Thorgrim was not the happiest lion in all of the land, and for good reason. Things were just as he'd left them so long ago when he'd left the pride. Why was he so surprised? Taraxa was just fatter and stupider, and his shrill sister had returned, much to Thorgrim's upset. Not only that but the fat lion had begotten himself a whole mish-mashed herd of children.
That in and of itself was rather annoying.
His brother, on the other hand, was just as Thorgrim remembered. Though Thorgrim had left when Brynja was but a little babe, Thorgrim was glad to see that the lioness was doing her father proud. A beautiful priestess; it truly warmed his old, minuscule and crippled heart to see a family member making herself known about the pride.
As he approached, there was a low grunt from behind him. Of course there was. Stygg was forever underfoot; the lioness was as stupid as she was ugly, and Thorgrim wasn't entirely sure why he hadn't killed her yet. Ended her suffering, as it were. Probably because his wife would have nothing of it; Lena was far too gentle and kind for her own good, and Thorgrim would be lying if he said he preferred Lena's quietness to Runa's constant bitching. Even if Lena was quiet-spoken and gentle in her ways, there was something about Runa's fiery temperament that satisfied Thorgrim. Something that pleased him greatly. Despite this, Lena was his true wife and the mother of Gunnar, and Thorgrim would always be fond of his wife. He might lust after Runa, but Lena had his respect.
Turning to face Stygg, Thorgrim grunted.
"Why you persist in following me, beast, is beyond my grasp."
"Captain Thorgrim, Lena saysth I muth watch out for you. She doesth not trust thith plathe."
Thorgrim grunted at that comment, narrowing his vibrantly blue eyes.
"If you insist, fool. I go to visit my niece, and you would do well to keep your mouth closed and your eyes down. Is this understood?"
Stygg gave a small nod of acceptance. It did not bother her that the gruff and craggy old lion treated her like she was more annoying than anything else, but even still, she wanted him to like her. She wanted him to appreciate her. Stygg had heard word that Thorgrim was half-tempted to give her to his b*****d-child; Lena had said that she would never let it happen, but it was hard to imagine Lena sticking up for a mere Thrall. Not that it mattered, really. Stygg was quite fond of Lena and would do all that she could to keep the lioness happy, especially when Thorgrim was on a rampage. Needless to say he'd been on a rampage the entire time they'd made their way back home from the outpost; sometimes it seemed that Lena was the only one who could soothe him with her soft voice and gently spoken words.
"Good. Gods help me, Stygg, if my wife did not enjoy your company so dearly I would finish the job that another attempted and I would remove your tongue myself." Thorgrim gave a resigned sigh and kept moving forward towards a smaller, similarly colored lioness who seemed to be diligently working at something. There was a turtle shell at her feet and she seemed to be brushing her toes through the contents.
"Brynja."
The lioness looked up at Thorgrim's word, a large smile spreading across her features. "Uncle." She moved towards him and fondly pressed her nose to his cheek before stepping back and settling herself back on her haunches, tail wrapping around her toes as she peered at him affectionately.
"Father had given notice that you would be returning home." Her voice was warm as she spoke, head canting curiously to the side. "Was your journey comfortable? And how is my Aunt?"
"The journey was long and tiresome," Thorgrim grunted, settling himself down into a more comfortable position. He gave an annoyed glance over his shoulder as he peered at Stygg, who seated herself a fair distance away. At Thorgrim's distracted glance, Brynja peered around his broad form, catching sight of a rather pretty lioness.
"And who is this, Uncle?"
"A stupid Thrall."
"She's rather lovely."
That comment gained Brynja a strange look.
"What?" She sounded confused.
Thorgrim grunted, piercing blue eyes alighting upon Brynja's face. It was obvious that her question would gain no answer. Brynja snorted softly, making even a rude noise sound rather delicate and feminine.
"How fares Dalla? Uhtred?" He did not ask of the sister.
"Dalla busies herself with crafting baubles and trinkets for the Captains and Reavers of the pride. Uhtred has taken to herding the preybeasts so that the food is closer to home." She quirked a brow. "I have other news if you are interested in hearing of it."
"Indeed." He peered over his shoulder once more at Stygg; the lioness had crept closer while attempting to seem as if she had no interest in what was being said. Brynja rolled her eyes and continued speaking, obviously not minding that the lioness Stygg was very apparently eavesdropping.
"Ignore her, Brynja. She is the spy of my wife. Lena insists that she follow me for one reason or the other." He shook his large head, wheaten mane shifting with the movement.
"She worriesth for you, Captain Thorgrim," Stygg grumbled meekly.
Brynja blinked and narrowed her eyes just slightly. "A lisp. How darling." With a soft chuckle, she turned her attention back to her uncle, peering at him with great interest. "This news is not for those who would dare speak out of turn, dearest uncle. Is it wise to keep the fool near? While it is not sensitive news inasmuch, the choice is yours."
Thorgrim waved a mighty paw to indicate that his niece should continue. While Stygg was not the brightest lioness he'd come across in his years, she was loyal... and there was much to say for such a trait. Stygg merely crept a bit closer, ears perked while her eyes were averted. Eavesdropping was obviously not a skill she excelled at.
"Aesir has a litter of sons not borne of his wife," Brynja said softly, lifting a brow, "and they are grown. Fey, it is said. One seems to be rather attached to a seer while the others wander the boundaries of the pride. Their mother is now a priestess. Quite lovely." She fell silent once more, gauging her uncle's reaction. Brynja, having been born a fair number of years after Aesir's rise to power, did not hold much of a grudge towards the Warlord. Her uncle did, and it was safe to say that Dalla and likely even Uhtred did as well.
"Dalla has been seen with one of Aesir's legitimate sons," the lioness continued, lifting a paw to unsheathe her claws so that she might gaze at them with admiration. "Though I do not know of her intent, it is safe to say that with Dalla ... Uncle, you know her game." Brynja shook her head.
"The sister --"
"I do not care to hear of the sister," Thorgrim interrupted his niece brashly, cutting a paw through the air to silence her.
"Yes uncle. I had ... forgotten."
"Do your best to remember. Where does Gunne rest?"
Brynja's brow creased in a small frown.
"I cannot say, uncle, because I do not know. I am not even certain that he has a resting place."
It was obvious that this fact did not sit well with Thorgrim. While he and Gunne had had their disagreements, they had been friends. Thorgrim respected Gunne and had also criticized the ex-Warlord for his weakness for pretty faces. It had been that very weakness that had caused his downfall.
Females. Thorgrim grunted loudly.
"I doubt he was given such extravagances," the elder lion muttered heavily under his breath, a hint of pain in his tone.
Stygg, while not the most apt lioness on the planet, was very keen on reading the expressions of those around her. It was not difficult for her to see the pain in Thorgrim's bright gaze or the slumped set of his mighty shoulders. Even the slightest deepening of Thorgrim's voice that hinted at the emotion he felt over the loss of his friend was strikingly clear to Stygg, though she would never speak of these observations. No, it better suited her to remain quiet and unobtrusive; the stupider she appeared, the less of a threat she was considered.
"My father will be glad to see you, uncle." Brynja cleared her throat. "And your son, as well. My cousin Gunnar."
"Yes. I look forward to seeing my son and my brother, and I am pleased to see that you have grown into a beautiful and capable lioness, niece."
Brynja dipped her head gracefully in acknowledgment of his compliment. She'd heard that such flowery words did not flow freely from the lips of her uncle. She had to admit that it was rather shocking, though she was careful to keep any such expression from her face.
"Tell my brother I have returned should you see him before I do, niece." He rose to his feet and dipped his head in farewell before turning to hiss in Stygg's direction, "Come."
The lioness rose to her feet and scrambled to follow Thorgrim, though as an afterthought she turned to dip her head in farewell towards Brynja.
Brynja jerked her head in a tight nod. The Priestess had a feeling things were going to get very interesting. Very, very interesting.
WC: 1600 using this.
