WC: 1,047
Vilhelmas was "free". Sort of. While the pride would see him as a thrall unless he was fortunate enough to be released by the Warlord, he no longer had any duties. Usually, Eldahildr was all too happy to boss him around, telling him to do some mundane task or another, unless she was feeling particularly calm that day. But he had not seen her for some time. Was she staying with her sons and daughters somewhere, trying to avoid him? Or was she on another viking and hadn't told anyone that she had left? He did not know.
What he did know is that he had nothing to DO. He wasn't used to having much idle time and as a family thrall, he was mostly left alone. So when Sunniva informed him that she was going on her first viking, he volunteered to come with her to carry supplies. It would be the closest thing he would have to going on his own viking, after all.
"I'd love if you came along!" Sunniva had said. "I don't think the Captain would mind. I think he's more interested in being inebriated than the actual viking, honestly..."
The morning they were due to set out, Sunniva and Vilhelmas quickly realized why. It was a viking band made up of mostly excited adolescent lions, set on bragging about themselves more than focusing on the journey ahead. Vilhelmas wondered who the Captain ticked off to be stuck doing babysitting duty but did not say anything, because Sunniva was delighted to be a part of the band and he didn't want to darken her mood. He would be distracted by all the gear he would be carrying soon enough.
"If you get tired... slip me some that stuff, okay?" Sunniva whispered to him. He shook his head. He was strong and besides, Sunniva needed the chance to shine if she was to become a reaver.
The journey was long and arduous. The young members of the band didn't have a lot of common sense and more than once, progress had to be stopped to check on the supplies or to see where one of them had wandered off to, thinking they knew a shortcut or an easier path through the rocky terrain and then getting turned about. Vilhelmas' muscles strained under his heavy load, but he had no want for company; Sunniva had taken to telling him stories as they went. The Captain, if he thought her behaviour was odd, was too distracted by the adolescents to do anything about it.
They passed through the swamp and onto the dry earth of a savanna. The sun beat down on them, and those with dark pelts found the heat unbearable. They were forced to rest during the day and travel at night, but that suited Sunniva just fine. Wasn't it more sneaky of them to be travelling in the dark, anyway? Maybe they had been travelling in daylight so the Captain wouldn't lose the young ones. The thought amused Sunniva and when she told Vilhelmas her thought, he chuckled too.
There wasn't much cover on the savanna, either. The sparse trees didn't provide much shade, so the lions lay out in the open and took turns keeping watch. It was early in the evening when Sunniva spotted movement in the distance. She poked Vilhelmas, who woke up with a start. The previous night had been rough, and he blinked pink eyes blearily in the setting sun.
"I see something, what do you think it is?"
Vilhelmas gazed into the distance for a moment, then frowned. "Get the Captain. I believe it's a group of lions."
Sunniva nodded and quickly roused the Captain, who wasn't impressed at the intrusion, but as soon as he saw the approaching figures he began to bark orders. Sunniva and Vilhelmas were told to stay low, so they did, while everyone else took various positions along the route the group seemed to be taking. Sunniva practically vibrated with excitement. She hoped it was a trading band, or perhaps treasure hunters coming back with the goods... oh, that would be amazing!
Vilhelmas, on the other hand, was nervous. He was supposed to stay out of the way, but what if something happened to Sunniva? Her aunt Eldahildr would never forgive him, even if it was not his fault. Her rage would be the same as if he'd made contact with her himself. Despite his worrying, he forced himself to stay put and watch.
The group of strangers didn't suspect a thing. They knew these lands and there was really no where to hide in the light, so why would they fear? Of course, they certainly did when the Captain bellowed to capture them. Sunniva and the rest of the band swarmed on them, and they cowered together, unprepared to fend off the trained fighters.
Vilhelmas cringed as the band proceeded to take everything they were carrying, which turned out to be a few pelts and what looked like herbs. It was the Stormborn way of life to take from others to give to the pride, but it didn't mean Vilhelmas didn't feel bad for some of the victims. He wondered if any of them would be captured and made thralls. No, it looks like the Captain wasn't interested. He sent them running with a swipe to one of the lioness' rumps. She roared in pain but didn't stop to look back.
Sunniva all but pranced back to Vilhelmas. "I got a pelt! Not the best, but not bad either," she said, puffing out her chest. "I guess this means I am an official reaver now! Oh, can you carry this for me? Sorry."
Vilhelmas nodded and draped it across his back, over the packs he already wore. At least the packs were growing lighter as the supplies within were used up. It would provide some protection from the sun, too. As long as it's warm weight didn't cause a new problem.
Sunniva laughed delightfully and bounded away to swat at the excited adolescents, who were all acting like excited cubs at that point. Vilhelmas glanced at the Captain, who rolled his eyes, then smirked. He hoped that Sunniva, no matter what hardships she would face, would never lose her spirit.
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