determination at its finest

Noah Olson We all want something to hold in the night We don't care if it hurts or we're holding too tight The gods were blessing the hunter. As the seasons passed his body was able to change into more animals, and he felt more connected to the world around him and the gods influences in the world. It was something he never would have imagined as a boy, but now, it was becoming a part of life. Like never before, Noah was no longer totally restricted by Deepfrost as he had been. While he had always had the ability to stay out longer and be in the tundra in his reindeer form, he could never hunt as he truly wanted to. He had to rely on his traps catching things that only required him to be in his human form for small amounts of time, and all of his traveling to be done as a reindeer. Until now. The polar bear stalked along the Sea of Glass, keen eyes and nose working and searching for seals. He hadn't been on a seal hunt since the height of Longheat, but he was hopeful he would find something today. He prowled and scented for them for hours. Finally, picking up a trail, he honed in on it. He could see the seal, unaware of his presence, and upwind of him. The stars seemed to be aligning in his favor. The bear looked for danger before slipping into the water, aiming to pop up on the ice behind the seal and take it by surprise.

There’s something that tugs at Noah up ahead, something that’s small and fragile and seems to shout out for help. It’s a small little whine, something that the polar bear would be able to hear over the groaning of ice and the whip of the winds. And before long? Well, the seal is taken and the cry still remains. It isn’t too far from the polar bear, and should Noah look to investigate he’d find it. A chick, having just hatched out of a beautiful egg, white spotted plumage and thick fur to cover its body, it peers up at the hunter with wide, bright and accepting eyes. ’It’s you.’ The look seems to say as if it has been waiting this entire time to meet him, holding on tightly to that rope that connects them internally and aiming to let it solidify. Time has used her mythical companion birthday prize to get a griffin for Noah!

Noah Olson We all want something to hold in the night We don't care if it hurts or we're holding too tight Even in his massive form he is swift. His stealth has amazed him in this skin, as he rushed up from the water and back onto the ice, powerful jaws closing in on the seal who hardly noticed his presence until Noah tasted the bright, tangy, irony taste of blood on his tongue. Clawed paws came up and held the seal in place as the hunter ended its life. Silence fell for only a moment as the seal cried its last. The silence was interrupted by the cry. The soaking wet bear lifted his head, maw bloody and dripping. Large nostrils flared as Noah thought the cry came from a seal pup. He did not see one on the ice, nor did he hear the evidence of it slipping into the water. Then, he heard it again. With the cry, he felt something shift within him. His whole body moved forward, compelled by the sound. He had never felt such a pull, something so powerful and strong that it took him away from his goal, his achievement, his prey. Noah moved without thinking. The ice groaned beneath him, but he paid no mind to it. His eyes scanned--for what he didn't know, until he was upon it. Eggshells fell around the tiny creature, who looked up at him with brilliant yellow eyes. Noah felt it instantly as their eyes met. Felt his heart shatter and come together all at once, his soul melding with the soul of the tiny babe before him. Hello, there. His own heart returned. The griffin lifted her head, her cry turning to a delighted click of her tiny black beak. Noah lowered his nose, pressing down and sniffing her pristine white body. She trilled, calmly and contently, closing her eyes and pressing against him. For several, long minutes, the two became one soul and their bond was solidified. The tiny griffin climbed upon the bear's head and nestled herself into damp fur, holding on with her front owl-type feet. Noah moved to return to his kill. Together, they shared their first meal before Noah took the path to take his new bondmate home. -FIN