Räv ✒️

Burial stone inscription:

Räv

A wonderful guard, mother and friend.

Burial site: Mountains

Räv started as a scout and loved her new job, even becoming friends with the other scout, Astrid. They had different views on life but still get along well. In this new job, Räv got to explore and see a lot of new things. It gave her a nice sense of freedom.

After Astrid left to become a herbalist, Räv was lonely and one day found a handsome wolf in the forest. The resulting pup was beautiful and she loved him a lot, but somehow it makes her feel trapped.. She doesn't want to think about it. One day she came home to see the pupsitter, Gull, playing with her puppy and she noticed the resemblence.

"How strange, my puppy looks like my packs breeding male despite having a different father," she smirked and looked at them.

"Oh, I'm very flattered but I could never be as handsome as this little pup, could I? No, I couldn't, that's right!" his attention was entirely focused on the pup, who growled and lunged in response to Gulls baby talk. Räv stayed to watch the cheerful play between the golden wolves.

She saw it happen in detail, every time she came back home he was a little less happy. A little more sulky. Gradually playing less with the pups and staying more in the dark den. She noticed the whispers about him, and she knew the fact that Tyr had urged the females to search out other studs must've affected him. She also noticed from the very start that a young female was very interested in him. She childishly played games with him, games which he joined in on, reminding Räv that Gull was indeed very young as well. She gave them privacy, hoping that their union would make Gull happier, or at least maybe less frustrated. It didn't seem to work though, Räv was worried the young female was only leading him on.

Räv went to Tyr at night after talking to Gull, and told her about the proposal. Let Gull scout. He will be happier, he will grow stronger, faster and gain experience. He will be more useful. Tyr catched onto the idea very quickly and Räv could tell the leader only wanted what was best for him. She thanked her alpha with a deep bow.

Scouting with Gull became more and more fun, they would talk about everything, even play or chase eachother sometimes. Räv started missing him every time they went their separate ways to scout different areas, and she felt excited when she was on her way back. One time when she had just started heading home she saw him resting just along the path. He had gone out of his way to get to go back home together with her! Since that day they started waiting for eachother. The wolves in the pack started noticing them arriving home at the same time, but no one dared to say anything bad about the strongest wolf in the pack.

-

Räv had been right, scouting was good for Gull, and he became more confident and strong. A good breeding male for the pack. Gull had started breeding with the young females of the pack, and spending a lot of his time courting them to show his attractiveness. And then it turned out Gull wasn't strong enough to scout the rainforest, and he had to switch positions with a young male named Björk. Räv showed him the way and taught him things, he was indeed a very strong wolf. While he looked stoic on the outside, when Räv got to know him he was very friendly and talkative. Räv found out about a lot of his struggles, including his love for a young female in the pack! Räv knew every pup in the pack was considered Tyrs pups, and Tyr was their mother, despite any lineage. But this male was very attached to Tyr and spoke of her as if she truly was his mother. Räv grew to care for the young male, despite not liking pups too much. 

Räv soon finished scouting the glacier and gave her position to Gull. Now spending more time at the den, Räv did enjoy her time with the pups and her time with her leader. The alpha recognized Rävs strength, wisdom and her keen eye, and asked her to become a guard. Räv accepted and very soon became Tyrs right hand and the one to care for the pack when Tyr is out, showing how much Tyr had grown to trust Räv.

-

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Räv hurried to catch up with Tyr, who had just announced to the pack that she would be giving them a heir of the leaders blood after all. The alpha stopped and turned to Räv. Seeing Tyrs fresh scars up close for the first time sent a chill through Rävs body. Astrid had told her about Tyr being hurt so Räv didn't think she would feel this worried seeing them, but she had never felt more worried.

"I feel like I owe them. I owe you. My whole pack, I'm trying to protect them and they are protecting me, but what happens when I'm not here anymore? They're my chilren, my grandchildren. This is the only solution I can think of! It has become my duty," Tyrs eyes moved to look straight into Rävs, and their glow seemed to warm her like a bonfire, "I hope this doesn't bother you, Räv"

Räv felt her face warm up and she had to look away while she felt Tyr coming closer.

"Are you that upset?" Tyrs voice was genuinly worried. Räv swallowed.

"No, alpha, I just.. I have to think about it, I don't know how to feel, really. But you're the alpha, you're free to do as you wish."

"Yes.." Tyr looked troubled.

-

"When is Mamma coming home, mom?" the two small blazed pups were crawling all over her.

"It's going to be a little longer. And also, I'm not your mom, silly pup," Räv playfully nudged the puppy, who then tripped and fell on her brother

"But you're here all the time and you're nice to us," the male pup said while wriggling out of under his sister, and his sister chimed in

"Just like mamma!"

Rävs heart filled up slightly.

Later that evening Tyr came home from exploring, she saw her sleeping pups and Räv greeted her with a nuzzle.

"Your pups think I'm their father," Räv looked at Tyr who turned her face toward hers.

"They think you're a male?" Tyr laughed!

"No, no. They called me mom. They think I'm their other parent," Räv looked nervously at Tyr.

"Well.." Tyrs voice was quiet and small, much different from usual, "do you want to be?"

-

"Då sjunger hon sakta för elva små troll, de vackraste ord hon känner.." Tyrs nose was directed at Rävs belly, säshe was singing softly and quietly, "O aj aj aj aj buff, O aj aj aj aj buff, O aj aj aj aj buff buff, O aj aj aj aj buff"

"Okay, what exactly are you singing to my puppies?" That must've been the silliest song Tyr had ever cranked out! 

"It is a lullaby! For them to sleep well!" Tyr almost sounded offended, but when Räv looked at her she was smiling, "Do you want me to translate for you?"

Räv nodded and Tyr shuffled up to lie next to her.

"When Troll mother has laid eleven little trolls to bed, and bound them by the tail, she sings softly to her eleven little trolls, the most beautiful words she knows," It was a cute lullaby, alright, "O aj aj aj aj buff, O aj aj aj aj buff, O aj aj aj aj buff buff, O aj aj aj aj buff"

"So it was just as weird in both tongues!" Räv exclaimed

"Hey, you can't decide for trollmother what the most beautiful words she knows are!" Tyr nuzzled her and then stood up, "Sleep well now, I promised Ull and Skade to take them out to explore, so I must go."

-

"I do think you should have at least another litter," Räv looked concerned "You can't put all the responsibility on Ull and Skade to have pups that will be good heirs. No offense, alpha, but you are opting out of your obligations."

Tyr looked very grumpy, visibly tried to say something, but then sighed and left the cave.

-

Räv was pulled from her sleep by a pleasant scent. She blinked her eyes and heard a tail wagging. When she turned around, she saw a delicious bird carcass on the ground, and when she looked up she saw a golden male.

"Gull?" she asked, sleepy. He stood up with his tail still wagging.

"Just a morning snack!" He said before leaving in a hurry

After a few weeks of getting to know Gull all over again, listening to his problems and him listening to hers, yes, she was charmed by him all over again. Her heart was still aching over Tyr, but it found comfort in Gull being there for her and she found herself even more in love with the male than she had been the first time! He had really changed and become a better person!