skill: entertainer 2/5

Vidarr hadn't expected that Reid would immediately put his face into the snow. He'd assumed the boy might poke at it, maybe sniff it, but no - the little bird was enthusiastic and his excitement was clear. The sneeze that followed and the boy cleaning his face off brought a fond smile to Vidarr's face. This was somehow different than he'd experienced with other cubs in Kaldrvegr. He hadn't been this active in rearing any of them, and he hadn't shared his living space day after day night after night with any of them. He'd mostly taken young cubs out to help them learn how to hunt, or what to watch for on the borders. This felt so different, too, but Vidarr felt he might overstep if he tried to lay any claims to either of the Lăutari. There was a part of him that feared if he was too possessive, if he tried to hold too tight, they might also vanish into thin air the way so many others had.

But he did not want those sour thoughts to start the day. Instead, he considered the boy's request - to play outside, and it sounded like a perfect idea to Vidarr. Reid couldn't help the way his little mind immediately bounced to the next thought, and the giant let out a chuckle. Would you like to go outside while I tell you? Golden eyes glanced over towards Svajone, hoping that he might be able to offer her a bit more sleep if he took the first duty. When their eyes met again, there was a bit of a twinkle to Vidarr's as he considered how to weave the tale.

He shook his coat habitually before he took a few steps out of the den. Beyond the comforts of the furs they had lined the space with, the cool of the early morning set in. Vidarr was quiet for a moment as the snow fell, watching the world around them, the place he'd come to love so dearly. He felt fortunate. He had to appreciate the fact that even with all the losses they had faced, he still stood proudly. His shoulder ached and slowed him down some days, but overall, he was blessed to be alive. He was blessed to have Svajone and Reid share his den - his life. The children, which he shouldn't even call them children any more even the boys were fully grown now, they thrived. Each very different, each distinctly their own. The Shakti-Vaes children had taken the foundations of what their parents laid out and they soared above every expectation. It was a morning like this, actually. Cold out, snowing, early enough that not much was awake yet, and Mythris was quiet and peaceful.....until...

Vidarr's soft smile landed on Reid again, and he tried to focus again on the now. It was very cold outside when I met Mama. There was a big, giant bear trying to eat her up. He wanted to not make it too terrifying - they were all here, they'd survived, it was fine. And I helped her defeat the bear, before we found a place to hide and rest. - Mama was so brave, the bear was big but that was how we won. Vidarr had a thought and leaned down, trying to do his best to make a snowbear and two smaller snowwolves to show. It wasn't a great attempt, but he tried all the same. The snow-lumps were at least different sizes, and then Vidarr took a claw and crudely drew Winterscar and where they had been.

We had to tackle the bear - push it back into the water so Mama and I could run away and come here to the Vale and be safe. It had been so much more complicated, it had felt like so much more was happening then. But recounting for the sake of a cub meant Vidarr shrunk some of the story down. He didn't think Reid needed to hear about the gory details and how they'd had to recover from their injuries. Quick, Reid! Help me defeat the snowbear and keep Mama safe! He crouched down, tail swishing in the air like he was preparing to launch himself at the snowlump again.

Hopefully if he tacked a little game onto the story, none of the scary parts would stick.