Inari the hunters POV
Lija had just left the hunters guild and I made my way into the back where the head of our group was located.
"Ivar, what is the latest from the front, I got a priority request that will have me near so I need the details."
A tall, scruffy man that looks like he hasn't slept in two days comes out of the store room. Towering at 2.4 meters in height he easily dwarfs me at my 1.6 meters, being from the east makes you exceptionally small in these parts.
"No good, no scout reports, no messages, and the only report so far is from the clan ancestor that says it will be over soon. What is the job, you normally don't ever go near the frost wastes even when not at war."
"Special priority food deliver. 1 plus orc meat to sustain a very demanding pregnant woman" I say while smirking and showing the medallion.
Shock appears on his face, he knows this isn't a food hunt but a retrieve my husband mission.
"I am coming with we leave in 3 hours. don't be late." He says proceeding to give orders to the various groups getting them to do missions in the same direction in case we need support.
Nodding at him I head out to prep for all possible emergencies while getting my ninja gear together. That's why she picked me, I'm a former ninja from the eastern realm. I was captured during a raid and made into a thrall. Thralls are basically serfs, only a breath away from a slave but not really any better. The only advantage is that you have a chance to assimilate into the clan and gain recognition becoming a formal clansman. You cant just expand a constantly warring clan by reproducing like rabbits.
Finally read I disappear into the shadows appearing right out of Ivar's shadow without a sound. Tapping on his shoulder I point to the direction I'm leaving and disappear again. Moving quickly we make our way towards the norther pass that leads to the frost wastes. With any luck we can get there in two days.
After traveling non stop for a little over a day we can make out smoke drifting across the forest accompanied by the smell of blood. It smells like a river of blood flowing just in front of us. Pausing and finding a spot to hide I await Ivar whom is a few minutes away. Paying attention to my surrounding from up in the trees I notice a shadow moving closer. Jumping just in front of it I cause Ivar to stop as well. He is about to ask me what's going on but he suddenly smells it.
Regrouping off to the side we formulate a plan moving forward. We spread out to the point where we can just barely see each other and make our way forward using the tree tops as we move. Over the next several hours we steadily make our way closer to the smoke. Moving slowly as to not catch any potential ambushers attention. We came across bodies scattered about as we made our way forward. Both giant and clansman alike as thought some great hatred caused them to die together.
As we get close to the smoke we are suddenly attacked by arrows from the side. Dodging multiple shots trying to pinpoint the source, I land right before a soldier who lay hidden in wait. Struck in the back by a shield bash I role forward taking a defensive stance. Just as im about to be attacked again Ivar jumps out yelling for a cease fire.
"Your attacking one of my hunters are you blind or you just want a beating." He says
"doesn't matter who you are or where your from, surrender and we will take you to the war chief only he can decide your fate." Soldier one says
"drop your weapons now or prepare to die" soldier two says
"surrender to Earth clan Eastern scum." Soldier three says
"you dare threaten the Sister of Lija Jokuldottir when on a mission for Bear clan." Ivar retorts pulling out twin axes like he is prepared to fight them all himself.
"Stand down. Everyone just stay calm, lower your weapons and we can have a nice chat in camp. I'm the commander in charge of camp security at the moment, pardon the men its been hell recently." The guard commander says with both his hands up.
I use by Qi to break all the Strangling lines I set up startling the guards as they just now realized I could have killed them whenever I had wished. Ivar sheathes his weapons and we follow the commander. Reaching the center of camp we see several people drinking tea like they are on vacation with a man to one side buried deep under paperwork looking like he hasn't slept for a month.
We introduce ourselves and the man in the corner looks relieved.
"finally we can get some reports out." The war chief says
"I'm not here to scout or be a messenger, I am here for Fanner "Irons-Bane" Ragnason to return him to his homestead in whatever condition he is in within the next 36 hours." I say causing the man to sigh and shake his head.
"That wont be possible. Old Irons-bane has lost most of his right leg and is currently in a coma. We stopped the bleeding but he caused a massive spatial rift resulting in him sustaining many internal injuries. Even If I send six men to carry him there it will take at least two days." The war chief says.
" then I will be late but he will come all the same. Take me to him so I can prepare to depart immediately." I replied in a no other possible answer but yes would suffice
Before I could turn around one of those vacation people stopped me. Looking at her with a frustrated look on my face I don't know what to say, I cant feel any power from them but this isn't a sign of them being weak but instead of them being to strong.
"I will heal the internal trauma so you can move him without making him a cripple it will take me a day to do so can you wait that long? What is the rush on getting him home?" Ravens clan ancestor asks
Taking a moment and looking at her carefully I finally figured out who she is. Thinking earnestly about it I don't know what to do. Lija definitely doesn't want him to become worse off for her request. On the other hand she cant afford to be worried either as it may impact the birthing process. Deciding that I can only speak with the ancestor for a solution I tell her everything that's happening. As soon as she hears that his wife is giving birth to an einherjar and in 2 days she knows why we are rushing.
"Let me heal him, ill also fly you two personally to bear clan. I need to see that old man about why he would risk sending his great, great granddaughter's husband away at such a time. Then I need to give him a beating to make him more considerate." She says with steam practically radiating from her body.
I wind up taking a rest at one of the tents for a few hours and then go to check up on things. Seeing the ancestor still at it I decide to stand guard just to keep any accidents from happening. The poor guy really did lose his leg, well from below the knee anyways. Too bad they couldn't bring it with, we may have been able to reattach it.
Time flows without much change as we get closer to the moment of birth, knowing that she could go into labor any moment now I am starting to get anxious. Finally the elder is done. She sighs then pops a pill in her mouth. Next thing I know she has fanner over one shoulder and her arm around my waist holding me like a ragdoll as we blast into the sky.
Covering my mouth to keep myself from screaming at the sudden change I see the scenery shifting faster than I can comprehend. I soon start to feel dizzy like I'm going to throw up. Closing my eyes finally makes it tolerable and an hour latter I am plopped on the ground like a bag of grains. Opening my eyes I realize we are at the village gate.
Standing up the ancestor passes my Fanner and disappears from sight. Knowing that I have no time to stand around I start sprinting to their house. Another 15 minutes and I am banging on the door just in time to hear the screams of a woman in labor. Just in time I think to myself.
Pushing open the door we are greeted by midwives and a priestess that seem to be struggling with something. Shooting some Ki into Fannar he begins to come to come too just in time to hear another good scream. Scrambling he falls to the ground and quickly scampers to Lija's side. It's really cute how attached the two of them get, I doubt I'll ever get tired of watching the two lovebirds.
With another hour of this chaos finally we had a little baby girl coming into this world and all was well. Like really why is it that just when everything is all normal it seems to go to hell in a handbasket. Seriously are these two unlucky or is it a blessing in misfortune.
The moment the baby came a surge of energy from all around rushed towards her. She began to glow as energy filled her. The priestess reacted instantly creating a null zone repelling all forms of energy, then reaching out taps the babies forehead, heart area and stomach. A second passes and runes form on her body absorbing the surging energy that was running rampant in her body.
We hear a cute little cough followed by the first cries of the newborn. The priestess hands her to her mother, when she holds the little girl she starts to laugh as I look over at the new bundle of joy I catch a sight of a pair of wolf ears.
"Ylfa really was the name she is meant to have. Hahahahaha" the mother laughs out loud.
"Welcome home Ylfa"