from the land of the ice and snow ❆

[wolfofmidgard]

Who: Meja, & open
What: A Valkyrie wakes up in the Cape. A tiny storm brews and then, suddenly, vanishes.
Where: The woods, park, and town.
When: Day 103

All at once, the lack of a presence is both painfully overwhelming and difficult to comprehend. It's as though something more important than gravity, yet more difficult to see than the wind, is gone. The disconnect is sudden, and she can't seem to remember falling asleep. Yet here she is, in woods she doesn't recognize with something around her wrist that... is entirely unfamiliar. She doesn't own any electronics; they don't like traveling between Realms. What's more, this one talks. "We hope you enjoy your stay." Meja blinks, fighting for consciousness. She doesn't sleep, why is this difficult? And then, as she staggers to her feet, it comes to her.

She can't feel Yggdrasil anymore.

The source of her second lease on life is missing. How is that even possible? Meja turns to the tree she's leaning on and presses her ear against the trunk. Yes, she can feel this tree. It's healthy (though grumpy — something about a burning incident), but it's not connected to Yggdrasil. Somehow, even waking up in a strange forest, with a technological wristband, is less unnerving than suddenly being away from the entity that holds the Nine Realms together. Is this some sort of pocket realm? Perhaps it's a trick by the Dökkálfar, and she isn't in her right mind to sense Yggdrasil at all.

A rumble interrupts her thoughts, and suddenly she realizes that her confusion and tension have whipped up a tiny storm of sorts, darkening the sky around this part of the woods. Though the droplets on her face make her feel less alienated, she holds up her hand. Small glints of light, making soft noises like distant cries, shine from her gloved hand as she disperses the storm. It clears in a matter of minutes, restoring sunlight to the forest once more.

Muninn is missing as well, she notices. Surely her raven friend would be the most disgruntled at being separated from the World Tree. He would be unable to seek out his brother for their immature little bouts of insults, which she'd come to understand as their way of touching bases.

"Muninn?" she calls, loudly, but only silence greets her. She's still feeling rather groggy, unintentionally strengthening her Norwegian accent. "This isn't funny, dumming... And it's not my new home."

Still without an answer, Meja sighs. She has all of her belongings, at least. Sweeping the hood from her head, she keeps her white cloak unglamoured — for now — and proceeds through the woods. She keeps her weapons sheathed, but also keeps her senses on alert for anything else in the woods. At first, all it gets her is the scuffle of running hares. But as she walks, she slowly makes out a small number of buildings through a large expanse of what seems to be a park. A town?

She takes a deep breath, still comfortably inside of the woods, and runs a gloved hand through her short platinum-blond hair. Time to see where I am. She's more nervous about it than she'd like, but the buildings she can see are of a style that she... hasn't laid eyes on in a long, long time.

On the other hand, she'll learn nothing in the woods. So, slowly, she proceeds forward.

Comments

[packpapa]

His expression is twisted into a confused yet thoughtful frown as he takes her in, eyes scanning up and down while his other senses stay on alert. She smells human, but there's something not quite right, the additional scents that match the brief storm. Maybe he's wrong, it wouldn't be the first time, but he can't help thinking that the two are connected.

He fights the urge to roll his eyes and growl at the same time, never really one for beating around the bush, but to be on the safe side he controls himself, not wanting to give his own secret away if he steps too far over the line.

"I thought I saw something that I obviously didn't." He's still wary, taking a cautious step closer. "Who are you?"

[wolfofmidgard]

"My name is Meja. I'm... new, around here."

Meja regards him with curiosity, a wry smile on her face when she declares herself as new. Like she's been transferred to a new Realm or army. But then, she has. It's just not like any Valkyrie would expect. That, combined with the general feeling of light-headedness, means that she doubts she'll feel comfortable for a while, yet.

She idly moves the wrist with the new comm attachment, still distracted by the additional weight, and then embarrassment flits across her face.

"I didn't disturb you with the storm, did I?"

[packpapa]

He hums in acknowledgement, but it's not hard to put the pieces together and guess as much; he's definitely not seen her around until now, and he's never caught her scent in the small town.

"Derek."

It's automatic as he follows the movement of her wrist, but she doesn't appear to pose a threat, at least not to him, so he's not too worried. "No." It's not reassuring so much as blunt fact. "I came out here because it's unusual and I wanted to make sure it was nothing to be concerned about."

[wolfofmidgard]

At least the people here are vigilant; that's a point in their favor. "I don't mean anywhere here harm, I can assure you."

She's aware of saying this with two swords strapped to her back, and daggers in her belt. But that can't be helped. She didn't exactly dress for the occasion. (If she had, there would be more weapons. Or supplies.)

"It's nice to meet you, Derek." Meja pauses. "As to your earlier question, I'm a Valkyrie."

[packpapa]

Listening for a lie out of both habit and natural instinct, Derek doesn't detect one, but he's not sure if he can trust his senses if she's not quite human. On the less negative side, she's got the weapons and has had the time to attack, and yet she hasn't.

"A Valkyrie." He sounds as if he doesn't entirely believe her, voice dry with a questioning eyebrow lifting. But then he's a werewolf and he's seen plenty of other things not to be too surprised if she turns out to be telling the truth. "As in Norse mythology?"

[wolfofmidgard]

This reaction is somewhat new, but only because she doesn't try explaining herself around Midgard very much. Or at all. Meja chuckles softly, nodding, remembering long ago when she'd learned of the stories of the Nine Realms. Before she'd known that it had been real. It's a bittersweet memory, in truth.

"That's correct."

She raises a hand, like she's going to catch something coming down from the sky, and small lights begin to glow around her glove. The wind picks up a little, and the cloud cover begins to expand again.

"Only, it isn't mythology, exactly, where I'm from."

(Oh god, sorry this is so late, it got lost in my spam box, so feel free to ignore.)

[packpapa]

The second she lifts his hand, Derek stiffens, the tension visible as it quickly builds, and he looks as if he's preparing to enter battle. But he keeps the claws and fangs in, even if his fists are clenched tight at his sides and he looks ready to lunge if it comes to it.

"I got that."

He's never read about or heard anything that implies something like her might be real, but he's at the point now where he knows he shouldn't be surprised, because if anything can be thrown his way to put a crimp in his day then, well, it's going to be.

"Is that the extent of your power, playing around with the weather?"

[wolfofmidgard]

Meja can't help but smile a little. Playing around with the weather, like she was a stage magician. The dark elves would have a different view of her abilities with the weather. But that smile doesn't last long, as she takes in the body language he's squaring in her direction.

"No, it isn't," she admits, shrugging her shoulders lightly. "But I mean you no harm. Nor anyone else here."

[packpapa]

Before asking, Derek had a fair idea that she would say no, but as curious as he is about what else she's able to do, he doesn't actually ask.

"I've heard that before." It usually comes before harm occurs, but he does find himself relaxing, a little, even though he's not entirely sure why. "Have you spoken to anyone, about what's happening here?" Getting on someone's good side is something he should do more often, even if it pains him to be polite at times.

[wolfofmidgard]

"Ja. I've been given the... general rundown of the situation." The Valkyrie watches Derek, frowning, wondering if dangerous people arrive often, or if caution is simply a part of his nature. Time will tell, perhaps. "Being studied by scientists and trapped with — fancy technology. Or magic."

Maybe a combination. Who knows. But given the scientist term that's being used, she has a hunch on technology for the most part.

"Have you been here long?"

[packpapa]

"From what I've seen and heard, I'd have to go with both." The technology doesn't appear to be much, even the appliances within the housing don't amount to much, but if they can take certain people who are here with the powers they have, he knows they have to be good enough to manage it despite appearances.

"Longer than I'd like," he admits, jaw tighter than usual, because being overpowered isn't something he's really experienced before now, even with how bad things were before he got here, they weren't that bad. "Almost a month." Or, to be precise, twenty-six days.

[wolfofmidgard]

"Are there others from where you came from, or do... they... only bring people in one at a time?" Meja wonders.

Mostly because there are quite a few people she'd like to see, from her world, and a number who would only make the situation worse.

[packpapa]

"There are others. Someone was already here before me, some came after."

He watches her, intrigued, although his guard is still not completely down. "Is there anyone specific you would want here? I know some names, if it helps."

[wolfofmidgard]

Meja smiles wryly. "I suspect you'd know them, if they were here," she notes. The buildings she can make out don't seem large enough to hide her closest friends. "One of them is a wolf about twenty feet high, and the other is a giantess of similar height."

Tringe could likely hide well, and Pascha and Gisli, but now that she really thinks about it, she hopes none of them are here. Tringe least of all, if she was to be frank, on account of the Draugr's diet.

[packpapa]

He visibly stiffens at the mention of the word wolf, but, no, she's definitely right there, he would remember seeing either of those, even if they were simply passing through.

"You're right, I would." Which is the best way of confirming that he's not seen them. "You might want to head towards the town, find a house to take up residence in."

[wolfofmidgard]

"Yes, the... voice told me about a house. Six, I believe." Meja eyes the device wrapped around her wrist, which is definitely going to take some getting used to. "Is everyone assigned a place like that?"

[packpapa]

"I'm headed that way if you want a guide." He gathers his bearings and turns in the right direction. "Yeah, everyone gets assigned one of the houses."

[wolfofmidgard]

"That would be very kind of you, thank you." While the town doesn't seem especially large, at least from this distance, she'll have more time for exploration later. Finding her 'home base', as it were, should take importance, and she moves to follow him. "It's a little strange that our captors are visibly absent and yet micro-managing."

[packpapa]

He shrugs with a grunt of acknowledgement, to let her know he's listening, even though it's been a long time since anyone's thought of him as anything close to kind.

"Personally, I find it more infuriating than strange," he admits, leading them out of the woodlands and towards the walkways. "You should probably know that touching the cameras or attempting to leave aren't the best things to do."

[wolfofmidgard]

Meja can't say that she's surprised, all things considered, and glances up at the nearest camera. "Why? What happens?" she asks carefully.

[packpapa]

"The cameras get replaced, even if it means knocking you out to do it. And escaping is impossible, but the chance of getting mauled by something trying is high."

[wolfofmidgard]

"So don't touch the cameras. Got it," she notes, with a wry smile. It might not stop her, but she's glad to have the warning. "Does mauling happen very often?"

[packpapa]

"Not while I've been here." In fact, there's been a lot less of it here than there is back in Beacon Hills, but she doesn't need to know that. "I appreciated the warning when I first got here, though."

[wolfofmidgard]

"It's always good to know when mauling is a possibility."

Her tone is exceptionally dry, but then, she's used to things of that nature. When you've been attacked by Jotunn and dragons, and even bigger creatures, bears — even of the mechanical kind — don't do much to frighten you.

"If it does ever become a problem," she adds, "I can heal wounds of that nature."

Capable of healing and willing to heal are two different things, but Meja is always willing to help. Even if it's someone she hardly knows.

[packpapa]

He rolls his eyes, but there's the slightest hint that implies he could possibly be amused.

"You have healing powers." It's as dry as her tone had been, stating rather than asking, because of course there's someone else here who's more powerful than he is. "Is there anything else you can do that I should know about?" It's a little hypocritical, but he's almost certain he's the one at a disadvantage.