She seemed so sad. Under the silvery light of the moon, he watched her from afar. The mint he'd recently imbibed in dulled his senses beyond the norm for Skansom, and he was feeling a little lonesome. A little lonesome, a little melancholy, and a little high. A loathesome combination, but one he was helpless against. Since his birth he'd been nothing but a disappointment to his family. An only son, Skansom had never made it to the exalted rank of Captain. Hells, he'd never even made it to Reaver. No, he'd been content to live a life of normalcy. He found fighting to be a waste of time, and had no dreams of pillaging while on a viking. Skansom always had been - and always would be - a homebody wallflower. Sometimes he rather enjoyed it.
Tonight, he yearned for companionship.
Each night she'd walk to the same place. A small clearing just outside of the stronghold. Each night she'd lift her head, eyes closed, and each night she'd spend a few moments in that position. Darkest night, silvery moon - rain, snow, wind. It didn't matter. Each night he'd spend a moment watching her, and tonight had been the first night he'd followed her.
Skada. The Captain turned Lawspeaker. A tragic thing, in all reality, but to show any sign of pity would only serve to anger her. He'd seen it happen before, many a time. She was well-respected amongst the pridemembers, both for becoming a female Captain only to lose that rank and be forced to find another. She could have become Freeborn, content to sit about and occupy herself with meaningless things.
It would not have done her ancestors proud, she'd tell those who asked what made her decide to become a Lawspeaker. She was better than that.
As he watched her from a distance, Skansom let out a mint-soaked sigh. He'd always respected her. While she terrified him more often than not, she also intrigued him. There was something soft about her, gentle and motherly. Beautiful, in an odd, warworn sort of way.
"Skansom?"
His eyes widened as he realized he'd been caught. Caught staring, at that. He had the decency to rise to his feet, head dropped in something that might've been embarassment.
"Lawspeaker, ah. Forgive me. I didn't mean to intrude," he slurred softly, lifting his dusty violet eyes up so that he might gaze into her eyes. "I can just.. I don't.. I'm .. mint."
Skada grinned softly, tilting her head to the side. It was a rare occasion that she was bothered while sending a brief prayer up to the Gods. A prayer of well-being, of a chance for greatness that she'd lost before. Health, harmony, happiness. All things that she craved, desired in her life. Life, while lonely and disappointing, was not such a terrible thing as it was, but there was always hope for something better. That was why she spent a moment each night praying to the Gods. If anyone could help her, they could.
However, she hadn't been expecting to find Skan lurking in the shadows as she finished.
"Mint, hmm? Well, shall I walk you home, Skansom?"
He gave a rueful chuckle. It was so her.
"I would appreciate it, if you can tolerate my loathesome presence for the short time it takes to get from here to there."
Skada shook her head. She'd always liked the male, and his family. They'd dwindled down to Skansom and his cousin, and that saddened her. She, too, was the last one left in her family. A shame, really - and yet she was thankful that the Master Matchmaker Thorgrim hadn't caught on yet. Or perhaps he had, but was hoping that they'd figure it out on their own. Skada didn't know, didn't care - and promptly banished the thought from her mind.
"You can lean on me if you need to. I didn't know you imbibed."
"Only sometimes," he remarked with all seriousness, letting out a low laugh. "It's embarassing to be found like this, especially by you."
Skada paused, tilted her head. Skansom once more looked embarrassed, eyes shifting away as he rose to his feet.
"What do you mean by that, Skan?"
"Nothing, really. A lawspeaker, stumbling upon a high freeborn. Nothing to be proud of. That's all."
Skada narrowed her eyes briefly and decided to let the conversation drop. They walked in silence, though she shot him covert sideways glances now and again.
It didn't take them long to reach Skan's home, and he faltered slightly as they came upon his den.
"I'm lonely," he remarked bluntly, lifting his chin. There was nothing wrong in being lonely. Everyone felt that way at one point or another. It was his turn. Here now, and hopefully gone tomorrow, if he found himself lucky.
Skada was quiet as she watched him, golden eyes keen. She wasn't sure why he was telling her about his loneliness, but she could sympathize. She was always lonely. She preferred it that way most of the time, but to hear someone else verbalize their loneliness, well. It had a powerful effect on the lawspeaker.
"I'm lonely too," Skada said softly, a sad smile toying with her muzzle. There was no shame in sharing that little secret.
"You could stay," he whispered. She could stay, with him. Just a night, one night, and perhaps in the morning neither of them would feel as lonely as they were right now.
"I could stay," Skada murmured quietly. One step forward, that's all it would take.
"Will you?"
One step forward would be his answer. Just one step into his den. No other words would be needed. Would she? Would she stay with him, spend the night with him, in hopes that morning's first light would find them feeling a little less lonely than they were right now?
Skada didn't speak. She merely stepped past him, into his den.
Skansom exhaled softly, a smile flickering across his muzzle as he turned to follow her into his den.
WC 1006
