The Few, The Proud, The Bears [Valkyrie]

by **Sliver** on June 7th, 2012, 1:58 am

The 2nd of Summer, A.V. 512

Sliver had always enjoyed the looks she was given in passing. She took a predatory pleasure in the fact that people turned down corners to avoid walking by her, and gave her a wide berth in passing. Her current appearance enhanced the natural effect that many creatures held toward wolverines, often being too much trouble for their relatively small size. That being said wolverines were far from being on the top of the food chain in the wilds Mizahar, and the Kelvic had not felt as if she were stepping back into the wilderness as acutely as when her bare feet crossed the threshold that led into the Icewatch barracks.

Here she was not the dominant species, and the black brooding eyes of the Kelvic polar bears kept track of every cautious step she made across the halls. She lowered her head, drooped her shoulders, and everything about her stance made sure to convey that she was no threat. Despite her tact, the act was dropped the instant that two people approached: The female appeared to be Vantha, with dark hair braided and curled around her neck, dark green eyes sizing up Sliver and darting to her companion, a slender yet muscular male figure, with salt and pepper hair and dark eyes that mirrored Sliver’s own. The wolverine’s hackles rose a bit (so to speak), and she leveled a challenging stare at the both of them. The Kelvic and the Vantha looked at one another. The woman shot her companion a questioning glance, and the Kelvic just gave a curt nod. Something nearly physically hurt Sliver then as she watched their wordless communication. It was a blatant reminder that this place was completely filled with pairs of beings, bonded and unified. Despite the relative warmth of the Everwinter City as of late, the wolverine got a chill that ran the length of her spine as her gaze shifted from two beings who had become one, unconsciously taking half a step backward. Their gazes shifted back to her in unison, and Sliver silently swallowed, preparing herself for the inevitable confrontation. The male was the first to speak,

“What brings a fellow Kelvic here?”

Sliver raised her chin and cleared her throat, voice clear and determined as she spoke. “I wish to join the Icewatch.”

The Vantha scrutinized her, and then folded her arms across her chest. “And what would make you think that you belong here, Kelvic?”

The wolverine started. For some reason, displaying her traits verbally had not seemed like a possibility. She had imagined brawling with polar bears, being bodily thrown out into the now absent snow, maybe blindfolded and shoved into some dank cavern in which she’d claw her way out, less words, more action. Sliver cocked her head to the side, considering each word as it passed through her lips.

“I am strong, can handle myself, can survive in the wilds….” She trailed off weakly. The things that she had thought might earn her a place in the Icewatch seemed useless now. What good was having the ability to maintain body heat in the tundra when it was gone? And truth be told her wilderness survival probably paled in comparison to bears and their bond mates whose lives had been devoted to the task. The Kelvic just waited anxiously to see the reaction of the two, glancing around her to see several pairs of eyes surveying the proceedings.

The pair looked dubiously at her, and the Kelvic took his turn to speak, “Where does your faith lay?” His voice took on a knowing tone, as if she had already answered the question before he had uttered the words.

Sliver raised her chin. “I put faith in the strength of my will to complete the tasks those I serve give me.”

The Kelvic nodded, unimpressed. “Do you put any faith in gods?”

Without thinking the Kelvic shook her head, realizing her mistake in the eyes of the interviewing pair.

The Vantha female’s eyebrows furrowed. “Those who belong to the Icewatch put their faith entirely in the hands of our Goddess Morwen, to join you must adopt these views as well. Do you know anything about our Ice Queen?”

Sliver felt increasingly nervous, as if she was being steadily and thoughtfully backed into a corner. “I know that she is kind despite the cold she brings…”

The Vantha nodded, but did not give the wolverine a break. “You seem able bodied enough Kelvic, but the Icewatch is not just brawn. Do you know any magicks?”

Sliver shook her head.

“Do you know the history of our city?”

The Kelvic shook her head once more.

“Do you know our holds and the people that reside here?”

Sliver could do nothing but shake her head, a raging heat building up in her throat from the increasingly satisfied looks appearing on the pairs faces as her inconsistencies added upon each other.

The Vantha continued without mercy. “At least tell me you know how to make your way from the Skyglow hold to the docks?”

The wolverine just growled her negative reply, and the Vantha nodded. It was at this point that the growing self-satisfied smirk on the woman’s features turned to anger, her forest green eyes blazing an icy blue as she stepped forward, nose just an inch away from Sliver’s. “You come into our city, Kelvic, a stranger, who knows nothing of our people or our ways, and trounce into these barracks like you have something we do not, as if we will just take you because of what the storms have done to this area. Leave this place before we make you, and do not return unless you have learned what it means to be a member of the Everwinter City.”

She spat the words as if Avanthal was still encased in ice, and the wolverine could not rebuke her harsh words, was utterly powerless to respond. Sliver turned on her heel and forced herself to walk slowly from the barracks, not picking up her pace until she was well out of sight of the windows of the Icewatch.

Then the Kelvic ran. She ran down the streets, weaving around the crowds or shoving people out of her way. She dashed past the bustle of the city, tromping through a much more vegetated area. Her feet pounded against the solid earth, and her pace did not slow until the burning in her throat began to impair her ability to intake air. The landscape which had been a slight colored blur came back into definition as the Kelvic’s pace slowed: from a sprint to a run, a jog to a trot, ending with Sliver on her knees, mud soaking into her clothing, and squelching up in between her fingers as her figure slumped, heaving over the ground.

She was not a creature that took much stock in dreams and hopes. You made your own reality and that was all there was to it, but there was still an ache of disappointment that hung in her chest, caught up in her ragged airways as she tried to settle her heartbeat. This was not how it was supposed to have been, this was not the way she had imagined. They were proud and didn’t see they needed her, yet the Vantha’s words rang of truths she didn’t know, and her own selfish confidence of a life and city she knew next to nothing about.

It was then that Sliver raised her head, dark eyes roving her surroundings to find a great and magnificent building looming directly before her. As her eyes adjusted she vaguely remembered seeing this great tree from other parts of the city. It was a magnificent thing, and despite the fact that a few large branches had been shorn off in the storms, it was large enough to have weathered the worst of the environmental tribulations. The Kelvic slowly picked herself up from the ground, brushing her muddied hands upon her leathers as she peered into the entryway that two great roots bordered protectively. Her clawed fingers traced elegant masonry that adorned the worn down stone, and she closed her eyes a moment, settling her mind. Once her heartbeat had slowed and some of the pang had ebbed from her chest, Sliver proceeded cautiously into the large building.

It was just as magnificent inside as it was on the outside. While its design was simple, the care that had gone into making the place was clear. Though Sliver was not aware immediately that the place she had stumbled into was the Everwinter Temple, the amount of people curled up on cushions and blankets, heads cowed, eyes closed in meditation or prayer, gave her some idea of the reverence held within its cold stone walls. The Kelvic’s appearance may have been strange to any Vantha, but she went without any notice: The people within had much larger concerns than a stranger within their temple. Unmolested Sliver took her time and paced the length of the great room, examining the artwork, taking in the great space which was absent of most furnishings that would adorn any other god or goddesses temple. This place said much about the Goddess to which it was devoted to, and not for the first time Sliver was brought back to the fact that Morwen was unlike any deity she had ever learned about before.

Her fingers traced the gilded frame of a painting, a beautiful landscape of the icy tundra bordering the city with the detailed glimmer of the tip of Avanthal’s palace peeking out over a hill. This was the place that she had heard stories about, the place that these people knew. To lose it in such a short amount of time, the Kelvic sighed, the desire to aid in the cities restoration resonated somewhere within, just as it had when she saw that look between the Kelvic bear and his bondmate.

by **Valkyrie** on June 27th, 2012, 5:48 pm

A robed woman sat cross-legged on a pillow, back against the wall and eyes following the Kelvic woman who had recently entered the Temple. She was Lee’ena Snowsong, and it was her duty to keep track of all visitors to the Everwinter Temple, though it hardly deserved its name at a time like this. She had witnessed the woman pace up and down, clearly anxious and upset. Lately she had seen many come and pray or meditate for good tidings, it was a difficult time for all of Avanthal’s inhabitants. Rising from her pillow she determined the greet the woman and strode silently over.

Sliver would not hear the priestess’s approach until she was immediately behind her shoulder. Lee’ena had learned to walk softly to avoid disturbing praying visitors. Lee’ena cleared her throat gently to get the woman’s attention and smiled gently when Sliver turned towards her. Sliver would see a slender woman with long, brown hair and robed in simple green. Her Vantha eyes were brown, masked and hidden of emotions. It would be clear to Sliver that this was not a woman who desired ornament and attention, but instead one of true piety and purpose.

“This is a beautiful painting, and one of my favorites. It gives me comfort to look upon it and remember our former glory that is only so recently taken from us. I recall the day it was first hung upon this wall seven years ago, my father was priest of this Temple then.” Lee’ena spoke softly so as not to disrupt those who prayed nearby. Her eyes lingered on the painting before turning to meet Sliver’s gaze, turning a light hazel as the shy woman became more comfortable with her company. ” I have noticed your entrance, Kelvic woman. Each step you take in this temple seems troubled and unsure. What is bothering you? Morwen’s guidance is available to all who seek it.”

by **Sliver** on June 27th, 2012, 7:47 pm

Sliver started at the noise so close behind her. While her body did not show her surprise, the whites of her eyes exposed her bewilderment, an emotion that quickly subsided as she gauged the woman in front of her. A priestess: She was beautiful, even if it was an aesthetic born from the simplicity of her person. The Kelvic inclined her head, for if the woman's father had been priest of this temple, it surely meant she was at the head of it now.

She turned her gaze back to the painting for a moment before finding her reply. Lee'ena Snowsong, even the name seemed trustworthy and open. The Kelvic ran a hand uncomfortably through her mohawk, and met the priestess's gaze with dark and hopeful eyes.

"You see much, though I can't imagine it was hard to tell how out of sorts I am." The Kelvic grinned, exposing a mouth full of sharp, threatening teeth, despite the warmth and self deprecating humor that she was conveying.

"I..." Sliver turned her sheepish gaze downward, feeling like a young embarassed pup. "I cannot help but feel at home here in this city. Even though it is not what it was, I am a wolverine, and the cold, the very nature of this place it calls to me. So when I arrived, and saw it like this...I wished to help, and it seemed all the more fitting to commence in my original purpose here, to join the Icewatch."

She lapsed into silence, tongue cleaning the inside of her mouth, unused to exposing herself in this manner, and in so many words. She had to admit to someone here she didn't know anything, however, and she knew the priestess would see her problem differently than the Icewatch who had rejected her.

"I am impatient, and green to this city, and the Icewatch have seen that, and turned me, rightfully I suppose, away. I cannot prove myself in the traditional manner, but I wish to help." The Kelvic tilted her head up once more. There wasn't much more to say.

by **Valkyrie** on June 29th, 2012, 11:48 pm

As Lee'ena listened her eyes brightened to a light shade of blue, the color of the afternoon sky on cloudless days. Her blue eyes were clear and open, she had nothing to hide or disguise here, in Morwen’s Temple. Here there was only honesty and compassion.

“Did you speak to the Icewatch of your desire to help, and admit your shortcomings? Did you approach them as humbly as you have spoken to me and tell them of how the city calls to you?” Lee’ena asked with the softest of smiles, as if she knew what would follow. She cupped her hands in front of her, a peaceful bodily movement, and waited for an answer. As Sliver gazed into Lee’ena’s eyes she would come to the realization that no, she had not been humble before the Icewatch. Instead she had been humbled BY the Icewatch, the distinction between the two was both shallow and endless. One starts with humility, the other ends with it. She had tried to be proud and show off her skills. Sliver would have the supreme embarrassment of shaking her head no to the priestess.

“Icewatch is filled to the brim with great men and women, so they understand the truth of bravery. You see, bravery is born of two things, and one of them is humility. There is no bravery without humility, there is only foolishness. Bravery is facing fear and overcoming it, but only the humble understand what they truly fear. If you cannot be humble and tell them of your weaknesses, then you cannot be brave and overcome them.” Lee’ena said quietly, though every word would be heard clearly by Sliver. Lee’ena had purposefully left the formula missing one ingredient. Sliver would have to ask if she wanted to know, Lee’ena would let the choice of having that lesson rest with her.

“And you should not think of Icewatch as only a path to aid the city, as a means to an end. Icewatch should not be taken so lightly. It should be your life’s ambition; it should be that which gives your life purpose and direction. Be sure you take the post seriously before you pursue it further. Each and every member of Icewatch is more than willing to die while performing their duty, can you say the same? In fact, as dangerous as the work is, you should be prepared to accept that at some point you most likely would die in service to Avanthal.” Lee’ena continued, careful with her words. She only meant to caution the young Kelvic, not chastise her. Icewatch was no trifling matter and she did not want to encourage frivolous consideration of membership.

by **Sliver** on June 30th, 2012, 11:16 pm

A slow anger began to build like a well-kept furnace within the Kelvic's chest. It did not burn for the soft spoken priestess, of course, for her words held more than enough truth. Pride, and that foolishness born from bravery forced out without humility, they were two of the Kelvic's greatest weaknesses (the wolverine wasn't a fan of uncontrolled fires either, but that fear didn't seem applicable here). Despite this, regardless of the succinctly and gently given words from Lee'ena, Sliver knew that first encounter in the barracks would have gone just the same, even if she had had a chance to repeat it: The musk of the bears permeating the walls, dark eyes glinting back into her own, the stares of wary and strange individuals, there was only so much a cornered animal could do in such a hostile environment. That was little excuse however, in fact none, if anything she should have been more prepared when she had gone in in the first place, things and ideas which mattered little now as she stood in silence before Lee'ena.

The wolverine shook her head a little bit, clearing the memory from her thoughts. That did not mean that she was unwilling to re-enter the premises with her tail between her legs, a shamed being exposed before the Icewatch, but her dark eyes glinted fiercely, for she refused to do that without subsequent proof that she belonged in their ranks. Of course that was what the priestess was getting at, wasn’t she? : That those two ideas were not completely separate entities. Sliver contemplated this for a moment, mulling over her words in anticipatory silence.

She glanced upward at Lee’ena’s final words, the ones that she felt most confident about. “I am sorry. Communicating in words can be harder for me, I am not always…clear.” She paused and took the time to phrase her next bit of speech. “I am Kelvic, dying is not an obstacle, but a natural inevitability. I do not seek it out, but I do embrace the cycle, and dying in the service of the Icewatch is not something that I take lightly, yet is also welcome. Serving and dying for these Kelvic and Vantha, for Morwen, in the service of this city, not just to help for now, but until that death comes, it sits well in my gut.”

The wolverine scratched behind her ear. She had been baited, and had ignored it by answering the last part of Lee’ena’s speech, but now she had to address the rest.“I am…proud. Your judgment of my character cuts deep, but only to the truth. So I ask aid from you priestess and your goddess…” She blinked, “…the one I wish to pledge my loyalty to, how must I overcome these weaknesses?” It was a freeing and nerve wracking statement for the Kelvic. She lay much upon this kind stranger, regardless of whether it was her job or not, Sliver felt exposed and afraid, yet hopeful as well.

by **Valkyrie** on July 1st, 2012, 5:42 pm

OOCIf you are getting tired of the monlogues don’t worry, we will be moving on from this scene shortly, so make sure you’ve said what you want to

Lee’ena nodded her head in acceptance of Sliver’s response to her cautioning. It would serve her well to accept death as natural and be prepared to meet it any day. The life of an Icewatch soldier was dangerous and not for the faint of heart. The Vantha priestess determined the help the Kelvic solidify her resolve and wipe away her doubts. She had seen many come and go through the Icewall Gates, and she knew when someone was prepared to walk the long road in service to Avanthal. It was a road she walked herself as priestess.

“The way to overcome your weaknesses is the second ingredient in bravery. It is faith. Faith will carry you through the long nights and will wipe away your fears. It is why the Icewatch soldiers are willing to risk their lives each and every day to keep Avanthal safe. They put their trust and their lives entirely in the hands of Morwen. Icewatch members know that in their times of need she will provide for them. Morwen lives and walks among us, she cares about our lives and our troubles. No matter is too small to discuss with the goddess because of her great love for us. And besides the love she bears us, she also gives our means of survival. She protects us here in the North, and gives us the grace to bear her Gnosis marks. Without her guidance Avanthal would not exist.” Lee’ena’s voice rose slightly in volume as she became more passionate about her subject. She was a priestess after all and Morwen was the subject she was most knowledgeable about.

“Do not think that Morwen loves only the Vantha. She loves any who is willing to follow her ways, but she has a special place in her heart for the Kelvic. You can see her love for your species in the polar bears in Icewatch. They are smart and brave and the pinnacle of what you can achieve. If you are accepted to Icewatch, your very nature will be molded through contact with those elite Kelvic. And should you bond with a soldier as they do, you will change even more.” Shards of green invaded the blue of Lee’ena’s eyes as she spoke. She had given the wolverine much food for thought and prodded her to consider the changes that might overcome her through her time with Icewatch. Morwen’s knowledge of the Kelvics and their secrets was well known, though the details were of course a closely guarded secret not even known to Lee’ena. But regardless of the how, it was no doubt that the Kelvics bred in Avanthal were of sharper intellect then those haphazardly born elsewhere. Lee’ena was of course not pointing out any weakness of Sliver’s birth and breeding but more opening her to the awareness of what was possible for Kelvics in Avanthal.

“So this is my advice to you, young Kelvic. Put your faith in Morwen. Accept her love and return it. I understand that it is difficult to fall into a religion so quickly, but at least open yourself to it. If you reject Morwen’s embrace you will come to find Icewatch a very lonely place indeed.” Lee’ena sighed as she finished her speech. Icewatch worshipped Morwen fiercely, and although members were free to worship other gods or not worship at all it was looked down upon. Lee’ena did not like to pressure others to a religion they did not come to naturally but the social aspect could not be ignored. She would not lie to Sliver about it. She knew that the Kelvic would have to be warned or face the possibility of future disillusionment.

by **Sliver** on July 1st, 2012, 9:27 pm

Her words were almost haunting in their impassioned tone. They were the spoken ideas of a woman who had found her calling and reveled in it, and Sliver envied the certainty that hung in her every utterance surrounding the goddess. Sliver was open to this Icy Queen, but it would take time. Kelvic were short lived creatures after all, their nature was not a pious one devoted to deities that their lives barely noted. The idea was a foreign one, but not unwelcome, just...new. Contemplative coal eyes considered the idea of thrusting all trust into an unknown. Truly it was not different from her own ideals, life and death were two sides of the same coin, and what lay in between was a mystery that mortals rarely divined. To put that coin in the hands of Morwen...would it be so different from what she was already doing?

"As you say, I cannot push myself into this faith.." The wolverine took a moment to scan the room, once again noting how little of the paintings depicted Morwen herself, just Avanthal, it's beauty, and the physical effects of Morwen on her subjects. "...But I also realize how She differs from other gods. The more I learn, the more I want to learn more, and the more comfortable I feel with the idea of this faith in Morwen."

The Kelvic almost sighed audibly at the thought of having a companion, bondmate, it was one of the reasons she had come. That change, the change that would happen if she bonded to another individual, Vantha or no, was one she welcomed with open paws. These opportunities were valuable, but they were just elements, and every minute detail of this place had slowly been collecting itself in the Kelvic's thoughts from her first moments in the city, glancing at the ruined entryway into the city, meeting the calculating and intelligent stares of the bears and their bondmates, waiting for her to make her move. Well Sliver refused to leave, refused to give up, and she had no doubt the goddess had some part in pulling her to this temple, to this priestess for just this purpose, and she smiled at that, and nodded.

"I thank you for your advice, the time, and words you have given me. Morwen was truly wise in guiding you to be her priestess."

The Kelvic inclined her head, deeper this time than when Lee'ena had first approached, in reverence at her skills as well as the entity she represented. She felt lighter than she had when first entering, not freed from her burdens, but as if she understood what she carried more than before.

by **Valkyrie** on July 3rd, 2012, 4:10 pm

Lee’ena listened to Sliver patiently, nodding often in acceptance of her words. Faith could not be forced, that was certain. It had to grow naturally with time and reflection. The priestess knew she had planted a seed within the mind and heart of the Kelvic and she wondered what would grow from it with time.

“I believe that your intentions are good and that your interests lie with the interest of Avanthal. Even if you do not love Morwen now, she will see the truth in your heart and respect that. She is a reasonable goddess, and she only wants what best is for is.” Lee’ena smiled and her eyes shifted to a deep, calm green. She returned Sliver’s bowing head with a deep nod of her own. Lee’ena always returned respect given to her, and she knew that this Kelvic may one day earn the respect of many in Avanthal. Lee’ena placed her hand on the shoulder of the Kelvic and squeezed gently.

“I am glad to have met you. And remember, Morwen always provides for those who deserve it.” Lee’ena dropped her hand from Sliver’s shoulder and turned slowly to walk away, leaving Sliver with her own thoughts. Lee’ena had only moved a few paces away when a ripping scream echoed throughout the Temple. Those scattered around the Temple looked up in confusion and curiosity, but Lee’ena continued walking without turning back. Sliver would be immediately alerted by the scream, and identify that the sound appeared to be coming in from outdoors. She would not have time to wonder at the connection between Lee’ena’s unconcern and the timing of the scream before racing outdoors to investigate.

As Sliver passed through the Temple entrance she would be meted with a sight that would horrify any who chanced upon it. A thin man in ragged clothes was bent over a young woman, holding her down. The man was mildly emaciated and his jaw was covered in stubble. As Sliver stood in the doorway taking in the situation a woman would emerge from the Temple behind her and whisper the words ”….. escaped…melted Svanhildr”. The prisoner chuckled in the trapped woman’s face, spittle spraying from his mouth to coat her cheeks. One hand holding her shoulder, he used the other to rip at her skirt. The woman screamed again in terror and the man only gave a strange, unhinged laugh in reply. As he continued ripping at her skirts and leaning down on her, it was clear he had the evilest of intents in mind.

by **Sliver** on July 3rd, 2012, 5:24 pm

Sliver nodded at Lee'ena's words, absorbing them gratefully. This was the beginning, and all good things took time, or at least that is what she had heard. Kelvic's did not have as much time as most on Mizahar, but she had enough to learn about this Ice Queen, and the idea pleased her as she ruminated upon it within the comforting stone wall of the Everwinter Temple.

If her ears could have pricked in human form, they would have. The Kelvic only took the most cursory glances at the shock and alarm as she sprinted out the front door to see the haggard looking man, bent intently over his victim. His actions were so brazen, and this place was not far from public, but Sliver cared little about his reasoning, for his eyes held the empty hunger of someone lost in the world. The wolverine could feel no sympathy for this, but she could recognize the more animal gleam in his eyes, an individual who had strayed from his humanity quite a ways. The word Svanhildur meant nothing to her, but those words and the man's attire culminated in a type of realization. He was just one man, but this meant there were others abound, surrounding this city, an alarming thought when she had just been sitting idly by before, watching the city crowds that these escapees could have woven themselves into.

These thoughts were secondary to the immediate problem. The scream must have been heard by some of the Kelvic's brethren, but the city was still in recovery, and she knew nothing of the regulation of patrols. Sliver barely broke from her sprint to take in the situation before continuing to rush forward, carefully positioning herself for a lunge that would knock the man away and off his victim. Sliver let out a whuf of air as she lost her breath in the assault, both prisoner and Kelvic rolling off of the woman. She regained focus swiftly and sought to immobilize the man, arm swinging around his neck in an attempt to gain a choke hold. She had to be cautious for she was unaware of her opponents real skills, which could extend to a much deadlier array than simply attacking defenseless women.

by **Valkyrie** on July 5th, 2012, 8:19 pm

The ragged prisoner grunted in surprise as Sliver knocked into him, rolling him over. The woman he had attacked squealed in fright and froze as she watched the altercation. Several Vantha leapt forward to grab the woman frozen in fear and drag her to the side to check her for injuries. The prisoner growled in frustration as he glanced at his intended victim receiving aid.

Sliver’s arm wrapped around his neck and he lost all interest in his victim. He had not expected his attacker to be any sort of skilled or brave person to put anything more than a minor obstacle in his path. He knew that Icewatch was busy in another part of the city dealing with a pack of wolves that had prowled past the decimated Icewall. As he realized the danger his attacker imposed on him he knew he must fight for his life.

The man’s face reddened as Sliver cut off his air. Squirming with all his strength he managed to slip sideways and drive an elbow into Sliver’s diaphragm, driving the wind from her body and loosening her grip just enough for him to slip out of her chokehold. The man scrabbled a few inches away and twisted to kick out at Sliver, managing to make painful contact with her thigh.