because Loki needs more kids (@mayberaven)

[coldsong]

Midwinter is well past; the equinox is a few weeks hence. Already, preparations for Spring are underway, with Loki and the children making a point of buying plants, planning the garden, and tending to a very pregnant reindeer in the stables. It's still chilly, though, and this morning there was a thin layer of ice over the meadow. Loki sees the children off to their various schools before venturing into the cold alone, in Jotun form, to savor the last sting of the season.

By the ocean, Naglfar is locked in ice, which will do it no harm, but Loki stands on the shore watching it. The wind whistles about the bony mast, and the ice creaks, but no gulls cry. They've gone further inland for warmth. At the moment, the beach is his alone.

Or is it?

Comments

[mayberaven]

It wasn't the first time Fjord had been sent under to look for salvage. Whenever a storm sank a vessel, especially merchant ships, Master Grankton wasted no time in corralling the strongest swimmers amongst the children, sending them down to pick the wreckage clean. It was dangerous work to be sure depending on where the ships sank, how deep they had to go, how the tides were turning that day. But it was familiar work, and it was something he could do effectively alone which meant it was one of his favorite chores.

And it also meant that he was keenly aware that after squirming free of a broken hull, kicking towards the surface, that he noticed the sudden deep chill of the water around him near-instantly. Shocking enough that it had him barely biting back the urge to gasp as he floundered his way up. Unaware he had an audience as he breached the water's surface when his entire attention was caught by the different beach he was now treading water near. No wagon, no Master Grankton waiting impatiently, no other orphans either bringing up their hauls or going back for more. And it was cold. Clutching his net bag, the half-orc boy wasted no time in swimming for shore, knowing that no matter how cold the open air felt, it would be better to get out of the water quick as he could and find somewhere to get dry.