⌘ Borg ⌘

Borg thought nothing special of his life, he was born, he grew and learned from his mother. His best friends were his uncles, who he often got into trouble with. He also had a dear friend in his cousin, Björnbär, who taught him some about flowers and leaves. Although he found it interesting, it was hard to remember, so he mostly just nodded. There were so many cousins born around the same time, and strangely they were all dark coloured, Björn and Borg used to joke that it was the era of dark wolves! Little did they know, there was a reason for all these cousins to be born at the same time.
Most of Borgs cousins had siblings, something he noticed, but didn't really care about. Borg had his uncles, who were sort of like his older brothers! Nothing made him laugh more than being defeated in battle by their joined forces! He looked up to them, as they were the strongest wolves he knew. Well, at least until they all succesfully made Borgs mother Aud wrestle with them and she easily put them in their place, and Borg laughed even harder! So his mother was the strongest wolf he knew? Mamma said that it wasn't true, his grandmother was way stronger! But his grandmother, Vår, was an old lady, retired from her duties she said, and so she didn't look very strong.
One day, a big burly brown wolf visited their cave to speak to Borgs grandmother and Borg was impressed by her muscles. He was supposed to be sleeping but he peeked at the adults anyway. Mamma Aud called the wolf "Alpha" when she spoke to her, and Borg realized this was the leader of the pack.
-
So Borg grew up with his joyous family, his uncles and his cousins keeping him company. How would he know something was missing from the picture?
One day when Borg was an adult, his pappa told him that mamma had given birth and the pups needed some time before meeting any wolves. Borg shrugged, he was independent and didn't really care for pups anyway. He stayed away until one day his pappa told him that it was time to meet the pup and, well, Borg didn't hate pups and he wanted to please his parents so he agreed to it.
His eyes adjusted to the darkness of the cave as he ducked into the entrance and followed his pappas fuzzy tail into his and mammas cave.
"Meet your little syster," Pappa said as he moved over to the side. Mamma was lying by the wall resting, and next to her a tiny bundle screeched a high pitched noise. Borgs ears pulled back, but he stepped forward. Her eyes opened to look into his, and it was as if they beamed a light right into his heart and soul. It felt like the earth was quaking, he almost became dizzy. The pups big white eyes had locked onto his and she was stumbling over to him, squeeking. She fell right in front of his paws, and he sat down and just looked at her as she sniffed his leg and stomped on his paws. She looked up at him again and screeched even louder than before, then she rolled over on her back and took his paw in a death grip, biting at it and kicking, clawing with her hind paws.
"So what do you think?" Auds voice echoed into his bubble, and Borg didn't manage to take his eyes off of the puppy, his little sister, the light of his life.
"She's.." wonderful, brave, feisty, adorable, "very loud."
-
Borgs best friends were Björnbär, Huld and Härje, all three were his cousins from different aunts and uncles. Björnbär and Huld both had brothers that they sometimes hung out with, too. Eventually, Borg got to know their whole families, and then he learned about the different cave systems of the territory and started hanging out with a male named Orm, who he wasn't related to at all! Borg became very interested in learning about the different families, and he became very protective of all of them. This is what sparked him to become one of the packs guards, and he specifically kept an eye on the furthest edges of the territory. His dark colour helped him blend in in the night, helping him catch intruders off guard. He didn't interrupt until it was necessary, in case he needed to provide information about a wolf to the alpha. One evening he prepared to do just that when he scented a suspected wolf from his pack, Himle, somewhere outside the territory. He laid down by some bushes and listened, and sniffed the air. It was Himle and one of the females that sometimes hung around him. First they came closer, but then they started moving away. Borg waited. He thought he could hear something, yelling? Then suddenly, a yip, and Borg was on his feet looking towards the scent. The female was running towards the territory, and Himle was after her. At first Borg thought they were up to no good, but then he realized. The female wasn't running with him, she was running away from him, and he was faster. Just as the pair ran past, Borg jumped between them, letting Himle crash into him. From the ground, Borg looked toward the female, who was still running at full speed, not looking back. Borg stood up and looked down at the growling mass on the ground.
"Do you want to tell me what that was about?" Borg said in a demanding tone.
"None of your business, runt," Himle snarled and started walking towards the camp. Borg noticed he was bleeding from a slash across his face. He decided to follow him. The older male shot glances back at Borg a few times, until he had enough and turned around, growling.
"What's your problem?"
"Just making sure you get home safely," Borg said nonchalantly.
Himle got closer and circled him.
"What business do you have with Kalla?" Himle was talking about the female he had been chasing, "are you interested in her? Isn't she a bit old for you?"
"I don't know her," Borg replied.
"Stay away from her," Himle advised, "she has a bad temper, and she sleeps around, I think she has flees too."
Himle started walking away again but Borg couldn't help himself.
"Did she get them from you?"
Well, the wolf was out of control, and attacked Borg. They tussled around for a bit, Borg was stronger but Himle was more agressive, he went for the throat and obviously didn't care if his actions would leave him with a corpse. Borg had no choice, swiftly he grabbed Himles neck, pressing his teeth into the skin, and pushed him against the ground. Himle tried to kick him and flailed around snarling and growling. Borg held him there for a while, letting Himle tire himself out, until he pulled the male up and pushed him away, releasing his grip. Borg panted, but stood up tall and stared him down. Himle stumbled and heaved as he backed away. He flashed his teeth one last time at Borg.
"Keep those fangs in your mouth, or I'll rip them out of it," Borg threatened, and Himle ran away to lick his wounds. It felt like Borgs vision became wider and brighter as he noticed all the wolves around him. Somehow during the fight they had stumbled into the camp. Borg felt embarrassed and lowered his head. This didn't bode well.
The next day Fjäll, Borgs precious little sister, was absolutely sprawling with excitement talking about the fight. She didn't see it, but she heard of it from a friend.
"Was it scary? I'm sure it wasn't, you're too brave!" She jumped around and play fought with Borgs tail.
"I'm such a bad role model," Borg covered his eyes and sighed.
-
Alpha duties weren't so hard, Borg was already heavily involved with all the families, protecting them and helping them, as well as patrolling the territory. The hardest part about being the alpha was that he had to leave the pack sometimes to explore and stuff, which he didn't like. Anything could happen while he was gone. Especially to his little sister. So he started bringing her with him!
Another hard part was that of course he couldn't become alpha until the old one died, and well, there was no one left to ask for advice after Gerd died. No one else had ever been an alpha. Borg had to figure it out himself. Luckily, Gerd had told him months prior, and caught him up to speed on current issues and such. Of course he also had the council to help him, which he was very thankful for.
-
"Does it always have to rain when it's least convenient?" Someone complained about the weather. Borg was walking around the territory as usual, checking on everyone.
"Borg!" Agi burst out of the cave, crying, "I can't find Skugga. Ygg went out to look, he's so stubborn."
"I'll go find her," Borg replied shortly and went on his way. He picked up a scent trail and followed it closely, and far. When he got out to a clearing he saw him -
"Ygg!" Borg ran to Ygg, who was limping while carrying his daughter, Skugga. As Borg got closer he could see blood on Yggs dark fur, which shocked Borg. Ygg was careful and respectful, Borg couldn't imagine how Ygg would get this hurt. When Ygg saw Borg, he collapsed onto the ground.
"It's okay, Skugga, your pappa will be just fine," Borg heaved the heavy wolf up on his own back and started carrying him to the herbalist. Skugga was whining and followed them closely. Borg had carried Ygg back to the cliffs above the stream when he noticed Skugga was lagging behind. Borg stopped. If he lost sight of the puppy, she might fall into the stream and be lost forever. Borg placed Ygg carefully on the ground and howled for assistance, then he checked if Ygg was still breathing.
"Borg?" Ygg whispered, and Borgs ears pricked up, thinking he must have something important to say, and the old wolf wheezed, "did you know, you look so much like your grandfather?"
"What happened?" Borg asked while Skugga nuzzled up to her father, "did you fall? Did someone hurt you?"
Ygg coughed, and Borg became worried, but he had been focusing too much on the old wolf. Suddenly, Borg was tackled. His claws grasped at the ground. For a second, his hind legs were hanging down the steep cliff. As he pulled himself up, he saw Himle running toward the old wolf. Borg got up in time to get between them, and Himle immedietly changed his directives, his attacks were focused toward Borg now. They started fighting, and Himle was snarling and growling, and spitting salive as if possessed. At one point Borg managed to throw him a few meters away.
"What has gotten into you?" Borg shouted, "why are you hurting your brother?"
There was no reply, and the fight went on. Borg managed to catch him by the neck and pushed him against a tree, and that's when he noticed all the wolves gathering around. Agi was with Skugga and someone was helping Ygg to his feet. Borg wanted to shout to everyone to leave, that this wolf was dangerous to be around, but he had his mouth full. Time slowed down when a female approached. Borg growled into Himles neck to warn him not to try anything, but it was too late. Borgs teeth were covered in blood, Himle had ripped himself out of Borgs grasp! All he saw was Himles wide open jaws as the crazed wolf flew towards the female, before they both tumbled down the cliffs. Borg had tackled him hard enough to send both of them over the edge.

"Ugh," Borg shook his head and looked around him. He hadn't fallen into the stream. Actually, he hadn't fallen so far after all, only a meter down onto a rock. Far below him, he saw a limp body hit one last boulder before splashing into the water.
The herbalist had come to the cliffs to help Ygg, and she took a look at Borg too.
"You seem in good shape, alpha," was all she said, and it was true. Borg didn't have as much as a scratch on him. A wolf ran over to the cliff and looked down.
"Did he die?" He asked.
"I don't know," Borg stood up in front of the pack, "But if he survived and anyone of you sees him near our territory, tell me. Now, go home."
Some wolves nodded respectfully and some murmured and avoided Borgs gaze as they all turned around and walked away. Borg went over to Ygg, who looked better, and the wolves surrounding him. Agi, Härje, Borgs uncles and a few wolves from the other royal families were there. He looked at them seriously.
"Gather the pack for a speech tonight," he turned around and left.
-
"This wolf isn't strong, and he's not smart," Borg spoke clear and loud from the alphas hill where he was standing, as the firelight danced around the trees, "so how is he a threat?"
His pack looked around at eachother and some whispered to eachother.
"He manipulates wolves, young ones, and especially little puppies," Borg continued, "If we were to believe the rumors, he kills puppies if he can get a hold of them. Ygg saved Skugga today."
Borg saw Ygg sitting in tve crowd with both his puppies sleeping by his paws.
"Himle is hereby banished from the territory of Tyrs pack, on account of the following crimes: Attempted murder of a council member, the murder of at least two pups, assault, sexual assault, and treason," Borg walked back and forth on the hill, "If he shows himself in our territory, I will kill him."
-
Borg raised his sister, not because his mother was incompetent, but because he loved his sister and she hung around him all the time. They were inseparable. But she grew up and picked up all sorts of unimaginable awful hobbies. Borg didn't want to interfere with her life, so he stayed out of it. He started helping a female take care of Yggs orphaned puppies, left behind after he died, and well, he ended up raising them, too. They grew up, and Borg had another little sister! He adored her, of course (though not as much as he adored Fjäll), but this time he decided to let his mother raise her own child. Borg started thinking about it; having pups of his own to raise. But he didn't need them, he had a whole pack to raise and protect. He was their father, their Pappa, and his duties would always lie with his pack.
-
"We're not from Northland anymore," the statement earned him some bewildered looks. He turned his gaze to the mural above him, her eyes still glowing like fire, "I know, we all love and cherish alpha Tyr, but we live here now. It's okay to be proud of our heritage. Tyr fled from Northland because it's a dangerous place. We're what's left of everything she loved, let's cherish that."
The pack changed name to Tyrs Härd, and Borg started taking the whole pack on travels around all biomes once a year. They settled in the grasslands for some time, the food was plenty and the pack grew. It grew a bit too much, but Borg couldn't bare to force anyone out. When winter started, they travelled to the tundra, and then they travelled to the swamp. It was humid, and while it was never as cold as further north, it was a different, unbearing cold when the humidity crept into their furs.
"Where do we move next?" He asked himself. They were still prospering from their times in grasslands, the pack was doing better than in many years.
As they travelled north, it got colder slowly. The desert was warm during the day, and cold during the night, but thankfully the air was dry. They travelled through prarie, and soon they encountered rain and trees and frost. When his paws were walking on tightly packed snow, and the air he breathed was fresh and stung in his nose, he sighed. He looked up at the stars hanging over the bright snow covered tree tops, illuminated by the moonlight. Home. We're home.
-
As Borg walked away from the freshly purchased pile of meat, he spotted Skald and gave him orders to sing. Skald was the bard of the pack, and Borg was in need of cheering up. As he reached the alphas hill he flopped down on his belly to rest.
"If you've got plenty of pride but the assets are low, you'll carry your honour still in your bones," Skald sang while walking among the pacl and dancing around them, "the forlorne thoughts in a wolfs mind, when the enemy is bigger in size!"
The song was supposed to be dreary but Skald made it humorous and the others joined in.
"To be conjoined with your own seclusion, and to love the wild forests freedom, beyond a pack the wolf is alone, and alone the fire will char his bones!"
The song finished but now the pack wanted more and begged Skald for another song, he quickly delivered and started singing another one. Borg heard footsteps approaching.
"So," his little sisters voice sounded nervous.
"He's too old for you," Borg cut her off and rolled over just in time to see her roll her eyes at him.
"Ugh not this song," Borg sighed as the pack sung a song about sharing with eachother. It drew Borgs thoughts to the issue at hand. Fjäll settled down next to him.
"You should tell them off, chase them away, I'll help you," Fjäll suggested but Borg could only shake his head.
"I can't let them starve, they're innocent. It's not their fault they ended up in that pack," Borgs uncle, Himle, had settled with his pack too close to Borgs territory, and they were regularly stealing from Tyrs härds food supply. Fjäll eventually went to the pack and danced and sang with them around the fire. Borg laid atop his hill and watched the wolves beneath. Something caught his eye. Behind the cheerful firelit wolves, an unfamiliar flash of white fur. Borg was on his paws, running quietly into the forest, around the edges of the territory to follow the intruders tracks without causing a ruckus. As he stalked the scent, suddenly Orm appeared.
"Borg, I need to speak with you-,"
"Shut up," Borg whispered, "I'm following a track."
Orm instantly got into hunter mode, stalking together with Borg, but of course he decided to talk at the same time.
"Borg, your sister, I,"
"I know," Borg cut him off again, and maybe it was because he felt like an adolescent in the presence of Orm, but he decided to swallow his pride. He stopped and stood tall "I know she likes you."
"Will you tell her you accept me as her mate?" Orms green eyes were pleading.
"I don't need to, that girl does whatever she wants," Borg said frankly and sniffed a certain spot on the path a little more intently.
"Maybe it seems that way, but it's not true," Orm shook his head, "she looks up to you."
Borg furrowed his eyebrows and looked at Orm. His genuine expression made Borgs heart warm.
"I'll tell her," he assured Orm. The forest opened up to show them the river in front of them. They both sniffed the air and walked around.
"That's weird, the scent ends here."
"Were you following the stream wolf?" Orm smirked teasingly and started walking away. Borg looked out over the water. Strange.

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