The Star of Yggdrasil

The Wolf Child

"Ylva! Come quickly or you'll get left behind!" Charr barked. Splotches of light danced on his dusty gray fur as he stood watching his friend struggle to keep up with the pack.

"Shut up, stupid dog. You know I can't run as fast as you when I'm carrying all this stuff!" Ylva huffed and slung the bag of food she had stolen over her shoulder. Her continuous leaping over fallen trees and branches was taking a toll on her small legs.

"You're the one who decided to steal from those humans, anyway," said Charr with a toothy grin that made Ylva's eyes roll.

A slightly darker gray wolf slowed down just enough to chat with them. "Yeah kid, you should have thought about that before you pranced up to those humans. Now hurry up before Boss gets angry—"

"Oh shut up, Chase! I'm the one carrying the food, give me a ride and quit complaining!" Ylva shouted.

The larger wolf nodded and ran next to Ylva, matching her speed and crouching low as she gracefully leapt up and onto his back. The wolf was a bit larger than the average wolf of today's time. His shoulders were 4 feet off the ground. With a sigh she set the bag on her lap and clung tightly to the long, silky fur on the back of Chase's neck.

"So, what was it with those humans? Here they are, acting like they belong here, on some dainty little stroll through the woods, taking fruits, and- what was it they called you? Wolf Child?" Charr asked, running alongside Chase as they caught up with the rest of the pack.

"Yeah, though I doubt they'll return to this part of the woods again. They screamed 'Wolf Child' at me as if I was some sort of demon." Ylva muttered. She opened the bag and rummaged through its contents, a slight frown on her face.

"You're not a demon, and you know that. So? What's in the bag?" Chase asked, turning an ear to Ylva on his back when he heard the sound of rustling cloth.

"Human clothes, and a new bow with some crudely-made arrows."

"Whaaat!? I thought you were getting food!" Charr whined. Ylva rolled her eyes in reply.

"A new bow? Why do you need a new one?" Chase asked.

"Because someone broke my other one." Ylva said with a glance at Charr, who looked away with a guilty grin.

"Pups," Chase muttered under his breath, earning a glare from both Ylva and Charr. He slowed his pace down, turning his attention to what lay ahead of them. "We're here."

From under a large slanted rock, a small stream lit by glowing mushrooms cast flickering patterns on the cold underside of the stone. The wolves and Ylva had gathered in a rough semi-circle around the rock, as if expecting it to move. Ylva slid off Chase's back and walked to a small cluster of young wolves who greeted her with smiles and tail wags.

"Uhhhlva!" A small pup wobbled up to greet her, its fuzzy paws struggling to keep it up.

Ylva giggled and picked up the small ball of fluff. "Hello Lowe!" Lowe smiled and squirmed around in her arms. The tiny pup still couldn't quite get her name right, but she was getting closer. Last time Lowe had called her "Illva", so "uh-lva" was a bit closer. Her mother would always correct her when Ylva left.

Another wolf of about half her age trotted up to her. "Ylva! The twins are looking for you. They said they'd tell Boss that you ran off again unless you give them something from the bag you stole."

Ylva groaned. "Thanks Botolf," she sighed. "I'll go find them after the meeting." The twins, Geri and Freki, were always tattle-tailing on her, especially when it got them rewards. Too bad for them, she thought, because there is nothing in this bag that they will want.