by Silvy Dean Thu Jul 23, 2015 2:08 pm
The Iron Jaw Clan was a vibrant and rich clan. Most of the pack thrived on making weapons and armor to trade with the human cities further south. Though they did not trust some of the other clans completely, though they were known to accept any who wished to join as long as they brought with them no ill will.
The Iron Jaw were known for their abilities to fight in human form with human weapons. They often chose to face their attackers, be it kin or other, and fight till they had no choice but to shift. If called upon by other clans for help or protection, regardless of their political standing, the Iron Jaw answered. The clan was considered possibly the chosen of Odin. Guard dogs and warriors that overcame any adversity with grace and nobility. It was often that the Elders chose older Iron Jaw members to become their guards and even trained them to one day take the place of the Elder they were guarding.
When Gaireth became the Alpha of the Iron Jaw, he wasted no time in claiming Isiru as his mate. Her dark chestnut hair and green eyes had bewitched him long ago, and he would have no other before her. They were claimed to be a matching pair, though his hair was a dark almost black brown and he had dark golden eyes. Needless to say.. when Isiru gave birth to albino twins, rumors began to spread.
None had ever seen a white pelt in some time, other than the wild one who came down from the frost giant mountains in chains. He was savage and refused to shift from his war form. It took years for Gaireth to calm the white pelt down and months after that to encourage him back into his human form. His speech was stunted to say the least. Spending most of his time grunting and growling at those around him.
When finally he did speak, he was asked his name and where he had come from, though he would only share that information with Gaireth. He did not have a name, beast of the Frost Giants. Guardian, warrior and slave along side many others just like him. Gaireth gave him the name Randall, not wanting to remind their new clan brother of his misfortunate history. This, was who was rumored to have sired the pale twins. Though shortly after they were born, his own mate gave birth to a son that they named Eindride. Both Randall and Eindride's human forms were dark haired, tan bodied.
The twins, Arianna the runt female and Aric the strong male, were born with white hair and pale flesh. They were said to be doomed from the start. They had been birthed too close to a full moon. Typically all the females born within the week of the full moon suffered and died every single time. Half of the males born within the week of the full moon survived, but were often marred or traumatized by the transformation. Those, trusted by the alpha pair, warned and pleaded with Gaireth and Isiru to spare their children by murdering them before their first transformations.
They could not. Just as many before them had failed to do this.. they chose to wait and hope that at least one of them would survive. Both were sure that Arianna would die, being the weaker and smaller of the two. When the full moon came, Gaireth fought the transformation with Isiru, waiting by their cub's side to see them through. When the moonlight hit the window the crib lit up.. the screams of Aric pained their hearts and they did what they could to try and comfort him.
When his shift had finished he huffed panted and wined in his tiny pup form. Isiru started to cry, turning expecting to see Arianna dead, only to find she had shifted and stood bright eyed and wobbly upon her front legs. Looking at the two white pups, Gaireth looked to Isiru.. This was unheard of. They called upon the elders to investigate the next morning.
One elder entered the room of which the babies slept. Lifting the small children one by one slowly into his massive clawed hands. He would speak in a language that had not been heard since Fenrir last wandered the lands free. Another stepped in behind Gaireth smiling and turned to the Alpha of Iron Jaw.
“He says, they are your children. Blessed by the moon and destined for great deeds and change in this world.” The elder set down Aric and lifted Arianna further into the light. He spoke again, this time in the broken language that was so used by these children.
“This one.” He hissed softly as Arianna rested her hand upon his nose. Her bright blue silver eyes examining the large beast while she smiled. “She will be a leader. A strong loyal daughter of Fenrir.” He said with a soft smile, that turned his face into a twisted chill up any human's spine. Again he spoke in the lost language and gave a soft nod to the fellow elder.
“This next part, will not be pleasant. We should go.” He said turning and walking from the room. He had expected Gaireth and Isiru to follow him, but they did not. Isiru had become uneasy, after fearing losing her children to the shift shortly after they had been born, she was determined to never leave their sides for any other reason. Gaireth chose to stay by her side. The elder bowed his head softly and rested Arianna against his fuzzy chest. Patting her back a moment before laying his hand flat against it.
A short moment passed, his eyes closed and, once open, they seemed to be flames that flickered out around his eyelids and brow. Arianna started to fuss, then suddenly started to wail and cry. She pushed and struggled with her little might to get away from the beast as her back began to burn. Isiru's eyes widened, her body twisting as she began to shift and lunge after the elder who was torturing her baby. Gaireth torn between his mate and his offspring, chose to grab hold of his mate to try and hold her back.
The elder was in a trans, unable to defend himself from any attack. His spell continued even after Isiru wrapped her jaws around his neck... and his blood spilled down across Arianna, staining the white hair and seeping into the burn.. Slowly the elder sank to the floor. The spell ending once he had laid flat still clutching Arianna to his chest as if to keep her safe. The mark he had placed upon Arianna's back had been only partly healed, leaving the small infant feverish and crying.
-
The elders would punish Isiru for the murder of one of the oldest of their kind. They had gathered together and remove the gift of Torr from her. Condemning her to a short life as a mortal human woman. The Iron Jaw Clan was outraged and insisted she be exiled as well, though none dared to challenge Gaireth, Isiru would never be safe among them. Torn from her children and pushed further into the woods to live like an old hermit.. Only Gaireth would visit her.
Shortly after she became brittle and blind, keeping her from sneaking in to the clan to see her children.
“I've brought you some more furs, my love.” Gaireth said through the thick wooden door. “I'm coming in.” He warned before pushing it open. As he entered he dropped some thick bear pelts along an old chair. “You've let the fire get low again. Are you nearly out of wood?” He looked around the room till he could see the silver haired woman barely poked out of a pile of furs on the bed.
“No...just tired.” she said meekly. Letting out a soft sigh, Gaireth piled a few more logs upon the fireplace and made his way over. Pulling back the furs to reveal the frail looking old woman underneath, he then sat down next to her. As her milky eyes opened and looked past him he attempted to smile, though there was a sadness deep within his chest. “How are they?.. can you tell me what they look like now?”
“It has only been a few days since I last told you... but yes, my love. They are fantastic. Strong and healthy like their father.. beautiful like their mother. The envy of any parent.” He reached down to pet along her silver hair. “How are you? You look pale..”
“I am fine, my beast. I just need more sleep.” She said in her brittle voice.
“I will get you some water...”
“No, just stay with me a moment.” She sat up, as best she could, and Gaireth took her into his arms carefully. “Tell me, how are my children? What do they look like now?” She asked, again. Gaireth paused slightly, tears spilling freely from his eyes as she relaxed into his arms and became still.
“As beautiful as their mother always will be in my heart.” He choked on his words as tears did a delicate dance along his wrinkled and pained expression. He then hugged her to his face. Isiru's soul taken by the dark hound to whatever awaited her. She never regretted what she had done. Any mother would have protected their child with their life. It was a simple misunderstanding. If the Elders had only taken the time to explain what they were doing... it was to late now. Slowly he leaned back looking at Isiru's remains.. Rather than put her upon a pyre, he chose to burn down the small hut with her buried within her furs.
.
.
As Gaireth arrived home he entered slowly swinging the door aside. Laughter of his children turned into joyous yells as they ran to greet their father. Both of the pale haired children stopped short, as one look of the darkness that followed their father was enough to stun them into silence.
The streaks along his ash covered face were prominent and obvious that he had been crying. He smelled of heavy smoke as if he were just tending to a large fire. Aric lowered his head and stood still as if he were waiting to be scolded. Arianna stepped forward then wrapped her arms around her father's leg to give him a hug. Her pale silver eyes looking up into his dark ones. “Father?” she questioned.. she could feel the sadness within him.. Without another word, Gaireth dropped to his knees and wrapped an arm around Arianna while holding out the other to Aric. Once Aric had shuffled over to his father's arms they were both hugged to the large alpha's chest while he sobbed. Both of the young children sobbed with him.
As time passed on, Gaireth would watch carefully over his children. Any fights that they had gotten into he would be there watching ready to jump in if they needed it. Surprisingly, Arianna was always the victor of the fights. She always stood up for her submissive younger, yet physically larger, brother. The fights never seemed to get out of hand, and rarely were they ever physical. Most of the time it was Aric who had been picked on or bullied by other pups. The alpha's son was expected to be stronger, more dominant than he was.
As Arianna grew it became apparent that she would benefit from training with the warriors and shield maidens. Gaireth reluctantly started to groom her for such a class, but made sure to include other studies. She would be a worth while shield maiden, but he would rather she not result to just brute strength every time to settle an argument. Aric was pushed into training. Though submissive, on the battle field he proved to be an amazing and strong fighter. He, unlike his sister, never went for the kill shots. He only disabled his opponents so they could not return to the battle so quickly.
It was often thought that Arianna fought so viciously herself, because of her small stature. She was quick to tap the blunt sword to her opponents neck or inner thigh. Or the point against the pounding chest where under the thick hide lay the vulnerable heart. Often described as the pale ghost or white phantom on the battle field, a blur of white before death. Though he would not admit it aloud, Gaireth was a bit afraid of her. Aric followed close behind her. Watching her back every step just as she had watched his when they were younger. Never allowing any to close off the gap between himself and his sister.
It wasn't long before Aric fell in love with a pretty young raven haired girl. Shy any other given time, he boldly walked up to her and told her he would marry her one day. They were inseparable from that day forth. She was not much of a fighter, more of a scouter and healer. Her name was Eira, daughter of the forge. Her family was well known for their intricate designs upon their armor and weapons.
After a while, Arianna had started to feel the loss of her best friend and brother. Though he was still there, the attention was now more focused on his bride to be. His life mate Eira was a kind woman. She often offered to spend time with Arianna but even that was cut short, as all the child hood secret places and adventures were now being shared with Eira. Someday, perhaps, Arianna would have a moment alone to her own thoughts...
Last edited by Silvy Dean on Sat Jul 25, 2015 1:46 pm; edited 1 time in total