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Halvar, the excitable whelp that he was, had introduced to Thorgrim a female that was supposedly his granddaughter - Gunnar's daughter. The large, older lion hadn't had a moment to meet with the female until this day - Halvar had been busy introducing her to everyone he could get his paws on. It was rather ridiculous - and Thorgrim would never willingly admit that he found Halvar ...slightly endearing.

The female - his granddaughter - had been set up in a den relatively close to his own. Better to keep an eye on her, he supposed. She reminded him distantly of his own mother - a fact that made him even more curious about this long-lost family.

"Naja." His voice was commanding. She would answer.

Actually, she wouldn't.

It wasn't that Naja was ignoring the older lion, it was simply that she was tired. Very tired. She'd created her own den from the ground up, moving all shapes and sizes of rock from great distances just so she could build her new home the way she wanted it to look. It was beautiful, really, and the sun had barely peeped over the horizon when she finally stumbled into bed. She slept on the dirt - decorating her den would have to come later, after she'd gotten some sleep.

Needless to say, the young lioness was exhausted.

Blinking a few times, Thorgrim moved purposefully into the den. Was she home? The loud snores that erupted from a lump of lion-flesh in the very darkest recess of the den obviously confirmed that yes, she was home.

And sleeping.

Thorgrim scowled. Sleeping? It was nearly midday, and here she was, sleeping. Lazy. So shameful.

He cleared his throat and moved forward, still scowling. When she didn't move, he reached forward with a large, broad paw and nudged her side unceremoniously.

She rolled towards him, her breath hiccuping slightly. Thorgrim shook his head and cleared his throat again, louder this time.

Skada jerked awake when she heard the loud, gruff throat-clearing, pale silver eyes darting wide open when the annoyed sound rang out. She scrabbled to her feet, looking incredibly disjointed and confused - up until she locked eyes with her grandfather. Naja blinked owlishly a few times, lifting a large paw up to her head.

"Good morning, gramps," she grouched, smacking her lips together. "I didn't know you were stopping by. It was a late night last night - I stayed up way too late."

Naja stretched, reeeeaching out her front paws and arching her back before she rocked back on her hind legs.

Thorgrim narrowed his eyes and stared at his grand-daughter. She was bold, calling him Gramps. Surely her mother must have been some sort of dim-witted female. Thorgrim was convinced of that - after all, would a respectable female raise such a lazy daughter?

Thorgrim was not impressed.

"You have already been introduced to the mint and berries? After not even being here what, a day? Perhaps two?"

Thorgrim gave a disapproving shake of his mighty head.

"You truly must be your father's daughter, then. A disappointment." He snorted, loudly. Why had he hoped otherwise? It had been foolish of him, truly.

Naja narrowed her eyes. How dare he? She'd been up all night busting a**, moving rocks and logs and all the other s**t she'd needed to move just to finish her den. She'd been rudely awakened by this gruff pompous a** - her grandfather, just wonderful - and accused of imbibing in mint and berries?!

Oh, hell no.

Naja narrowed colorless eyes at her grandfather, her tone snippish when she spoke.

"No, gramps. I was up all night building this den - nobody helped - and then I decided -- I said to myself -- hey, Naja, you did a real good job and you worked real hard, you deserve to sleep in a little."

She snorted.

Well, he certainly hadn't expected that - not just her tone, but the words she'd spoken. She hadn't had a thrall or five build the den for her? She'd done it herself? With no help? He couldn't help but feel skeptical, but then again... everything about her demeanor said she was serious. Very serious, and even annoyed at him for presuming she'd been lazing about this morning after spending the evening being worthless.

Thorgrim cleared his throat.

He should apologize.

"I see."

Apologies never had been his strong suit.

"I will bring you a thrall."

Yes, that was a good start.

Naja narrowed her eyes at his.. she wasn't sure what it was. Was that his way of apologizing? Well, whatever. Naja wasn't one to hold grudges, especially against her new found family. She'd heard that her grandfather was well-known and all that s**t. Impressive, she guessed. It was weird to be a part of such a large, drama-riddled family, but.

Well.

It was an improvement. After all, her mother wasn't the easiest lioness to hold a conversation with, and the wild dog Sutala hadn't been much better. At least her paternal family was able to hold decent enough conversation.

Mostly.

"A thrall? For me?" She widened her eyes - it seemed the most appropriate thing to do. "Thanks, gramps. I appreciate it. Almost makes me fit in."

Thorgrim let her comment slide as he wandered around the den. It was impressive, really, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. Even still, the idea that his granddaughter was shoving rocks about like some common thrall was enough to annoy him terribly.

"I will capture one myself. Until then, should you find need of a thrall, speak with your uncle Gaved. He has a spare for you to use - and if she is busy, speak with Kjar -- no, I will take Kjar with me on a small viking -- speak with your grandmother, Lena, and she will direct you towards a proper thrall."

With a grunt, Thorgrim finished admiring Naja's den.

"Your den is admirable. You have..." he choked slightly before finishing in a gruff tone, "you have made me proud."

He immediately left.

Well, that had been more than slightly awkward.

Naja rolled onto her side. Gods willing, she would have no other unexpected visitors, and would be able to catch up on the sleep she'd missed the night before. A strange pride, this one, and while it was full of family... well. At least she'd made someone proud.

Even if he was a cross old cranky jerk.