The Winter

Chapter 14

A short one but an important one.
Hope you enjoy!

Teach Duinn - (chach doon)
Meaning: House of Donn/House of the Dark One.
In Irish mythology, it is a place where the dead gather before moving onto The Otherworld; ruled over by a possible God of the dead known as Don, or, the dark one

Chapter 14

My eyes fluttered open to see the night sky stretching on endlessly above, a hazy moon hanging amongst millions of stars. There was something strange about it though, more than the fact I didn't remember falling asleep outside. The longer I looked at the strange swirling clouds with purple hues, the more I came to realised I didn't recognise a single constellation.

Thick lush grass rustled in a warm breeze to tickle my skin, which was wrong for the time of year, it should have been cold. Snowing. And while I recognised the dress covering my skin, it sent my stomach dropping. It was the same soft, sheer white material that I'd worn the first time my soul had left my body.

Frowning, I sat up slowly, taking in the meadow I found myself in. This wasn't Náströnd. There was no oppressive force weighing down, nor signs of rot and decay, or cursed gods, and yet somehow, I knew sleep had once more brought me to Helheim. A gentler part, for souls deserving of peace perhaps?

Gentle sloping hills darkened the horizon while the sound of rustling leaves ushered from behind me like the rush of a small waterfall. All in all, it was almost. . .pleasant. . .peaceful in its dreamlike quality. Even the howling wolves in the distance sounded more beautiful than I'd ever heard, joyous calls of ringing sound that made the hair on my arms stand up as I resisted the urge to tilt my chin up and join in. . .

Wait. Wolves?

Throwing myself to my feet, I spun towards the forest of tall firs, scanning the breaks in the trunks for any movement. When I did, spotting a lone wolf loping through the long grass, the moon catching tones of brilliant silver in his fur, my knees buckled and threatened to give out beneath me. I shook my head in disbelief, rasping breaths tearing from my lips. Heart thundering in my chest, I backed away while the wolf drew closer, his dark eyes near black in the din, but as familiar to me as my own. Eyes that pierced right into my soul and made me stop in my tracks.

The male shifted to skin and gave me the same lopsided grin he always had; playful and confident. I'd nearly forgotten it. Nearly forgotten the way the lines around his eyes creased, making the scar left there from a boar appear all the worse. He looked much like I remembered. All except, his dark brown hair was a little longer, hitting broad shoulders in curls as wild as Niamh's, and he'd regained the weight he'd lost during our struggles. Yet, despite Vali having told me as much, and despite seeing him with my own eyes, I couldn't trust this wasn't more than a wishful dream. . .

"Mànas?"

His grin grew, dark eyes shimmering, voice cracking with emotion as he bowed his head slightly, "Halò, a phiuthar. My sister. I hear you've been causing quite a bit of trouble."

Sucking in a sharp breath, I flung myself forward with such force, Mànas grunted when we collided. He staggered back a few steps but managed to keep us both upright as he wrapped his arms around me so tight it crushed my ribs. His minty, fir tree scent filled my senses, offering the comfort I didn't realise I'd been craving until now.

Mànas was here.

I could feel his chest rise and fall, his skin warm against mine, his heart beating a rhythmic thud beneath my ear.