"This gentleman here is Frode," Vali murmured, voice hushed and soothing while multicolored fingers caressed the velvety, obsidian coat of the majestic stallion. "Frode and I have forged quite a fabulous friendship during my time here. He even responds so well to me calling his name already, don't you sweet Frode?" He prompted warmly, tenderly patting the soft spot just beneath the stallion's chin. Frode kicked in response to Vali's kind words, gearing up as if ready to charge.

Throughout the course of the day following their reunion, Vali and Tofa had been granted the opportunity to reconnect, finding solace in each other's company within the cozy loft while their Alphas attended to their daily duties. There, they immersed themselves in an exchange of stories, recounting the shared trials they endured following the devastating raid on their village. Their heartfelt conversations evoked an abundance of smiles, tears, and contagious laughter, so much so that they nearly found themselves forgetting about the looming threat to both their own and their Alpha's safety.

However, as the hours of animated discussion gradually waned, leaving behind only an atmosphere of gratitude for the other's companionship, Vali resolved to make the most of their remaining hours until their Alpha's return by introducing Tofa to his newfound circle of friends.

The stallion responded to Vali's previous inquiry with a moist breath of agreement, his mane swaying gracefully in a waterfall-like cascade of ebony strands around his face. And as he stood beside his friend, Tofa quivered with a mixture of reverence and wonder, his small figure dwarfed several feet below the imposing shadow cast by the immense equine.

"He's... enormous." Was all that Tofa managed to squeak out, intent on keeping his back firmly pressed firmly against the safe stall walls. Vali simply giggled at that, nodding as he continued to massage his animal friend.

"That he is! And mighty powerful, too." The taller Omega praised, starlight blazing in his eyes as his love for all things equine shone through. Vali's devotion to these magnificent creatures transcended mere admiration. In them, he saw a reflection of his own spirit – relentless energy, unyielding in the face of adversity, yet gentle and nurturing when needed. And in their presence, he found solace and inspiration.

As the stallion nuzzled affectionately against Vali, a soft sigh escaped the Omega's lips, carrying with it a sense of serenity, an emotion that seemed particularly elusive as of late.

"What about her?" Tofa offered, pointing a skinny finger toward the other side of the low stall wall. It was obvious that the Omega wanted to emancipate himself from the overwhelming shadow cast by the gigantic creature that was Frode, one whose single misstep could potentially flatten him.

Vali followed the trajectory of Tofa's outstretched hand, his heterochromatic eyes shifting to view the pure white mare that had caught his attention during his very first descent down to the stables. Since then, his connection with Frode had consumed most of his interactions, leaving only fleeting moments dedicated to the other mares, enough to tend to their hooves and manes. Thus, his knowledge about the smaller equine remained limited, but he would gladly acquaint Tofa with her if that was what his friend desired.

"Well, from the short amount of time that I've spent with her, her temperament is a bit skittish. But once you earn her trust, she's just the sweetest," Vali explained, giving Frode one last nuzzle and pat before leading his friend – the human one – out of the stallion's enclosure. After securing Frode's stall door with a gentle lowering of the lever, Vali turned his attention to the adjacent stall, moving to enter. "But despite my best efforts, I still haven't been able to figure out her name." He pouted, a hint of frustration lacing his tone.

Tofa entered the next stall with considerably greater ease than the last, clearly feeling more confident in his capability to protect himself against this smaller equine should the need for such defense arise. But as Vali leisurely caressed her muzzle, whispering soft, soothing sounds to calm her, the Omega couldn't help but notice that the mare's attention remained entirely fixated on... Tofa.

Vali's familiarity with creatures of the equine variety endowed him with a high level of perception, enabling him to discern that the mare's expression was not one of fear, but rather one of trust. It was as if she could perceive Tofa's innocence, understanding that he was safe without the need for verbal or physical confirmation. 

Vali's lips curved into a gentle smile, captivated by the unspoken interplay unfolding before him. 

"She's beautiful..." Tofa trailed off. He reached out an arm toward the mare as if in a trance, maintaining eye contact until finally, his fingertips made contact with her satin coat, tangling into the long, ivory strands that made up her illustrious mane. 

The mare leaned into Tofa's touch at once, drawn to the smaller Omega like a magnet finding its opposite pole. And as she huffed, nuzzling her damp muzzle into Tofa's chest, the small man couldn't have stopped the exuberant giggle that bubbled forth from his chest even if he'd attempted to do so.

"'Yer a sweet one for sure, ya' are!" Tofa commended amidst his fit of giggles, small hands traversing across every inch of the mare's snowy coat that he could reach. Meanwhile, Vali watched on from the other side of the stall, a grin full of happiness pasting itself across his lips as he held witness to his best friend forging the beginnings of the sacred human-equine bond. 

"I reckon 'yer called somethin' real lovely. Somethin' like..." Tofa continued in a low whisper, his words intended solely for the mare's ears. He paused for a long moment, gathering his thoughts before taking his very best guess. "Kjellfrid?" Tofa tried out the name on his tongue, only for it to be thrown back at him in the form of an irritated whinny from the mare. 

"Apologies, apologies! I got it wrong, I surely did!" Luckily, the Omega was able to laugh off the mare's obvious frustration, getting right back on track to resume his efforts as he hummed to himself. As he did so, he scratched just above the mare's wet muzzle in apology. "How 'bout..." Casting the mare a prolonged gaze, as if absorbing the very essence of her presence, Tofa prepared to take a second attempt at her name. "Eyvor."

Tofa's voice barely exceeded a whisper, but to his astonishment, it seemed that all that the mare needed to hear before she kicked out a gleeful neigh, bowing her head to rub her mane all across Tofa's rosy, flustered face.

"By Odin, could it be that I truly got it right?!" Tofa exclaimed, mirroring the mare's excitement as if it were his own. 

"It would seem so," Vali moved in to celebrate with the happy pair, using his knuckles to massage the place below Eyvor's twitching ears. Still smiling, he directed the joyous expression toward his dearest friend and fellow Omega. "She utterly adores you, Tofa! Not that I'm surprised." He winked.

Another sound of delight made its way up Tofa's throat as he pressed a soft kiss to the wide expanse of velvety skin between Eyvor's eyes. "I wish I could ride her. Out there, under the sun." He said, his smile suddenly flickering low like a candle. "I barely remember what the sun feels like, now."

Vali sensed the profound anguish that consumed his friend then, and without hesitation, he gravitated to Tofa's side, seeking solace in the touch of their hands. 

"You will." Vali spoke his promise with a tone that left no room for compromise. "The sun's radiance will grace your skin once more, Tofa. Moreover, you will revel in its warmth, liberated and untethered, riding on Eyvor's back with Kerr seated faithfully by your side." He squeezed Tofa's hand as the smaller Omega exhaled shakily, meeting Vali's eyes with a wariness that told of his hesitance to believe. "I swear it."

Tofa's response came in the form of a resigned sigh, accompanied by the faintest nod as he acknowledged Vali's bold aspirations. "We can only offer our most desperate prayers," he murmured, voice a mere whisper. "And if fortune favors us, maybe Odin will heed our plea."

"He will." Vali's smile held a tinge of sorrow as he maintained an unwavering gaze upon his smaller friend. In the wake of his own fear, the feeble words were all that he could offer. "He will."

A serene quiet enveloped the world, interrupted only by the gentle breaths of the multiple horses in the stables around them. And yet, just as Vali contemplated offering Tofa a retreat to the safety of the loft above, the unmistakable echo of weighty footfalls snapped both Omega's necks around with lightning speed, fixating their gaze upon the barn entrance.

Only a few, fleeting moments later, the wooden door groaned open, permitting a sliver of twilight to cast its feeble glow upon the unmistakable silhouettes of a weary Kerr and a towering Einar.

"Alpha!" Vali exhaled, urgency propelling him towards his mate, who, upon closer examination, also bore a burlap sack draped over his sturdy shoulder. "You've returned!"

The Omega's low-strung anxiety gave way to an overwhelming sense of relief, heart dancing with joy as Einar drew near, prompting Vali to hasten his steps. Finally reaching him, Vali threw himself at his Alpha at once, seeking comfort in the familiar heat radiating from both the exposed flesh of Einar's chest and the blossoming bond that shone brightly between them. 

"My darling Ástvinur," the Alpha whispered, cooing to his Omega tenderly. His voice resonated with that deliciously low timbre, his accent lingering on each syllable like a sweet caress. The sound alone sent a giddy sense of need throughout Vali's entire body. "Have you and Tofa been well?" Einar's vast arms, strong and secure, encircled Vali in an instant, forming a sanctuary where their hearts danced in synchronicity.

"We have," The lighter left side of Vali's face turned the shade of a blooming rose as he nestled his face against Einar's strong, protective chest. With every breath, he inhaled the earthy, rugged scent that belonged solely to his beloved mate. "We've talked about so much, it was absolutely wonderful having him here with me!"

The pair's physical closeness ignited a whirlwind of emotions within the Omega, a potent cocktail of longing, reassurance, and desires that remained unspoken, and the wings of a bird made a fluttering home in Vali's heart as Einar's handsome face broke into a vision of joy. In that enchanting moment, the Omega dared to believe that their nightly torch might be ignited solely by the heat emanating from their bond alone. 

"Knowing you are happy, my heart is full." Einar expressed, taking a moment to gaze deep into the mismatched eyes that reminded him so much of the sun and the moon. "My Vali, how I have yearned for you..." murmured the Alpha, stooping to close the vast distance that separated them. Reaching out to touch Vali's lips with his own ever so tenderly, as if tasting the essence of a dream fulfilled, both men relishing the enchanting flavor of their long-awaited reunion.

Kerr, standing only a few paces away, watched Einar and Vali's tender reunion with quiet eyes, torn between wonder and envy. Despite his and Tofa's bond being fresh and delicate, molded by the circumstances in which they found themselves, the pull between them was undeniable. And as Tofa drew closer, latching Eyvor's enclosure behind him as he exited it, the two men exchanged shy glances, their desire to be near one other practically palpable in the air. Even still, the novelty of their connection made them pause, timidly dancing around the indisputable connection that they shared.

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