I'm awake, but my world is half asleep

It had been a few days since the Alpha had accepted him and Ashe had given him a brief tour of the territory. He had regained some of his strength, opting to rest during the day. He black coat stood out amongst the white snow and he didn't like it. He liked to be invisible, stealthy. He wanted to see, not be seen. 

As the sun's rays began to cast their light over the sky, Steady had chosen a random spot to sleep in. He hadn't made a den yet, didn't really want to. It just reminded him of her and how she was no longer by his side. 

He growled to himself, physically shaking the memory from his head. He would have to get over it. As cold as it was now, winter hadn't even arrived yet. He would need shelter. The sun had well set by now as he lifted himself from the spot he slept in and shook the snow from his fur. He'd a hole later. Now, he would set off to patrol the borders. His head was low to the ground to help catch any scents that might be nearby, his gait was a little stiff, and his expression was cast in stone, unhappy and he didn't care.
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Along the borders walked the very Jarl that had accepted Steady only days prior. Called down from the mountain by the song in his heart, Stjörnuáti was far more present lately, now that he'd notice that Rökkvi had been all but reclusive. There was something invigorating about Åshe's presence, not in the way that a woman excited a man, but in the way that passion begot passion. The darkly-swathed woman had inspired the stareater with all of her activity around the mountain, and so the man would rise to equal her in her proactivity.

“Skuggagöngumaður,” He called, pale paws carrying him towards the man he'd spotted in the distance. He was pleased to see that the wolf of shadows was not only making himself a home here, but also making himself useful with what looked to be a patrol of his own. “Patrol with this one.” He said it when he was only a few feet away, ears turned towards the man to await his answer.

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Steady was taking his time to patrol, stopping to learn the scents of the pack so he knew who was friend and who was foe. It would be an important distinction to make should he come across an unknown scent. He'd know because the pack scents were intermingle and repeat themselves. A trespasser's would be one scent that stood out, mostly likely just crossing the border. He already knew the Alpha's scent and Ashe's, so he focused on those that were with theirs.

The Alpha's voice reached him and Steady paused, turning his head towards the other male. His head was already lowered, and he kept it so, and lowered his tail in respect. He wasn't sure what he said, but he figured he could assumed he was being spoken to since the Alpha was looking at him. A request -- order? -- was made to patrol together, and Steady nodded once. Of course, he replied automatically. 

Steady had been grateful to him, if not for the safety of the pack, then at least for the chance at something normal, something familiar, to him. Patrolling, protecting, came naturally to Steady, and he hadn't had a reason to do either in some time. 

He fell into step next to his leader, keeping pace with his shoulder just behind the other's male in a silent nod to the pack hierarchy. He assumed the other male would begin any conversation he wished to have.
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Lost my post the first time so I'm sorry if this one is crap

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The display of deference floated past Stjörnuáti with little acknowledgment. He was a confident thing, yes, and dominant too, surely, but he found little use in throwing his weight around for such things. It seemed to be common place out here in the larger world; alphas putting on shows of strength and dominance to make sure that everyone else knew that they were large and in charge, but to Stjörnuáti, it was almost as if they were reassuring themselves that they belonged in such a position. He needed no such reassurances, confident in his ability to do what was needed of him.

Keeping an easy pace alongside Steady, the gilded Northerner would drift from their path every so often to mark along the edges of their territory only to drift back once he had finished. Comfortable in the quiet, the man made no efforts to shatter it with things like words or conversation. He had never been much of a chatterbox to begin with and that had extended into his adulthood and beyond. He spoke when necessary, or when others needed or wanted him to, but beyond that, the stareater quite enjoyed the silence and the soundtrack of the world around them.

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It was lovely!

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Honestly, he thought the Alpha would pump him for information now that they were alone. He was stiff as he strolled along with other male, waiting for him to start up a conversations. But, moments passed and no words were spoken. After a while, Steady actually relaxed. The Alpha came and went while he marked the territory, and Steady kept on learning the scents of the territory. 

A memory suddenly appeared in his mind from a few days ago, when the Alpha had accepted him into the pack. Alpha, he began. You mentioned that I would be getting a new name. How does that work? he asked. While he had been known by his name his entire life, there was something that intrigued him about a new name. Like a new life. 

An ear flicked as memories of his past life filled his mind and his eyes glazed over as he allowed them to come. Of her, of their children, their home. Of bring brought here. And then of her rejection.. Hurt flashed across his face for an instant before he hid it, pushed it deep down as he willed the memories away. 

Yes, a new life was exactly what he needed.
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He liked this one. Steady did not seem to have a need to fill the silence, as so many others did. It was something he wasn't always fond of, but tolerated since it was generally the norm. A quiet wolf, however, was usually a watchful one, and it was a quality that Stjörnuáti would now look for in the man that moved beside him.

Even so, he was not perturbed when the silence broke, one ear swiveling in Steady's direction as the question was asked. It was a good question, one that he assumed many outsiders would have as they were brought into the fold of Hrafnsvaktin. “It is seiðr ritual. Steady will discover a name when one calls to him during ritual.” If he saw the flash of pain, he made no mention of it.

Instead, he chose another topic. “This one is Jarl, not Alpha. Similar meaning words, ja?. Steady wishes to learn?” Maroon eyes glanced towards his darker coated companion.

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One of Steady's ears flicked toward his leader as he explained. What is the ritual like? he asked. He understood many wolves had their own traditions, but he hoped it would be something he could come to make his own, instead of a deal breaker. 

Jarl, he tried on his own lips, though he lacked the accent. He made a mental note to use that instead of his usual Alpha. He gave a nod without hesitation when asked if he wanted to learn. If this was going to be his home, it would be pertinent to know their beliefs. Yes, he replied simply.
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Many asked what the naming ritual was like, and Stjörnuáti supposed that was to be expected. And yet, he would still refrain from explaining when they first joined. Their name here was something to be earned, a privilege, rather than a right. He figured that Steady, however, would prove to be one of those that earned it, however, and so did not mind going in to a bit more detail.

“Our vala — seer/healer will give Steady medicine to fall asleep and have visio — visions. In visio, Steady will discover this name.” As it had been for him, and as it would be for all those to come after him. “It is how this one earned name Stjörnuáti. This one saw” He paused, struggling to word it in the common tongue, brow furrowing deeply until he gave up and just used the same term again. “this one eat stars of night sky. Stjörnuáti. Stareater.”

He would leave it at that for the moment, not wanting to overwhelm the man between telling him of the ritual and beginning to teach him the language of Hrafnsvaktin.

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Steady listened as the Jarl explained. He mixed his native tongue with common tongue, but Steady used some deductive reasoning to guess as what they meant. If vala was supplying medicine, then that must mean they are the medic, or maybe an herbalist. And if they were giving him something that was going to make him sleep and dream, visio could mean vision. That part was clear enough. But, how was he going to have the right vision to bring him his new name? What if he didn't have a vision at all? Did that happen? They were questions that he didn't ask, he just let them go. 

Stareater was an interesting name, he thought. He wondered if the Jarl  had a vision that meant it literally or if that was just how it was interpreted. Feeling like it was something too personal to ask, he let that go, too. 

Steady had been particularly fond of his name, using it as something to look up to, to build his character on. But, his entire life had changed now and he supposed a new name couldn't hurt. When does this event take place? he asked. He assumed it would be after he proved himself here.
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“It changes with many things. The vala, the ones undertake the ritual, the call of the gods... Many things.” There was more than he listed off, things not worth mentioning, things that slipped his mind. “In visio, Steady will find his name and his hringja.” A mental pause came about as he realized that Steady would not know what the hringja was, or what it meant.

“Hringja is The Call. It is... purpose. Driving force. It is... Mm. það sem sálin leitar. — what the soul seeks Ah, what Steady's soul needs. Seeks.” There was no true way to explain the hringja. It felt different to everyone; to Stjörnuáti, it was a song that thrummed deep in his veins, filling the world around him. To others, it might have been the signs of nature, or the stars above that led them. But all of it was the hringja.

“This one's hringja led him here, to Morðfjall. Led him to the peak alongside his brodir. Now, this one follows hringja in everything; to protect those who follow, those who live in harmony with mountain.”

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Steady was quiet was his leader spoke about the ritual. Steady did have more questions, but those answers would not come from others, they would come to him during his ritual. It was thought-provoking, however, to wonder what his soul wanted. At least, what it wanted now. He could not foresee a mate in his future. His brain simply wanted a purpose, which is why he had joined the pack,

Thank you for explaining, he said simply. He would continue on in silence, unless the Jarl asked any questions.
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