[SRP] Restless and Weary (Jord and Brandr)

[Jovi of Shadows]

The stormborn had gone through many changes in recent years, but one thing seemed to remain the same. There were always reavers on the sparring sands, and Jord was always there to watch them. She had no desire to fight herself, as that was not proper for a freeborn lady like herself, but gods did she love watching the menfolk at work. The sheer grace and brutality in how they moved was simply mesmerizing for her.

It was early morning, the sky was overcast and the air smelled of salt and ocean spray. Jord was on her way to her favorite look out on sparring sands, a mass of cluttered rocks that she could lay on without getting in the way of any battling reavers. As much as she enjoyed starting her day in this manner, it seemed like lately the days had been running together much too quickly. Had she truly nothing else to occupy her time? The thought filled her with uncertainty as she paused in her step. She was so close to the sands, so close to her typical morning routine. Should she do something different today, just to mix it up a little bit? The lioness bit at her lip. She wanted to watch the reavers, but surely she needed to do something to break out of this little funk she had gotten herself into.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Brandr had been on a constant stream of vikings in the past several years, only briefly stopping by Stormborn territory with his band to gather news or drop off captured thralls before heading out again. It was a life that Brandr enjoyed, but there was a part of him that missed the stronghold. He wasn't sure how he should feel about that, or if he should feel anything at all for that matter, but those thoughts still nagged at the back of his mind. He was on one of those short visits to the pride's territory, having recently returned from yet another viking, when he decided he wanted to visit the sparring sands. He liked his band well enough he supposed, but he needed a to see different faces before they headed out again like they always did.

Today his paws led him to the one place he truly felt comfortable in the stronghold, the sparring sands. He had been away from his pride for so long at this point that he wasn't sure that he completely understood or wanted to understand most of them. The pride after all had gone through so many changes, most of which did not affect the reaver in any way, but they were things he had to adjust to. And Brandr was not one for making a fool of himself in front of others. At least, not anymore. In his youth he was certain he had been quite foolish, but he supposed spending so many years a-viking with captain Don had mellowed him out a bit. That captain's cold, calculating demeanor did not save much room for foolishness from his reavers.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Jord shifted her weight from paw to paw as she contemplated. What would she even do? Brenna, her best friend, wasn't available until well into the afternoon and Jord didn't fancy laying around her den all morning waiting on her. She supposed she could go for a run to loosen her own muscles, and she did like the feel of the sand between her toes. Maybe after that she'd reward herself with a few hours of watching the reavers spar on the sands.

A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips and the lioness much enjoyed the little idea that had popped into her mind. Yes, a run would do just nicely! It had been far too long since she had done something for herself, and the well muscled female did enjoy using her body. She may not have been a fighter, but the female did like to keep her body toned and in shape.

Jord flexed her claws into the shifting earth under her toes as she began to stretch and pull at the muscles in her limbs. It felt good to feel the lean muscles loosen and under her sandy colored pelt, and she quite enjoyed satisfying pop some of her joints gave as she shook off her early morning stiffness. Jord breathed the fresh sea air in deeply, a content look on her face as the lioness eased her way into a casual lope.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Brandr had certainly been on his way to the sparring sands to find a partner to throw his weight around with, but the large stormborn stopped dead in his tracks when he happened upon a curious scene. A lioness, who looked to be... stretching? Was she one of those 'shield maidens' that the pride had seemed to accommodate recently? She did look like she was headed towards the sparring sands as well, but Brandr wasn't sure how he'd feel about sparring against one the pride's females.

The more he pondered over this the more Brandr found himself staring at this female as she went through her routine of loosening limbs, and eventually the large lion found himself sitting casually back on his rump, while he watched hers. She had her back to him, and perhaps he should have said something to alert her to his presence, but the dark male was honestly so taken by surprise by this morning's curiosity that he forgot what little manners he had. There's one thing for certain that he'd missed about the stronghold, and that was the stormborn women. And judging by this one's build she certainly was of stormborn descent.

Before he knew it she was off and running away from him. Brandr blinked stupidly for a few times as his brain tried to catch up, but his body was already off and following her at an easy lope. He liked how she moved, he decided, but damn it all if he should say something and ruin that pleasant look on her face.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Jord loved to feel her legs moving underneath her, pushing her forward against the soft earth that would eventually become the sparring sands. She would need to stay towards the outskirts of the area, as she did not want to put herself in the way of any sparring reavers. It was fun to watch them, it was less fun to be scolded by them for getting in their way, she decided. Jord was feeling quite comfortable on her little run at that moment, sure nothing would spoil the good time she was having.

That is until a dark blur of movement caught her attention from behind. Jord had been raised in the stormborn stronghold by an old blood family, and she had always felt safe within the pride's borders. After all, what sort of intruder would be able to get at it when the pride boasted such strong males such as the reavers to protect everyone. But when she happened to catch sight of the large, dark male running behind her she would be lying if she said her heart didn't jump into her throat for a moment. How long had he been back there?

Her pace faltered as she struggled to right herself from being startled at the sight of him, and for a moment she considered stopping in her tracks to confront him. But, no. If he wanted to run after her, then she would make him work for it. Her eyes narrowed dangerously at the dark stranger, all but daring him to follow, as the lioness dug her heels into the earth to shoot forward into a sprint. He would either keep up or be left in her dust.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Oops. Brandr definitely should have said something as soon as he'd seen her, and definitely before he'd started chasing after her. He was about to apologize for catching her off guard and nearly making her trip when the lioness threw him a rather cute looking glare. Okay. Maybe she didn't mean for it to be cute, but the reaver couldn't help the rueful grin that crawled onto his maw. It seemed that if he wanted to apologize to her, he'd have to catch her first. Very well, challenge accepted.

Brandr had been on a near constant string of vikings in the past several years, and because of this his body was well toned and prepared to jump into action at a moment's notice. The reaver had definitely had to chase down many a potential thrall to capture them, and though that wasn't quite the case here, he was certain he would be able to keep up with this lioness!

The large lion rocked forward, not quite with the explosive burst that the lioness had shown, but his lengthened strides and pumping muscles seemed to eat up the earth underneath him. He probably could have caught up to her quicker he decided, if he'd really wanted to push himself, but Brandr was quite enjoying taking his time to do so. It really had been a long time since he'd been around stormborn women.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Was he enjoying this? Jord's eyes narrowed further as she glanced over her shoulder to spot that stupid grin on his stupid face. Part of her wanted to whirl around on him, but there was another part of her that was simply thrilled by the chase. She decided that he wasn't quite working hard enough to catch her, so Jord allowed a small smirk to play at the corner of her maw, certain he would see it, before she dipped further into her reserves. It had been awhile since she'd really went all out on a run in the sands, but she would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy it!

Her limbs stretched out further underneath her and her body worked to take in deep steady breathes with every stride. They would soon be close to the main sparring area of the sands, and Jord kept a careful eye out for anyone who might be in her way. As much as she enjoyed watching the reavers battle each other, she had to admit that she enjoyed this too. Whoever this stranger was, he'd certainly given her an exciting morning!

And it was then that Jord decided that she would beat him to her favorite look-out rock, where she spent many a morning watching the reavers. Whatever reason he had for chasing her, as she did not recognise this male, she was certain to make him work for it.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Ooh, now she was smiling at him. Brandr use to think himself quite the ladies man back in his younger years, but having been out a-viking for so long he'd truly worried he had lost whatever charm he might have possessed. Apparently he wasn't doing too shabby with this one. Her smirk and renewed speed spurred the dark male to do the same, though at this point he wasn't really looking to catch up with her. Eventually she would tire, and eventually he would get the chance to talk to her.

Perhaps it was a grim way of thinking, but he had captured many thralls with this tactic. Let them run themselves out and tire, and then he'd use his energy to catch up and grab them. They were typically panicked or frightened as well though, and this lioness didn't seem to be any of the sort. She also seemed to be much more on the fit side of physique. He wondered if she would tire before she got to where ever it was she, well they, were going.

Brandr still knew nothing about this female, but damned it all he was going to at least get her name! With renewed vigor, the dark lion pushed himself to try and catch up to her, though that seemed difficult at best at this point.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

She wasn't sure if she was disappointed or satisfied that she was still in the lead when her favorite look-out rock popped into view, but that was the imaginary finish line she had decided on. Not that he knew that. Jord checked over her shoulder one final time to see he was at least trying to catch up to her, before she focused on the rock ahead of her. A few more bounds and she gathered her muscles and legs underneath her to leap onto the top of her favorite spot, nearly skidding off the other side as she came to stop.

Jord took a moment to collect herself and catch her breath before turning a triumphant smirk back on the dark male who had just made it to the rock, and thankfully hadn't decided to join her on the top. He likely would have pushed her off trying to make room for himself.

Now that Jord could get a good look at him she took her time to do so. There was something vaguely familiar about him now that she could study his pelt. Ah, so maybe he was one of the reavers she watched spar from time to time. An approving, small smile replaced her smirk and Jord calmly settled down to her belly on the rock she had claimed as hers. "Jord," she offered him simply and without context.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Perhaps if he had tried harder in the beginning he would have caught up to her, but before he knew she was gathering herself up for a leap and was on top of a rather large rock towards the middle of the sparring sands. Brandr came to a halt just below the structure as he too took a moment to catch his breath. At least they had arrived at his originally destination, so it would save him the trouble of having to double back.

Brandr's crimson eyes watched her as she turned around to regard him, with a rather pleasant expression that encouraged his own smirk. So she had won their imaginary little race, that was fine he decided. As she settled down onto the rock it occurred to the reaver that she was somewhat familiar to him. Or rather, seeing idling on a rock near the sparring sands was familiar to him. Ah, he remembered now. She was the one that liked to hang about and watch without getting in the way or attempting to spar herself. That certainly refreshing to the reaver, as he still wasn't sure how he felt about the female reavers, er... what were they called now. Shield maidens? He was having a hard time grasping some of these changes.

His dark ears flicked forward at the sound of her name and he nearly chuckled. So simple and he didn't even have to ask. "Brandr," he replied in the same simple fashion. A rueful grin plastered itself onto his maw as he turned to leave and find a sparring partner, but he did throw her a glance back over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow. It was an invitation to watch him now.