It had been two moons since Sesshomaru had acquired his new arm. Two moons of him and Torunn speaking nothing more than cordial greetings and their progress on getting to Totosai which, according to him, was maybe another two day journey. Two moons since he had seen tears in Torunn's proud eyes.
Shaking his head from those thoughts, his gaze slid down to the wayward pack; an imp demon, a human girl and the warrior woman. Torunn was asleep near Rin. Sesshomaru had noticed how protective Torunn had become of her in their days of travel - Rin had also grown quite fond of Torunn, as well. His eyes lingered on the strange warrior woman. Something inside him still ached to try to make things right with her, but still not fully understanding why he wanted to in the first place. Much less how to.
It didn't help that she began to mumble and moan in her sleep in those two nights, fidgeting all the while. Sesshomaru sat silently watching her, hearing every so often a strange name escape her lips - "Einar". They way Torunn said her name made it seem like she was in great pain. That she was frightened. Sesshomaru was made uncomfortable by her fitful sleep, pleading to whomever this "Einar" was, at seeing the anxiousness knitted into her brow.
Sighing inwardly, Sesshomaru continued to sit his tree not far away. He needed sometime to be alone in his head as he watched the sun rise, unable to stop himself from glancing back to Torunn. Sesshomaru had seen the proud warrior woman put several demons into their place handily; she took no disrespect from anyone, not even him. Torunn cowered from nothing.
Except for this Einar being.
As the sun crept over the horizon, Sesshomaru kept an eye on them, Torunn finally settling down from whatever was plaguing her thoughts, her breathing returning to normal. For the rest of what little night was left, Torunn did not utter the name "Einar" again. Curiosity burned brightly as the impending sun inside Sesshomaru, wanting to know who could make Torunn plead like a child.
Instead of ruminating on that, Sesshomaru's gaze returned to his newly acquired arm. Lifting it, he flexed his new fingers, marveling not only at the fact that it was still there, but that it was still fully functional. He couldn't help but be impressed by Torunn's "blood magic" - as she called it - to give him the new limb. It felt strange and new as he continued to flex his clawed hand in the dim sun's rays. Sesshomaru smirked. He would eventually get used to it, and he would also eventually show his gratitude for it. Lord Sesshomaru did not receive gifts lightly - he unfortunately just didn't know how show his gratitude to Torunn yet.
Maybe, I will find whomever this Einar being is, and dispatch of him. Instinctively, Sesshomaru said that name with revulsion. Yes, I believe that will show my gratitude quite nicely.
An angry wind raged on all around frozen wasteland with a heavy snow buffeting two beings. They both trudged wildly through it, one chasing after the other.
Torunn stopped her running, panting heavily, her claws dripping with blood the dyed the snow covered field. Blood that she had no desire to spill, and yet it still fell to the ground like precious rubies. It continued to howl as Torunn tried to find her stillness, her warrior's center. Torunn needed to be focused if she was ever going to find him. She looked all around, her eyes scanning the field but was only met with white walls of frozen fury that blinded her.
Breathing deeply, Torunn tried to collect herself, her blue eyes stinging from tears that were not caused by the hollowing and unforgiving wind.
"Einar!" Torunn shouted into the fierce gale, "Where are you?" She felt tears on her cheeks, the only thing that was giving her any warmth in the frigid tundra. Quickly, Torunn wiped them away, smearing the blood - his blood! - over her face. Torunn tried desperately not to care; she couldn't show that kind of weakness that he had accused her of, she couldn't prove that he was right. Torunn spat into the snow, once again dyeing it red.
Torunn told herself that it hadn't matter that Einar had been her lover - that she had shared herself inside and out to him. Shared her very soul with him - but she knew that she was only lying to herself. Making excuses to not feel so pathetic that she had let her heart lead over her gut and mind. To help her not feel so weak, so worthless. The only thing that mattered at that moment to Torunn was that Einar was now the enemy. Einar's pride and ego so bruised that he threw everything away, just to prove that Odin should have chosen him as his Alpha - a title that Torunn proudly bore.
Earlier, Einar had gone into a blind fit of rage after the All-Father had announced his decision at the feast that night and lept to attack Odin. Rather, he would have had done that had Torunn not intervened, taking the full blow of the male berserker and throwing him back to the ground of the feasting hall. He looked up at Torunn with such malice and seething anger that it unnerved her. This was not the Einar that she had come to know over their time in serving Odin together.
The dimly lit hall erupted into chaos as Torunn stood in front of the Head God in a defensive crouch as Einar rose slowly from the cold, stone floor. Torunn had noticed that Tyr - the God of war - and Thor had stood up, readying their weapons but Odin had stopped them both. Immediately after tense mummers arose as Torunn's own heart began to break looking at the warrior before her. Her eyes locked with Einar's whose own green eyes only held contempt for his former lover and now Alpha Wolf.
"This is their fight," Odin said, quelling the tense mummers that skittered all over the hall like spiders, "They must finish this on their own."
And that's when Einar pounced on Torunn, brandishing his claws and bearing his fangs. Torunn had managed to grab him as he flew at her and again hurled him across the large hall. She went for her sword that hung at her side, ignoring the large gashes on her arms.
"Einar," Torunn spoke slowly to him, pleading almost, "Stop this madness! I don't want to kill you." Einar only howled with a laughter full of spite.
"And this is why I should have been Alpha. No one here is your friend, my foolish love," he said condescendingly, "Not even that prick, Odin. It's a hard lesson to learn - one which you will pay with your life." Einar set upon Torunn, who merely side stepped the hulking man. Her eyes narrowed onto him - Torunn could read his every movement as clear as the morning sunrise. Einar was indeed strong, but he lacked any discipline, any sort of tactile prowess and it was especially true once he gave into his primal Úlfhéðnar powers. Turning to him, Torunn had steeled herself for another attack as Einar stalked her like an animal. And like clockwork he jumped again and Torunn met his blow with her large sword.
It seemed to have stopped him as he caught the blade between his massive, clawed hands. He struggled with it and Torunn's strength behind it, but after a few moments of struggling back and forth, Einar had managed to break her blade. The large pieces of dwarven forged steel clattered to the ground all around them. Torunn threw the hilt to the side as Einar tried to grapple her to the ground, the Hall still entranced by the lover's quarrel. Torunn noticed as she struggled under Einar's weight, that a few of the other Úlfhéðnar began to rise from their seat but they too, were stopped by Odin, and for that, she was grateful. Torunn knew that she had the majority of the pack behind her, but this was her chance now to prove to them, to Odin, all of the Gods, and herself, that she deserved the title of Alpha.
Torunn continued to wrestle under Einar's weight, but she knew how to use that to her advantage. With her back on the floor, Torunn was able to position her shins and feet on his abdomen with her hands clasping at his, their fingers intertwined. Einar gave her a baleful grin - a grin that made Torunn sick to her stomach when he flashed it. His green eyes looked her up and down as she continued to wrestle underneath him.
"My, doesn't this brings back memories, Torunn?" He almost purred at her. Her own eyes locked with his as she let out a low growl - it was a final warning.
"Hold your tongue, Einar," she spat at him, "Your pride will be your downfall." As as she finished her threat, Torunn used all of her legs' strength to launch him over herself, sending Einar crashing across tables and chairs, with Gods and Úlfhéðnar alike all scattering about as to not be hit by him. The rogue Úlfhéðnar warrior landed with a hard thud on the stone floor and immediately scrambled to get himself back on his feet. His eyes darted around the room, trying to see if anyone would help him, but found that no one was rushing to his aide. Turning away from everyone, he let out a frustrated roar-like yell, pushing the doors open into the blizzard that had began to form. He gave one last glance over his shoulder, Einar's eyes falling on Torunn, and spat on the ground and ran out into the white.
Torunn looked to Odin, who merely nodded. The Alpha nodded to him in return and ran into the white wall of snow.
The winds howled their mournful songs of winter that made it nearly impossible for Torunn to track Einar. She wouldn't allow herself to fully let go of her humanity like he had - she only used her full Úlfhéðnar powers when it was in dire need or desperation - like in battle against an army or when her life was on the line. Torunn respected the awful powers she had been given, unlike Eiran who used it whenever it suited them. Whenever they wanted to be drunk with power.
She had frantically wandered into the blinding blizzard, but then after a fruitless search, Torunn stood still, and let her senses push past all other noises and distractions. The frigid air that she breathed in awoke her senses as she tried to make herself the calm center in the storm - and for a few moments - the chaos around her fell silent. Torunn didn't hear the wind. Torunn didn't feel the biting sting of the blistering cold.
That is, until she heard the crunching of footsteps in the snow. Torunn heard it just to the left of her, she was certain about it.
As silently as she could, Torunn turned on her heels, her claws out and made contact with something soft and warm. Torunn heard a blood curdling cry and felt hot liquids on her claws and fingers. Her blue eyes found the being, yowling in pain – Torunn had managed to rake her claws across Eirun's face. Through the oncoming torrent of snow, she saw him holding himself, his hands covering his right eye. In her heart, Torunn knew that she must have blinded him, or at least partially. She breathed heavily, looking on to him in pity, his warm blood falling steadily onto the snow.
"I told you that your pride would be your undoing," Torunn shouted over the winds, "You must stop this – you will not win this fight." She could hear his haggard breathing and saw the scarlet blood drip down his face. He took a step closer to her, his shoulders seeming to drop in defeat.
"You're right," Einar had managed to shout over the wind. Torunn's own shoulders dropped, relief washing over her. They would get through this. She almost laughed to herself - these kinds of bickerings and fights were not uncommon within the her pack. Torunn almost could have laughed. Taking a step closer, she did indeed radiate a luminous smile, wanting nothing more than to hold the stubborn warrior in her arms. The snow still was thick as a blanket as she made her way to him, so much that Torunn had failed to notice Einar slowing going to his side.
Torunn took another step forward but found no one in front of her. Her heart raced as her stomach dropped - where could he have gone? She was certain that Einar was right in front of her! Torunn spun all around, now lost in the snow. How could she have been so stupid - so careless?
A yell erupted from behind her and then there was more blood - blood everywhere. Her blood. Her blood everywhere! There was a creeping darkness surrounded her like suffocating weeds. She felt like she was dying! She needed to wake up - !
Torunn sat straight up with her ears ringing, breathing heavily and covered in a cold sweat. She touched her right arm frantically, knowing full well that she still had it, foolishly knowing that is was only a long forgotten nightmare. She peeled back her red tunic, eyeing the scar the circled her entire right arm, just below her shoulder. She traced the raised, white lines with her finger, remembering its story. Torunn released a breath that she had no idea that she was holding in.
A dream. It was only a dream. Or rather it was a far distant memory, but it had been so long since Torunn had been plagued by that day. It had almost been a hundred years since Einar was banished for almost killing her for such petty reasons. A tear almost escaped thinking about that prideful idiot.
She looked all about camp. Rin, Jaken and the two headed dragon, A-Un, still remained asleep. Torunn released another deep sigh - at least she hadn't woken anyone this time. Torunn looked up and found Sesshomaru looking out away from the group, his eyes looking at the rising sun. Torunn prayed to Freya that he hadn't noticed, or if he had, had the sound mind not to bring it up.
Standing up, Torunn realized that she needed to release the tension that had been building up inside of her. Another hunt? She looked to the left over deer that they had left from Sesshomaru's kill the other day, and shook her head. No, that wasn't a good enough excuse but she desperately needed something to clear her mind, lest she succumbed to all of the raw emotions that were swimming in her head.
She looked to her shield the laid atop of her bag. Maybe training would help her, though she didn't have her sword.
Quietly Torunn rose to her feet, stretching out her tensed up back, cracking her neck and hands. As she did, her eyes caught a large limb on the ground. She walked over to it, hefting it. The limb wasn't heavy in the least bit but it was at least more or less balanced as she swung it about. She grunted to herself - it would do for the time being.
Finding a spot far away enough as to not wake everyone but kept them in her sight, Torunn took her gear and ran some of her training exercises by herself. Sweat dripped down her face and neck as she wished she had something to tie her hair back. Her golden waves were sticking every where on her face and neck and shoulders as she trained with her shield and the large tree limb. She swung heavy and hard with her makeshift sword, and tumbled all around with her shield, still intact on her arm.
But no matter how hard she concentrated fighting against imaginary foes, Torunn's mind kept wandering back to Sesshomaru's comment - "Did you?"
And then to Einar's scarred face.
With a growl, Torunn smashed the thick limb against the tree, splinters flying all around her. Torunn's eyes went wide – she hadn't realized she was swinging that hard. She flexed her hand, dropping what little left there was of the wood. Torunn needed to get a grip, and to not get so wrapped up in her head. She knew what would happen if she let her rage filled emotions take over. Torunn took a deep breath in and let it escape slowly through her nose.
Torunn tried to shake the feeling of anger and hurt, but no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn't leave. She thought this pain was behind her. Some scars never fade, she thought bitterly to herself.
The anger that she felt was only towards herself, on how weak she was, how she couldn't let go of it. She slumpped against the tree, feeling remorse for being so distant with Sesshomaru. Not to say the two of them were close to begin with. It wasn't his fault. He didn't know how painful it was to be reminded - Hel, Torunn didn't even realize. She thought she had moved past it, or at least put it out of her mind. Torunn thought she was making progress - she hadn't thought about that night or Einar in almost a century. Surely that should be enough time Torunn had thought.
She groaned, hitting her head on the trunk of the tree. Then letting her gaze wander to the woods that were near by, almost making the hair on the back of her neck bristle. Simultaneously Torunn felt the urge to run towards the strange power that she felt emanating from the trees, and to get as far away from as it as possible. It reminded of her of what she felt the night she met that Kagura witch. Was she following them?
A growl began to form at the back of her throat when Torunn noticed a more familiar aura approaching. She gave one last long look at the woods before she stood up to greet the Demon Lord, and swallowed her pride.
"Good morning, Lord Sesshomaru," Torunn began. Sesshomaru's head tilted in curiosity.
"What were you looking at?" Torunn looked behind her shoulder and then turned back to him.
"I thought I felt something watching me," she said, "But I think I'm just bit on edge."
"Is it about Einar?" Torunn's eyes went wide with surprise as her heart began to race at the sound of his name. It had been so long since she heard the name aloud, and not just her thinking about it in her head. Taking a deep breath and running a clawed hand through her hair, Torunn tried giving him a blank stare.
"Who?" She lamely asked, trying to act nonchalant but Sesshomaru cocked on perfect eyebrow at her. "It must have been just some sleep talking, no need to worry."
"Do you forget that I can smell you when you are lying?" He asked of her curtly, "I heard your heart beat faster when I said his name. I can see your breath quicken." Torunn bit her lip. "And I heard you moan that name in your sleep." Torunn instantly smacked the middle of her forehead.
Of course I would do that. No use lying now. She let out a ragged breath.
"Fine, I guess I'm on edge because of a dream I had about a guy named Einar," she said in clipped tone.
"Why? Who is he?" He asked. Torunn could only stare at the daiyokai incredulously while a wave of indignation passed through her.
"Why do you care?" She shot back, "More importantly, why do you get to ask all the personal questions about me and my life? But when I try to ask anything about you, I get my head verbally bitten off. That doesn't seem fair to me." Sesshomaru met her hard stare with his own.
"I am Lord Sesshomaru of the Western -"
"You're not Lord of me," she said cutting him off, "So I'm not buying what you're selling. I was okay with you keeping secrets from me, I even understood it but if you want to know personal stuff about me, you're going to have to do some sharing too." He lifted his chin proudly at her.
"I don't have to do anything," he said.
"Well neither do I. I guess that means we're at an impasse." His gaze was hard as he looked down at Torunn, her eyes fixed on him as he saw the smoldering fire still there. He wanted to say something but found himself at a loss of words as she started to walk away from him, only to be stopped. Sesshomaru hadn't even realized that he reached to grab her arm to stop her. Torunn flinched ever so slightly, not used to him touching her. He too was surprised by his actions; it seemed like his new arm had a mind of its own, not willing to fully submit to him yet.
"Fine," he finally said, "Do what you will."
"Fine," Torunn huffed as she took her arm back, "I will. I'm going to the river to grab some water before we head out." Sesshomaru didn't say anything, only merely turned his back to her. She let out a frustrated sigh as she stalked off to a river that she remembered seeing before the settled down the previous night. When she was out of his line of sight, Torunn threw her hands up to the skies in exasperation, letting out a strangled yell that matched.
For the love Frigg! Why is that being so arrogant? Torunn wanted to hit or break something - anything - to let out her frustrations but only found rocks instead. At first she kicked one into the flowing waters from the bank. Then she found another one and threw it into the river, and then another, and another until she found a small boulder and chucked into the middle of the river bed, creating a small tidal wave, the waters lapping against her bare feet on the shore line. After a few moments of heavy breathing, she bent down and splashed some of the cool water onto her face. Again and again she did this, but no matter how many times the water hit her face, it did nothing to wash away the embarrassment and shame that Torunn felt.
She slumped down on the banks feeling miserable. This was no way to act - she was an ALPHA, for Odin's sake! - but since Demon Lord asked that one question, she only felt like a failure. Torunn wasn't supposed to act like some lovelorn damsel; she was warrior, a fighter. She did not succumbed to such trivial matters like fear and heartbreak, not like this at least.
And the way she had talked to Sesshomaru? She acted like she was like some petulant child, when maybe in reality and in his own strange way, wanted to maybe help her. Or at least understand. She groaned, half-heartedly picking up a stone and tossed it across the river. Torunn knew that she was going to have to swallow her pride again but at least it wouldn't be for much longer. They were nearing Totosai, Sesshomaru had said the previous day. Maybe a day or two more.
Standing up, Torunn looked back to where everyone was but as she did, the hairs on the back of her neck began to bristle again. Torunn whipped her head around but saw nothing but trees, even though in her core Torunn felt something. It was dark and malevolent and it beckoned her to come and find it. Whatever the energy was, Torunn didn't like it and she wished to get rid of it. Before she knew it, she was running in the direction of it, abandoning her gear, except her shield, at the river's edge. She convinced herself it wouldn't take that long to figure whatever this thing was or what it wanted. All would be fine - she even trusted that Sesshomaru wouldn't leave without Torunn. If not him, Rin would be sure to not leave with out her.
Anyway, maybe this would be the thing to take her frustrations out on.
Dashing through the brush, Torunn made her way towards the aura and noticed that the forest around her was deadly silent - not a bird's song and bug's chirping as far as she could tell. She slowed down as she felt the dark aura encircle her like a fog, finally stopping in a clearing. Her blue eyes scanned all around her and landed on a small hunched figure that sat on a log some 50 feet away from Torunn. It was covered in coarse, white fur that had a strange face on it. Silently it stared at Torunn as something in her gut said that something was wrong with it. Its blank stare unnerved her slightly, not really sure what to do think of the odd creature or his malicious aura.
"Why have you been following me?" Torunn finally said but received no reply other than his staring. Her frustrations began to seep in her veins as lips became a thin, tight line. "In the name of the All-Father, I demand that you reveal yourself to at once." A dark chuck emitted from the stooped being that was followed with a clucking of their tongue, like when you patronize a child.
"I could ask you the same thing, Strange Warrior," the voice said smoothly as a spider's silk, "No need to be so terse with me. I come here offer my services, but I suppose you're right - I should introduce myself."
"You may call me Naraku."