your hands give me strength.

 beautiful as life and poison. sun-blood beauty. a bleeding sun. coils of molten gold and winter snow unfurled along the terrace of rippling greens, blushing pinks, and other various colors. the sudden contrast against the succulents that colored this domain a blight in its beauty.

  a gentle moan, just a whisper of breath, slithered from her lips as the outsider scrunched her features. all along her body, her muscles ached. every subtle movement or twitch sent small sparks of pain throughout her flesh. it was tender, as if beaten and bruised, and sensitive to the touch. the pricks and pokes of the greenery digging into her side finally forced the golden crusted girl to open her eyes. and my - did they compliment her chambers tragically. pale, almost translucent evergreen eyes blurred before they focused on her surroundings.

  it was like her brain snapped shut. any lingering thoughts or fluttering dreams evaporated as the sudden realization that she has no idea where she was flickered to life. when she had closed her eyes, she was safe in her bed, her bodyguard never too far off. had he died? did he...no. he was too strong... but who was he? ottilie forced her eyes shut, as if trying to will her surroundings away. this had to be a dream. it must.

  bile surged up her throat like a tidal wave, her stomach willing and ready to empty its contents. urp. panic flooded her system as her eyes again flung open. they were wild and scared - frantic even. the girl, who had been groomed all her life for a single purpose, came shattering down. everything she knew was gone.

 for the first time in her life, ottilie was completely and utterly alone.
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Springtime was close—Stígandr could feel the tepid airs drawing up from the south. It was comforting to feel warmth after the absence of such for so long. 

The large sire trod languidly over the firm ground, pressing his broad head through barriers of thick foliage that sprouted forth from the earth and embraced the broad girth of trees. This land was strange. Never had he seen such lush greenery, with vibrant viridescence and oddly shaped plants—leaves thick and solid, nothing akin to the brittle plants he remembered.

Dense body stepping through the woodlands, the man trekked. He paused at a crystalline pool, scrutinizing the broad lily pads and narrowing his muted eyes.

Not in his wildest dreams would he have ever imagined a place like this. 

Stígandr halted his movements at the sound of a rustle nearby. Brows risen, he turned on his heel to face the disturbance, enshrouded by a wall of viridian. With ease, the massive frame pressed past the fortification to step upon the earth on the other side. 

There sat a woman with eyes as green as their surroundings, widened with terror. Delicate frame gilded with a coat of warm aureate, limbs folded into her lithe chest. 

There was an overwhelming need to protect. Stígandr pursed his lips, his tail held neutral in a placating manner. “It's alright,” he rumbled softly, “you're safe here.” As if to affirm his own words, sharp eyes flitted upwards to graze over the surrounding landscape before returning to her. 

He bowed his head towards the woman at a respectable distance, ears swiveling downward in hopes of making himself appear less daunting, despite his frame dwarfing hers.

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 a man forged from ice and stone bled into her vision. his pelt had notes of earthy browns, faded tawny, etched with a blue-silver shine. it was like looking at a stone statue. or - thats could very well be the muscle that rippled beneath his flesh. even from her distance, the woman could clearly see the height and weight difference between the two. if she was a sunflower, he was a boulder.

 blinding fear gripped her throat at the mere thought of him attacking her. even if she reacted quickly, his limbs would shred any distance she tried to create. his jowls could snap her in half, and his size...he could easily over power her.

 as she spiraled out of control, his voice somehow managed to break through her barrier. alarmed, ottilie finally met his gaze. his warm, muted tawny gaze. the begie of his eyes reminded her of wheatfields back home. unconsciously, she smiled. though, just before noticing her mistake, the woman registered his words. she was fine. she was safe. part of her hoped that meant he wouldn't attack her, and the other part believed in his soothing tone.

 as their eyes met, she watched as he bowed and lowered his ears, as if trying to shave off a few inches would help lessen his aura. the man took up space. it was hard not to feel intimidated. nevertheless, the golden girl gave him a quick but curt nod - a silent affirmation that she understood.

 an awkward, uncomfortable silence fell over them before asking a small series of questions. "where - where am i? and who... who are you?"
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As the panic in her eyes ebbed away, the sire released a soft sigh. His tail coiled at his hocks as he bunched his limbs to rest upon his hindquarters. “My name is Stígandr,” he introduced quietly, “I hail from a small village in Svealand.” A pink tongue curled over his nose in an idle motion. 

His head rose until he stood erect. A calm, regal posture—eyes fixed atop the lush forestry, flickering past the occasional pool of crystalline water. “As for where you are...” momentarily, he trailed off, unsure how to explain either of their situation. “...I'm afraid I do not know. I found myself here not long ago, and I've yet to find any explanation...” he turned back towards the gilded woman with a caring smile. “I've not faced any dangers yet. As strange as this place may be... it is not malevolent.”

Eyes of flaxen returned their keen regard to the woman who laid before him. Her svelte limbs, delicate skin with contours of her bones pressing against them. Stígandr sighed quietly—not starving, perhaps. But disconcertingly close.

“Are you hungry?” he spoke up, “I'd be happy to find you something if you so need it.” The sentinel, still reclined upon his haunches, tensed—ready to hoist himself upon his feet and set off to find food per her request.

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  her golden curls leaked sunshine into the dark, cold world. her iridescent physique paired with translucent jade eyes lighting the path to salvation. back in her kingdom, ottilie was regarded as the rising sun of her home - sunhaven. or at least, the sister she was produced to replace, held such a title. either way, when her harlow hair is matched with the shrouded greenery, she couldnt help but shine.

  the woman remained frozen like a lake without ripples. every inch of her body was weary, but growing to trust in the man's words. even more so as he lowered himself and spoke with a voice that dared to coax her closer. not that she really dared to. that was until he gave her his name and backstory.

  a restlessness curled within her bones at the thought of not knowing where she was. the uneasiness of not having a home becoming a blooming sensation that was slowly weaving it's tendrils into her flesh. "pleasure to meet you, sir Stígandr," ottilie responded out of habit. her tone was soft and kind, holding a unique politeness that elevated her station. after years of being drilled with manners and proper etiquette, the habit seemed to linger in this unfamiliar world. finishing her sentence, the woman took notice of his lips pulling back into a caring smile. the way his eyes crinkled and the easy curve of his lips suited him. he was handsome when he smiled, she thought. "thank you for answering my questions," the dame responded.

  another small silence fell around them before he brought up food. as if her body suddenly remembered that substance was a thing, it growled. shock and embarrassment flashed across her features as her cheeks turned a bright tomato red, "oh um - yes, please. if you don't mind," ottilie said with a flustered smile. gods, she was embarrassed. but before he could go bounding off, the girl surged to her paws and took a step forward. "wait -" she called to him, the panic back in her eyes, "could i go with you? i dont... i don't want to be alone, sir Stígandr. if it's alright, could i keep you company?"
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Sir Stígandr. Such a title had never been bestowed upon him before. He'd always simply been Stígandr. Erlingsson. Nothing more; nor anything less. The brute felt a modicum of surprise from the sun-kissed she-wolf's generous title. What had he done to deserve such a moniker? As perplexing as it may be, he did not question it—instead, he relished her appreciation and embraced the title like a knight before his queen. “It's no problem at all...” he trailed off. There hadn't been a name introduced yet.

As soon as the offer for food was accepted, the sentinel stood to depart—yet, her feeble pleas followed and he immediately halted. Such fragility and delicate grace—he'd only ever seen it once. Ingrid flashed in his mind for a heartbeat—she, too, had been soft-spoken. Graceful like a doe, sleek and elegant. Thinned lips concealed the confliction that flashed over his mien.

He shed his thoughts with a silent exhale. “Of course,” he responded reassuringly, “whatever it is that makes you comfortable.” The warrior took a few steps forward, swaying his tail at his hocks. 

Onyx nose hovering over the viridian ground, he snuffled at whatever scents lingered. Only faintly could he smell a herd of deer, the occasional passage of a hare. Stígandr halted with his ears swiveling diligently against sounds that pierced the woodlands. His hazel eyes, heedful, were squinted beneath the furrow of his brows.

He mused—the hare would be easier. Convenient. Yet, a deer would be far more fulfilling. A beat of contemplation elapsed before he opted to follow the trail of the smaller critter. He could always hunt more if she so needs; killing more than required would be naught but a waste of a life.

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 relief flooded her veins, vanquishing the vile that threatened to surge up her throat. fear like this - pure, primal, animalistic, was a sensation she had never known. being alone in a seemingly entirely new world a hard reality to grasp. even so, the male before her offered her a kindness she also had never known. it seemed... soft. a gentle caress, a warm whisper on the winds. his aura did not immediately scream danger. perhaps that's why she had the sudden confidence to ask to accompany him. [/b]

 as he accepted her request, ottilie nodded weakly, her eyes still weary and confused as she stumbled a few steps forward. her balance trembled as her legs rattled beneath her, a sight similar to a fawn standing for the first time. embarrassment reared it's ugly head, sending her muscles to lock. *do not fault*, the girl demanded to herself. there was so time to show weakness. not to a stranger. not to anyone. having no idea where she was set her up for failure if she put faith in the wrong companions.
[/b]
 schooling her features and steeling her heart, ottilie expelled a determined breath as she confidently sauntered forth. each stride radiating a raging inferno of sheer resolution and resolve as a mask forged itself onto her flesh. though invisible to the eye, the crown princess refused to dishonor her name - her *sister's* name. [/b]

 finding her spot next to the goliath a bit more easily than she should of, the girl mimicked his movement. watchful eyes studied his movements, a perfect mirror. in doing so, the sun-favored girl was able to pick up the subtle notes of a hare, and the faint but decadent scent of deer. hunger flared within her stomach, the acid gurgling with newfound anger. pushing the hanger to the side, the woman raised her skull to look in either direction, calculating which option would be best. a deer would feed the both of them for a few days, making it easier to focus on different tasks. or at least, if the man decided to leave, she would have food to munch on while she learned how to hunt. a hare on the other hand, solves the immediate issue of substance. but even the girl knew a small rabbit wouldn't feed the both of them, and it didn't seem fair to make him do all the work and reap no reward besides an empty stomach. [/b]

 "we could try the deer," she said with a quiet conviction. "ive never hunted before, but im sure i could figure it out. it doesn't seem fair nor right to make you do all the work and reap little to no reward. we'll be hungry all night if we do that," the woman concluded. "besides, im sure you have other things to attend to. the deer would last me, or us, much longer."
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