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 Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 8:50 am
 Something was definitely not right. The god sprawled across a rock on the beach on a particularly windy day, watching the waves crash and even getting hit by some sprays of water. Thorgnyr didn't seem bothered, however, and focused entirely on his musings.
That had been stupid and reckless, he concluded. In fact, Raiden was surprised by what he had done, because it was so... out-of-character for him. It hadn't been for Thorgnyr, apparently. and he was sure he could rationalize a couple reasons, or something. But it was still... well, reckless. A little stupid. Kazul best not tell anyone, the god hardly found it ideal that his 'messenger' should cause a scandal in the pride. How would that look for him?
Hopefully there would be no consequences, though, and this all would just blow over and be ignored! As far as Raiden knew, no one else had any knowledge of the...er, event, as it were. But just in case, he thought it best to run a few possible scenarios through his mind, so he could be ready to deal with them later.
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Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 9:16 am
 Aesir was pleased to get away from the meeting of captains he'd called to discuss the possibility of a last viking before the season got too foul for safe travel. One to add to the herds' numbers so that the pride could last the season comfortably. The meeting had been his idea, but that didn't mean it was exciting. Aesir wouldn't be going, and so more than anything else it made him envious.
He had adjourned the meeting early and gone straight for the beach. He liked the beach. The deep rumble of the waves was comforting, as was the scent of the salt air. It was also one of his dragon-daughter's favorite places, and he had sort of hoped to see her. She'd been so scarce the past few days, and even before that she'd been a bit withdrawn. He missed his prickly child. Not that he'd admit it. Stormborn warlords weren't supposed to do that.
Naturally, it wasn't his daughter he saw on the beach, but the messenger of the god of thunder. Thorgnyr. Well, he saw him about as often as he saw Kazul lately, even though both of them were living in his den. Well, maybe Thorgnyr had seen Kazul.
"'Afternoon," Aesir greeted the emissary, forgoing the pride's more traditional greetings. "Any chance you've seen my daughter lately? Kazul, I mean."
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Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 9:29 am
He supposed he should expect to be found by Stormborn when he was in their lands, which was why he was still in disguise. But that still didn't mean Raiden wasn't a little surprised when Aesir showed up. He turned his head in the direction of the Warlord, and suddenly remembered that he was Kazul's father. Oh. Craaap.
"Afternoon." He returned the greeting, somehow managing to get back into Thorgnyr's more laid-back character. The question made his perk his ears, though. Oh, Mkodi. Did he already know? Was that why he was asking? This could get awkward, fast. "Seen Kazul? Er-" Wait, this could also just be a totally casual question. If Aesir didn't know anything yet, it would be stupid to clue him in on the fact that something may have...happened. "Aye, I've seen her. What for?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 9:50 am
Aesir padded over, completely relaxed and unaware of Thorgnyr's unease. He settled onto the cool sand without any regard for whether it would get into his fur or not. It made no difference to him. Sand came with beaches.
"Oh, no reason. She's just not been herself lately. Acting out of sorts, you know." He shrugged and rolled his shoulders. "Sometimes females do that for no reason at all, of course."
He watched the sea rather than the pride's guest. The god's messenger had seemed to Aesir an unusual choice. He certainly was confident in himself and fearless, but when Aesir imagined the ancestors of his people he tended to imagine that a laid-back lion like Thorgnyr would not be the representative the thunder god would choose. At least, he wasn't the representative Aesir would have chosen for the thunder god.
"But sometimes they have a reason, and then it requires action. As her father, I guess the action part falls on me."
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Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 9:59 am
Okay, the fact that Aesir was relaxed should be a good sign. Or it could actually be a very bad sign, like he was being buttered up to be caught later. So the god decided he would play close attention to what was said now, because he hardly wanted to make a huge mess of this. This was such a strange situation for Raiden, he didn't often care about what mortals thought.
"Ah, yes. Females can be a little nutty." He nodded, like a lion who'd had plenty of experiences with strange females before. Then he realized that he might be insulting the warlord's daughter. He considered explaining himself a bit there, but figured the Stormborn said things like this all the time. Er, hopefully.
He unconsciously gulped at Aesir's next comment, but somehow managed to maintain his cool. Except for shifting to lie down in a less relaxed position. "What reason d'you think?" And... what kind of action?
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Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 11:22 am
"It's not so bad with the outlanders. Their blood's more floral, they're not so violent, but Stormborn women. Well. When they're unhappy, they want blood." Not that the males were any different in that.
He began to groom one paw, baring his claws so that he could get at the fur between his toes and tug at the claws which had gone dull and needed shedding so that the new, sharp ones could come through. It wasn't actually intended to be a threatening action, but it was possible that it could be taken as such. That didn't occur to Aesir though. He had long since grown out of consciously acting in an intimidating manner.
"Kazul's like that. On the other hand, she's more likely to prefer to seek her own vengeance than have someone exact it for her. No matter how much I might want to." Should an occasion ever arise that would require vengeance, Kazul might not get much of a choice. Aesir would kill anyone who hurt either of his girls.
"And, really, she hasn't said anything. So I'm forced to guess. My guess would be boy trouble though. Isn't that usually what ails lionesses her age?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2012 12:34 pm
He supposed he could agree with that. The stormborn were much tougher than most lions Raiden had run into. In his childhood in the pridelands, for example, females and males had been pretty tame. Maybe he should visit the pridelands someday.
As Aesir began to groom a paw, his ears lowered a little. The god had nothing to fear from a mortal, aside from blowing his cover. It would be rather bad for his image as their god if he were caught doing stupid things. Raiden could handle a fight, but he preferred not to do it with the Stormborn Warlord. That's all. But still, nothing extremely... incriminating had shown up yet.
Best continue to play dumb. "Mmm, yes. Perhaps she has some boy who hasn't been giving her 'nuff attention." If that were the truth, maybe it would explain some things.
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 7:48 am
"Perhaps."
Aesir closed his eyes and tried to recall if Kazul had mentioned any of the males in the pride in that certain adoring way females had when they spoke of unrequited crushes. He honestly didn't think there was anyone like that Not as far as he knew anyway...
She spent a lot of time in her half-brother's company, but she had always done that and there was no way she felt jilted by him. There was that fellow who had won his askorun when he was barely an adolescent. She used to spend time with him, but once he'd started going raiding, that had stopped. Maybe it was his fault.
He growled softly. Well, if it was that Ru's fault, Aesir would make sure he got the shittiest tasks for the next several weeks. Ones which would keep him closer to the pride. That way, if Kazul's mood improved, Aesir would know it was because Ru was around more. Of course, if she really was serious about Ru, there would be a reckoning to come, but that could wait. First Aesir had to bait the trap, as it were.
"On a related note, are we to expect litters with largely black cubs to turn up in the coming months?" He looked at Thorgnyr slyly.
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 8:39 am
It was a good thing that, when Aesir asked that, Raiden had preoccupied himself with a wave as it rolled over a few of the rocks ahead of him. Or else the warlord would have seen his expression, which was very similar to a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car. Fortunately he managed to realize that the question was just some horrible coincidence, and, at least by his tone of voice, Aesir didn't know anything.
"Hah! Don't know. Would be good though, wouldn't it? Get some real warriors in this joint." He might just be setting himself up for disaster later, but Raiden thought he would have said something like that, if he really were Thorgnyr, and nothing had happened between him and Kazul. Because Thorgnyr was a big lion who supposedly had his fair share of battles, so his children would probably be great warriors, or something. Even though, ironically, Raiden had yet to partake in a fair fight in this lifetime.
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:01 am
Aesir grinned, sharp-toothed and easy-mannered. The idea of a god's messengers populating the pride with his spawn clearly did not upset him. The Stormborn were descended from gods anyway. So while Thorgnyr wasn't a god himself, his blood wouldn't add any flowers to the Stormborn bloodlines.
"Can't hurt. Though I don't think I've heard of you doing anything particularly impressive and warrior-like since coming here. Any time you feel like giving our reavers some cuts and bruises, I doubt anyone would refuse."
Aesir didn't mean this to come across as anything like an insult. He did want Thorgnyr to know, though, that he was welcome to participate in any pridal activities he wished, including the sparring that kept so many lions occupied. Aesir himself sparred whenever he had time. He didn't always win these battles, but he did enjoy them.
He glanced up at the sun. Its light was usually weak and filtered, thanks to the omnipresent clouds and mist that filled the air around the pride, but it still shone brightly enough for him to see that he'd idled long enough. Morri had asked him to meet her after his meeting, and by now she would know it had ended, which meant he really had to leave. It didn't do to annoy his mate. The head priestess was a scary lady.
"I should be going," he said. "But I'm glad to have had an opportunity to speak to you informally."
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Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2012 9:11 am
Hm, the warlord had a point there. Raiden probably should spar, at least a couple times. What kind of god-messenger was he if he didn't kick anyone's butt a little? Even if he had no experience, he was sure he could work something out. Maybe meditate first, remember some past life fights... or something. Might make sure to give him an edge. And if he used powers subtly enough, maybe no one would notice.
He couldn't help it, he was a cheater. Maybe someday Raiden would infiltrate a pride, like the firekin, perhaps, and actually learn how to win fights the honest way, but not just yet.
"Alright." Said Thorgnyr, as Aesir indicated his leave. He wasn't exactly sad to see him go, this encounter had been a little awkward. And he kind of liked the warlord, which somehow made him feel guilty. Which, in turn, irritated him, because Guilt was his brother, so it was kind of like it was Faine's fault. Damn him! This was all very novelty for the god, he was clearly spending too much time around mortals.
He didn't really know what to say. Politeness he had learned in the pridelands indicated he should say something along the lines of 'it was a nice chat'! But that didn't seem to suit the stormborn. So instead, he just said "Goodbye."
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