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A wet nose on the back of his neck is what woke Calder the next morning.

He had immediately jerked away from it, but was met with a warm furry wall.

Calder opened his eyes with a snap and sighed a bit when he saw that he was surrounded by wolves. It was morning at least, so Calder was not woken in the middle of the night.

Eira's basket was a wolf away now, what seemed like Halina was smooshed in between the two.

Calder sat up carefully, trying not to wake the wolves from their slumber; he had no idea how long that they had been out in the woods last night. Though, he should have thought about how Hemming was normally a light sleeper anyway, because the second that Calder moved the wolf was up to.

Calder chuckled and reached out to pet the wolf that was beside him; he smiled when the wold let out a pleased rumble, not unlike Jormungandr the other day.

Hemming nudged against Calder's shoulder so that Calder was facing away from him and Calder huffed while turning from the wolf so that he did not have to see Hemming shift.

"Goodmorning, my sweet."

Calder felt the mans arms come to circle around his waist and smiled.

"Goodmorning. Did you have a good night?" He questioned and leaned back on the naked chest behind him.

"It was wonderful. I see you and Eira did some woodwork." Hemming kissed the back of Calder's shoulder and nodded to the babes basket.

"Yes, I wanted her to have somewhere comfortable to lay while we built the house." Calder chuckled and rubbed a finger against Hemmings arm absently.

"Padma and Hale like it. We came back sometime during the night and were pleasantly surprised to see Eira coddled up in a new basket."

"Good. I figured if I could not continue to work I might as well still be busy." Calder said and shivered when Hemming skimmed his teeth over his clothed shoulder.

Hemming just hummed at the others words and lifted a hand to pull back the hair from Calder's neck, revealing the slightly pink flesh to his lips.

Calder sighed quietly when Hemming started to place kisses on whatever skin he could find; Calder made sure to tilt his head to allow the man to do so.

When Hemming bit gently at the juncture of his neck and shoulder, Calder let out a soft moan and his face flushed.

"Hemming... the pack."

Calder was breathing heavily as Hemming finally backed off with a final kiss and hum. Calder tried not to notice that his trousers were a tad tighter and the naked body pressed against his back.

"I cannot wait for a real bed." Hemming murmured against Calder's shoulder.

Calder let out a shaky sigh at the implications that the man was making.

"We should... we should eat and then start working."

Hemming only inhaled deeply against Calder's neck and gave the other a squeeze before letting go completely and standing.

Calder let out another sigh, deep and warm against the cool air; which did nothing to chill the blood that had rushed into his cheeks.

He heard Hemming pull on clothes behind him and stared at the five wolves that were still huddled together and sleeping.

Calder reached out a hand to pet Halina and hopefully gently wake her. It was time for the day to start anyway.

She did indeed wake and start wagging her tail with soft thumps, nudging her head against Calder's hand with a huff.

He smiled and gave her a few more scratches before turning and doing the same to the rest of the pack; though, he let Nadir wake Lagina in fear that she would not appreciate Calder waking her.

Hemming had walked to the other edge of the fire, and looked to be stabbing chunks of fresh meat onto metal skewers. Calder furrowed his brows in confusion.

He could reason with the pack killing a deer during the night and bringing it back; but when had they butchered the animal? The did not do so as wolves, he assumed.

Calder clicked his tongue and decided not to worry about it. What mattered is that this was the first fresh meat he would be having in almost a fortnight.

The smell as it cooked was enough to make his stomach rumble and his mouth salivate. The potatoes placed on another metal rod was enough to make Calder thank the gods that he had gone with Hemming that first day.

Calder had looked to Hemming periodically just to make sure that he was still as handsome as before. He was.

"Calder, I want to thank you for the basket. Eira seems more comfortable than she had previously been."

Calder turned his head from Hemming in order to face Hale, who was shifted back and dressed luckily.

Calder smiled and gave a glance to Eira, who was indeed cuddled comfortably into multiple furs.

"I am glad you like it. She is a goddess, and if we were to think of Frigg as Freya, she would be my sister. I would want my sister to be comfortable while we built the house." Calder chuckled and glanced up at Hale with a nervous smile.

He was still coming to terms with being a god. The gods that he worshipped were related to him. The goddess that he had devoted so many prayers to was his half sister, and lying in front of him as a babe.

"Yes, I would too. It was still kind, and both me and Padma appreciate it." Hale smiled back and gave a nod before walking over to his mate.

Calder exhaled sharply and focused back on what Hemming's muscles looked like as he tended the venison over the fire.

They were better than the meat.

_____________

Calder did not notice how quickly the time passed; the days growing in greater number as the house grew in size.

There were stable walls now, and Calder had made it his job to carry a sled full of stones to the clearing for both foundation and the walls of the cooking fire.

Once they had erected the walls and created the fire, the pack had moved within the walls of the home.

It was home to Calder.

He did not think he had ever loved people as deeply as he loved his pack. The time shared with them felt as if it was always meant to be.

Of course, Calder had returned to the sea every so often, but the numb waters were a peaceful escape while his pack was a loving and warm home. Calder had thought of building the beds that they would need, but he feared that once he had made a bed for him and Hemming, he would have to spend the next morning apologizing for any noise.

Hemming and Calder had already been attempting very hard not to touch each other. After the wolf had brought Calder a courting gift he had almost jumped him right against a tree.

It was a pair of carved wooden ravens.

Calder had loved the sentiment, seeing as Huginn and Muninn had left him not long after their first day in the clearing. He hated to admit he missed them.

Calder had adored every day of the two weeks that had passed, and spent most of his days using the new strengths he had come into as a god to carry the heavier trees and rocks. The pack had teased him about it because he was the smallest member.

They still did not have a roof, and their main goal was to chop down as many trees as they could before the spring rains became heavier.

The forest had been steadily dwindling as they felled more than five trees a day, the soft pines receding further back each day. Calder had made the suggestion that they take a day and travel further out in order to keep their woods still thick.

Hemming agreed and they had taken the sled and all the four axes out to the north for one day; the pack had cut down as many as twelve trees that day, strapping the base of them together and to the sled while trekking back.

The wood that they had brung was enough to use for the last bits for the walls, including the two doors that were placed on two walls perpendicular to each other.

Presently, Calder and the pack we're eating dinner and talking idly, though Calder was more absorbed with the night sky that had begun to clear a spring approached. The stars were twinkling brightly, and Calder felt peace as he connected the stars into false constellations.

"Once the roofing is completed, I would like for some of us to go towards the settlement to the north. The snow has begun to melt, and soon it will be time to plant crops. I would like to purchase swine and hens to keep."

Calder looked to his left where Hemming was sitting with his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped in front of him.

"While some of us finish the home, others can prepare for the livestock. We will need to bring something to sell or trade in case, so some of our pelts will go to the village." Hemming stated gruffly and Calder hummed quietly in agreement with the plans.

Nobody said anything, only nodding or grunting through the cloudiness of sleep. It was becoming late after all.

Calder nudged at Hemming gently before leaning towards his mate gently.

"I believe I will sleep in the sea this night. I wish to try and reach my father once more." Calder whispered although he knew if the pack listened they could hear him.

It was true that he wanted to speak with his father.

The god had not spoken again since that first day, and Calder had wanted to ask him questions about Hemming and how the gods courted. He would hate for their union to be seen as irrelevant just because he was uneducated.

"Very well, I should hope you remain safe. Perhaps sleep near the serpent so he will keep you protected?" Hemmings brows furrowed with concern and a pointed look to Calder.

Calder smiled and nodded, standing from the ground and placing a kiss to Hemming's hair before removing his tunic and setting it off to the side.

He removed his shoes and socks also, leaving nothing but his trousers as he walked from the unfinished home and towards the ocean.

When he reached the shore, he stripped his trousers and left them strewn across the dry parts of sand.

Calder sighed as the bitter waters lapped at his ankles, then thighs, then chest, and finally enveloped his whole body.

He exhaled the air in his lungs and inhaled the salty water to replace it. Calder walked from the shallower waters out towards the deeper ends that held Jörmungandr.

When Calder caught sight of glittering black scales he smiled and sat down in front of them, holding out a hand to let the creature know he was there.

When the rumble sounded, Calder closed his eyes and laid down in the sand next to the serpent.

Calder? You wished to speak?

Yes, though if you cannot it is alright. It is not all that important.

Nonsense, Odin is becoming stronger and therefore Valhalla's connection to Midgard is too. What is it, son?

I wished to know how the gods court. Hemming has begun his courting, but I wish to return the affections in the way a god would.

I feel honored you would want to ask your father for relationship advice. Though, gods do not court as humans or Ulfhednar do. A wife and husband were chosen by the Norns, there was sometimes love, but hardly any courting.

Should I court him as humans do then?

You should do what you feel is right. If you feel as if you want to court as a human, then do so; your mate will not judge you in your choice.

Then I suppose I will court him as a human would...

How are the gods doing? Is Thor growing strong? And Odin, when will he return to Valhalla?

Thor is a spitfire of a lad, as Vidar has said. He is young and wild, as he was when he was first born.

Odin will return to his Hall when Loki is born, the need for him in Midgard will dissipate once the child is safe in the arms of your pack.

Thank you, father. It brings me a strange peace to know how they are doing.

They are your kind, your brethren. This is why it is important a second Ragnarök does not happen. To loose family in a war against family; the feeling is dreadful.

You truly believe that I can achieve this feat? That me and the pack will raise Loki well?

Yes, I do. You are my son, and I have faith in you.

I know I was not there for you as a child, or even as you reached manhood. But I was your father when I named you, and I would like to be your father now.

You have been here for me more than my false mother ever was. You are already my father in my eyes and I will do my best to make you proud of me.

Calder, I am already proud of you.

Thank you, father.

There are no thanks needed. It is only fact. Though, it pains me to say that I need to return to Valhalla now.

Of course, I will not hold you here.

There will be a time when I can truly visit you, both me and your mother. When the realms are once again stable. For now, remember that I am so very proud of you, and I love you with all my heart, my son.

I love you too, father. I will wait for your visit.

Goodbye, Calder.

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