This is My Life (Arctic)

[Vexa Blueclaw]

Serena Brighteyes

The market was a busy one but something about the noise was comforting to one particular trader. A young femme wolf, her blue-grey fur complimented by her attire of light-fabric skirts and a comfortable beaded shirt. The clothing was made by her and in the traditional form of her tribe which brought many others looking at her curiously as she set up the loom she'd acquired recently. It had taken quite a bit of bartering and trading to get the loom but Serena didn't regret the purchase. It would do her good to weave blankets and whatnot as her mother had taught her.

Contentedly, Serena set up the loom, specially designed to be mobile, small for blanket work but good enough to keep her busy through the day. She was sitting with her legs tucked under her, skirts neatly arrayed with a blanket spread out to her right. On the blanket, various bracelets, necklaces, jewel-handled daggers and lovely carvings were laid out with the utmost care. Each piece was handmade except for the daggers. The handles, Serena had made but the blades she had purchased from the blacksmith just outside of the fort and fit them into the handles. Each piece, whether a dagger or bracelet had character and personality, one never like another.

As the morning wore on, Selena watched various entertainers, vendors and shoppers move about the Topaz Market. She remained where she was, weaving slowly and humming old songs from her tribe. Without the sound, Serena would have almost thought she was back home with her mother weaving a new parka for her father or mending a shirt for her uncle. Don't get her wrong, Serena missed her family but she was glad to be sitting in the busy market, on her own and independant.

Around noon, a hedgehog mother bought one of the daggers, a gift for her son whom was coming home from a trip abroad on a ship. Serena congratulated the hedgehog and gave her the dagger, sheathed in a decorated leather sheath and settled herself back to her loomwork. Just as she was picking up the shuttle however, a shadow fell over the blanket of works. Serena looked up, hopeful for another customer.

"Can I help you?" she asked, her voice lightly accented, pleasant to hear.

The patron, a young squirrel knelt down and picked up one of the remaining daggers. Flashing a smirk at Serena, the youth leapt up and took off, dagger in paw. Serena yelped and scrambled up, loom clattering out of her lap. "Stop!"

[Arctic Fang]

Arctic was down at the docks, looking over his ship, the Storm Striker. He was making the needed repairs and definitely having the crew give it a really good cleaning, from top to bottom, from the rails to each and every cabin. Indeed it really needed a fresh look and that's just what the male wolf gave to it. He stood back and let out a sigh, his paws placed on his hips as he gazed at their accomplishments thus far.

He formulated a plan in his mind. There were so many things that he wanted to do. He wanted to get his list of orders from Brooke, he wanted to establish a good relationship between him and the beasts that he traded with, he wanted to have a close knit crew.... ah so many things but especially would he look for his father when out and about. Of course that was something that came secondary. His search would be performed when he was finished first with the business of the Fort.

Arctic smiled. He would have to go to the Tavern and pick up some barrels of ale, a variety of other beverages and food stuffs in order to stock his ships pantries and the mess hall. It wouldn't hurt either to pick up some drinks for his crew now. He needed to win them over and besides he was working them really hard today. They needed to be rewarded.

The male strolled toward the tavern, passing by the market, keeping his golden eyes peeled for some good sale items when all of a sudden he was plowed into by a young beast. The end result was that he was stabbed in the upper thigh with a dagger that presumably the kid had stolen. Arty let out a yelp but held onto the culprit. There was no way he was getting away with this! "Oh damn... that hurts." The male groaned and then looked down at the squirrel. "There will be punishment dealt to you for this." He was referring to the fact that he stabbed him. He really had no idea that the dagger was stolen.

[Vexa Blueclaw]

The loom clattered away as Serena lurched to her paws, more or less intent on trying to get the dagger back. Of course leaving her other wares unattended was unwise but nonetheless she reached out to try and snag the youngster's collar before he could escape. The squirrel slipped just out of reach before Serena could even properly stand up but to Serena's astonishment, he barely made it half way across the market with his prize. The broad back of a stranger turned just in time to collide with the squirrel. Since the dagger had been stolen, not sold, it had no sheath and thus ended up slashing the leg of the stranger. Serena's eyes widened. This was the last thing she needed in a new town!

Throwing caution to the wind, Serena gathered her skirts and strode purposefully toward the bleeding stranger and the squirrel.

Serena didn't look at the other as she snagged the squirrel's arm, yanking him around to face her. She tried to do her best impression of her mother when her mother had been angry with her for breaking beads they had spent three days making when she'd been young.

"Now see what you've done you little scamp!" she growled with a frown.

The squirrel's ears were laid back and the dagger nearly fell from his paw at the sight of not one but two angry wolves.

Serena smacked the back of the youngster's paw and snatched the dagger before it could fall. Turning to the stranger, Serena quickly wrapped the bloodied knife and bowed her head. "I'm sorry sir, come, I can tend your leg but let the youngster go. He's learned his lesson. Haven't you?"

The squirrel ducked his head, squirming in vain to try and escape the grip of the white wolf. "Y...yes!" he stammered, eyes big and frightened. "Please don't kill me!"

Serena raised a brow and glanced at the other wolf, hoping he wouldn't do just that. Some people got a bit...cranky when stabbed in the leg. Her main concern was shame that one of her pieces had been used to harm someone innocent. Sure the blades were perfectly usable for defense but Serena rather liked to think one of her creations wouldn't draw innocent blood.

[Arctic Fang]

Arctic stood there clenching his jaw until the muscle could be seen bulging from his cheeks. He wanted to give this youngster the spanking that he deserved but it seemed that the femme wanted to show him mercy. Art planned on letting him go but not without scaring the poop out of him first. He leaned down and spoke through his held together canines. "If I ever catch you stealing again I'm going to chop off your fingers. Do you hear me boy?" Really he wouldn't chop off his fingers but he really wanted to scare honesty into him.

Arctic then pointed over to the docks and at his ship. "Now this kind Miss seems to want to let you go but do you see that ship down there? Be there tomorrow morning and ready to work your little paws off. 'If' you do not show up I will hunt you down and throw you behind bars for a week for stealing. Is that understood?" The male squirrel simply nodded frantically as he pulled his sleeve from Art's still tight grip. He of course would run all the way home.

After the thief was out of sight Arctic stood and then pressed out his chest, stretching his body a bit due to the tension of the pain. "It's not your fault Miss and so don't you blame yourself but I would be happy if you could help me with the wound. I hate visiting infirmaries." He chuckled lightly and then hobbled over to where she stood. "The name is Arctic Fang Marm. May I inquire of my personal nurses name?" Again he laughed. He did have a sense of humor at least.

[Vexa Blueclaw]

A part of Serena felt bad for the poor little scamp, having a "big bad wolf" growling threats at him. Sadly that part was very small and thus kept her from interrupting. Stickypaws the Squirrel had tried to steal from her after all and did deserve some punishment though she had no desire to be the one dishing it. He was someone else's dibbun and thus someone else's responsibility. Serena watched the little squirrel scurry away like a demon was on his paws, weaving through the market crowd until he was out of sight. She could only be thankful the little one wasn't in her tribe's village. There, no threat would be given, no warning. Her father would have cut his fingers off for stealing from her or her mother.

Shaking her head in amazement at the inconsiderably of southerners, Serena returned her attention to the brute, a sailor by the sound of him. She had little experience with sailors except for a short trip while heading south but those had been otters, not wolves, much less a tall handsome one named Arctic Fang. Serena nodded her head in acceptence to his name, half surprised he wasn't staring at the white tattoos on her face but at the same time glad for it.

"It is my pleasure Arctic Fang, my name is Serena Brighteyes," she replied in her pleasant voice, putting a paw on his elbow and guiding him back toward where her loom had fallen and her works were spread on the blanket.

Glancing over the collection quickly, she found that thankfully no one else had tried to swipe from her while she'd been dealing with the first unlucky thief. A maiden selling in the markets was an easy target, Serena knew this from past experience. Sometimes she caught her thieves and sometimes not.

"I'm horribly ashamed that little scamp wasted a dagger on an innocent, it's the least I can do to patch you up."

Smiling she pushed aside some of the laid out sheathed knives, gesturing for Arctic Fang to take a seat. Placing the bloodied blade near the loom, Serena looked around for the bag she kept her wares in when not in the market. The bag Serena kept her things in was mostly empty beside her dropped loom but she fished out an old worn out cloak and tore from the hem until she had strips to use as bandages. Bringing the bandages and bag with her, Serena knelt next to Arctic Fang to assess the wound. It was a puncture, unclean since it had been a surprise and the squirrel had jerked the blade back.

"I take it you are a sailor sir? Must be horrible being land-bound?" Serena asked, making conversation as she folded the remains of the cloak and dabbed at the wound to clean up a bit before pressing firmly on the wound to stop the blood flow.

[Arctic Fang]

'Part' of Arctic felt bad due to how harshly he had scolded the young one but he felt that it was what some needed. There were to many under age ones running around and unsupervised these days. When not watched they got into way to much trouble. Someone had to teach them a lesson. "Oh don't worry. It's not your fault that your beautiful piece was wrongly used. He will get a lesson that he won't soon forget tomorrow. And don't worry. I am not completely unmerciful. Perhaps his day of work with me will change the poor lads life." He chuckled.

Soon he found himself at her place of sales. His eyes quickly looked over the items that she was selling. He couldn't help but to think that the tattooed femme sure was talented. Oh yes he had noticed the markings around her eyes but he also couldn't help but to think how her name complimented her perfectly. She certainly did have bright eyes and her markings only made her look more exotic to him. "Aye I am a sailor. Mrs. Brooke Briar Steeleye recently hired me to sail the fine ship that goes by the name 'Storm Striker'. She's a trade ship. I'm looking forward to sailing but I certainly love the scenery here at the Fort as well. I'm really not one of those die hard sailors that just live for the sea but I do like to enjoy time on land as well. And besides... The Fort seems to be filling up with all sorts of new and interesting creatures." He winked at her. Of course he was talking about her.

He wanted to say more but soon she was putting pressure on his wound. This caused him to suck back a breath of air through clenched teeth until the pain was gone, or at least bearable. "So what brings you to Fort Emerald Bay? Was your husband stationed here on military assignment." What a good way to find out if she was married. Arctic chuckled to himself thinking that he was oh so very sly.

[Vexa Blueclaw]

Serena tried to be as gentle as she could, the last thing she wanted was to cause a creature pain. With a stab wound however, that was usually unavoidable to some degree. Stitching would do no good but thankfully the dagger wound wasn't one of the worst she had seen. Living in what was considered feral country for most of her life did have subtle advantages when living in a military fort. Checking the wound carefully, Serena felt her fur flush when Arctic Fang spoke of the exotic. She saw the wink and couldn't help but duck her head slightly, a shy motion. She wasn't used to being considered quite exotic. Rough and odd yes but not usually exotic. Whether it was a good thing or not, Serena was not yet sure. When Arctic said it, it seemed like an alright thing to be.

"Yes sir, I have seen my share of the unusual within this fort" Serena agreed, gathering the strips she had cut to bind the wound.

Winding the bandages around his leg with practiced care, Serena laughed lightly when he mentioned an enlisted husband. Oh if she had married, there was no way she would be here! Her husband would be bound to the clan as a warrior and protector and she bound as a provider and mother. Serena let herself laugh for a moment before tying the bandage and speaking.

"Oh sir no, I am not married. The exiled have no mates from the clan and a poor merchant wandering from town to town makes a poor wife" Serena told Arctic lightly. "I came in search of a life and business, enough to get me through the winter if I can manage."

Turning, Serena picked up the blade that had harmed Arctic and cleaned the blade with meticulous care until it once more shone like new. She examined it carefully, finding it to be one of her better carvings. The handle was made of ebony wood, carved with twisting vines of ivy inspired by the Jasper Square. At the bottom of the dagger a blood-red piece of garnet had been inlayed into the wood, catching the light alluringly. Pulling one of the leather sheaths from her bag, Serena slipped the knife inside and handed it to Arctic.

"Take it as a token of my thanks. That little thief made it unsellable, the blade is yours by old rights. Who knows? Perhaps it will come in handy should you ever be short on money on a venture to other ports?" Serena smiled gently, her purple-blue eyes shimmering with amusement.

[Arctic Fang]

Arctic laughed when she did....

Oh this was just getting better and better. She wasn't married but she would certainly have to stop calling him 'sir'. It made him feel old and a bit uncomfortable. He knew it to be a respectful gesture but all the same... he didn't like it. Arctic was a proud male wolf but he never looked down on a female and wouldn't expect for her to call him by such a title. He would have to inform her, eventually, that he hated being called 'sir', especially by a pretty young female wolf such as herself.

In the meantime he watched her. She seemed shy when he paid her a compliment. Hmmm... It seems that she wasn't accustomed to such things. Interesting. This got Arty to thinking that perhaps she has 'never' been with a male before. He so badly wanted to ask her more about herself but he certainly didn't want to seem so straight foreward. He would need to give it some time but he did find a few avenues of being able to see her again.

Finally she pawed him the knife. At first the male wasn't sure why she was giving it to him but he did except it with graciousness. "Oh no... This is a gift. Even on pain of death I would never sell such a fine kind hearted gift such as this. No way." He smiled at her and then continued to speak. "I have an idea. How about you bring your things down to the dock tomorrow and we will travel to a few islands to see if you could sell some of your beautifully crafted items? It would be my pleasure and I believe that I have a few tasks that Brooke wants me to accomplish anyway. What do you say? I promise that you will be in good paws." As he waited for her to answer he clipped the knife to his belt.

[Vexa Blueclaw]

It wasn't really a conscious decision when Serena decided she liked how Arctic laughed. The sound was full and warm unlike the catcalls and hooting drunk laughs she often heard when she traveled. Smiling, the blue-grey fae finished her work bandaging the white wolf's leg, giving it one last firm look as though daring it to do a poor job helping him heal before sitting back. Due to tradition and heritage, Serena was used to sitting with her feet tucked under her, skirts arranged just so like a lady in waiting sitting at the feet of her mistress. Such a fashion was how females presented themselves in her tribe and the habit had never worn off. She was used to looking up at males, speaking quietly or not at all because in her family she had been the youngest and thus lowest ranking even among the females despite her skill as a crafter.

Serena's eyes widened at his offer, half caught by surprise and half frightened. She had never sailed before and suffered a fear of drowning but...Arctic claimed she would be in good care. Something in the back of Serena's mind told her that was very true. This wolf had helped her unknowingly once already, surely he would make sure she wouldn't drown? His offer was a grand and unexpected one to her as well for she hadn't even considered such a thing. The prospect was a welcome but...she was from a place where such gracious offers were not made without repayment.

"That would be a grand venture good captain but, I fear water and myself are not on the best of terms" Serena said at last, flicking her ears and ducking her head sheepishly. The typical gesture of humility in her clan. "My people are very...earthbound...I have never seen the sea let alone sailed one it."

She was almost ashamed of her ignorance but tried not to look it. She had to keep reminding herself that she wasn't among her clan. Serena had no need to duck her head or feel ashamed. Many other beasts were the same as her, something it had taken a while for her to learn. Still, Serena did feel safe around Arctic. Perhaps it was because he seemed like the natural protector, a firm beast with firm morals or perhaps it was simply because Serena had been outside of male protection so long she forgot what it felt like.

[Arctic Fang]

Artic laughed due to her lack of experience with water, the same laugh that seemed to light up her face. He didn’t laugh because he was making fun of her but it was the way that she stated that her and water were not on the best of terms. Arty had to admit that the sea could be rather unforgiving and harsh. ”I assure you M’lady that the weather for the next few weeks looks very promising and if we happen to run into a storm I have very reliable life-rafts aboard that you will be the first to enter if said storm renders our ship helpless.” His smile was enough to light up the world around them. Art wasn’t your typical male and he was far from the harsh ones that he has had the displeasure of seeing. More than one time he has had to save a damsel that was in distress by the paws of a male that seemed to love to ‘lord it over’ the femme gender. Still though… he has yet to find a female that didn’t have a mate and that really tickled his fancy. Until now…

Art stood to full height now, flinching due to his wound. He was an impressive male. Many female wolves wanted him and yes even begged for his attention but he was a male of high morals and standards. He ‘would’ only marry for love or even date a female that held his stipulations. Indeed he was the type of wolf that would only have relations with a wolf-fess if they were married. This was very old fashioned, and unaccepted by most, but he wasn’t about to change his ways to meet the needs of the world around him.

The large muscular white male reached a paw down to her so that he could help her up. ”Please say yes? I assure you that you will be safe with me and I am an honorable sort of beast. Creatures with my morals and standards are few and far between. I can assure you that my ulterior motives for asking you to accompany me is that I desire to spend some time with you. That is all. I promise. And if the crew even so much as looks at you in the wrong manner I will cast them overboard.” There was a playful twinkle in his blue orbs. He knew that his crew would be more then honorable to her, especially given the fact that she was his guest.

[Vexa Blueclaw]

Had she doubted his word? No. Serena knew from his tone and his previous behavior such a thing would be a waste of time. Her fears, though present, would not be enough to make her instantly decline. Serena had been among drunken males and lusting males before, though it made her sick to think of. Others had made moves on her, trying to claim her, marry her, lord over her, whatever it was they desired. Had she ever allowed such a thing? No, not once she caught on. Serena had had to learn a lot of things after her self-imposed exile. In her clan such things were unheard of but in a world where her clan had been not only an enemy but the morals were different, well, Serena had had to be a quick study.

Now, watching Arctic rise and hearing his words she knew she could trust him as one that would not intentionally hurt her. He wouldn't take advantage of her because of her trust or because she was female. There was something in his eyes that told her this was so. Looking out across the market, Serena watched for a moment as mothers hurried their children along and bury otters and squirrels bargined with traders in raised voices. Slowly, taking her eyes from the scene of normality, Serena rose fluidly from her kneeling position. Her dark skirts swished quietly as she moved, bangles clinking just so as her tattooed face turned toward Arctic.

"A wolf like you is seldom found these days, captain but it seems you know this. In my clan, the morals you uphold were a silent law, unspoken but strictly upheld. Since leaving home, I have found that females here are also different than the female I was raised to be. Not all are obedient housewives or taught from a young age to weave and craft. In my home females are providers and the obedient supporters. Here they fight and struggle, live alone and work as males do."

Serena chuckled to herself, looking wistfully after a mousemother with twins tagging along behind her.

"Perhaps though, not all things are different. Your word is as strong as any to me and I trust you. You speak like a warrior of old." Serena smiled at him, her unusual eyes gleaming with a strange sort of knowing. "I accept your offer good captain. Mayhap the art of chivalry is not lost, hmm?"

Smiling again, Serena picked up the small loom she had been weaving before the whole mess had begun. Seating herself on an overturned crate, she picked up the shuttle, examining the pattern of twilight colors woven on the loom, a half finished work, its true form unknown. Serena winked to Arctic as she began the loomwork again as though she had neither been robbed nor bound a stab wound, her work precise and swift, singing softly to herself.

[Arctic Fang]

"A wolf like you is seldom found these days, captain but it seems you know this. In my clan, the morals you uphold were a silent law, unspoken but strictly upheld. Since leaving home, I have found that females here are also different than the female I was raised to be. Not all are obedient housewives or taught from a young age to weave and craft. In my home females are providers and the obedient supporters. Here they fight and struggle, live alone and work as males do."

Her compliments were to great. He blushed lightly beneath his snow white fur. There was just something about this femme that was driving his heart crazy. She was unlike any other female that he's ever met before. How she has remained completely unclaimed by a male was beyond his understanding.

He responded. "I can clearly see how most female's are different then you have been raised but the femme gender here mostly seem happy with their lot in life. I can see how both avenues could make a female strong. I've seen many strong females here but you to are perhaps stronger then all of them. But I do agree that the morals of beasts, even of the male gender is lacking if even present at all these days." He wasn't sure if she was totally happy with how she was raised and he wondered why she had left her home. Arctic was almost afraid to say something wrong. The last thing that he wanted to do was offend the female and so he would leave it at that and maybe tomorrow get to know her better.

She chuckled at families and kits that traveled passed them. This caused Art to glance in their direction as well as she began to speak of warriors and chivalry. Yes he had been a warrior for a long time and chivalrous even longer. He wasn't sure that the two went paw-in-paw for everyone but it did for him. He's seen to many female's abused, abandoned and totally disrespected in his line of work and so yes being a warrior, along with a good upbringing by his mother, was what molded him into the wolf that he was today. "I am a warrior and chivalry is my middle name. I've been teased by many of my gender for it but my heart goes out to the female that has been mistreated. They are a gender that is worthy of our respect as males. I truly believe with all of my heart."

He watched her eagerly as she went back to her loom. Everything about her was driving him crazy! Arctic grinned from ear to ear. "It seems that you have much to accomplish today. Perhaps you will be able to make more items for which to sell tomorrow. And so I bid you good day until we meet again M'lady." Even though in pain he bowed down to her, averting his eyes from her just long enough to show her some deep respect. Once his orbs were able to gaze upon her once more he spoke some parting words. "I look forward very much to our adventures tomorrow. The ship leaves at dawn. I will send a porter to your side a whole hour before that in order to give you assistance with your items." With that said he did an 'about face' and headed in the direction of the Tavern. Perhaps some stiff drinks will help numb his wound.