who tells your story

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The boy was; terribly lost it seemed. So far from home, so far from the mountains he had known and loved. He had one thing though, he had Dunstan, his companion a european badger he had by his side for as long as he could recall. The dutiful badger toddled after him as they tried to get some kind of sense of where they were and how to get home. Surely dad would be livid if he wasn't there for work in the morn. Who else would run the goods anyway? His brothers weren't much for making the long trips down into the valley. 

He sighed, earthen ears rotating back as he looked up on the impossibly large tree that centered this place. Shale leapt upon the weaving roots; almost losing his balance the boys foot would slip making him a bit wobbly before he righted himself. And Dunstan just shook his head. ❝ I got it, ❞ he tried to assure him with a smirk and a swish of his tail. 

He padded along the roots narrow pathway a few strides before he would slip again, losing his front paw and coming down hard onto the branch right onto his chest and stomach. ❝ Ow... ❞ he laughed, picking only his head up this time. 

Maybe he would just...stay here for a minute.

Take in the view. 
 

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❝ ❞ 

for @Runar but also aw!

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Runar had no companion to travel by his side, nor a purpose. The young king was hardly even lost. Vanderfell's peaks rose in the distance, purple against green as he peered through the towering branches. Such a tree was nothing more than magnificent. His mother wouldn't make the claim so boldly, but he had no doubt it was Yggdrasil. How else would it thrive so? The roots spread on for miles, almost reaching the forests that bordered Fate's Summit. A wonder really, but one could not wonder with their head in the clouds too much or they risked a sprained paw.

Speaking of— Runar should really pay more attention to where he stepped. It wouldn't be the first time he tripped on one of the mighty roots, but his large paws were hardly careful as they came down only to freeze and quickly draw back. The soft looking log beneath him was none other than the pelt of a wolf. “Whoops—! You should be more careful lying there like rock. Almost mistook you for earth. ...Why... are you lying there?” It wasn't exactly shelter, but maybe he meant to blend with his surroundings.

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Dunstan had noticed their company before Shale, the clueless boys eyes fixed forward, the badger however had scurried back toward his friend just as the other paws hovered over him. Shale tilted his head, about to ask what the badgers problem was before the voice boomed behind him. “Whoops—! You should be more careful lying there like rock. Almost mistook you for earth. ...Why... are you lying there?” both of his ears would quickly rotate back at the slightly startle. But when his gold eyes met the others, the boy smiled brightly, tail swishing as he laughed.  ❝ Hello! ❞  he greeted warmly. 

Slowly ─ carefully he would push himself upright into a sit ❝ Well uh... ❞ a single ear drew back. ❝ I slipped... ❞ he glanced back to his badger as he gave him a knowing look. ❝ ...twice ❞ heh. ❝ But; I'm ok ─ I'm Shale ❞ he introduced, and I don't know how I got here. Maybe he would sit on that part for now. Semantics.

 

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❝ ❞ 

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His attention was quickly drawn to the small companion, “Oh, you have funny skunk. Except skunk is little and this one... not so much.” A bit of humor laced his voice as golden eyes shifted back to the man. “Bah—! Have no fear; Runar has slipped ungraciously before. Still, ground on twisted path does not make for a good resting spot.” The high king looked for a suitable gap between the roots to take a seat of his own, “I am Runar. My family lives at the mountain to our backs. You are...from around here?”

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“Oh, you have funny skunk. Except skunk is little and this one... not so much.”  Shale couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up from his throat, much against Dunstan's unamused face. ❝ That's because he's a badger ─ much less smelly ❞ he teased his friend; to which Dunstan promptly scooped up a small pine cone with both his paws that lay on the roots base and threw it at him the best he could, and with the close proximity it hit Shale right in the forehead.  ❝ Ow! Hey! I said less... ❞ he grumbled as he rubbed his head with his paw. 

“Bah—! Have no fear; Runar has slipped ungraciously before. Still, ground on twisted path does not make for a good resting spot.” the boy smiled back at him, no - it certainly didn't. Nor did a sprained paw. “I am Runar. My family lives at the mountain to our backs. You are...from around here?” the boy shook his head. ❝ Um...no, I'm not sure how I got here honestly....but if you live over there then I might be even more lost than I originally thought... ❞ if they were here...and Shale was certain they didn't have anyone living on a neighboring mountain back home. Then again this tree was also something he'd never seen. 

Yup, father was going to kill him. 

 

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❝ ❞ 

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Runar seemed to hum in acknowledgment or perhaps in learning as he eyed the badger closer with a tilt of his head, “Hm, I have not seen badger. Less smelly is good though, no—?” And no sooner had the words escaped his maw did the funny creature swipe a pinecone and toss it. A boisterous laugh filled his stomach as the High King slapped his paw against a nearby root. “BAHAHA— Runar likes badger! It is funny thing and filled with small vengeance.”

Another hum as he sat in thought, then a click of his tongue, “Not uncommon, I would say. Runar was born here and from time to time, wolf born here by Gods unknowingly. Some say it is different world, but this is only world Runar knows. If it is not your world, then I am afraid Runar does not know how to guide you home.” It wasn't the best news to deliver, but it was a secret he would not hide from someone lost from home.

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