Chapter 39: Traveling Home

FREYA

It only took a couple of days for the Vargar camp to pack up everything they were taking back to the mountain. This camp was going to become a trading outpost for the new Adaryn and Vargar alliance. Plans were being discussed to begin construction for permanent buildings.

Freya stood in front of the tent she shared with Cain and ran her fingers over the rough fabric’s texture. In such a short time, she had gathered so many memories of this place. Many were good, and some were terrible, like having to say goodbye to Vistra.

It was almost hard to leave. However, this camp had only been the starting place for her new life, and there was more excitement for what was to come than sadness for what was being left behind.

The recent storm had brought a cold front over the land. Freya was bundled in thick layers as she made sure the belongings she was taking were wrapped just as tightly as she was. Cain was only wearing trousers, and she greatly envied the Vargar’s resilience to the cold. Living in the snow-covered mountains would take time to get used to, she thought.

Some of the wolves were on all fours, being loaded up with bundles to prepare for the journeys, and Freya was impressed to see how much they could carry once transformed. She might not ever fully adjust to the majestic sight of the Vargar as their wolves.

“Are you ready to go, little bird?” Cain approached Freya after helping tie satchels onto one of the warriors. His warm hand cupped her cheek, and he stared down at her as she watched the camp lose the life it once held.

“I suppose I am,” Freya said. She looked up into the sky in the direction of the Adaryn colony. There was nothing left for her back in that direction.

“You better hold on tight, love,” Cain growled as he fell forward. He transformed before his front paws hit the ground. The black wolf turned his massive head to Freya and observed her reaction as he always did. There was only a small smile on her face as she ran her fingers through the fur on his side.

“I’ve never been transported by a fur rug before,” Freya chuckled to herself.

If Cain could laugh as a wolf, she believed the noise he was making now was just that. The black beast lowered his belly to the ground, so he was low enough for Freya to climb onto his back. She settled onto his back while holding onto the shaggy fur across his shoulders. A content sigh left her as Cain’s warmth helped distract her from the morning chill.

The rest of the pack got on all fours and transformed alongside Cain once the belongings they were taking home were settled on the stronger wolves that would be transporting items. With Cain at the front of the pack, they took off, racing along the edge of the canyon.

Hundreds of wolves ran for days until they were on the opposite side of the canyon. Freya was in awe of their stamina and speed.

They slept at night in temporary shelters and hunted whatever animals they could find in the woods. Freya became aware of how the land and the environment began to change as she got farther away from the land that had been her home.

This side of the world had trees that were darker in nature. The shade of the wood ranged from dark gray to almost black, and she saw leaves that never changed color or fell from their limbs.

“Evergreens,” Cain told her one night as she had been admiring new species of plants and herbs. “The leaves never change back home. We have the richest green colors all year round.” He seemed to boast, and Freya knew he was more than ready to go home. The closer they got to the mountain in the distance, the more excited the wolves of the pack seemed to get.

They could run faster and run longer through the day, and it seemed they were stopping later and later at night with fewer breaks. Cain told Freya there were thousands of Vargar back at home that these warriors were excited to get home to.

She knew the envoy of a hundred wolves sent to accompany Vistra and Cain in the initial alliance conversations. Knowing there were so many awaiting their return began to make her uneasy. She had time to get to know this small portion of the pack who’d welcomed her, but what of those who were left behind?

~Would they accept her? Would they stare?~

After a fortnight of travel, they made it to the base of the mountain.

Freya was impressed at just how massive the land mass actually was. It was far taller than the smooth mountain the Adaryn royalty made their home in. The Adaryn palace paled in comparison to this outcrop of land swelling into the sky.

Freya couldn’t even see the full extent of the snow-covered peaks as they disappeared into the clouds. The sight took her breath away as she was able to take in the view of the ridge in the distance spreading from the main mountain the Vargar called home.

A day later, they approached the frozen peak where their village was built. Again, Freya was at a loss for words. The Vargar village was like nothing she could have imagined, even with Cain’s attempts to share his memories of home.

She could see hundreds of beautifully crafted homes built into the nooks and crannies of this side of the mountain’s peak. One side of the village was backed by the top of the mountain itself, and the side they came from was protected by the thick and sturdy evergreens. Despite the cold, the wind didn’t easily reach them here in this space the wolves had carved for their village.

Freya gaped at the village. Her blue eyes were wide and searching, almost frantically trying to take in every small detail she could. She was wrapped up in the sights of the impressive two-floor buildings that were a mix of dark stone and black wood with pointed roofs that reached for the sky.

The homes were meticulously placed around each other and designed to complement the nature of the homes and the layout of the mountain. The smell of fresh pine cleared her head until the scent of roasting meat crept into her nose as they got closer.

The pup in her belly was drastically changing her appetite. Something Cain was increasingly impressed by and very proud of.

Cain took Freya by the hand and gave her a reassuring squeeze as they walked under the tall stone arch marking the village entrance.

She barely registered he was at her side leading her into the village, as she remained mesmerized by the sights around her. Bright ivy crept up the buildings’ walls, and massive fire pits were built into the walkways.

~These were the people she was told were monsters? Monsters didn’t have beautiful things like this. ~

The paths were covered in smooth stone like nothing Freya had ever seen before. They didn’t have stone walkways in the Adaryn colony, as the only thing they did on land was farm and forage. Everything else had been in the trees. She was dazzled by the sights of this village. This new home where she would belong.

Howling began to circulate the air around the village as the hundred wolves from the camp made themselves known and the Vargar who had seen their approach announced their arrival.

It wasn’t long before Cain wrapped his arm around Freya’s shoulders and drew her in close as the full force of the Vargar pack rushed into the pathways as they left the warmth of homes and long halls.

***

She wasn’t afraid, as she had been upon her first meeting of the Vargar, but she was beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed.

Men, women, and children along with wolves and pups crowded in to meet their loved ones who had been gone for so long and to see the mysterious girl being protected by Cain.

Families rejoiced at being reunited, and Freya felt warm tears begin to build in her eyes as she watched in amazement at the love and close bonds the pack were reveling in. No one here was acting aloof or as though they were better than any of their peers. Every person in the crowd acted as equals. But the curious stares still made her nervous.

She heard many of them saying Vistra’s name. Did they know already? How were they going to react?

Once the crowd had settled enough, Cain began to clear his throat to address the pack in attendance to the group’s arrival.

“As some of you are aware, I am now the alpha of this pack in my mother’s place.” He paused to let his voice ring out through the village. “If anyone here would challenge me over my birthright, now is your chance.”

Silence fell over the crowd, and warriors turned from their families. There was a great sense of relief that fell over Freya as she looked over the crowd and noted that no one seemed to be interested in the challenge.

“In our time away, the rebel Ivar killed my mother, your wolf-mother, and was shortly dealt with not long after. We have our new alliance with the Adaryn.” At that, he looked down at Freya, who stood out among the wolves.

All of the Vargar could easily see she stood out with her bright-white hair braided down her back and blinding blue eyes. Her long and pointed ears stuck out in comparison with the shorter and round ears the Vargar had.

“My mate and I stand as the united family in this new alliance, and I would thank you all to welcome her to her place as the new wolf-mother.” Cain’s face was calm as he continued to speak to his people.

A few gasps and surprised conversations started within the crowd. Breaking the news of Vistra’s death and the changes that had transpired in their time away was never going to be easy.

After several hours of Cain speaking to his pack and answering questions, the thousands of wolves in the village seemed as though they were ready to get on with honoring their fallen alpha and celebrating the new life coming to the pack. They’d moved to the largest long hall for the conversations.

Freya was in a whirlwind as the time flew by.

The dark and dimly lit long hall was warm, and the Vargar began to plan a celebration to welcome Freya and honor Vistra. Freya was beginning to think the Vargar would take any opportunity to have their celebrations.

“Are you all right, little bird? I know you must be tired from the journey.” Cain reached over from his massive throne-like seat at the head table in the hall to grasp Freya’s small hand.

She closed her eyes at the warmth of his touch and nodded.

“I will admit I am exhausted. Amaya and Lorraine haven’t stopped bringing me food since we entered, and I can feel those who are still staring.” But the staring didn’t bother her that much. She could tell when people were just curious. It wasn’t like how her people had looked at her.

She rubbed her full belly and smiled at the thought of the little baby growing in there as well.

“Come, I’ll take you home.”

Freya beamed at Cain with a sort of tired excitement as he stood from the table and helped Freya to his side. Vargar all attempted to stop Cain to speak more as they made their way out, but he only had eyes for his beautiful little bird.

They came up to the largest of the houses at the back of the village, built into a small hill against the mountain’s face. The first floor was constructed of stone and large glass windows covered with black shutters. She noticed the second floor had more of a wood design that was interlaced in a crisscrossing pattern.

“This is our home.” Cain opened the thick door for her, and Freya got a vision of her future here with Cain the moment she walked inside. “Anything you need, just let me know and I’ll make sure you get it. You carry my heir now, and that makes you the most precious thing in this entire village.”

Freya turned to the man towering over her small frame as he stared down at her with hopeful eyes. He clearly wanted her to love his childhood home as much as he did.

“Cain, I love it. I can’t wait to raise a large family here.” She threw her arms around his waist and felt comforted and happy when his arms wrapped around her in a tight embrace. “I love you, Cain.”

“I love you, Freya.”

The odd couple that became the face to the end of generations of war, the bird and the wolf, were going to conquer the world together.