[i]con't collab with idlehands and Kuro[/i]

[i]The Marsh, outside Trelleborg, early morning[/i]

Einnar passed on the female hound's leash to Leifr and he took Alexander, wishing he had a something with Vigi's scent on it. The scrap of cloth he used to wrap the hunter's ankle would smell too much like himself and he had nothing else. With hope the dog would understand they were not tracking deer or wolves and he rubbed the rough fur between his ears. 

[b]"Alright, time to earn your meals, my friend,"[/b] he muttered, [b]"Seek Vigi, let's go."[/b]

He hobbled off as the dog started to sniff around, knowing the command of 'seek' meant to track a human rather than prey. Alexander sniffed the air, his ears swiveling, confused by the group's scent and the lack of a tracking order he would usually be given. He followed Einnar's lead however and as the huntsman moved in the direction he had seen Vigi take off in, the dog understood and began to follow the seidrmadr's scent. 

Einnar listened intently, hoping to hear Vigi and followed Alexander's wonderful nose. The two hounds were gifts to the Jarl and his son, dogs from Britain with pendulous ears and short snouts, distinctly different than the wolvish, curly tailed dogs of the Norse. Though they lacked the heavy coats to survive in the northern countries they did well in Denmark which had a climate similar to their home. They were thought ugly by some, with their deep chests and drooping jowels but their powerful size and keen noses made them a pleasure to hunt with.

He followed closely, keeping his eyes on Alexander's whip-like tail as the dog kept his nose near the ground, zig zagging along the path of the seidrmadr. After a few more moments, he barked, deep and resonant in the quiet fog. His floppy ears perked up and he strained against the leash, whining and barked once more. 

[b]"Vigi?"[/b] Einnar whispered loudly, stepping carefully as he noted the vegetation had disappeared, the morass of mud lay ahead and despite the cold he doubted it was frozen. 

Vigi's head snapped up at the sound of a deep bark and felt a mixture of relief and shame when Einnar's voice reached his ears. [b]"I'm here!"[/b] He called out, just loud enough to be heard but hopefully not so loud as to attract the dead. He had sunken down to the center of his torso, though he had not moved since he fell in.

Hearing Vigi's voice, Alexander wagged his tail and Einnar felt an immense wave of relief. He crept closer, feeling how the mud sucked at his feet and when he saw the shaman chest deep in the muck of the marsh he knew what he was up against. The huntsman shifted his pack, leaving it on the last bit of solid ground to lighten his weight and took the crutch that he had lashed to the frame. Laying flat he crawled forward, using his knees and elbows until he could reach Vigi with the wooden crutch.

[b]"Grab on, and try to flatten yourself,"[/b] he said quietly, his light brown eyes on Vigi's pale green, [b]"Wiggle forward, slowly, don't try to rush, use your arms and I'll pull back as I can."[/b] 

Alexander stayed near the pack, pacing back and forth as he watched the men. He whined, understanding the danger of the stinking, sucking mud and would not venture out. The brindle hound sniffed the damp cold air, his whining turning to a low, agitated growl.

Vigi nodded and reached out to grab onto the crutch, for once thankful of his small stature. He tensed hearing the dogs whining into growls. He resisted the urge to move harder against the mud in fear of approaching Draugr. He took in a deep breath to calm down and started to slowly squirm out of the freezing mud. He felt himself start to come loose from the combination of his movements and Einnar's pulling. All the while he looked anxiously around them, listening intently for the sounds of the Draugr.

Einnar noted the change of the dog's tone and he saw the look on Vigi's face. They needed to get out of there as quickly as possible but speed was not much of an option right now. 

[b]"Don't worry about that,"[/b] he said calmly, [b]"Just keep moving, you're stuck fairly deep but we'll get you free."[/b]

He pulled on the crutch, adding force to Vigi's efforts and soon saw the seidrmadr was clear to his waist. It would not be long now until he could use his hips and knees to wriggle loose of the mud. The trick was to keep his weight displaced so he would not sink back in. [b]"As you come out, lay flat like I am, keep a hold of the crutch and once you're far enough I can pull you out."[/b]

Alexander paced faster, growling, the short brindle fur along his spine rising as he scented the stench he had come to dread. Fear was there but the dog had a stout heart and would not flee the men could not defend themselves. Out of the mist came a shadow, stumbling and lurching through the bog was one of the draugr. He was pasty white and missing half his face, his teeth visible through his torn cheek. Einnar nearly let go of the crutch to go for his weapons but they were with his pack, several yards away on the firmer ground. If he got up to run, he would sink into the quicksand and it would leave Vigi without aid. 

[b]"Stay quiet,"[/b] his voice barely a whisper, watching the slogging draugr approach, [b]"With any luck he'll sink in and be trapped...hopefully not close enough to get a bite out of you. Move, try not to go too fast."[/b]

He reached over, hand over hand, pulling the crutch harder, sweat popping out on his brow despite the cold. He felt the tremor of adrenaline sizzle through his muscles, his body urging him to get up and run as the draugr got closer. It avoided the morass and angled toward them where it was firm enough to walk. He was getting closer and in a few more steps would be in biting range. Alexander barked and whined until he saw the draugr get closer, he looked to Einnar, his hackles raised. The huntsman's eyes went from the dog to the draugr and he sighed, resigning himself to the decision. 

[b][i]"Sókn!"[/i][/b], he shouted to the big mastiff and Alexander leapt at the attack command. He ran forward as the draugr snarled and bent to try and snap at Vigi. 

The heavy dog slammed into the draugr snarling, knocking it off balance and they fell together into the pool of sucking bog mud. Alexander seized hold of the rotting flesh, his fangs digging into the neck instinctively locking onto where the windpipe was. The draugr screeched and clawed at the dog's hide, it's own teeth gnashing at the fur. Alexander held on, shaking his head for the kill that would not come. Draugr needed no air and blood to live but the dog did not understand this and held fast even as the mud rose around them. 

Einnar worked as fast as he dared, urging Vigi along until he saw the man's hips were clear, [b]"Now move, crawl faster, don't look back."[/b]

The huntsman wormed his way backward, pulling the seidrmadr with his crutch, sending a desperate plea to Thor for strength more out of habit than belief the god would aid them. He could see Alexander still struggling, several patches of fur torn out, blood oozing from wounds but still the dog kept the draugr distracted. Einnar could see they were both sinking into the mud quickly.

Vigi let out a heavy breath when he finally felt himself pull out of the mud. He quickly crawled his way to the huntsman like Einnar had instructed him. He tried to ignore the large dog fighting the Draugr and focused on reaching Einnar and making it back to solid ground. 

His heart beat was like thunder and he could hear his own blood rushing through his ears. Every sound he heard from the Draugr made him flinch and but he did not look back.

He kept crawling on his stomach until he reached the solid ground marked by Einnar's pack. He let out a breathless, humorless chuckle as he stood up on shaking legs; looking back to Einnar.

The hunter scrambled to his feet and turned, grabbing Vigi's shoulder for support as pain shot through his injured ankle. He turned back to see both Alexander and the draugr up to their necks in the quagmire. Einnar grimaced at the agonized yelps from the big hound, he would not be able to rescue him. The draugr had got his teeth into him and the blood stained the mud around them. 

He picked up his bow and nocked an arrow, aiming carefully, willing his hands to keep from trembling. Tears blurred his vision before he blinked them back hard and he fired, hitting Alexander in the eye, ending his suffering. The draugr wailed and the huntsman sent three arrows in quick succession into the face of the draugr, one burying itself in the hollow eye socket. It ceased it's groans and fell still. 

Einnar stood observing the quiet of the marsh had returned and he reached down to gather his things. He fought back his emotions, for as little as he cared for people, he felt deeply for the loyal hunting dogs. Keeping his face averted from Vigi, he led the way back the way he had come. Finally as they got closer to the rest of the party he asked in a strained voice, [b]"Did you find what you sought?"[/b]

Vigi kept his gaze down at the ground after watching the emotion well up in Einnar's eyes from losing the large dog. He felt the hunter's grief press against the back of his neck like a boulder and he remained silent during their walk. When Einnar broke the quiet with a tight voice, he flinched. Both at the voice and the question itself. [b]"I...don't even know what I thought I would find."[/b] He replied softly, clenching his mud crusted hands into tight fists. [b]"I'm sorry Einnar."[/b] He whispered, chancing a look at the man's face.

Einnar pressed his lips into a thin line and shrugged his broad shoulders, holding up his hands for a moment. [b]“Odin called and you answered, right? No need to apologize.”[/b]

His hands dropped and he sighed, [b] “Odin called Jarl Helge and then his son...they answered. I have not wept over them and yet here my face is wet because of a dog.” [/b]

The hunter rubbed his eyes which were reddened but this time not from drink, [b] “Your life is saved and that is something, at least Alexander died for a more noble cause than most.”[/b] 

He trudged on, limping until he heard the sound of Roxanna barking. Following the sound they quickly were reunited with Leifr and Ulfr. The men listened to the recount of the events and the younger man gently rubbed behind the female dog’s soft black ears. She looked eagerly at Einnar, snuffling around his feet and whining, no doubt wondering where her companion was. He took her leash and with a silent nod, led them back on course toward Trelleborg. 

Vigi remained silent for the rest of the trek to the fort, berating himself for his rash actions. It had been so incredibly stupid of him to go chasing after that crow. What did he think was going to happen? That it was going to reveal that he was not going to meet a grisly end at the hands of a blood thirsty warrior? He had nearly met his end in that mud pit. 

Worse yet he had caused such pain for Einnar. It was odd to feel such open grief for a dog rather than two people that he’d known and lived with. But Vigi thought he could understand it. Einnar didn’t seem like the kind of man to build real emotional attachments to people, possibly because of his upbringing; being isolated in the woods with mad parents. He either didn’t want to build actual relationships with people, or he simply didn’t know how. 

Vigi himself had gone through a period in his life where he sought the company of farm animals and dogs over that of his family or others his age. It was easier to be with animals, they didn’t judge, they didn’t talk back and they were simply easier to deal with. It actually made sense that Einnar would be so attached to a dog then. 

He took in a deep breath and looked up with tired, heavy eyes when the gates of the fort came into sight. He cast a look to the back of Einnar’s head, wondering how well he would be able to deliver the grim tidings to the housecarl. 

Making a decision Vigi approached the dark haired man, brushing his hand apologetically through the remaining dog’s fur. [b]“I’ll come with you to give the news to the housecarl.”[/b] He said, studying Einnar’s face carefully while he stroked Roxanna’s fur; the dog letting out a soft mournful whimper.