Howling Thunder Ch2.5

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Barely half an hour passes before the boat is loaded and waiting on Walt’s say to launch.

Just before I hand off Tess, Ulfa appears from who knows where and taps my shoulder, beckoning me to follow her for a moment.

She grins, “You’ve grown quiet devilishly handsome pup, you look good with a nice scruff.”

After tickling my chin she takes Tess.

“Teasing me for good luck?”

Her face turns serious, “I expect the mistress will speak to you tonight. Regardless of what idea’s you have about taking your leisure, you should instead hurry right back. This is your warning, she’s not in a good mood. She went without Maug and I to Valhalla last night, tore down half the trees when she returned.”

Lovely.

With a small sigh, “Take care of Patra while I’m gone. I know your duty is towards the pups but I think it would be best for her to take the majority load.”

Her grin returns, “I’ll help all I can, as will your mother, as will the raijin, really too many people are enamored with this little sparker. Quite the opposite of a certain grumpy, black fuzz ball.”

A bell rings out from the ship as sailors begin to cast off lines.

I look down at my little girl whose tail is wagging at all the things going on.

“Tess, papa is going away for a while okay?”

The tail stops, “No.”

There goes the small hope she wouldn’t understand, she’s far too smart.

“I have too, I’ll be back soon I promise.”

Her ears lay back, a little louder this time, “No!”

She starts struggling in Ulfa’s arms, sparks fly but they have no effect on the worgess.

A golden flash flares from her tail and Ulfa bursts into black fog, I catch the falling girl.

Ulfa reforms, “Well, that didn’t feel very nice. Just put her to sleep Nox.”

As much as it pains me, I exhale a wisp of black wisp of cloud that circles the crying child and she slowly falls asleep, it should last no more than an hour.

This sucks…

Ulfa pats my shoulder, “have a safe trip pup.”

I hand over Tesla to Patra and give her a kiss goodbye. Each step down the dock feels harder to take. For someone who mostly works in cloud magic, I’ve never felt so heavy in my life.

One last wave and I hop onboard in a plume of black fog.

Another bell rings and the river boat creeps out from the dock.

I watch as the figure of Patra slowly rocking our little girl gets smaller in the distance.

Tightening my belt and taking off the black leather strap holding back my hair, I walk towards the bridge of the boat where the helm and captain’s chair are.

The boat sits low in the water, packed full of a company of fresh troops and supplies, probably one of the larger river boats around. Gentle rocking picks up as we enter the main flow of the river and wind catches the sails on its three masts.

I open the door to see Mora looking at some charts on a table next to Eddy. An older human man in a grey uniform is seated on a large chair, elevated slightly to see past the helmsman.

Walking over to him I glance out the front window that overlooks the sailors working below and the vast river ahead.

“I actually haven’t caught your name yet Captain, I’m Nox of the Winter Tribe.”

The old man grins, “The name is Camp, I’ll say now, I hope you aren’t the omen of bad luck they say you are. We sailors are suspicious folk, and every tavern along this river seems to have nothing friendly to say about ya.”

Chuckling, “I’m only bad luck to any fool who makes a pass at my women.”

He nods towards Mora, “She yours? Couple boys out on the decks already fell face first when she walked by.”

Wish I could see that, I bet she was confused.

“She’s my guard, not my woman. I’d warn your men, I won’t get in the way if they feel like testing their luck, but she bites.”

Another laugh, “There be worse ways to go than from the fangs of a lass like tha.”

In the corner of my vision I catch her scowling at me. It's only for a day Miss Bookwyrm, good luck.

Looking around, “Where’s my brother?”

Camp gives a small laugh and points out another door way, “I’d check the port side rails.”

Walking out I spot him leaning on the railing, looking at the road on the far shore. Merchant wagons roll along towards Yoden.

I call out to him, “It was harder to leave than I expected. I’m sure you’d enjoy this adventure much more if Artio had come along.”

He nods as I reach his side, his eyes moving along the shore and the water below.

“Did father speak to you more after the meeting?”

Another nod.

“Did you speak back?”

He raises a brow at me.

The breeze coming up the side of the ship feels nice, “You know, I won’t always be there to speak for you brother. And somehow I can’t see people finding courage from a silent leader. You’ll be Fenrir someday, that means speeches, decrees, orders, rallying war crys. If you let others do your speaking it will only be a show of weakness to the other tribes.”

He grips the railing harder, “Father said something like that.”

A strong gust rocks the boat, I look ahead at the vast river stretching into the distance, “The hardest part of this trip is already past for me. Find your voice brother and this should be just as easy for you.”

A retching sound comes from behind me, I turn just to see a bit of bile drip from Walt’s mouth.

“Well I hope your voice wasn’t in your stomach.”

Another gust of wind blows some chunky brown muck back up at Walt. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem in the condition for nimble dodging.

I pat his back while fighting of a smile, “I’ll send Eddy to fetch you a wash bucket...you should probably hold onto the bucket after your done.”

Walking back into the bridge I send off the half otter lad.

Camp chuckles, “He gonna make it?”

Mora looks over questioning.

Shaking my head, “No idea what you mean, I didn’t just see a grown alpha empty his guts right into the wind from a little river wake. Nope, never seen that.”

The old river dog about falls from his chair laughing, “Aye lad, how could such a thing happen to a powerful alpha of the wolfmen. My mistake hehe.”

Night falls rather quickly, Walt stays in his room. Of course I don’t hear any loud gagging sounds coming from next door, nor smell something like rotting fish.

Dinner was a fine bowl of potato and beef stew, can’t imagine why Walt skipped the meal.

I swear, if I start laughing now I won’t stop till we dock again.

Not long after Mora puts down her book and the candle goes out I fall asleep in my own hammock.

All too quickly my dreams are interrupted and I find myself at the edge of a familiar dark glade.

The feeling tonight is different this time however. Most the towering black pines have been crushed into splinters. Many have the claw and teeth marks of some truly massive beast. In the center of the countless black splinters rests the same carved stump.

Upon the wooden throne in the wolf maw sits a woman, her appearance a bit older than my mother. A ragged black dress covers a tall, thin figure. Tar black hair, green eyes, this is certainly Freki, but not like I’ve ever seen her.

Her voice, no longer sweet, instead mature and stern, “Get over here already.”

Stepping forward I can see scratch marks on her arm rest, claws still on the ends of her fingers.

Green eyes, more piercing than ever, lock onto mine, “You’ve done just fine so far pup, my bloodline will return, that much is assured.”

She looks out at the woods and sighs. With a wave of her hand, the trees silently piece back together.

Pulling me from the eerie sight she continues, “Yesterday, I was annoyed that even with your brother’s pup in the womb of the bear girl, I've yet to receive any souls to watch over. None of your pups have received my direct care. I may yet bless them, and I will, but their souls are not mine to tend.”

Should I be happy or upset with that news, shit, she can hear my thoughts. That always slips my mind.

Yet she carries on, “So I went to Valhalla for answers, the seat of our pantheon. I don’t suppose you can guess what I was told.”

Of course not, but if I have to say something...Not to worry?

She’s still waiting for a response with a scowl. Can she not hear my thoughts right now?

“Not to worry?”

Her fist slams the armrest, “Exactly! That it was no longer my concern to guide souls, that I should be happy, having already neglected my duty for 300 years there was no reason to be upset now!”

Several trees collapse somewhere behind me, her anger clearly affecting her power.

Ah, but this brings up a very important problem.

Now it is my face that turns grim, “Then who is getting involved with my pups?”

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