Whunjo was chewing on an apple as he walked down the paths he had since his childhood. Fresh memories of being with Walkure had invigorated his sore limbs and brought soothing comfort to his mind. Yet where his half-brother had an insatiable want to gorge on meat and beer.. well Whunjo was fated to have many children. The idea of another pair of arms embracing him he wouldn't mind.
He'd have his own names for most of these little groves or mighty monuments of nature, " There was this intertwined artwork of an ancient tree that he had named Uhruzfall, then there was Uhruztumble. A byname for a rock jutting from the ground that was too large to dig out. The man was pleased to see these spots again, .. and there was Sjunnazkiss.. when he passed by a spring that only few locals knew of. There were more such memories flooding back to him.. Yet joy did not linger, .. he had seen it before in his coming home. Large swaths of the forest, some parts dear to him as they were homes of the spirits of the land. Trees uprooted, the land ripped open like muddy wounds and pools everywhere as a result from the earth's sorrow.
His boots sank deep and he grumbled when losing his apple with a slip.. only did he pick it back up to glance at it's black surface and toss it over his shoulder. .. Then onwards as he came upon the hut he had built many years ago now for his third wife. Where as his marriage with Hagalaz was an arrangement out of duty and Walkure a practical one... the third and last he decided was because of a spiritual bonding. They both were very much interested in the nature of the spirits that went across the earth. They shared the same fervor in doing well by those that were here long before them and will long be after them. Their first meeting was in a sacred grove. He'd had first thought her to look like an elf. Quietly to himself, he changed his opinion on that in later days. Yet they had grown more and more fond of eachother. Whunjo laughed into himself, remembering the fight he had with Walkure and being slightly more scared of Hagalaz' stern response. Yet they married. Sjunnaz would stay to the forest and provide safe haven if the farm was threatened and the other women already had their roles laid out for them.
And then Whunjo ducked underneath a branch nearly his own girth, climbing through trees that reached to eachother in curls and knots. There he was finally at the house of Sjunnaz. His heart bounced at the thought of the children and her. Hwittirafn was the only one yet he had truly held thus far and it pained him, maybe .. Then he frowned as the door opened and the figure coming out was too old to be a child and it wasn't Sjunnaz.. The lean handsome figure looked at him with a cold complexion and rose his eyebrows, "Ware! Ware an intruder!" "Hgrnn!! A strawstealer!", Whunjo roared as he ran forwards!
Sjunnaz came running outside while he could hear the squealing of the girls inside, "Husband?!" Her eyes wide with surprise while Whunjo was on top of the wounded elf, trying to wrestle him into submission!! ..
"My name is Calenbreg..", the elf said sitting on a chair while nursing a fresh bruise on his pale cheek. Whunjo was still suspicious as he glared through his right eye, the other a bit swollen now. "I've been in the care of Sjunnaz for a while, as she had found me in grave danger. Together with her children. Only these past few days could I stand on my feet again without help. But I see that my explanation stirs something in you that brings you to anger. I will hope that your family may be more convincing."
Skafi had been staring at his father, the boy turned to look at the elf and laid a hand on his sire's shoulder, "He speaks truth fadir. Had it not been for Sjunnaz then he would have been off to his ancestors." Whunjo laid a hand on his sons, the gesture seeming to ease him down.. then Sjunnaz approached from the other side with a cold cloth that she carefully applied to his eye, "I could not have left him to the traps of the woodland.", she then smiled in short afterthought, "But it is sweet that you still would defend my honor husband." "Hrm-grm...", he mumbled, this had been not entirely what he had expected. He then looked at the Elf, "My dealings with your sort have been naught but ill in the past, yet if you wanted to harm my family you would have done something before, unless only your wounds were that which prevented from doing so." Calenbreg nodded, "I shall perhaps find my way back home, seeing as my welcome has been overdue. Indeed it long has been! And behold! My feet work again!" Sjunnaz stood up, "No. She set a hand on the Elf's shoulder and eased him back down on his seat. You are my guest for as long as it pleases you. Be not too troubled with the Men of this realm, for they are bred to fight and protect. If he is permitted by me to see his children that I gave him and talk and those of his other, perhaps then shall we find him more agreeable to talk with you. Now rest and watch the house as we go for a walk!"
Whunjo held the hands of his beautiful daughters that Sjunnaz had given him, Feyoh and Uylaz. They were shy and a bit concerned to walk with this big man they had seen shouting moments before. Skafi was sitting in Whunjo's neck in the meantime. They stood at a grove now burned and destroyed. Sjunnaz was observing them from a short distance, listening to Whunjo speak about what ill had been brought here. She laid a hand on her chest and could not withhold her eyes from running over with emotion. She could not remember being so pleased looking at her family and the man being back. Truth of the matter is that she was expecting to be more angry, but now all seemed to be falling back in it's place and she only wanted for things to return to normal to pursue their happiness together. There was always hope for revival of that which is taken away.
