The Incursion Of The Nøkken

Chapter Three, The 'Fur'gotten One

Tara hissed at the seagull, chasing it with a broom. "Go back to the ramparts of hell, you monstrous beasts!" Frida couldn't help but notice the hatred Tara had concentrated on animals with wings. Frida paced around the creaky cabin, observing every last detail. Tara's cabin lacked furniture, but had been generously filled with medicine, stag meat, and large shells gathered from the coastline.
"I see you're taking my home to your liking. Do not get too comfortable for we must set foot momentarily," grinned the wise woman.
Frida wrapped her shoulders with an otter pelt, confronting its warmth. "When do you think you will be done here?" Asked an impatient Frida.
"In a moment I said. I just need to find my...Aha! Here it is," cried out Tara. Frida narrowed her eyes at the layer of chainmail Tara had withdrawn from a terracotta pot.
"Has wartime approached already?" Teased Frida.
Tara glanced at Frida's smile with no emotion, then had darted back at the pieces of metal. "Why the currents of war has clashed upon our lands before you were born, my love." Replied Tara as she stroked the brass of her earrings, pushing back her curly brown hair.
Frida grew tired of walking into the woods with a woman her father insisted was a trustworthy ally. She stomped her leather boots into the snow, once at a time causing a dramatic crunch step by step. Tara thumped the back of Frida's head with a surge of bitterness.
"Stop mourning like a newborn calf and get moving. We are almost there," insisted Tara. Only a thump was needed to constrict Frida's focus. The trees has leaned over the two females, protecting them from the gentle deposition of snow flakes. Tara stopped walking at her usual brisk pace and extended her right arm towards Frida's chest allowing her to go no further.
"Do not make a sound" demanded a cautious Tara. Frida, obedient by the request scanned her horizon. She only saw the lumps of boulders scattered among the frozen pathways, the only movement that was cast upon the scene were the shedding of snow. One of the boulders moved: a charcoal colored bear risen from its slumber, had erected itself from the ground onto its feet making it appear taller.
Tara slowly caressed her hands upon Frida's shoulder blades, maneuvering her to the shelter of a pine tree. She then twitched her neck towards the west of the snowy plains, revealing two hunters mounted on their horses. How convenient. Frida covered her mouth as one of the figures lowered himself onto the ground, crouching onto the frozen earth. He then equipped his bow, and grasped for one of his arrows dangling off the horses neck.
Tara shook her body upwards, expressing excitement. "How fascinating is this Frida? The God of the hunt has released one of his kin to save us, we must boast of this experience on our way home. Yes indeed, we must."
The bear relaxed several steps onto the snow, approaching the two hunters with rage. The hunter eased his arrow onto the wooden mantle of his bow, generating a point to shoot. The bear now even more distraught with the weapon, turned over its shoulder to the crater in the earth where it had been previously resting. Frida's heart had exhausted itself into a panic as the hunter released his finger's from the back tip of the arrow, allowing it to pierce into the sky and eventually into the throat of the bear. Tara pointed out to Frida the wounds the bear had already possessed on its side, possibly from the interaction of a nearby male; this being so, one arrow was really all it took to defeat this target.
Tara grasped onto Frida's hand, pulling her two the hunters. The man on the other horse had already begun to tie the legs of the bear to the disciplined legs of his mount, creating multiple knots. The man who had been given the honor of actually defeating the bear, put a boot on its chest, smiling at Frida and Tara. "Ah, now what brings the presence of you two fine girls?" Asked the bold hunter. The man had light brown hair curving past his ear. He wore a dark blue knitted shirt, with leather bracers clasped onto his wrist.
"That does not concern you," replied a giddy Tara. She walked past the bear, observing its physique. Frida forced herself to stay close to the woman's body. Tara leaned closer to the slain beast, holding its ear within her fingers, "What do you plan on doing with it?" Asked Tara.
"That does not concern you." Said the other hunter with a smile. He was much younger than his companion. He wore a black leather tunic attached to a black cloak with a hood. "But since you asked so nicely, we plan on skinning its pelt to craft a bedspread for our Jarl and his newborn daughter."
Tara frowned at the boy's answer. "Such a waste. The onslaught of such a graceful animal. . . For a child." Said Tara gravely. Frida heard the sound of a screeching moan.
The older hunter aimed his bow at his surroundings, "what! What is that?" He asked as he held his arrow between the canine's of his teeth. Tara took advantage of the hunter's occupation on their surroundings, and swung a punch at Frida's stomach.
"Forgive my apprentice, she hasn't eaten in hours." Convinced Tara. She then rearranged her position at the bear's ear and approached the horse of the younger huntsman. "The moon arises slowly but surely my friend, you must leave now before your spilled blood attracts even more friends," assured Tara as she began to impatiently tap the hind of the horse, allowing it to trot forward. The eldest hunter began to mount his horse, preparing for his leave.
"I suppose you are right, good evening my lady." Said the man as he began to catch up with his younger apprentice.
"Your Jarl should know better to send you to our lands," cried out Tara. "If you do so again we will thrust our own arrows in the heart of your own village!" Said the wise woman with a final shout.
Frida looked behind her, holding her stomach. Searching for the actual creature that had conducted the sounds. Although irritated with her friend, Frida understood why Tara harmed her. At least she thought she did.
Tara retreated to the small pit, where the bear originally was resting. "Oh, oh my," shivered Tara as the crouched down. "Get over here Frida! We have an issue."
Frida hurried to Tara's side with anticipation. She extended her hands to the shoulders of Tara as she crouched beside her. Frida's eyes widened as she saw the heavy breathing of a small bear cub, struggling to climb out of the earthen nest. Tara cleared her throat as she placed her now twisted wrap of chainmail around the neck of the small animal, hooking it into a collar. Frida placed her otter pelt around the base of the small cub, pulling it to her arms.
Frida let out an uneasy laugh, "it's so small, Tara. Look at how it folds its tiny arms around its face!" Tara, without blinking watched Frida embrace the animal with affection.
"It's a 'he', Frida." Said Tara as she took the bear out of Frida's arms. "Let's go home.
The bear was blonde like Frida, but much furrier. Frida watched as Tara poured a pitcher of goat milk into a wooden dish. Tara then reached for the bear, pulling it closer to the milk.
"That's what you're feeding it?" Questioned Frida.
"Oh forgive me, why don't you go next door and ask Klog for some bear breast milk. I'm sure his wife won't mind."
Tara was right. Frida knew that bears weren't a common pet among the poorer villages, whereas the king himself is said to have one of white fur. Frida tilted her head in shock as the bear progressed into the consumption of the milk, eventually reaching both paws into the dish.
Frida exposed a chuckle and turned to Tara, "it is obvious I don't have room for this animal. And it seems you are more attached to him anyways. . . I think it's a him." Said Frida
Tara twisted the strands of her hair making a braid. "Aye." Tara replied.
"So what will you name him?"
"I will name him Sage, for when I woke up I encountered a glimpse of farmers harvesting the herb." Frida was confused by Tara's spiritual sight, since it was the dawn of winter. No sage has ever grown in Hinbjerg. Tara laughed hysterically as her new companion Sage had already drifted into slumber. Frida covered her mouth as the bear cub curled itself into a ring inside the dome of the bowl.
Frida lifted her cup of water, "Sage it is." She said as she began to gulp the remains of her drink.