[Icewatch Barracks] Home. [Open]

[Belgar]

Spring 39, 511


A man stood at the large front doors to the great and simple building. Naught but a block of wood remained of his possessions, gripped tightly in his bare fist. White bursts of warm breath condensed in the windless air before him, each stroke another reminder that he was indeed more than a statue. Otherwise he remained still, brow bent towards the frozen ground, twisted in thought over a pair of distant eyes.

It was difficult to return. This place was his childhood, his old stories, his history. It was not a place of the present. Nonetheless, it was where he belonged, and he had avoided it for too long. He tried to stay in his late mistress’s hold before, the town which had become his home at her side, but it was no place for a lone bear. The people there did not engage him as much as they did when she made them to, and he had no right over her family to her house or her things.

Belgar knew as well as anyone that this world was not as just or fair as an intelligent mind wished it should be, but nonetheless it saddened him utterly that she was taken before her time. He was the kelvic, the short-lived creature whom a worthy guard would mourn and replace at least once in their lifetime. He was not supposed to see her die.

Everything that had occurred from her passing this point had ultimately led him to this very spot, in front of this old, familiar building. He knew the way; he knew that he needed no special permission to enter again. It was his own conscience that stopped him. Stepping through these doors meant, among other things, that he recognized his innate yearning to find another mate. Crossing into this fortress of ursine honor and strength meant that he would finally have to replace her.

Replace, but not forget. Belgar looked up at the door, drew a heavy breath, and reached out to it. There he entered the barracks once more, for the first time in his life uncertain of the future.

[Graln]

OOCSine Avanthal isn’t a big place and all of the Kelvic had trained together at some point, I will have Graln remember Belgar. You can decide what sort of history they have had, if any. Also, when not talking, Graln refers to his hands as front paws. The day was slowly going by, as Graln was sitting quietly close to the entrance of the barracks. With the training recently finished, there wasn’t much to do but ransack the meal he held. It was some sort of meat, but his nostrils did not care enough to recognize it. He gazed through the room, thinking if he still had time to go hunting today? He was never really good with organizing his time (or anything else), but he still liked the idea of more raw meat in his belly, so he toyed with it for a bit. He could still feel his front paw aching; one of the younger bears had stepped onto it, and even while he was much lighter than Graln, bruising was still apparent. The cub had it easy, as all he got was a harsh push away from the animal, were it a human, he would be missing whatever limb was responsible for the accident. The bear was about to nap some more in hope of waking up with enough time left for another feast, when a strangely familiar scent crossed his nose. Not only was it a bear, but it was someone he knew and haven’t seen in a while. It was Belgar! Even before the door opened, he stood up and walked towards them, expecting his long lost acquaintance to come back through the door. He never considered Belgar a close friend, but he did like him to some extent; what feelings did the returner hold for him, was however a mystery. As soon as the door crackled, he voiced the name he was not used to saying for the longest time. “Belgar” came out into the room, speaking in lyrical Vani, Graln kept going: “You’ve changed. You’ve grown!” he stopped there, taking some time to soak in the appearance he was not yet fully familiar with. Belgar didn’t seem like he was in a particularly talkative mood, yet the curiosity kept the other one close to him.

[Belgar]

OOCTook a few liberties. Feel free to elaborate/correct anything.

Belgar was surprised to encounter another creature so quickly after he first entered. The blue melancholy in his eyes vanished into the same deep black as he saw who had greeted him. While the young man’s face was barely familiar, his scent was unmistakable. “Graln,” he replied, his stiff and serious features bending into that characteristic slight-smile that she had known so well. Even though he spoke it fluently, his Vani was hard and low. “Likewise to you. You were only a cub when I saw you last.”

When Graln had visited Skyglow, the elder bear had taught him a thing or two about fighting. (He would be hard-pressed to admit that he had also learned something, in the process.) Their spar lasted only a few hours, but Belgar recalled his novice, experimental style. “How have you lived?” he continued, practicing the social skills he had been taught in the meantime. “Are you still too proud to lose a fight?” He did not chuckle quite loud enough to suggest the intended joke in the comment.

Upon arriving, he was expecting to find a bit of peace, but he welcomed this warm greeting nonetheless. It would be good for him to talk, especially with another bear. He looked forward to the distraction.

[Graln]

OOCI’m fine with what you have written. It was not like Belgar would ever be unable to recognize him, still when he did, the younger bear felt surprisingly better. As his instructor from a long ago had already started remembering things Graln would rather forget, the younger bear did not want to let all the talking be done for him. “Maybe I was a cub, but I could have still won if you had the guts to go for another round!” he exclaimed cheerfully, almost as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. He had heard about the past tragedy that had followed the older bear around like a storm cloud, but still he was not sure what should he tell him, if anything. Shrugging for no viable reason, Graln started speaking again: “I have lived… well curious might be the word for it. Even tried to learn ice fishing once, that led to an unwanted class in swimming; I dislike swimming!” the boy exclaimed again. The speed or style of his speech, whatever it was, made it incredibly hard for anyone who wasn’t listening intently to hear anything. Finally he smiled, replying to the man’s last remark: “How about you? Are you still too weak to win one?” he never wanted an answer to his question, but still wanted something to keep filling the silence that was bound to happen between them. Finally, after weighing it out for a bit, he decided not to ask him how did he live, Graln knew enough and even that was more than most could take. Instead of what he really wanted to ask, he threw out another comment, accompanied with a question: “We need to go hunting one of these days, so I can make sure you are still a bear and all! And, you never did tell me, how long are you planning to stay with us?” he motioned his head towards the background as he asked. It was good to see Belgar again, but in all reality, just what it was that he came back for? That one thought kept pressing against Graln’s skull as he made room for something to happen.

[Belgar]

His gaze followed Graln’s gesture to the rest of the main hall, its high arches and sparse furniture a comfortable alternative to usual Vantha architecture. Belgar did not realize that he might have let an awkwardness settle in the silence after his old acquaintance’s final words, as he paused in thought a few moments before speaking. Then he turned to look at Graln again and replied, “As long as it takes, my brother.”

The ambiguity of it reflected his own uncertainty. She had found him here, after her own training; he did not have to look far for a sense of fulfillment. Perhaps there was more to a bear’s life than a bondmate, though. What better place to find that purpose than among those of his own race?

Finally, he recognized that he was thinking too much. He needed to engage in conversation, not drift out of it to dwell selfishly in his own thoughts. “What of you?” He continued, “How long will you stay here?”

This distraction was not enough, he decided. Knowing only a single memory and the last few minutes, he tried to let the younger bear’s enthusiasm for activity and discovery manifest in his own mind. “And so, young cub,” He added suddenly. The smile in his voice was not quite apparent on his face. “Would you rather a rematch or a hunt? I have not stretched my fighting muscles in far too long, but neither have I eaten since yesterday noon. You seem itching for one or the other, I think.”

[Graln]

Graln could feel the tense air around them getting more relaxed, but it was still not enough for him to do the same. After hearing the first words, he could still not understand; just why it was that Belgar was here? The only explanation that could pop into his mind wasn’t a comforting one. If the bear was back to search for a new bondmate, then he would have to understand a couple of facts. For one he wasn’t really in his prime, and most would see his age as but a burden. Belgar was a strong bear, as Graln had the chance to check, so it was not impossible. Still, he must have truly been desperate for wanting to get another shot at bonding. Not letting his thoughts be voiced, the boy kept staring until he thought he was ready to say something: “Times change, brother” he stopped, trying to make sense of the last word before he continued: “You are no longer stronger than me, and I no longer have to pick!” he added with a silly smile. “So how about we go hunting and then fight over the prey? This is all once we have brought it back into town of course. Only and idiot would stop out there to fight” as he finished he gestured towards the door, he did not mean to point at Avanthal, but beyond into the reaches; and farther. Even while putting his best efforts forward in order not to agitate the bear, he could still not shy away from a half serious conversation. “I am staying here until they throw me out; or until one of those stupid…” and there he had to stop for a moment, checking in his mind whether Belgar was bonded to one of the Skylgows, or were it Snowsongs? Finally upon deciding, he continued: “…Snowsongs tries to practice his playing close to the barracks! I do like the whole free lodging thing, but I don’t ever remember signing up for torture!” Graln wasn’t even minding his tone anymore, instead he was as loud and cheerful as the moment was letting him be. “So are we going on that hunt, or are you afraid to strain your hips, old lady?” the boy teased, trying to keep silence from creeping over them. Silence was boring, he disliked boring!

[Belgar]

It was true that the middle-aged mount had not considered the effects of his age on choosing another mate. Like many bears, he found it difficult to think of time in terms of the human lifespan, and he knew himself to be strong now and for the rest of his life. He considered his experience a boon rather than his age a burden. Whatever the circumstances, he could not resist the deep-seated desire to try, that hunger for companionship that ran in his blood and could not be deterred even by grief.

Belgar let him speak with only a few glances and nods in response. He loved it when others talked at him, independent of any elaborate acknowledgement. Nonetheless, he could not help but chuckle at Graln’s mention of fighting in the wilds, or his jest at the people of Snowsong. His fellow kelvic was certainly entertaining, but Belgar had little doubt that he also had other, more ursine talents.

To his final mock-denunciation, Belgar gave nothing but a louder than usual laugh and a knowing look. He turned and stepped to one side and in the next instant dissolved into a spinning, undulating shadow of his human form, shining with the cold light of the aurora. For a split second he held his nothingness to allow his old clothes to fall to the ground, but even he had not perfected the careful art: the collar of his shirt ripped from the growth of his leg, sending buttons flying. His little wooden trinket dropped noiselessly into the pile, its faded eyes smiling softly up at the ceiling.

Unperturbed, Belgar’s bear-face turned to Graln, his eyes shining with playful impatience. “Try to keep up, little child!” he rejoined in the roar of his true native tongue. With that, he turned towards the hind entrance to the barracks and ran at it. The doors were just as tall and grand as those through which he had entered. He could easily part them with his nose and a little momentum.

[Graln]

As Belgar thorn up some of his clothes, Graln could not help but consider him an idiot. Fabric was not at fault, it was simply the old bear showing off; middle age crisis is what humans called it. As the door opened, cold wind kept blowing past the boy, making his hands shiver. Nonetheless, he still started stripping, ignoring the displeased shouts in the background to the best of his ability. His garments came off, piece by piece, until he was completely nude. Stepping out into the white nothingness made him recall his first run in with the Icewatch and public indecency charges. Realizing that he is indeed shivering and that his human form can hardly contain the body heat well enough for him to last outdoors, he shifted in a flash of light. Hands and feet became paws, his face became an elongated snout and his skin… was still skin, only it was now altered and covered in a thick layer of white fur. The fur, despite being clean, still couldn't mimic the pale background as he was certain he failed at camouflage just as much as his brother that was now running in the distance. Roaring fiercely he charged after Belgar, certain that he could have given him a season head start, and the old male would still lose; such were the delusions of his youth.

[Darren]

Darren was on the prowl that day, his eyes looking for a potential victim for his latest urge. Bear Mounting. The practice itself he did pretty often growing up, usually doing an attempt at least 2-3 times a week as a youth. But he's a full grown adult now, the times he has attempted to do so diminished with his age once or twice a week, every two weeks, a month, until he didn't remember the last time he did such an act, if he were to do it all anymore. He sighed as he reminisced in times of youth, just wishing he had all the advantages being young had to offer. Getting away with small things, looking cute in front of the girls, and especially the fact that the bears couldn't harm him while he was younger. But that is in the past and today Darren found himself sweating bullets in anticipation. "Today I will mount one and escape their clutches," he told himself before he took off his leather coat. He looked around town with that mischievous look in his eyes while he stalked his prey. However he just wasn't having any luck, the bears with their riders already on top of them watched him carefully as they go their rounds. True he could have tried a jump kick to try to unseat the man and ride the bear but that would just cause his fellow Vantha pain and himself a bad reputation. Angry and discouraged he kicked out a pile of snow in frustration. He didn't like not getting things that he wanted and this was no different. It seemed that his day was destined to be unsuccessful when he heard a noise in the distance. What? Was that? Is it what I think it is? he thought as he turned his head to look. IT IS! He smiled as the mischievous look reappeared on his face. He planned his approach carefully as he noted the two bears were running pretty fast for some reason. Even better! Maybe they are to busy to stop and maul me when I do try this he thought.He tried to figure out their approach as he turned around and started walking inconspicuously. He focused as he tried to hear their approach, his heart beating a mile a minute. Hehe just like old times he thought, clutching at his heart before they came. The first of them seemed to be the older of the bunch shown by the slower pace and fatter build, the other one however was young and more then able. So he waited when the first bear ran past him in a hurry, a pack of snow shuffling around with each step he took. He waited for a second before he heard the other one trying to catch up to it. One... Two... Three... He counted off mentally before letting off a battle shout. "RAWWWWRRRR!!! WHAT IS MY NAME?!?!?!" He shouted out before he landed on the big mass of white tubby fur.

[Graln]

Graln was sprinting, when something fell on top of him and nearly made him lose his balance. Belgar could wait now. Even while the bear was confident there was no immediate threat, he still found it greatly annoying how someone actually dared to jump on top of him. He quickly remembered the earlier noise that came with the jump; it seemed to be a Vantha that was responsible for the uncomfortable weight and the tugging of fur on his back. Roaring fiercely, he just wanted to the man to get off, but even if the man could have understood what was being roared; he still wouldn’t have enough time to respond. Quickly capsizing to the side, Graln was confident that the inconsiderate bug on his back was lucky he was going to get killed by crushing instead of chewing. It was clear now, if the puny human couldn’t jump far and fast enough, his life was about to flash before his eyes. The only thing actually going through Graln’s mind at the moment was whether or not killing the idiot on his back would spoil the mood for the hunt?