[Gift] Oak & Snow

Valance "Oak" Oakland - The Silent Grifix

"Silence can speak louder than any words could've dared spoken."

Valance is a quiet Grifix. Strong, large, and a very good warrior. He's among the best, having proved his worth by saving Grifix from a sudden fire in their village. No one knows what Oak actually sounds like as he's never spoken a single word, though it's rumored that Yantarka is the only being to have heard him speak. She banished his brother, Forest Fang, resulting in him attempting to force a fight between the two. She easily knocked him away and defeated him without much effort. Valence realized how outmatched he was and quietly surrendered.

Oak spends his days inside his hut, crafting or fixing weaponry. Many of the Grifix would come to him for anything wrong, never once turning down anything that was needed. Sometimes Grifix would even ask Oak about his tapestry that hangs outside his hut. Telling the story about how he managed to defeat a crazed phoenix; plucking a feather from the creature to tie onto his sword handle. Some believe him, others don't because they don't know how to feel about him to begin with.

Valance never took a vow of silence, nor is he mute, only purposely choosing to not speak for any reason. Without any words to get in the way, in his mind, that would mean that there is no arguing, no fighting, no disagreements, and no hate. Others have figured out ways to determine his mood by his hood. Wearing the hood meant he didn't want to be disturbed, without it meant he was calm and it was fine to interact with him.

One thing Oak doesn't like is blinding bright lights. It's incredibly tough to find him roaming during noon times due to the sun's brightness. Evening, dawn, dusk, and night being the best chances to see him with fellow tribe members. No one knows as to why his dislike for general light started but it's rumored he was born at midnight in complete darkness, in turn having his eyes become so fully adjusted to darkness over the light.

~~~~~

Meeting Aurora Snowfeather

As a teenager, he heard of a white Grifix whose family forbade her from becoming a scout. Not wanting their kids to ever become a scout, a warrior, or even Starfell Clan Grifix. Eventually, this white Grifix packed up everything and left their father to pursue what she wanted all her life. To become a scout for the Tribe.

By the time that this white Grifix had officially joined the scouts, not only was she older, but she discovered how difficult it was. Constantly and consistently being ridiculed by the other scouts and captain. After having such difficulty and the constant provoking breaking her heart, she started to believe that her father was right. Thoughts racing through her mind telling her that joining in the scouts was in fact a mistake. The days started to change however when Valance started watching this Grifix from afar. He saw how hard of a time she was having; so he decided to carefully watch her for more days. His hiding didn't last too long after she had spotted him one day. Working on a new plan after getting caught.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

During a training session, she again kept messing up different routines causing the captain to yell and ridicule her more. Eventually all the scouts left; left the white Grifix by herself all alone in the training grounds. Standing there trying her best to hold back any tears, tossing her mask away before hearing a rustling from behind her. She quickly readied a spear but Valance was faster, knocking the spear away from the Grifix paws and tripping her to the ground; standing over her though not aggressively as she had assumed.

"Wh-what do you want? Who are you?-" asking the white Grifix. Valance didn't answer, simply moving off of her and pointed to a few spears. She looked where he pointed, confused about what he wanted. She quickly realized what he wanted when he picked up a spear and readied it at her. They sparred for hours till sunset, Valance never saying a single word throughout the entire training, winning each time by either pinning the white Grifix down or getting close enough to stop her in her tracks.

Seeing how exhausted she was, he set his spear down and nodded towards her. Turning to leave before she stopped him. "Wait! I…do you not speak? What's your name? I'm Aurora."

Valance only looked at her and nodded again, lifting a paw to point at some targets that were sitting on the opposite side of the training grounds. She looked to see where he was pointing before looking back to him, though he had disappeared before she could stop him.

The next day Aurora didn't participate in training, much to the captain's delight. She instead was waiting for Valance to show up again, and he did when everyone left.

"I know the captain hates me, he thinks I'm stupid and-" Valance lifted his paw and moved it across his mouth, telling her to be quiet while he shook his head no. Aurora just stayed quiet while watching Oak ready a spear. She glared and smiled at him while she lifted her own spear, starting another training session.

This went on for a week of both Aurora and Oak training by themselves after the scouts would leave. Signaling to her with his paws or motioning towards items and areas, like he was using sign language but not all the time. Working on her defending herself, tripping to gain the upper edge, finding landmarks, even how to make impromptu medicine. Despite all this, he still never spoke a word nor did he take off his mask. She only learned of his name when she overheard others talking about how he was training her personally. 

One day, the two came together with all the scouts present. Oak nodded to Aurora and they both readied their weapons, starting a long lasting sparring match. During the middle of the session, she accidentally threw out her weapon too much and scratched Oak, causing everyone to gasp. She even gasped and nearly dropped her weapon before Oak stopped her, only nodding again and they continued. She eventually backed Oak up and tripped him to his back, holding the end of a spear to his neck. All the scouts were just in awe, stunned in disbelief that the lowest scout just beat one of the best. Only after a few moments did Oak get up and step in close to Aurora, slightly lifting his mask up as he whispered such a faint whisper that only Aurora could hear him.

"You have come so far Aurora…I am proud of you." His voice shook her, sending a chill down her spine. She had lost her voice to say anything back, only looking at him wide eyed because not only did she just hear him. She saw him.

Everyone rushed to her as he left, putting his mask back down to cover his face. Everyone was asking Aurora question after question. "What did he say?", "What did he sound like?", "What does he look like?", question after question but Aurora only was in disbelief. She couldn't hear the questions because she just wasn't paying attention, but her heart was beating faster and faster.

~~~~~~

It's been a couple of days since the miracle of a lifetime had happened, and only Aurora knew how that miracle sounded. She wanted to know why he trained her personally, why he even spoke to her. She set out to his hut, bypassing any Grifix who talked to her or tried asking a question.

Almost bursting through Oaks door, she quickly closed it and stood in his face. He only looked back with a puzzled reaction.

"Why." Aurora stated, she didn't ask. "Why me. Why did you help me."

Oak just stood there for a moment, lifting his paw and removing his mask. Aurora blinked at his action and started to step back, finally realizing what she had just done. A small sense of fear overshadowed her when she saw his face again. Before she tried to bolt, he spoke again.

"You are very pretty…" Valance said, stopping Aurora in her tracks. She turned to face him, the two Grifix looking at each other. His eyes gave a remembrance to an ocean, so deep in blue. Her eyes looked so light, like ice being frosted over. No more words were exchanged in that moment as both the Grifix leaned in closely, delivering a kiss. Valance and Aurora officially coming together as a couple~💜