Click here for a list of weather descriptions, seasonal festivals, and a real time:site time conversion.
Character of the Season
Frail in body but dangerously quick of mind, Nikandr is the sort of character who proves that curiosity can be just as perilous as any weapon. A necromancer, inventor, and problem-solver with more ambition than self-preservation, Niki approaches the world like a puzzle box begging to be opened, even when what’s inside has teeth. Blunt, dry-witted, fiercely independent, and carrying a history best left partially buried, he has a knack for making even failure feel fascinating. Whether he’s raising the dead, moving across Caido to King's End, or experiencing a hangover for the first time, Nikandr brings a wonderfully strange spark to Caido, and we can’t wait to see what trouble his brilliant mind wanders into next.
Congratulations, Niki!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
OG Skinning provided by Kaons, with functionality and many custom plugins made by Neowulf!
10-23-2024, 04:50 PM (This post was last modified: 10-24-2024, 05:32 PM by Sah.)
A black wolf raced through the snow, excitement, and joy lighting up the Attuned bond for anyone listening in. The feeling of running on four paws once more was even more incredible than Sah remembered and made his dreams look subpar. Although it brought up bittersweet memories, the sensation of ice on padded feet and wind in his fur was exhilarating. Lilly and Pad were back home, and he could feel the distant twinges of their curiosity at his near gleeful mood. Soleil and Luka were going to lose their minds.
Once a certain cabin was in sight, Sah attempted to reach within and out through the Attuned bond for the first time. Noah? Delia? Can you hear me? Am I doing this correctly?
The duo had been the first people in Halo that the Wild Thunder had wanted to see after visiting Safrin. There had been many occasions where he'd wished that he had access to the Attuned bond when hunting or fighting alongside his cousins. Even more times when he'd simply wanted to be able to share his happiness with them on special occasions such as their wedding. And now, he finally could.
Their evening was generally normal. They ate dinner. They cleaned up dinner. They put the twins to bed. Cordelia headed to curl in front of the fire and read a book, and Noah went out to the processing room to finish up the luxere he had started earlier that day with the twins.
It was normal for hours.
Then something strange happened.
He heard Sah’s voice. Stopping mid-slice through the luxere blackstrap, Noah lifted his head. His brows knit together curiously. ”I’m in the processing room, Sah.” Noah called through the closed door, thinking the once-wolf had come inside to find him and Cordelia (who had gone off to bed just shy of an hour ago, at this point in the evening). Setting his knife down and wiping his hands on his apron, Noah stepped back in to the main house. No Sah.
Confusion wracked his mind again. He knew he heard Sah’s voice. Stepping into his boots, Noah opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch and that’s when he was slammed with the joy and glee over the bond. He stopped and his body went rigid, and he nearly mistook the running wolf for Deimos — but there was no fire, and the body was smaller.
SAH!!!
Noah screamed over the bond as his body shifted into the massive bear, and he ran on huge paws to close the distance to the once again wolf.
don't wait for the wolves to tear you apart; there's always a cage around your heart
Sah's laughter rang through the bond at Noah's reaction. Hi! He'd expected excitement but he hadn't been prepared for the extent of it. It further brightened his mood to know that the man was just as happy about it as he was.
Meeting the bear halfway, the dark wolf ran in a circle around his cousin. Sah was far too excited to stay still. I might have done something drastic. Just maybe. Dropping into a play crouch in front of Noah, his tail wagged. I just got back from the shrine. I wasn't sure if Safrin would say yes. With a wiggle of his hips, the wolf leaped, attempting to playfully tackle the polar bear. With their difference in strength, the wolf wouldn't win. But it was still fun!
While the excitement was a surprise to Sah, Noah felt no confusion over the joy he felt. Sah had been his friend for years, and together they had fought and hunted and triumphed and lost. Through it all, through every goal and spar and hunt, through everything, Noah had yearned for Sah to be able to connect with him over the attuned bond. It was something beautiful crafted by the gods and Noah had felt it, been a part of it, and thrived from the connections it gave him to others from his very childhood. It had been a blessing more often than it had ever been a hindrance, and finally Sah would be able to feel that.
Perhaps, if Noah dwelt any further into his own feelings of it, or his own heart on the matter, the joy and positive feelings stemmed from the attuned bond bringing them closer together as more brothers than friends -- because like him, Ezekiel had been attuned at a young age and it connected the Olsons on a deeper, more intimate level than Noah had felt with his parents that were both abandoned.
As Sah pranced around him and initiated play, Noah swiped a large paw towards him in just the same manner. It may be drastic, but it's a good thing! There is proof now to everyone that you are in the favor of the old gods! Really, to Safrin.
don't wait for the wolves to tear you apart; there's always a cage around your heart
Sah ducked the massive paw, his laugh echoing in the bond. He lunged and gently nipped at Noah's side before leaping back. Yes! He felt affection bubble up at Noah's words and it was easily transferred through the bond. It felt good for someone he loved to be just as excited as him over something so life-changing.
It's hard to wrap my mind around it, honestly. The Wild Thunder had somehow earned his sworn goddess's trust and favor to the extent that she was willing to remake him with her own power. It was overwhelming and deeply humbling. He'd have to continue to meet her expectations. Yet now, her claim on his soul was apparent to all. It was wonderful.
The bear swatted at the smaller animal with large paws, amused when the wolf nimbly dodged, then darted in to nip at his side. It was a strange joy, this wild companionship, a rare moment of play amid the endless white, and the demigod relished it fully. It will probably feel weird for a while. Noah said, bounding towards the wolf and playfully crashing his massive shoulder into him.
Cordelia is going to be mad she slept through this. He chuckled over the bond, huge head swinging over to look towards the wolf with a playful glint in his eye, his large paws spreading wide to maintain balance on the slippery ice. His thick claws dug into the frozen surface, gripping firmly as he shifted weight, adjusting to each slip and slide. Despite his size, he was steady, confident—sure-footed.
don't wait for the wolves to tear you apart; there's always a cage around your heart
Sah had to twist to avoid going sprawling as the bear's weight hit him. Laughing through the bond, the wolf stood on his hind legs and swatted at Noah's shoulder. I'm sure it will, but I imagine it'll be easier for me to adjust than most. Or it would be the opposite. He'd just have to wait and see.
The hybrid let out a snort. I wouldn't be surprised if I received a lecture about not warning her about this. After the celebratory congratulations, of course. Sah crouched, mischief ringing in the bond as he took in his packmate's stance. With only a brief tightening of his muscles as an indication, the wolf leaped up and attempted to land on the bear's back.
That's true. Is it close to the form you had in your home world? Noah asked, readying himself for Sah's next counter play. Having spread himself out for balance over the ice, Noah was prepared for the pounce. He let the wolf land on his back, but knew he could easily shake him off. Sah had no claws to dig in to his skin and fur. Taking his mighty and massive body into a rough shake, Noah rolled his shoulders to release the wolf. You should go tell your kids before it gets too late, Noah said, laughing across the bond, but you better come back tomorrow to tell Cordelia and my kids. Or face the wrath.
don't wait for the wolves to tear you apart; there's always a cage around your heart
Sah let out a happy hum through the bond. Very close. I'm just much smaller and missing my wings and magic. Though perhaps one day he'd gain a griffin shift and return to how he once was. Or as closely as a hybrid could be.
When Noah began to nudge him off, the wolf nimbly twisted and returned to the ground. Landing on all four paws he joined in the Demi-god's laughter. Oh, I plan to. Even more than wrath, I don't want to upset the pups. Making not one but two sets of twins sad was just diabolical. Sah could never.
With a final mock lunge, the Wild Thunder turned on his heel. I'll be back tomorrow! Love you! Perhaps it was the joy of the day, but the familial love that rushed over him and through the bond was too much not to voice.
