Goddess of the Hunt and Winter

8 1 1
                                    

The person finally got to a little hut just outside the forest, it was in a bit of snow as well. Estrid was unaware of where she was, she never ventured this far from the cave as her father said that's where the frost giants live. She wasn't to sure on what frost giants were but she knew they didn't seem to be good, that was just a hunch. The person put Stein down and pulled down her wolf hood, turning around to face Estrid. She kneeled down in front of the small girl and wiped away a few tears.

"Hey there Estrid, you alright?" She asked. The girl looked up at this person and soon become a bit wide eyed.

"Y-You're Skadi, right?" Estrid was a bit excited about this, she got a laugh from the woman and she nodded. This person that saved her brother and her was a goddess. "I've heard stories about you."

"Is that so? Shall we get you into warm clothes?" Estrid nodded and the three walked into the hut. Skadi was only young, seemed to be in her early twenties heading for her late twenties. As soon as Estrid and Stein stepped foot into the hut, it was immediately warm. Stein ran over to the little fire place and sat down in front of it. Estrid went to walk over to the fireplace until Skadi pulled her back. "Let's get you into something warm first young one." She grabbed the girls hand and they walked into a small bedroom that looked to be a child's room. Skadi pulled out small clothes for Estrid, along with a warm hood to keep her safe from the cold. Skadi left and allowed Estrid to change. Once the girl came out, she took a seat next to her bear brother.

"This woman, she's a goddess. She saved us. She seems so cool." Stein said with enthusiasm.

"Yeah, she is, isn't she." Estrid replied back. Skadi looked up from the soup she was preparing and looked at the little girl.

"Who are you talking to you?" She asked gently.

"Oh, my brother. Well, the bear's my brother. I can hear animals speak." Estrid said with a smile then thought of something. "Here, give me your hand." Skadi walked over to the girl and kneeled down in front of her, giving Estrid her right hand. Estrid traced Skadi's hand, making the shape of a rune. Once Estrid finished that, the shape glowed a rainbow colour then stopped glowing slowly. "Stein, say hi."

"Hey. You're Skadi right? Goddess of the hunt and winter? If so, that is cool." Stein was excited, he knew what Estrid did. Skadi went wide eyed as she heard the bear speak but then replied back.

"Hello, yes I'm Skadi. Nice to meet you..."

"His name is Stein." Estrid said.

"Nice to meet you Stein. That's a cool little power you got their Estrid but there is more for you to learn."

"What do you mean Skadi?" Estrid looked up at Skadi confused.

"Well, you don't know this but you're a goddess. Odin sent me to find you and teach you a few things. Tomorrow, we're going to train, see how you can fight. Got it?" Estrid nodded at Skadi, soon taking a bowl of soup from her and eating it. She didn't use the spoon she was given and lifted the bowl up to her lips. Skadi gave her a confused look oce she got two more bowls, one for Stein and the other for her. Estrid noticed this and stopped drinking the soup.

"Is that wrong?" She placed the bowl down in front of her, holding her hands.

"No, no, young one, it's fine. I just... maybe forgot you were raised by bears. Here." Skadi lifted a spoon. "This is a spoon, this helps you to eat soup." She demonstrated on how to use it, Estrid soon following her lead. It was hard at first but then the girl soon got used to it. Skadi smiled at her. "Good job." The three sat in silence, they finished their soup and Skadi collected the bowls to clean. Estrid lied down in front of the fireplace with Stein curling up next to her. "There is a bed you two-" Skadi started but then saw the two fall asleep easily. "You two get some rest, you need it." She finished washing the bowls and went to bed herself, staring up at the roof as she struggled to go to sleep. Eventually she did, the rest of the night was peaceful.

"No way, Skadi found her? That's awesome. But, doesn't she have a family?" Erin asked.

"No, not yet. Once Skadi let Estrid go to the village near her cave, that's when she met her husband. Now, Estrid knew how to fight but not that well. The next morning, Estrid and Skadi got up early and started to practise how to fight." Nora pointed to a weapon. "Estrid was gifted this by Skadi ever since she was a child, she's carried it with her for as long as she has lived." Vanessa scoffed and started to whisper to Jeremy. "Am I boring you?" She asked.

"Eh, maybe. Go on though. Don't let me stop you." Vanessa crossed her arms and looked at the weapon. It was a staff with a blade at the stop and was engraved with marks on the edge of the blade. The staff was made of a strong wood that was hard to break and had vines wrapped around it. When it was used, a green glow would come from the marks on the blade.

The Animal GoddessWhere stories live. Discover now