Rika Virkow

Enok has punched a hole in their wall.

Enok will remind others in the midst of chaos how good they're being.

Enok shops exclusivaly at thrift stores.

Enok cringes at their middle school yearbook photos.

Enok makes your mom jokes.

Enok sings in the shower.

Enok has an intense fear of water.

If Enok likes someone, they will give them a pretty rock.

Enok has been to prison.

Enok was dropped out of a window as a child.

That was how Ariadne had broken her leg and the Nihilis family had an extra guest. The twins had been tight lipped, but the boy less-so. A former slave of Niflheim on the run, though the story was a mess. The boy blamed their daughter and their daughter blamed the boy.

Regardless, Lazentis couldn't turn the boy out to the streets in good conscience. He was of similar age to his twins... and though he didn't speak in great detail, it was clear that he hadn't lived a kind life. He only knew cruelty. Trust still had to be earned, but basic hospitality came free of charge.

It would be a great disappointment when he learned all three teenagers had snuck out not one week into their grounding.

"There, up ahead." Ariadne nodded, leaning on her crutches as she came to a stop. "That's the stall. And that's the Virkow we spoke about."

"Oi, you lot. Can't ye read? Kitchen's closed for cookin' — ah. Fuck it. I know yer order, silver-haired shits for kids. Yer friend'll be gettin' the same, an' no complainin'." It was all leftovers anyway. Not fit to be served up to customers the following day, Bo might grouch about a missed hot breakfast but he could suck it up.

Enok was... reserved. This was strange. He had wanted to hate that girl - she had fucked up his life. His chances to find his family via the Empire's knowledge. Maybe his only chance... but she also had not intended that. And she had helped him. Taking him to her home. Her family.

That was a lot more trust and good treatment than anyone else had given him these past ten years.

And then she mentioned that girl. Or rather woman.

A Virkow.

There were so many of that name. But that one ran a stall with her family. A food stall. And she had a loose mouth. Beads and braids down the left side of her head. And there was a scarily big dark skinned guy at her side with eerie grey eyes.

He had to check that out.

No grounding could even try to matter in that.

Enok tried to not get his hopes up at all. Because he had gotten them beat down so often in the past. It was better to not feel the pain of another disappointment. Just shrug it off. This wouldn't be her. This wouldn't be them.

He trailed behind the twins. Hood shoved into his face. He didn't want to see that woman really. A glance was all he needed. And then he could hide his face better and they could leave again.

That voice though - no, more her use of words, her tone. It had Enok look up a little more. Sidestep the twins a little.

There stood a woman. Brown hair in beads and with beads showering her side and shoulder. Enok could recognize some. How often had he tugged on them or gently tried helping braid them into her hair? She had explained the meaning of them.

'This I got for my bravery - of course lookin after a lil shit like you!'

'This one for winning races against the other kids in sailin - I'll teach you one day!'

'This one? My Ma gave it to me, it's my fave…' 'I made that one - and I made you one, too. Here, lemme help you put it on.'

And her eyes were the same colour as his. The one their family shared. Eyes like the sea. Not the sky. Because that's where they belonged.

Ariadne truly was lucky that Enok had half a mind to turn to the side to get past her. Otherwise he would have steamrolled her. There were no other thoughts in his head anymore.

This couldn't be. Rika. It was her. Rika!

"Rika...", he couldn't yell her name, even though he wanted to. It felt like his throat was strung shut by a rope trying to choke him. Dizzy and lightheaded. With shaking hands that reached for her, clung to her jacket.

His eyes scanned over her features again. Her face. Her hair. The way her eyebrows creased in anger at being grabbed by a seemingly stranger. The way her nose scrunched. The way there was fire in blue irises. He could see her smile, though. Last time she had looked down onto him. Now he was the taller one.

"Rika...?"

He wanted to say more, explain it to her.

I found you! I finally found you! It's you! I'm Enok! Remember me? Rika! I missed you...

But nothing came over his lips apart from choked sobbing. A howl that sounded like a wounded animal as he clung to that poor confused Galahdan. Enok felt so weak. As if the weight of all his fears and worries the past decade were lifted... and yet that took his strength away, too. Never had he shown many emotions in public regarding this. Because it made you a target. But now? Now he could be vulnerable. He was home again. He had Rika.

And Enok could only bury his fingers deep in her clothes as he sank to his knees, crying into her.

I'm home.

— Click the  ⋆˚ source link ˚⋆ for 878 gifs of Ivana Baquero as Eretria in The Shannara Chronicles Season One. All gifs were made by me and intended for RP purposes only. Please do not repost in gif hunts or claim as your own. Please give proper credit if using in crackships. As always, please like and/or reblog if using.

— Click the  ⋆˚ source link ˚⋆ for 739 gifs ofIvana Baquero as Eretria in The Shannara Chronicles Season Two. All gifs were made by me and intended for RP purposes only. Please do not repost in gif hunts or claim as your own. Please give proper credit if using in crackships. As always, please like and/or reblog if using.

“See, you already talk and know a lot more about this than any mainlander could.”

Maybe this was a bit too sarcastic, so Somnus picked his next words mirroring Rika’s attitude. Challenging.

Then Somnus changed his tactic and it earned a frown. Her arms crossed over her chest as she listened — this approach was meant to anger her. It was working alright, like a pot of furiously bubbling stew, she needed to be taken off the heat before she boiled over.

This came in the form of a loud clash in the background. One of the soup pots were slammed down. “Enough!” It was her father’s voice. “I won’t tolerate another word against the Gods, old or new. Wash your hands of this discussion or change your tunes, the pair of you.”

“... aye, Pa.” Rika answered. The edge had faded from her voice. She looked Somnus over and nodded for him to come walk. “Well. You made a lot of colourful fucking points.” That much she would admit. “But ya skirted around the most important.”

And it was a tough one to admit. Must have been the Galahd blood. Made her feel bigger than her body sometimes, but if she listened to that all the time, well. She’d be dead. “Two people can’t pull that off. Even if you had my interest, even if I didn’t much like the thought of innocents dyin’ — I ain’t killin’ myself by makin’ such a stupid call. There’s enough death already.”

The boy just about wanted to grab her hand as if that could make her feel better when Rika ordered him down. They weren’t alone anymore. Not at all.

Enok understood what she signed to him. How often had they used that when playing with the others? He often followed her because Rika was a master at hiding. But now… now this was serious.

Ducking low and looking through the leaves, he could see the shape of a dark metal soldier. He looked just like on the photos… and like the ones who had come to destroy their home a year ago. It were memories that a child’s mind had subconsciously shoved away, marked as unimportant to protect itself… but that veil was easily ripped away. And as the metalsoldier turned and its silver face reflected the light, Enok could see the lifeless red eyes.

His breath hitched a little and his hand gripped Rika’s arm, huddling closer to her, though he did not even dare to blink. Could it see them? Had it already targeted them? Would it do as the soldiers a year ago had done…?

He felt Rika’s hand ushering him in a direction. She was leading them through the bushes and overgrowth. Careful but quick. Enok tried to imitate her every move. Just like a game of hide and seek, yeah, just like that…

Well, a game of hide and seek did not have you freeze in terror when there was just the smallest noise. A rustle of leaves, as the satchel with trinkets brushed against thembtoo harshly. The neon white light traveling their way, making the shadows of the leaves look so much harsher. Red eyes scanning over where they were, before the dull sounds of metal steps drew close.

Her footfalls slowed to a stop. The dense overgrowth provided a good pocket to hide behind, lining the bushes it almost felt like a wall to hide behind. But it was only leaves and branches. If the metal soldier chose to walk right through it, their illusion of safety would be shattered.

Then a harsh sound of rustling leaves. Her head whipped, and Enok looked chastised, terrified and close to panic. She had to act before he did — Virkow’s were all the same. Act first, think later.

Rika made a sound that wasn’t human. The growling-roar of a tiger, warning it was about to attack. It was a game among the islanders. To imitate the native tigers and see if they tricked anyone. After all, the tigers themselves would mimic the calls of other creatures to lure them in. Sometimes the bored kids would try to fool them right back.

The metal soldier paused, scanning the area again. And again she made that unholy noise. Prayed that she had chosen the right thing to do. That they would be smart enough to back away from a pissed off tiger —

Then it happened. Rika’s heart almost leapt up to her throat when a tiger leapt over her and Enok and charged the soldier. There were ferocious sounds, and the animal seemed to run off with the soldiers attention.

Long moments passed before finally she exhaled the breath she had been holding. She gasped for air, turning to hug onto Enok tight, and with that hugging hold she lifted him up and started to carry him in a half-jog up the path. If that were Mahasra’s doing... she owed their goddess an apology.