Pack (The Ulfhednar Saga bk 1)

She's Gone

After three sessions, all three containing beatings, pain and death, Torstein was convinced Bran and Val were naturals and also gluttons for pain. They both picked up their battle techniques quickly, killed with healthy amounts of fear and fought through their own injuries to save others. He was truly impressed with them both, even if it hurt him to see Val in any pain whether it was temporary or not. He was proud of her and knew that being able to fight was part of who she was. They did look exhausted, so he decided it was enough for one day and they should get some rest.
"Are you ready to eat?" He asked, hiding a chuckle when they both rolled their eyes.
"Ready for a bed" Bran responded. Both of them were walking slowly as they removed their filthy armor and weapons. 
"Those shields, they are yours to keep." He told them. They both responded with a smile in their eyes but their bodies were far too reluctant to give more than that.
"I feel like I need to be boiled clean." Valdis said suddenly. "I don't recall a time I have ever been this dirty." She had a point, her hair was black with dirt and blood, skin stained with gore.
"You do look like you belong in a stable" Bran laughed. Torstein couldn't help but laugh in response which garnered a look of ill will from Val. She had been picking off clumps of mud, his timing was perfect. She let loose an assault of ick filled mud balls at his face. Soon Bran joined in and he had no choice but to find anything he could to fight them off. For a few moments they were all carefree, full of happiness.
Collapsing in exhaustion he began to speak. "Alright, I surrender, you two win. Now we all need to wash."
"It was worth it and you know it." Bran told him.
"Yes, it has been ages since I did anything that carefree." He was absently picking leaves from his hair when he saw Val move closer to help him. She gave a small smile and threw the leaves to the ground. Bran chuckled, catching them unawares.
Bran scoffed, shaking his head, "better go clean up before someone confuses you for someone less pretty!" he ran off laughing as Torstein tried to throw the last clump he had pulled off his body at Bran, narrowly missing his head. He shook his head laughing.
"I better go wash too, it will take several baths to get this off." Val told him as she tossed dirt to the ground. She was obviously tired, but made the effort to smile at him. He appreciated it.
"I will see you at dinner." He told her. He watched her as she walked away.


Bran was so happy to clean himself off and head towards the mead hall. He could use some meat in his belly and a horn in his hand. The battles were so real, the pain, the smell of blood and death were all so real. He would never forget what he went through that day, and he believed it would make him a better fighter. He decided that this was one reason the Ulfhednar were such great fighters. It was almost numbing, fighting in the illusion. It weighed on him, trying to remember it was not real.
When he arrived at the hall the smell of food and drink awoke his senses. The sudden rumbling in his stomach reminding him that he was hungry and also how much time he spent starving in his homeland. This thought hardened his resolve. He wouldn't be that weak again or allow his people to remain so. He thought about how much pain he had been in, his body eating itself and even worse, the memory of not being able to shift. He knew his people were still suffering, they all were feeling what he was grateful was just a memory for him. All of this will be well worth it if he could save his village. He wished they could leave right away and take his pack away from their deaths. 
Bran walked in through the great carved archway moving briskly toward Olaf. He had made a decision as the Prince of his pack.
"Ah! Bran! We hear you did well today." Olaf paused seeing the seriousness in Bran's face. "What can I do for you?" He asked, his expression changing from pleased to concerned.
"When do we save my village? Why can't we bring them here? Why can't we save them?" He was yelling, irate, asking for Olaf to help him. "I cannot just sit here, eat and forget them while they starve and suffer."
"I understand this is difficult. That you don't want your people to suffer anymore, however, if we move them now our enemies will know. They would follow them here and attack our only citadel. Do you understand? You would be putting them all in danger as well as all of us here." He was calm but Bhran was still infuriated.
"Jarl Olaf, I understand, but I was near death myself. My people are dying as we speak and we are doing nothing to even let them know that we are trying. When are we going to save them?"
"Soon, young Bran, we are planning but we will not move until we are absolutely sure we can do so safely. Now eat and keep up your strength."
Bran was pretty sure that he had made the usually calm Jarl, noticeably angry. He wasn't happy about the terms of their aid, but he knew that Olaf was right. So he found a place at the table and ate his fill before retiring for the night.

The food was just what she needed. Salted lamb and rye bread offset her glass of honey drink, settling her stomach and relaxing her nerves. Those battles were so intense, tiring, painful and difficult. Watching people die repeatedly was harder than she thought, even though she knew it wasn't real. Tonight she would revel in her relative safety and the thought of what she can soon offer her people.
After seeing her brother confront Olaf, she too was angry about their current situation, like her brother. Every fiber of her being told her that that was exactly what she was here for.
Torstein caught her eye walking into the hall. He must have been training while she was washing because he was in full battle regalia. Leather jerkin over his tunic covered in dirt and blood. She had never seen a creature so mesmerizing or fierce in her life. They looked to one another a moment before Torstein's attention as pulled away by one of his friends. She watched them laugh and boast about their day's training. Arms wide, chests heaving as they proclaimed their masculinity. She couldn't help but smile at the men in the room and find comfort in the normalcy it provided.
After a series of stories were shared he sat beside her, close enough that she could feel the energy thrumming off of him. She hadn't ever felt so comfortable next to another person while being so unsure of herself. She wasn't sure what was happening between them, but she was happy about whatever it was. Her lips were burning with the memory of the hurried kisses the night before. A welcome feeling compared to the pain and anguish she felt most of that day.
"What did you think of Ingrid's battle scenes?" He asked her.
She looked at him, sure that her eyes expressed her apprehension. "It was amazing. Probably the most brilliant way to learn about an enemy. I also think it is too overwhelming. It can cause some to lose themselves."
He stopped eating his lamb, placing it on his plate and looked towards her. "What do you mean?" He asked her softly.
"Magic is dangerous when it isn't respected. We all know that. Something about what she is doing doesn't sit well with me." She had been weary of Ingrid from the moment she had met her. The beautiful lady of the land seemed like a poisonous plant. Drawing them in with her beauty only to destroy them when they got too close. She wondered if that was something she could tell Torstein, and thought perhaps she should keep those thoughts to herself just yet.
"You're right, her magic is very powerful, but she has always done for the Ulfhednar and given no reason to make Olaf or any of his thanes  question that." He was short with her and had resumed eating. He had ended the conversation and she decided to respect that, even if she felt he was overlooking something. After all, he knew Ingrid much better than she did.
When she finished eating she made her way down to the beach. She liked to clear her head with her feet in the water. The spring air was so warm that it carried the scents of the surrounding flowers and gave the air a heaviness. It was intoxicating. She pulled up her skirt and kicked off her shoes taking in the feeling of the sand under her feet. The way her weight shifted as she walked through the dampened sand comforted her. She breathed in the salty air and walked into the cool water. She enjoyed the refreshing splash of the little waves as she dug her toes into the ground. The little rocks were coarse and kept her planted in the moment instead of flying off into her imagination. The smell of the ocean mingling with the forest reminded her of her roots, they were a people of the ocean and the forest. This was real and should be here for the future of the pack. All of this was connected, the ocean, sand and forest. The pack, the Ulfhednar.
Her reverie was broken by movement behind her. She stiffened for a moment only to relax almost immediately, realizing who it was.
"I have always enjoyed the ocean. The earth beneath my feet, little waves of salt water wrapping around my legs. The ocean is so vast, temperamental and full of life." She said softly. "Have you ever just waded in the water? Felt its embrace?"
"I have never taken the time. Maybe I should join you" Replied Torstein.
"The water is perfect tonight" She told him, staring off into the distance, thinking about what else was out there. Images of the Midgard serpent devouring his own tail filled her mind. Torstein pulled off his boots and followed her into the water in response to her invitation. She held out her hand and was comforted by his weaving itself around hers. His hands were large enough to cover hers completely.  The cool water became a very welcome guest to her now superheated body. She was very aware of every move he made next her but tried to just enjoy the waves crashing around their legs.
"I am sorry about brushing off your worries earlier." He told her. "I just couldn't imagine Ingrid ever doing something to hurt her people."
"I know that you trust her, but something about her makes me wary. I can't just let go of what I feel is right. You can understand that, right?"
"I can, I will also keep your words in mind. I trust your instincts and admit mine could be clouded by my history with her." She was shocked by what he said, turning to face him.
"Thank you Torstein." She really was grateful that he could understand where she was coming from and not hold it against her. She moved to turn out and walk deeper into the water when Torstein turned her towards him touching her cheek with the back of his hand. She could barely breathe, his touch was overwhelming her senses. He leaned towards her, blue fire in his eyes. Their lips touched, turning the water into that same blue fire, consuming her. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her into him creating a heated sanctuary between their bodies. Waves crashed around them, as she ran her hands up his torso feeling every muscle shudder as her skin touched his. His hands traveled to her waist, grabbing and pulling at her almost desperately.
She couldn't get close enough, but she was going to keep trying. She reached, bravely, for his shirt and pulled it off. Realizing he had removed his gear before he came to find her. Gathering her nerves she stepped back to take him in properly. She froze, body flushing as she took in what she saw.
Torstein was stunning. His skin was smooth where it wasn't tattooed or scarred. Wolves ran along his body in blue ink. She could see Mani and Sol, images of a pack and ravens running along his ribs. Every muscle tight just like that day at the cart. The difference being that this time water was dripping from his hair, running down his chest making him glisten in the moonlight. She noticed that he was shaking and wondered why.
"Why are you shaking?" She whispered. She saw him stiffen at her question and look away. He took a deep breath and began to explain.
"It's you, the way you make me feel. Like I can't control myself and that terrifies me." He dropped one arm to his side and pushed his hand through his hair aggressively. "It isn't safe to be out of control and that is how you make me behave, but I can't not be near you." He told her. She was desperate to stop this pain he was feeling, the turmoil in his heart.
She moved her hand to his chest tracing one of the wolves, tail to nose. He was relaxing under her touch. She felt a rough scar under her fingertips marring the beautiful blue wolf. He flinched when she touched it but when she looked up at him his eyes were closed, lids fluttering. "You're perfect" she said softly. "You don't need to be afraid of me, I feel just as you do." Opening his eyes he looked down at her, lips moving to speak when someone cleared their throat.
"I'm sorry, I just wanted to speak with you Val." Said Ingrid. She stood on the shore, cheeks pink with embarrassment Valdis thought, then realized it could possibly be from another feeling, anger or jealousy. She told Torstein she would try to accept her, though so she shook the thought off. She wasn't going to play too nice, however. Seeing Ingrid's discomfort, Valdis didn't move a single finger from his skin. She looked up at him trailing her hand over his collarbone towards his hair. She carefully wrapped her fingers through the blonde strands as he had done to hers.
"Okay" she replied not moving her eyes from his. "I will see you in the morning" he told her kissing her cheek briefly, leaving his shirt in the water. She watched him walk away, stomach doing flips. She reached down and grabbed his shirt then walked towards Ingrid, irritated that she interrupted such a perfect moment. "Having a good night breaking up perfectly good romantic moments?" She asked Ingrid not hiding her anger.
"I am truly sorry" she replied. But her face had changed from embarrassment to anger. "I just needed to speak with you." Val looked at her and didn't believe for one second that Ingrid felt sorry, which infuriated her. Something was wrong with Ingrid, she wasn't sure what she was up to, but she knew that Ingrid wasn't who she claimed to be.
"It's okay Ingrid, I have a feeling we will have more moments." She replied with a smile, convinced Ingrid was jealous, which was almost sickening.

"No you won't" She snapped. When she realized how short she had been she cleared her throat and began to speak again. "That's why I am here." She said, snatching Torstein's shirt from her hands.  "Draugr are coming. Somehow they found you, us. They are coming for you and Bran. I don't know why exactly but you need to run. You have to leave in order for us to live." She was frantic now, "Go, fast, get Bran and run!" Val didn't even hesitate, she shifted and ran towards Bran at his hut.
She wasn't sure she could trust Ingrid. Her instincts told her something was wrong but she could risk Ulfrheim, she wouldn't risk it for Ingrid. Gathering her will power, she dropped her head and ran faster towards her brother.
When he saw her coming he shifted immediately, sensing something was wrong. Silently they retrieved their shields and a few supplies from their huts. She wasn't sure why he didn't stop to question her but they moved wordless in wolf form. She was so happy for that day's lessons, for Torstein's lessons. Oh Gods, Torstein. She had to leave and not tell him for his own good. For a moment she wondered if she would ever see him again. Val pushed him out of her mind and ran.