The day was pristine - winter's chill relegated to the snow crunching underfoot while the sun warmed Sol's dark fur. She was downright toasty, and the iced-over crust of the snow coating the alpines made hunting smaller prey almost impossible. They'd hear it coming a mile away. Her morning had been devoted to a patrol while the sun was still waking, before Solulfur had checked on a few of the caches to ensure no scavengers were sniffing around them, and assess the pack's supply of food.

The winter was progressing smoothly. She had few worries to weigh at her, although a lack of pressing issues amongst her borders left plenty of room in Sol's mind to worry about outside her borders. Solvi's crimson attacker was still out there - the reykblindur, too. The Northfall tournament would be coming up soon, though when exactly she didn't know. Being unable to plan ahead frustrated her. She wished she knew if war or even lurking shadows of violence intended to creep up the mountain to encroach on her haven. She wished she could anticipate other threats, or diplomatic bonds that it was wise or inadvisable to form.

There was only so much she could do, as a single body, a single mind. Solulfur knew she was a powerful warmth and source of strength for her packmates - Dawnbreak's strength was the collective, and Solulfur a devoted caretaker of that in her own mysterious methods. She did not doubt her ability to do good work. She did not doubt her ability to push herself to her limits, and then a little further beyond. She was the Sun-wolf. She was a beacon of power, of strength, loyalty, wisdom - all the things she'd ever needed to be. All the things everyone had needed her to be.

But would it be enough? It was never enough. She was never enough, no matter how much she reached, how quickly she grew up, how strong she became.

He'd left anyway.

She'd been so young then, she knew now.

Solulfur blinked, taking a moment to check into her surroundings again. The Vale surrounded her, familiar pines and sprawling snow, far-off jutting cliffsides painted in rich, dark slate that curved around Dawnbreak's main territory protectively. The scent of warm sunlight and sweet honey reached her nose. Summer amongst the snow: Solvi's den was near.

Solulfur flicked her tail up, even with her spine, and trotted into view of the Mender's denning area. A soft chuff warned the sunbeam of her arrival, ears pricked with interest but a relaxed angle to their perch upon Sol's crown.

SKILL : Doctor ( 1 / 5 )

Once again, Solvi's infirmary had residents.

Some might argue that it had never really emptied. From fires (both of this world and others) to bears and men bedraggled by river bends, she seemed to never have any shortage of patients to tend to. Part of Solvi fretted she would run out of herbs and supplies before spring returned, but she knew in her heart that she had spent much of the productive seasons coaxing the earth for its medicinal blessings - Dawnbreak was prepared.

All the same, she would be glad to see the snow and ice give way to greenery and life.

With her rounds complete, Solvi settled in for a midday nap several lengths from her infirmary and den - not so far she could not be reached by a call from her patients, but distanced enough they had some degree of privacy. She didn't like to make those in her care feel as though they were being watched like a hawk, even if they were. One ear was cocked in their direction even as she lay with her chin settled across her pale paws and her hip turned so that her hind legs could slant atop one another.

Across her shoulders, Bjarki sprawled in the hold of his own slumber, striped tail hanging across his canine charge's side.

A chuff lifted to the air from a familiar voice and Solvi cracked one green-blue eye open, immediately settling on the Sun-wolf. Warmth reached her features as a smile pooled across her lips, her head rising from folded paws as she regarded her packmate.

Sólúlfur, Solvi greeted her after a sleepy yawn. Are you well? Her gaze looked the storm-colored wolf over in her practiced way, but found nothing amiss. A social call, then? Or just looking for company? She tried - yet failed - to not look so hopeful for impending socialization.

Solvi positively gleamed in the winter sunlight refracting off the patches of snow, golden pelt looking full and healthy. Solulfur was pleased to see the potential stress of the hard work her revolving door of patients procured wasn't wearing too harshly on the Mender, although she did feel a bit bad that she'd clearly woken Solvi from a surely well-earned nap.

Her tail swished, a faintly sheepish and unsure expression crossing Solulfur's features. I'm fine, She replied hastily to reassure Solvi. Even if she wasn't, the injury or illness would have to be significant to have her seeking out the Mender's help. She was fond of Solvi, but...not so fond of playing the part of patient.

The look of almost eagerness that was on Solvi's expression wasn't missed by the perceptive Black Sun, and some of her initial hesitation disappeared in the face of it. Solvi was well-liked by her packmates and for good reason. Solulfur had thought highly of her for some time, and never found an opportunity since for that trust to be misplaced. Company, if you would have me. She clarified, while moving to inspect the area nearby the blonde for the right spot to flop down. I thought it would be wise to take advantage of the sunlight and fine weather while I can. And...I had something to ask you. A brief pause, as Solulfur found the spot just within the Mender's personal bubble to circle once, then plop down with a few amiable pats of her tail on the earth.

The Northfall Tourney is coming up soon. I know it is an important festival, for our diplomatic opportunities and for the culture of our neighbors. I wanted to ask if you might be willing to have the... She glanced at the snoozing pale raccoon, so much bigger than when he'd been rescued from the river. If you could encourage Bjarki to...do my fur... Her voice got a bit quieter, as if a little unsure whether asking was even remotely polite. Like yours.

SKILL : - - - ( 1 / 5 )

At some point in the exchange between the two wolves, something coalesced within Bjarki's previously vapid mind. He was a creature of impulses and instinct one moment and, in the next, he felt a certain... enlightenment. He was no longer compelled by a sense of hunger or desire for warmth; it was as though a flood gate somewhere had opened and, from the opening of its yawning jaws, he became aware.

Words that floated through the air had once been noise, but now they held meaning. Rounded ears twitched as he leaned away from Solvi's neck, peering past her golden fur to look at the black sun. The haze of sleep tempted him to return to its comforting hold, but his mind was alive with formulated thought.

At once, he remembered bits and pieces of a life lived before, the ragged edges enmeshed with the time he spent here within this realm. It created a tapestry he wasn't wholly certain was true, but he had once lived in a city... a bustling city and he had been quite the fashionista. He was touted as a wizard with thread and needle, but as he looked at his much smaller and much less practiced hands, he realized that was no longer his life - and he did not know how to return to it.

Did he even want to? Though he was fed glimpses into a time before now, he could not recall how his quality of life had been or if he had augmented it with those he cared about... it was too much for his reeling mind in the moment and Solulfur's request for his artistry snapped him back into the present time.

He blinked pale eyes. Yes, he remembered her - she had helped wrangle him and the other wolf - Solvi, the name came to him - from the waters that had wished to claim them both.

For her - and the gold one (she did feed him, after all, and he never had to walk anywhere with her ferrying him around), he would do most anything.

You need only ask, Bjarki stated as he hopped from Solvi's shoulders to sit at Solulfur's paws, his muzzle creased with a pleasant smile. He did not think to make his awakening a little more subtle for the unsuspecting wolves.

SKILL : - - - ( 1 / 5 )

Solvi did not fault the sun wolf from pulling her from her slumber. There would be time for sleeping later; there was far too much life to be present for, to live - The Mother had ordained this moment, for whatever reason, and she would press the vestiges of her slumber-dulled brain away in favor of regarding Solulfur.

Her packmate assured her she was fine and, from a glance, her words seemed true enough. Solvi's expression warmed, pleased with the assessment. Any time she could deduce that a member of Dawnbreak was healthy and whole was a cause for small celebration.

She folded one paw beneath the thick fur of her chest, her ears tipped toward the wolf of glacial tones. I am glad to hear it, Solvi hummed, her tail drumming the ground in a steady rhythm. A wide grin spread across her muzzle when Solulfur confirmed it was, indeed, company that she sought - it seemed The Mother blessed her twice in a single interaction. Of course, I would never turn away your company.

It was no great secret that the honeybee held great respect and adoration for the other. She had saved her not once, but twice, and was as dependable as the sun itself in any situation. Solvi was confident that, if she ever had need of anything, Solulfur would find a way of rearranging the world by sheer force of will to make it so. It wasn't a thought hatched from some warped sense of self grandeur, however - it was simply the sun wolf's demeanor, her intensely loyal nature. If one found an ally in the frá Norðri, they were blessed beyond measure.

Solvi uttered a sound of approval at Solulfur's determination to make use of the sun while it lasted, but her expression became attentive as the tone of her friend's voice changed - she had a request. Anything, she returned easily, curiosity glinting in her eyes. She was not certain she could help if it was anything beyond medical means or perhaps the offer of emotional support, but would try her best to meet the mediator's needs.

Luckily, it was something she could help with.

She beamed, her lips parting to reply when Bjarki began to shift. The raccoon slid from her shoulders and then scampered to sit before the sun wolf - but not before... speaking? Solvi's eyes rounded into moons as everything she thought to say died on her tongue.

Normally, Bjarki did not speak. Solvi did not think she had ever heard him utter a word, not even a single syllable... and yet he did so now, stringing together a whole sentence with intelligence.

I... did not know he- you could speak, she managed, correcting herself midsentence as she shifted from speaking about him and instead to him. It was strange to communicate directly and her gaze shifted from the pale raccoon, sliding to Solulfur.

Apparently, The Mother did wake her up for a reason this afternoon.

The raccoon padded closer, his odd paws and unusually bright, clear eyes garnering Solulfur's full attention. She dipped her chin and pricked her ears at the beast, not used to reading the raccoon's body language and not quite sure if she was about to be ridden about like he often did with Solvi or bitten. She hoped neither.

Neither did happen, because instead Bjarki opened his tiny maw and spoke to her.

He was, to his credit, very polite. It was this and his soft tone that likely protected him from Solulfur's instinct to sink her teeth into something she did not understand, which had thoroughly startled her. Her jaw dropped, but she did not move to strike, only stared at the raccoon.

Her golden gaze slid upward as Solvi interjected, realizing that the blonde was just as surprised as she. Solulfur did not bother to school her features like she would normally, when faced with potential embarrassment over not being in perfect control all the time. Solvi was as trusted an ally as could be, and Solulfur did not fear lowering some of her walls around her. Just being in the Mender's presence was akin to basking in a sunbeam's gentle, restorative warmth.

Bjarki, too, held some of that calm about him. And Solulfur had known him since he was a waterlogged, weak cub. After a moment, her alarm still faint in the creases across her expression, Solulfur gave the raccoon a mild, appreciative nod. Then, I...would ask. When the time comes, I would appreciate your assistance. She kept her gaze on Bjarki's green one as she addressed him, before glancing up to Solvi, who had also not been aware of the raccoon's ability for speech. Awkwardness was not something she enjoyed wearing, and often discarded it in favor of a false sense of confidence. Now, though, Solulfur walked the line between the two demeanors carefully. If you'd like, I can...leave you to acquaint with your...With Bjarki. Then, because her curiosity was stronger than her politeness: He'd never spoken before? Truly?