eidola was pretty, the look in her purple eyes charming torgar in spite of himself. for now pain remained too raw to think of anything beyond each minute, but in time it would return to him. for now the eivorsson boy was enjoying himself, sharing in the time after the vigil with a member of dawnbreak.
that eidola had declined did not bother torgar, who felt his own face heat at her recognition of his intended talents. perhaps, he said with a gruffness he hoped made him sound manly and not mean, but i have learned also not to underestimate my opponent.
especially not a woman. torgar had been raised by an effortlessly dominant mother and prized that now in leaders, in companions. still, he would not press. instead the young wolf blinked. i am looking for a den. a small cave would do.
courage, summoned. would you care to help me, eidola?

She could feel it, the warmth of being regarded without pressure or expectation, it settled gently in her chest grounding her rather than being overwhelming and she let herself appreciate it a moment longer. "perhaps" dark ears would tip forward, "but i have learned also not to underestimate my opponent" the respect mattered, and she smiled at him the tip of her tail thumping the cold ground.

❝ That's wise of you ❞ she regarded quietly, a flicker of something almost playful in her eyes, the purple catching the light as she glanced up at him.

"i am looking for a den. a small cave would do." she nodded, but then "would you care to help me, eidola?" the request surprised her enough that she blinked once collecting herself. While fighting was not — this was something she could do. Her tail would sweep the snow in a small arc as she considered the land around them her mind mapping the slopes, breaks in the stone and places where the earth curved inward. ❝ Yes, I'd like to help ❞ she agreed before rising fully.

❝ I think there are a few shallow caves along the eastern ridge ❞ she pitched her body that way, ❝ Or maybe you prefer something more centralized, do you have a preference? ❞ she asked with a tilt of her head.

—
Torgar
❝ speech ❞

wise. would eidola say that of torgar if she had known how bad his stumble with solufur had been? was he entitled to compliments when he had come back from being foolish? trying hard not to focus entirely on his misfortune, his eyes turned to the surrounding land, following the line of eidola's gaze
while he would not have minded being hidden away from all of dawnbreak, this would not do it he meant to telegraph for the Mediator that all was well. torgar did mean that, no matter that his heart plunged to his gut at the thought of seeing her again.
determined therefore to conquer his shame through work, the eivorsson answered. private but not too secluded, i think, he said as his mind framed an image. where i can work, but not be unapproachable. teeth glinted in a genuine beam of light. and thank you, eidola. seeking a den is, ah -- it is better to be with someone else.
prepared to go where she led, torgar waved his tail and found more lightness in his heart.

"private but not too secluded, i think" a good balance then, she didn't start off just yet, pondering the best location for Torgars new home. And realizing, that she hadn't officially chosen one yet either. She had one, of course but it was just what was available it had not been made her own, and she thought she might be inspired to move locations. Really choose something with intent, as he was.

"where i can work, but not be unapproachable" the smile had not gone unnoticed and she found herself offering one in return. It was smaller and more reserved, but no less genuine, flowing through up into her eyes.

"and thank you, eidola. seeking a den is, ah -- it is better to be with someone else." The heat from earlier had prickled beneath her skin once more, warming her cheeks and burning the tips of her ears. ❝ Oh, of course Torgar. I'm glad to be here, too ❞ she stumbled through the last half a bit, but it was true. She was glad to be here, she enjoyed his company.

❝ Let's head a bit further into Dawnbreak — I have a few ideas, ❞ she hummed then, letting the task at hand occupy them she started forward and then paused, ❝ Don't forget your elk, ❞ she added, concern and consideration touching her voice, she allowed him the chance to get it before continuing into the vale.

—
Torgar
❝ speech ❞

had anyone told torgar that dawnbreak would prove itself a place of strange joy as well as one of sorrow, he might not have believed it. yet at the crunch of snow underfoot, at the sound of her voice and the nearness of his companion, torgar felt healing restored.
he was not yet ready to leap and laugh, yet eidola had done so much for recovery in these few moments that torgar found himself surprised, and perhaps his jolt was unworthy.
the pelt was slung over strong shoulders that broadened each day, and in this way torgar trailed eidola. why did it seem that she shared his shyness? had he overlooked some piece of culture here in dawnbreak?
torgar did not believe so, and thus was free to wonder if --- maybe --- she was responding to him as he did for her.
eyes looked around; ears lifted to hear now what she would say.

She waited with a patience that came naturally to her, and once Torgar was ready, his new primed pelt strung over his back she gave a swish of her tail before starting off in the direction she had in mind. Eidola kept a steady pace, careful where her paws met crusted snow and she let the quiet settle between them.

Dark ears would flick back at the sound of him behind her, and she would glance back, if briefly; long enough to ensure he was keeping up and there was a small comfort knowing he was there. The vale came to open up before them, broken up by clumps of brush and the line of tall pines.

❝ There's a rise not far from here ❞ the mused gently nodding toward a slope where the evergreens thickened. ❝ The trees break the wind, and the ground stays dry ❞ the words came in thoughtful repose as she paused though Eidola had been here only a short time she was observant.

❝ If you want private but not too secluded... ❞ she murmured thoughtfully, ❝ you’ll want an entrance that faces away from the worst weather… but not so hidden that someone has to wonder if you’re alive in there. ❞

It was meant lightly, but it came out honest. Eidola’s ears warmed, and she ducked her head a fraction as if she could hide the flush by focusing harder on the snow and keeping her body moving toward said rise.

—
Torgar
❝ speech ❞

someone?
her? his impulsive mind wondered boldly. if i was stuck, i am certain a Wisdom pillar would know what to do. his eyes gleamed with the jest; he searched for her grin, how it brightened at once her eyes into orchid seas of wonder.
ah. he had it quite bad. would dagfinn have told him that, torgar wondered. for that matter, what would his brother have made of eidola and dawnbreak?
that hurt a little, to think that his brother might never --
not now. not today. not at this moment.
let us go up this rise. i want to see the view, torgar said, grinning at her as he adjusted the pelt over his shoulder. she was well-versed with the territory, which meant that another time, maybe when he was settled, eidola might also know the best places for a hunt.
spending more hours with her after today -- the very notion filled torgar with intrigue. you paint a picture of the land with your words. i hope to one day know dawnbreak as well.