Raskogr groaned deeply as he flopped to the floor of his small den. The day had been difficult. Not only had his Lawspeaker tutor started them off extra early but the lion had not stopped all day. It had been going over the finer points of the old bloodlines this time, and there were just so many names he was supposed to remember. Raskogr prided himself on being sharper and smarter than most of the pride, and it was actually true. He could recall minute details no one else ever bothered to remember, but this training… it was taxing even his extended powers of recall. Wincing as pain flashed through his skull from the ache he had developed long before lunchtime, the tawny freeborn dragged himself back to his paws and shook wearily.
He missed having his mother near by to make sure he had a meal ready and a nice warm den waiting after a long day’s learning. And he truly missed having the services of a personal thrall. Sighing he turned his back on his small den and started to head towards the food store. He had decided to move out from the family den at long last, if only because now that he was a Lawspeaker apprentice, it was unseemly for him to still be sleeping in his parent’s den. Or so his mother had told him in a stern, slightly exasperated tone. Backed up by his Father watching silent and stoic from the corner. No way was Raskogr going to disobey his Reaver Sire. So… here he was, stuck out in this pokey little cave, having to go fetch his own dinner and getting more and more miserable and cold in the mean time. Grunting his displeasure he padded along, head low with the weight of the throbbing that had set up within it, ringing between his ears like Odin’s drum.
Some time later he finally arrived at the store and dragged free a large fat carcass. Sure it was almost as big as him, but he had earned it damn it! If some block-headed reaver wanted to argue about it, let them. He would simply call his brother Ragnvard over to deal with the idiot. He almost hoped someone would stop him from eating, just to watch them get beaten up by his hugely muscular and imposing brother. Ragnvard was well on his way to becoming Captain, something the older Holmgeirson male never let his younger, weaker sibling forget. But so long as Ragnvard still put family honour above his dislike of Raskogr himself, the apprentice Lawspeaker didn’t really care what his brother said, so long as he was still a useful tool. A tool Raskogr liked to throw at anyone who annoyed him and watch the ensuring humiliation as Ragnvard beat them to a bloody pulp.
Eventually he had eaten his fill, consuming maybe half the carcass. The rest he simply abandoned. Let one of the pride’s thralls clean up the mess… Raskogr had more important matters to attend to. Like sleeping. Abandoning the area he made his way back to his small den, squeezing inside and curling up on the cold floor. He needed furs.. lots of furs… And a thrall to clean them for him, and to hunt fresh meat. Pausing in his musings he remembered something.
Seqineq.
He was supposed to wed her once he was made a full Lawspeaker… Damnit! He had forgotten entirely. Sighing he crawled out of his tiny den and stood at the entrance, staring at it. Nope… Nope, it was far too small for two of them. Let alone both a wife and a thrall. The thrall could sleep outside he supposed.. but then it would still be cramped with him and Seqineq inside. And… Thor’s breath.. cubs. He needed room for cubs. Groaning as his head pounded viciously, as if in punishment for his failure to plan for the near future, he grumbled under his breath. So, he had to find a second den. One big enough to accommodate a future family, not just himself. Taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm his annoyance he turned and set off, searching out a second den in as many days.
Several hours later Raskogr stood at the entrance to another cave. This one was far bigger, and while it was further from the feedstore, it was also further from the reaver training area. That as a bonus. And was likely why it was still empty of occupants. Most reavers liked to be nearby the training grounds even when they weren’t using them. Shrugging, Raskogr was just glad that he had finally found somewhere more suitable for himself, and that could accommodate Seqineq when she moved in with him to. Not that he was particularly keen for that day to arrive just yet. She was…. very pretty. Sweet, kind and sensible, from what he had been told. But… she was his wife. They had been betrothed as cubs, and Raskogr rankled at the thought that he couldn’t pick out his own wife. What if they didn’t get along? His parents seemed to be just fine together, though his Mother had repeatedly told him their marriage had been arranged. They had just been lucky, he supposed. They seemed to like each other well enough. Certainly enough to have several litters together anyway. And his Father seemed to respect her.
Grumbling under his breath he ducked inside his new home. The final new home for today, thank you very much. Settling down on the cold stone floor he hissed in annoyance. All this trouble just because he was apparently too old to sleep at home. Well, there was one good thing about all this. He was one step closer to being granted full lawspeaker status. Excitement trailed along his spine at the thought. Ragnvard, Ronan and Rayn would have to give him the respect he was due! He would be a successful member of the pride, females would be wooed by his sharp mind and cleaver tongue. One did not need giant muscles to get their way, he already knew that. He would show them! He would show everyone!
(Word count = 1,031)
