It didn't matter, Finn decided despairingly as she stumbled up the Throat of the World. Even her Thu'um was barely standing up to the rage of the storm she had walked into, and the winds would always return stronger and angrier than before. Her tears were freezing on her cheeks, and her cloak was whipping around her ankles, threatening to trip her. Inkahlok had long since vanished in the clouds, and she knew if he was calling for her, she wouldn't be able to hear over the howl of the wind.
“Lok vah koor!” she Shouted again, feeble as it was. In the moment of solace, she heard a faint roar, and her dragon swooped down, wings up to shield him from the snow.
“Monah!” he said worriedly, nuzzling her stomach with his large snout. “Climb on my back.” Finn frowned, eying his scaly neck. She had ridden Odahviing before, on her journey to Skuldafn...but Odahviing was a grown dragon, full-sized and strong. “Nid tiid, monah!” The winds were returning, powerful as ever, and Finn slung a leg over Inkahlok's neck, gripping his horns tightly as he flung himself upwards, out of the storm's reach.
When they were comfortably airborne, the Breton relaxed, swinging her legs at either side and looking down at the swirling clouds. She was relieved to see the peak of the mountain just ahead, and leaned forward to stroke her dragon's head.
“You've gotten strong, kiir. Strong enough to carry me,” she said proudly. Inkahlok began to circle the peak, calling in welcome as he descended.
“You are not heavy, monah,” he replied, flapping his wings wildly before hitting the ground. Finn clambered off of his neck and looked up to find herself under Paarthurnax's beady gaze.
“I see the storm caused you and yours no trouble, Dovahkiin,” he remarked. Finn smiled sheepishly, laying a hand on Inkahlok's wing.
“My kiir has gotten stronger,” she reiterated. “He offered to carry me.” Inkahlok hummed in agreement. “I have a reason for being here, of course,” the Breton continued, stepping forward. “The three of them have gotten large...strong, too. They hunt well and bring back good prey. Their Voices are improving every time I can have them practice.” She paused, looking back at her hatchling. “They're...not as big as I would like, but they're outgrowing our home. They won't be able to stay much longer.”
“You think they are ready for the journey.” It was more of an affirmation than a question, and Finn could only nod in response.
“As ready as they can be. If they stay much longer, I don't think they'll be safe anymore,” she confirmed. Her legs suddenly felt weak, and she took a seat in the snow. “Wh...what do you think, Paarthurnax? You'd know better than I would.” Paarthurnax looked wordlessly at Inkahlok, who had approached his mother curiously.
“Hmm...it is a krin monah that can recognize when it is time to part,” he said thoughtfully. “It is time, Dovahkiin. You may have a week more with them, to prepare them for the journey.” After a moment's hesitation, he spoke again. “This is not where your relationship with them ends.”
“You've told me,” Finn mumbled, wrapping her arms around Inkahlok's neck. The dragon clicked worriedly, resting his head in her lap as she allowed tears to fall. “Please...excuse me if I stay here a little longer. Just to...catch my breath.” Paarthurnax watched her sob against Inkahlok's scales, and hummed again.
“Krosis, Dovahkiin,” he murmured. “I am not a mother, but I understand this sadness. My apologies.”
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timeasmymeasure
"Something Like Parents" 26/?
Date: 2014-02-17 07:18 pm (UTC)It didn't matter, Finn decided despairingly as she stumbled up the Throat of the World. Even her Thu'um was barely standing up to the rage of the storm she had walked into, and the winds would always return stronger and angrier than before. Her tears were freezing on her cheeks, and her cloak was whipping around her ankles, threatening to trip her. Inkahlok had long since vanished in the clouds, and she knew if he was calling for her, she wouldn't be able to hear over the howl of the wind.
“Lok vah koor!” she Shouted again, feeble as it was. In the moment of solace, she heard a faint roar, and her dragon swooped down, wings up to shield him from the snow.
“Monah!” he said worriedly, nuzzling her stomach with his large snout. “Climb on my back.” Finn frowned, eying his scaly neck. She had ridden Odahviing before, on her journey to Skuldafn...but Odahviing was a grown dragon, full-sized and strong. “Nid tiid, monah!” The winds were returning, powerful as ever, and Finn slung a leg over Inkahlok's neck, gripping his horns tightly as he flung himself upwards, out of the storm's reach.
When they were comfortably airborne, the Breton relaxed, swinging her legs at either side and looking down at the swirling clouds. She was relieved to see the peak of the mountain just ahead, and leaned forward to stroke her dragon's head.
“You've gotten strong, kiir. Strong enough to carry me,” she said proudly. Inkahlok began to circle the peak, calling in welcome as he descended.
“You are not heavy, monah,” he replied, flapping his wings wildly before hitting the ground. Finn clambered off of his neck and looked up to find herself under Paarthurnax's beady gaze.
“I see the storm caused you and yours no trouble, Dovahkiin,” he remarked. Finn smiled sheepishly, laying a hand on Inkahlok's wing.
“My kiir has gotten stronger,” she reiterated. “He offered to carry me.” Inkahlok hummed in agreement. “I have a reason for being here, of course,” the Breton continued, stepping forward. “The three of them have gotten large...strong, too. They hunt well and bring back good prey. Their Voices are improving every time I can have them practice.” She paused, looking back at her hatchling. “They're...not as big as I would like, but they're outgrowing our home. They won't be able to stay much longer.”
“You think they are ready for the journey.” It was more of an affirmation than a question, and Finn could only nod in response.
“As ready as they can be. If they stay much longer, I don't think they'll be safe anymore,” she confirmed. Her legs suddenly felt weak, and she took a seat in the snow. “Wh...what do you think, Paarthurnax? You'd know better than I would.” Paarthurnax looked wordlessly at Inkahlok, who had approached his mother curiously.
“Hmm...it is a krin monah that can recognize when it is time to part,” he said thoughtfully. “It is time, Dovahkiin. You may have a week more with them, to prepare them for the journey.” After a moment's hesitation, he spoke again. “This is not where your relationship with them ends.”
“You've told me,” Finn mumbled, wrapping her arms around Inkahlok's neck. The dragon clicked worriedly, resting his head in her lap as she allowed tears to fall. “Please...excuse me if I stay here a little longer. Just to...catch my breath.” Paarthurnax watched her sob against Inkahlok's scales, and hummed again.
“Krosis, Dovahkiin,” he murmured. “I am not a mother, but I understand this sadness. My apologies.”