Stepping into the cave made memories of what had happened when I was a pup come flooding back to me. Visions of my mother and father being happy, all of us being happy filled my mind; but the happiness had only lasted a few years. Heaving a sigh I pulled the hood of my cloak off the snow that was on it had fallen onto the stone floor of the cave; it was small, dark and damp, and as if the dampness wasn’t already posing as a challenge for starting a fire the cold winter air blew fiercely into the cave. I shivered at the coldness of the cave and worked on building a small fire.
Once the firewood was set up, and I made sure it was dry I angled myself between the entrance of the gave and the pile of wood; taking out my kindling, flint, and dagger I sat the kindling in the driest spot next to me. It took several frustrating times for me to get the kindling lit, and once it was I quickly put it under the pile of logs and softly began to blow until there was a strong fire going.
The light from the fire revealed that the walls of the cave were covered in mud; as well as the flooring “I guess whoever or whatever was here before was trying to insolate the inside of the cave, though it seems pointless seeing as the wind blows directly inside and there’s nothing to block the entrance; unless your part of the Earth wolf pack.” my voice echoed off the walls of the cave.
I stayed close to the fire with my back towards the wind to keep the fire as safe as possible. “Now what?” the voice of my wolf echoed in my head “now we make a plan to survive, like we always have.” She scoffed and I couldn’t blame her, we’ve been lucky to make it to seventeen. My parents weren’t from the same pack but they were mates, and for some reason that is taboo even if you can’t control who you mate with.
Maybe they were scared of them having control over both elements, and they’d be too powerful to control. The reason really didn’t matter to me or Silver. We wanted both packs and all its members dead for what they did, the question is how could I pull it off. “We should find more like us” Silvers voice was softer than usual “how many more can there be?” I said in a hushed voice, to which she gave no response. I formed a wall of ice to block the entrance of the cave, and laid down on the cold stone floor laying as close to the fire that I could.
My sleep was restless, and when I finally did fully succumb to sleep the crunch of footsteps on snow startled me awake. Scrambling to get up my heart almost stopped as the sound of ice shattering filled and echoed through the cave. Ice pack was the first thought that came to mind, but when my eyes locked onto the man at the entrance of the cave he looked purely made of muscle the way he held himself made him twice as intimidating, his hair was almost pitch black and his eyes were an icy blue. The clothes on him were of high quality and there was an emblem on his chest, that was of a wolf devouring a phoenix.
I was afraid to move and doubt I would even be able to my feet glued to the floor. Silver kept yelling run but I couldn't. There wasn't anywhere to run. He is blocking the exit, I could try getting around- “What pack are you from?” His voice shook me to my core. It was deep and full of power. I stayed quiet which seemed to strike a cord with him, his brows furrowed and he let out a low growl “you will answer or suffor” either way I’m dead so I should just get it over with.
❦
*Ulf*
The girl before me was small but she had muscle, her figure was hard to make out in the darkness of the cave but her eyes were a piercing gold color. The smell of fear radiated off of her mixed with the sweet smell of honey. Her voice came out hoarse and shaky “I’m not from a pack” now I understood her fear. “We should kill her Ulf” Timber’s voice rang in my head “I know that.” I said through gritted teeth.
Taking a step closer to the girl she stepped back reaching for something behind her back, “she has a blade, stop fooling around and kill her!” Timber shouted I lunged, grabbing her by the throat slamming her onto the floor of the cave, I heard the crack of bones and her eyes filled with tears yet she didn’t cry out nor scream. I watched as her eyes shut and she went limp, then slowly removed my hand and picked up the still body she was breathing. Good I wasn’t trying to kill her only injure her so she can’t run.
Timber was not happy I was breaking the rules. Any rogue should be killed on sight “Why aren’t you going to kill her? She’s a rogue you know the rules what if she is born of two different packs? Do you not think of what might happen if your father finds out?” I ignored his questions and looked down at the small girl in my arms, she was beautiful with freckles, dappled her cheeks, her red hair was very long, she had curves. She was so small compared to me that I held her gently feeling that if I held her too tight she might break, not to mention she was malnourished.
❦
*Freyja*
I woke up lying on my stomach on a bed that felt as if it were made with downy feathers, the blanket was made from elk skin. I want to move and sit up fighting against the pain when an old ladies voice came from behind me “You shouldn’t move you could hurt yourself more” her voice came out in a laugh “Though I am shocked you can still move at all seeing as how your spine was almost fractured when Ulf brought you in” I grunted in response and sat up fully biting my tongue as I stretched “I heal fast” my voice came out hoarse.
Why am I still alive? He knows what I am but he didn’t kill me. It doesn't make any sense. “Where am I?” I looked at the old lady. She was tall and slender, her eyes were brown and held a warmness to them. She wore a simple dress and her silver hair was in a bun. “You haven’t already guessed? Don’t you know who rescued you from that bear young lady?” I shook my head holding back a laugh so that’s what he told them. “You’re at the fire pack, our future alpha carried you back from the forest. Said he found you struggling against a bear as if you had no element to help you fight, an odd thing that is.” Her voice held a question to it as if she did not fully believe what she was told “Is it such an odd thing for a wolf to be born without an element?” I tilted my head asking her. She waved the question off and turned towards the door “It is not my place to question what an alpha has said, if he says you are without an element then I suppose it can happen. Now Ulf asked me to alert him when you have woken, there are fresh clothes in the wardrobe and new boots beside it.” and with that she left and “I forgot to ask her name” I muttered quietly as standing up wincing at the pain shooting through my back. I didn’t have a top on but Bandages covered my torso so nothing was exposed; however part of me still felt embarrassed, holding onto the bed to keep myself up I made my way to the wardrobe.
❦
*Ulf*
“She’s a strong one I’ll give you that” I turned around hearing Fey’s voice from behind me she was standing in the doorway with her arms folded across her chest. “Tell me the truth Ulf, who is she really and what actually happened? Something about her tells me she is powerful and not without an element.” Fey’s eyes were narrowed as she watched me. “I told you Fey, while on patrol I found her struggling for her life against a bear using a dagger for protection. I do not know who she is, but I intend to find out. And if you are here I assume she is awake.” I started towards the door that would lead me into the hall Fey stayed in the doorway looking up at me.
“At least tell me why you brought her here.” I looked at the old woman in front of me “Something pulled me to her, I can’t explain it Fey. Now please move.” She stood there for a minute considering my answer then stepped into the hall.
