name’s Horos.” The falcon glowered the captain, his feather’s puffing up a bit in indignation. “But got it.”
Parth grinned in response to his little friend’s gusto. “Yeah, Sig. He’s got it.”
Sigurd nodded. “Oy!” He ducked just in time to avoid being hit in the face with the flying falcon’s body who tucked his wings and swung into the sky in a brilliant arch.
The other four lions chortled at the display, while the Captain begrudgingly took the maneuver with “good” nature. “Damned bird better be worth his penny, Parth. Otherwise, he’s on for breakfast.”
Parth ignored the threat which he knew to be hollow. Sigurd wouldn’t cross Parth by depriving him of what the Stormborn would consider his property. At least if he didn’t expect a fight over it.
“So... what do we do now?” Fintan stepped up, nearly vibrating with excitement. “While Horos is scouting, Loch and I could do some short-range look about.”
His twin saddled up beside his brother, giving an enthusiastic nod. “Just in case.”
Parth and Sigurd shared a skeptical look. “Finch?” Parth asked, eyebrow quirked. “Any objection?”
The father pursed his lips, looking at his boys for a long moment. “...I don’t suppose so. Be back before the sun reaches that ridge though.”
Sigurd broke in. “We aren’t going to be hunting down your carcasses either, so don’t get lost. Or killed.” he added almost as an afterthought, dropping his satchel to the ground which made a hollow “clank” of items knocking against each other.
The twins shared looks of excitement which only sent a few pangs of worry in their father’s stomach.
***
The twins returned, disappointment clear by the posture which caused a shared grin by Sigurd, Parth, and Finch.
“No luck?” Sigurd inquired innocently.
“Nothing.” Fintan sounded personally offended, as if there should have been loads of would be victims sitting about.
“Not even anything to eat.” Loch added, flouncing on the ground in the shade. It was then that he noticed Horos returned, perched in the tree. “Hey! Did he find anything?”
The older lions were standing in a semi-circle, the pack returned to Sigurd’s back. “We were waiting on you lads. The bird’s found something.” He only sounded a little begrudging in that, causing a grin to peak out in Parth’s maw.
The exhausted twins now shared identical, rather comical expressions.
***
In the end, the boys had shown good muster in their abilities. While obviously not to the level of either Sigurd, Parth, or their father for that matter, they weren't disgraceful to the Stormborn name.
The band of vikings had converged on a small pride, made up of three lionesses and two lions. The lionesses had put up a better fight than the lions, almost, which is mainly why none of our Stormborn walked away with a thrall.
They did succeed in gaining valuable herbs and small objects which would be used to make salves, medicines, and the like. it was Sigurd's belief one of them was a conjure woman which gave him hesitancy to take her possessions; in the end, though, the other lions were adamant that she couldn't curse them. She didn't have the look of someone capable in that respect.
The boys were each given a trophy. In the possessions taken from the pride were bones that had been delicately cleaned and adorned. Each brother received a skull, at their own choosing, which would decorate their future dens (when they acquired one of course).
Parth took his pick of random trinkets that were small and compact while Finch opted for a nice smelling powder that he thought a future lioness he was courting might appreciate.
All in all, not a bad haul for such a small and of lions. The group of lions were not finished yet though. From there, they traveled several more days and with the help of Horos, obtained a bounty of items they would be able to trade and barter with in their home territory.
A successful viking, indeed.
Word Count: 1,281
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