Ivar's Goddess {Ivar the Boneless}

FIVE

(Above: Better pic of Katla)

The adrenaline pumped through Katla's veins as she stuck to the shadows. Trying her best to avoid the few people making their way to the feast while others pondered around, drinking and sharing stories. Katla didnt know why she was getting so excited. Maybe it was because she was finally getting to see her best friend. It felt like ages since Katla and her bear have seen each other. When you are with someone every day, being away from them for more than just a little while is hard.  Or maybe it was the fact that Ivar had wanted to go with her. She had grown to like the strange man more and more. Even though they havent been able to speak much, when they do it just feels right.

Katla continued to weave around the people, quickening her speed till the finally reached the outside of the growing village. As she stood there, looking through the thick trees to try and catch a glimpse of Ivar or his white horse. But she did not see him. She started to get angry, she had been waiting for what seemed like hours.

Finally having enough she did something she probably shouldnt have. She took of walking through the dark woods, stepping over large branches and roots from the trees. The sun had set awhile ago, leaving her surrounded in nothing but darkness, the moon guiding her through the woven paths before her every now and then as it peaked out from behind the clouds.
She wasnt thinking about where she was going. Being someone who has lived in the woods for most of her life she had learned how to read the wilderness. She would memorize every tree and she would take into consideration the small details in the twisted vines stretching across the dirt.

What if someone was to catch her sneaking off? I mean its not like she had someone to go home to. Or someone to worry about her going out after dark without anything to protect herself with. So the thought quickly left her mind. A wide smile tugged at the corners of her lips when she finally came across something that was familiar to her, A large stump that she would sometimes sit on and look over the view in front of her. The cliffs diving down into the rocky shore with the winds picking up quicker by the minute, A storm was blowing in fast.

Katla only pushed on further after seeing something she could remember till she ended up just where she wanted to be. She couldnt stop her feet from carrying her to the small cave that Arrow and herself used to share, the large rock in front of it where she used to sit and ponder things making her happy to see than it should have.

"Arrow?" Her small voice was soon drowned out by the loud clap of thunder overhead. She stepped closed to the cave once she didnt hear the grunt of her bear or any sign giving away he was still there. Her soft feet squishing into the mud. Even after being offered shoes by one of Ivar's nicer older brothers, I think Hvitserk, she still refused to wear them.

Rain started to pour down from the dark sky, splashing against her cheeks as she squinted her eyes a little to try and look into the dark cave. Katla's clothes that she had borrowed from Lagertha was now soaked so she didnt hurry when it came to getting into the cave to shield her shivering body from the rain.

The sound of shuffling could be heard from inside of the cave, the heavy thumps of Arrow's paws coming closer to Katla as she launched her arms around his warm fur. Missing the feeling of his giant wet nose pushing against the side of her face. She couldnt help but be happy, very happy. The large bear yelped happily while continuing to push its head against her shoulders, something he would do when he was happy to see her.

They stayed like that for a little while, the girl hugging onto his matted fur as the storm outside only grew worse and worse. The bright lightening lighting up the whole sky for a few seconds. Making Katla squint her eyes from the white light.

"Looks like i'm stuck here for the night, yeah?" She mumbled to herself, sitting down in the deep end of the cave to keep away from the harsh wins, blowing the heavy rain into the cave soaking most of it anyways.