You wouldnāt know it to look at him, but Jƶrmungandr is a sparkling conversationalist.
WHAT: Atreus runs into a friend :D WHERE: A lake in the forest, near the Wildlife Sanctuary WHEN: Early this morning WARNINGS: Thar be snek in here. (Otherwise nothing) STATUS:Complete!
Atreus woke up earlier than usual that morning, sure that he had to visit the nearby lake before the sun rose high. The dream was vague, a vision losing its weight before Atreus could fully hang onto it, but the translation was still clear: visit the lake.
His soft boots moved silently through the forest near his house, the wildlife around him just starting to come awake with dawn. He'd left Bessie at home, just this once, since he didn't know what he was about to stumble across.
When Atreus approached, he was quiet, bow in hand and expression pinched as he looked around for what he was supposed to see. Why had his dream brought him here? There was always a good excuse.
Then the water rippled and moved, and Atreus took a few steps back, Just in case.
The serpent breached the surface and rose up, facing Atreus as the young man gasped with joy. āJƶrmungandr!ā
Well. A smaller one, anyway. Still very large by snake standards but not nearly as all-encompassing as what Atreus was used to. The Giant greeted him in his long, drawn out way, and Atreus hopped back in, toes on the very edge of the water so he could put his hand out and touch Jormaganders nose with the flat of his palm.
In the ancient tongue, Atreus spoke a little too fast, āI'm glad you're here. Mimir isn't, I'm sorry, but this place is amazing. Are you smaller to fit in? Or are you younger?ā He cut himself off, knowing it was a little too long and drawn out for the serpent. Atreus had learned a great deal of the language in his years traveling after Baldur, and it was always difficult for him to stay that slow and easy.
Jƶrmungandr bumped his large head against Atreus before backing off to speak, his mouth moving slowly as he kept with the ancient tongue in his typical way, answering each question slowly. He was never one to complain about Atreusā more excited rambles, as he had gone such a long time without speaking to anyone in his native tongue.
Time travel was funny that way.
Atreus climbed up on a rock and sat himself down, making himself more level with the world serpent as Jƶrmi poised out of the water. He had a lot of questions to ask, and a lot to catch Jƶrmungandr up on, but faltered when it came time to get the words out.
The young giant sucked in a breath, suddenly unsure of a lot of things. The world serpent was patient, though, he always was.
āYou knew, didnāt you? Itās why you told Mimir that I looked familiar?ā When he finally got the words out, his eyes didnāt quite match up with the serpentās own. That changed, however, when Jƶrmungandr finally nodded slowly confirming Atreusā suspicions.
The younger giant had been expecting it, but it was still an odd punch to the gut, of knowledge heād figured out here and things he had wanted to know. Of a future - albeit an odd one, where your child was a giant serpent that was large enough to circle an entire world - he had been trying hard to change.
He felt a pang of guilt, and as if Jƶrmi had sensed it, the serpent regarded Atreus with a keen eye and opened his mouth to speak again. āThe future is not linear. Do not focus too much on change, for I am content. I am ready to learn of the trouble you have been in here.ā
Atreus laughed, but couldnāt deny it with anything more than an innocent shrug. āYouāre in for a wild ride, Jƶrmi. First I have to tell you about the friends Iāve made!ā
It had been a long time since Jƶrmungandr, World Serpent, Jƶtunn, grandson to Laufey the Just, was able to sit close to anyone, and he slithered partly out of the water to join Atreus on the rock, attention set to focus on the young giant as he rambled in the ancient tongue.