Falls

He was coming to believe the Falls were too busy a place for him to stay much longer. The change of the seasons was drawing closer, though winter’s bite was still fierce as the wind whistled through the bare copse of trees in which he sheltered. It would not be long however before the thaw began and it would do nothing to slow the tide of those coming to mingle here. A heavy sigh left his chest, he longed to blame the crowds for his new desire to find a more permanent place for himself despite his original misgivings about even staying on the Islands but he knew that was a lie. He should have known better as soon as he set foot back on its soil, this place had a way of winding its way back into your soul. Ever since he had sheltered with the fiery stranger against that raging blizzard his soul had begun to stir, she had relit the fire within him and it seemed that everyone he had met since then only fanned those flames in one way or another. Reminding him that he was not dead yet and perhaps he had paid enough penance for his failures to have some form of a life again. Not the life he had once cherished of course, the fact that he no longer deserved that quiet luxury was a bygone conclusion in his mind, but perhaps a simple existence he could deserve.

As if proof to his point noise reached his speckled ears, loud and consistent enough to fully draw his attention. His vibrant eyes peered through the trees but while the commotion was not far he could not get a clear view beyond recognizing the figure of another through the staggered trunks. With a grunt he meandered towards the clamor, his large hooves falling heavily on the soft ground as he slowly approached the clearing at the edge of the falls. Before he could glimpse the original figure who had pulled him from his isolation another appeared drawn no doubt as he had been. He paused, though no doubt both his bulk and coppery white-splotched form would allow him to be easily noticed.

He was close enough now to hear the accented greeting the silver haired mare extended to the other, the mention of a battle compounding the curiosity he now felt. It compelled him forward just enough to catch his first glimpse of the comments intended recipient. It stopped him dead in his tracks. Even if she had not been covered in a sheen of dirt that marred her tawny coat, even if bits of dead grass did not cling to the wild tresses of her mane, he would have known her. Even if he had not been able to see the smattering of scars that littered her body with such familiarity, he would have known her. The proud arch of her neck, the sharp keenness of her gaze, and the way she stood there as if daring the world to make the first move struck every chord of recognition he would ever need.

Ghosts had been visiting him long before he returned to this place, they knew no boundary of distance and time, and hers had been among their familiar faces. Yet here she materialized before him as proud as the day he had first spotted her across the meadows. The fire sparked in his chest, not as it had then, but still with enough intensity to send him shambling forward and clearly into their meeting. “More’n one battle if I recall.” He rumbled, casting his emerald gaze first to the sooty woman before allowing it to focus on the fine details of Ragnfridr’s face. So different and yet the same. “An’ it’s an honor to hear any tale a Valkyrie will give ya.” There was a smile in his tone though it did not quite reach his expression, trepidation winding its way into his thoughts as he could not help but wonder what she would think of him after all this time.