MAGNUS & JÖRMUNGANDR

JÖRMUNGANDR sighed, laying her head over her brother’s spotted back while he exchanged breaths with her son. When she looked at the pair, she could see truly how much each of them had grown, and how much growing they had yet to do – in stature and character. It was strange to see her baby brother as an adult when she always still thought of him as the same annoying colt she’d left with Olaf and the rest of the herd. “Is it nice in the bay?” she asked quietly, ”It seemed cold”

MAGNUS turned from his nephew, trying to meet his sister’s gaze but it was too difficult with her head on his back. He shrugged casually, ”Yeah, it’s pretty cold alright, and getting colder, but you get used to it pretty quick.”. Jörmungandr lipped idly at his already fuzzy coat and laughed. ”You are quite fluffy, like a puppy. I am sure you will make for a warm and comfortable headrest for whatever mare is stupid enough to go home with you.”

JOUKAHAINEN snorted softly at his mother’s teasing of his uncle but kept his gaze firmly locked on the stallion. Magnus lived up to everything his mother had told him and was nothing like his father, half-brother or the stallion that ruled the bay (these being the only other adult males he had to compare to). He was rather intrigued by his spotted uncle and wanted to know more about how he ended up in the bay. ”The bay is weird, half the trees are missing” he stated plainly, not realising that not all the islands were not the same as Luthien. Magnus laughed, ”Yes, well, you’re right Kah’zee, we do need more trees” he agreed.

CAUGHT up in their own chatter, they did not pay much attention to voices in the distance. Jörmungandr was at least aware, that was her duty after all, but she had no intentions of leaving her brother to investigate two mares talking. She had been informed about the arrival of supposedly three sisters, although she had only caught the scent of two.

WHEN a loud nicker broke over the sound of Magnus and Joukahainen’s laughter, Jörmungandr’s head swung off her brother’s back and she turned to face the approaching horse. She tensed, ears leaning backwards a little until she felt a soft muzzle against her shoulder, ”Ekki vera meina, Yo’rah”. She relaxed, blue eyes watching as a pair of figures emerged from the trees, the darker of the two trailing behind the first.

Jörmungandr bobbed her head at their introduction. ”No” she answered the apologetic sister before addressing both together, ”This saves me from seeking you out myself. I am Jörmungandr, Lyden’s lead mare and this is my brother Magnus and my son Joukahainen.” She glanced to the boys individually as she spoke their names. ”I understand there are supposed to be three of you, where is the third?”

THE MADMAN OFTEN TELLS THE TRUTH