Cold winds, warm fires

Ioranir sat quietly in front of the fire that sat in the middle of the hut, stirring a bowl of fish head stew slowly. He had only returned to his hut a few moments before everyone had gone to sleep and decided a quick meal wouldn't hurt. With the fresh snow coming in, only people who had undergone the rites of passage into becoming a fledged member within the tribe were allowed out during the night time due to the various predators that stalked in the fresh night air. Not to mention, the land itself could be more dangerous than any beast if one was not experienced in its navigation. 

The young hunters eyes darted to a flap that opened up to reveal his adopted mother giving him a glare he had grown to know all to well during his years. A look he was hoping to avoid, by nearly any means. She was just barely taller than most of the other women there with a thicker muscled build. Her stare alone could drive ice into even a tundra wolf's heart at twenty paces but there had even been rumors that she had once killed a bull moose that was in a fury with naught but a knife given to her by a stranger long ago. 

"Do you have any idea what time it is?! Where were you? Jumalauta boy, you're lucky you had a good hunt or I'd leave you to fend in the snow!"  The fiery woman roared in their native tongue. Her name was Katja, she had been taking care of him and was the only thing close to family he had. 

Ioranir had been birthed to a woman in a neighboring village, the first and only child born of her lineage. There had been complications during his entering of this world, and she was called to the plains above. His father had been a stranger, who arrived to hunt the wicked beasts of men who called themselves the Gauredain. Supposedly tribes of men, and believed to be women, who thought themselves beasts, rather than humans.Adorning themselves in the trappings of their kill, they believed this to give them strength.

The stranger had lodged in the village for a short time, only known simply as the 'White Bear'. A great man, as broad and tall as an oak. Clearly he had seen his times, and presumably looked for a fitting end to his journey. No one had seen him after the Man dressed in warg furs went in search of him.


Ioranir's eyes lifted to meet the woman's gaze, standing quickly and giving a nod respectively. "Minä pyydän anteeksi. I am sorry, I did not mean to cause you worry. I only wished to see the bay again." He replied, lowering his gaze and placing the bowl where he sat. Turning his attention back to Katja who by now had her arms crossed, still giving him the look. 

"No more. Especially not with your hunt coming up. The full moon will rise to the sky and you will be hunting with the others! This is your chance, your passage to our people." She scolded him while making her wave over to him to grab him in a soft hug. 

"I love you, Ioranir but you are too stubborn for your own good. Finish eating and rest, you're going to need it." She smiled warmly and placed her hand on his face carefully, running her thumb across his face slowly. "I don't wish to lose you, you are the child the gods never gave me Ioranir. No matter what you face in this world, remember family is not always blood."