The Runestone Guardians book 1: Secrets of Sølvefalske

Chapter 7 Stranger Danger

Ylvana sprinted forward, no idea where she was going. In her mind, the rain turned into black feathers. Every shadow in the trees made her heart skid to a halt. If they found her again, there would be nothing left but a carcass for the scavengers.

Her paws slipped in the mud, sending her chin crashing to the ground, gnashing her teeth together. Pine nudged her to her feet and led her into a large cave.

Nails and talons clicked against the stone as the animals shook themselves dry. A puddle of icy rainwater formed at their feet, but at least they couldn't get any wetter. When Ylvana's heartbeat slowed to a steadier pace, she stepped towards the cave entrance, but Mo stopped her.

"We should rest here for the night."

"They'll find us if we stop moving."

"No, dear, no bird could fly in this weather." A lightning strike behind her served as evidence. "You'll need to save your strength, we're a long way from home."

Ylvana squinted through the pellets of rain, but her night vision was useless in the storm's haze. "Where did they take me?"

"The Eastern side of the Hvitrfjella Range."

Ylvana sat, sore and shivering, visualizing the miles of mountains and forests she'd have to cross to get home. For a second, she thought she was safe, but the threat hadn't dissipated, it only changed form.

"Don't worry about that right now," the owl cooed. "We'll figure it out in the morning. For now, you're safe-" her head spun towards the cave entrance.

A bolt of lightning struck the earth, illumining a figure. Before the light faded, everyone was on their feet. The stranger's fur melted into the night, his eyes giving off a gleam of their own.

After a boom of thunder, the wolf spoke. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

Ylvana's fight-or-flight response stirred, prickling her hackles. "If it's your cave, we'll leave."

"It isn't, I'm not here to chase you off."

"Wow!" Pine squeaked. "Ana, you never told me wolves came in all black!"

He rushed forwards to greet the new visitor but Mo caught his tail in her beak. "Stay back, you red idiot! You don't just run up to a wild animal and play with it! Especially lone wolves. Without a pack, they're more desperate, and tend to be more vicious."

The stranger raised an eyebrow. "I'm standing right here."

"That's the problem!" the owl snapped.

"Look, I'm not here to cause trouble, I just wanna get out of the storm."

"Tough, now scram," she puffed up her feathers, "or do I have to show you why owls have no predators?"

Pine shook his head. "Ooh, you don't wanna find out. She did the same thing to me and I couldn't smell for a whole week."

"Okay, okay! I'll leave," the wolf said, turning toward the storm. "I should have known better than to mess with the group who escaped a whole camp of warriors."

Ylvana's ears perked up. "How do you know that?"

"I was walking by when I saw it," the wolf explained. "Sometimes I follow the humans. It's risky, but the leftover scraps of food are worth it. That was a very brave thing you did."

"It was mostly luck."

"You'll need more than that out here."

"Ylvana's a really good hunter!" Pine barked. "She's got rabbit, raccoon, beaver, deer, moose, perch, ducks-"

"Yes, Pine," she interrupted, knowing the fox would continue until naming almost every animal on the island, "but those were with snares and bait and arrows. I have nothing, not even a compass."

"Perhaps I could help you," the black wolf said. "I know my way around these mountains, and an extra set of teeth does wonders."

Månen hopped closer to Ylvana. "Before you make a decision, may I remind you this wolf could rip you apart and use our bones as toothpicks?"

"True, but he has no reason too. It's not like he's a Crow." She looked back at the stranger with a suspicious flick of her ear. "There's nothing I can offer you in return."

The wolf smiled, his teeth gleaming in the flash of the storm. "Those humans have been tormenting these mountains for years. Helping their prisoner escape would be enough."

"In that case, you can come in."

The wolf wagged his tail, trotting to the back of the cave to shake off the wind and rain. As he got comfortable, he found himself face to face with Pine.

"Do you have a name, or can I call you Spot? Cause it looks like you have one big spot."

"Uh, no, I mean yes! It's Jay," he stammered.

"Itsjay. Interesting." The fox circled the wolf, inspecting every inch of him. Jay couldn't help giggle at the ticklish feeling of Pine's nose in his ear. "My goodness, these things are as big as mine!"

"If he's bothering you, let me know and I'll shoo him away," Ylvana said.

"Oh no, I don't mind," Jay answered as Pine climbed onto his head like a mountain goat.

"You're a lot nicer than Mo," the fox said. "She's mean to me all the time. Plus, she has no neck, which is really creepy!"

"I DO have a neck, you overgrown weasel!"

"Then how do you explain that freaky head-spinny thing?"

"For the last time: I have extra bones in my neck!"

"That makes no sense! Does that make sense to you?" he asked, looking down at Jay's face. "Hey, he has funny eyes like yours, Ana!"

Without looking, Ylvana yawned. "I think it's time for everyone to get some sleep."

Ironically, sleep never came for her while everyone else snored peacefully. Behind her eyelids was Fenrir's smirking face, and her skin still crawled at the feeling of a blade. Crashing thunder outside made sure she stayed awake.