[PoV Fenrir]
The sunlight peeked through the gaps in the forest's canopy. Its brightness stung my eyes, stubbornly refusing to wake from the world of dreams.
"Hmm...mhnmm..."
I groaned, reaching out for something that should have been beside me. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it, causing my brow to furrow in my deep slumber.
Panic started to bubble up in my chest as I realized my beloved raven was no longer by my side. I shot awake, panic surging through me. The sleepiness and laziness that had clung to me vanished, replaced by anxiety about my feathered friend's whereabouts.
"The raven!" I shouted as I woke. "Where is he?!"
I quickly got up and scanned the surroundings with my sharp vision, searching for the raven that had slept in my embrace last night. But I still couldn't find him.
"Raven, where are you?"
I cupped my hand around my ear to hear better. Yet there was no flapping of wings or any sound that indicated his presence.
*Sniff, sniff.*
Not giving up, I tried to use my sharp nose to locate him. But it was futile; there was no scent left in the air. The breeze must have erased his trail.
"Damn it, when did he leave? Why can't I smell him?" I growled in frustration.
Anxiously, I got up and began searching for my feathered companion. But after walking barely nine meters, the sound of chains clinking halted my steps.
"Damn Gleipnir! You won't even let me search for my friend," I muttered in irritation.
I tried to struggle and pull away as hard as I could, my muscles tensing. My jaw clenched tightly as I fought to free myself from the Gleipnir that bound me.
But it was pointless. The harder I tried, the tighter the chain constricted around me. I knew I would never be able to break free from this cursed shackle.
"Ugh... heavy... damn it!"
I was still too weak to shatter the Gleipnir that had bound me for the past several years.
"Ugh, it's useless. I'm still too weak to break this damn thing."
With heavy steps, I returned to my stone bed and sat cross-legged upon it, taking a deep breath to calm my mind.
"So... all I can do now is wait," I muttered in frustration. "Boring!"
But after just a moment of waiting, I felt something unsettling in my heart. An odd feeling, difficult to explain.
"Strange... what is this feeling? I want to see him soon..."
I tilted my head back, staring at the vast blue sky with a blank expression. The image of my beloved raven flashed through my mind, making me more agitated.
"Hurry back, stupid bird!" I shouted, my voice echoing into the air, carried by the gentle breeze. I only hoped my shout would reach the raven's ears.
*****
[PoV The Raven]
Did someone call me?
I glanced over my shoulder, feeling like something had called me along with the sudden gust of wind. However, there was no one around, so I chose to continue my hunting.
Since this morning, after escaping the tight embrace of that wolf girl, I had set off to hunt in the forest to fill my stomach.
Whether it was insects, fruits, or small animals, anything that could satisfy my hunger with their fresh meat was fair game.
Two mice now lay beneath my talons, the spoils of today's hunt. Though small, I wanted to offer this meat to Fenrir as a gift for her.
Seeing the sun climbing towards its peak, I spread my wings and prepared to return to Fenrir's side.
Seems like it's time to go back. I hope she'll like the little gift I brought her.
As I flew, a strange thought crossed my mind.
Wait, isn't she a wolf? Or a girl? Will she really like the mice I caught?
The thought haunted me. It was hard to picture a beautiful girl devouring these mice raw. It seemed difficult to imagine.
I mean, does she eat like a human because of her human-like appearance? Or would her eating habits resemble more of a wolf's? I wasn't sure, and now my curiosity was piqued.
---
[PoV Fenrir]
It had been an hour since I woke up, still waiting for my raven friend. Time felt like it was dragging. All I could do was laze around, rolling in the snow, growling softly out of frustration and impatience.
"Damn Gleipnir!"
I glanced at the sturdy chain binding me. Gleipnir, crafted by dwarves from impossible-to-find materials, would only break when Ragnarok came.
But that great battle was surely far in the future. For now, all I could do was stare at the sky with an empty gaze, waiting for my black-feathered friend to return. Yet there was still no sign of him coming back anytime soon.
"So long..."
I sighed deeply, remembering how I felt when that raven first appeared before me. It was the first time any animal dared approach me, bringing with it a strange, indescribable feeling.
"That raven," I muttered, thinking of the bird. "When he comes back, I'll make him my favorite pet."
The joy that surged inside me caused my tail and ears to wag without me even realizing.
Before the raven's arrival, I had always been alone. The aura of destruction surrounding me scared other animals away. I had grown used to being solitary, but since his presence, I no longer felt quite as lonely.
"Why do I feel like this?"
I lay down, gazing at the clouds drifting lazily across the sky. They seemed so peaceful and carefree compared to the turmoil of emotions swirling inside me. In the midst of my daydream, a rustling sound from the forest caught my attention.
*Sniff, sniff.*
"He's back!" I shouted as I caught a familiar scent in the air.
I sat up eagerly as I saw a raven flying toward me with two mice clutched in his talons. He gracefully landed in front of me.
"Finally! You're back!"
"Kraaak... kraak," the raven cawed from above, offering me the two mice he had caught.
"You... you hunted for me?"
"Kraaak."
Even though I couldn't understand his words, I knew what he meant. I gently took the mice in my fingers and thanked him.
"Thank you!"
My tail wagged excitedly as I devoured the raw mice, savoring the taste of the fresh meat. Occasionally, I wiped away the thick blood that dribbled from the corner of my lips.
As I ate, I felt the raven's gaze fixed on me, watching intently. I frowned, wondering what was going through his mind.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked between bites. "Have you never seen a pretty girl eating before?"
The raven's expression suddenly turned sour, as if he couldn't believe the confidence in my words.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" I squinted my eyes at him.
But, as expected, he didn't answer. Instead, he flew up to a nearby branch and perched there, watching me from above.
I could only purse my lips as I watched his behavior.
"Why do I feel insulted by your indifferent attitude?"
I smiled faintly at his antics. Deep inside, I wished we could truly understand one another. I wanted us to be able to communicate like other intelligent races.
But I knew that would be difficult. He was just an ordinary raven, and I was a feared jotun. How could we ever talk like equals?
"Kraaak... kraak."
"Heh, what is it?" I turned to the raven, but he suddenly flapped his wings and flew off, leaving me behind.
"Heh, where are you going? Don't leave! Stay here, you stupid bird!"
"Tch," I clicked my tongue in frustration. "Damn it! Where is that bird going? What's going through his mind? Why does he leave me so easily?!"
I puffed my cheeks and pouted, annoyed by my friend's obliviousness to my desires. But what could I do? I could only watch as the bird flew farther away, unable to stop him.
"I swear, I'll put a chain around your neck, you stupid bird," I muttered with determination.
---
[PoV ???]
The grand hall always made me feel small, even though I had crossed it countless times. The towering marble pillars, the walls adorned with gold-lined tapestries bearing symbols of divine majesty—all of it appeared so majestic and elegant.
But its beauty could not ease the worry tightening in my chest as I saw the man I loved, sitting in his grand throne with a somber expression. His face, usually so full of wisdom, now appeared weighed down by concern. His once-bright aura had dimmed, replaced by a heaviness that made him look down in unease.
I couldn't bear to see him like that. With light steps, I approached and gently wrapped my arms around his shoulders, hoping my embrace might offer him some comfort. I could feel how tense he was, his muscles stiff beneath my touch.
"What's troubling you, my husband?" I asked softly, my voice barely a whisper, not wanting to add to the burdens already pressing on him.
He turned his head at the sound of my voice. His gaze, soft and tender, stirred warmth in my heart. Yet behind that tenderness, I could see the storm brewing in his mind.
"My wife," he said quietly, as though the words were hard for him to speak. "It seems... someone has altered the course of fate."
I was shocked, unable to hold back a gasp. "What?!"
"Someone has interfered with Fenrir's destiny, the wolf girl we sealed away," he continued, his tone filled with a seriousness that made my heart tighten even further.
My face turned pale at the mention of her name. Fenrir, the one we had sealed long ago due to her fated path of destruction. What would happen to the world if someone had dared to tamper with her fate? It would surely bring chaos to Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life where we now resided.
"But how could this happen?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Who would dare do something so reckless?"
"Shh... speak softly! Someone could hear," my husband warned, placing a finger to his lips to remind me of the gravity of the situation.
I immediately fell silent, realizing how delicate this matter was. All the realms knew of the destruction tied to Fenrir and her siblings. That was why everyone feared her, why they despised her. Perhaps my husband intended to keep this news hidden to prevent panic among us, the gods.
"I don't know the exact details," he sighed, "but one thing is certain—we must act swiftly before it's too late."
I nodded, even though my mind was spinning with countless questions. "So... what's your plan, my love?"
He took a deep breath before answering, as if trying to lighten the weight of the situation. "I will send some gods to check on Fenrir soon," he explained, his voice quivering. "If there's anything suspicious about her condition, I won't hesitate to take further action."
"And... who will you send on this mission?" I asked, though a part of me dreaded the answer.
"I haven't decided yet. But I'll certainly send a few young gods to assess her."
"Wouldn't it be good to send our child as well? It could give them some experience," I suggested, though I couldn't fully suppress the worry gnawing at me.
As a mother, I naturally wanted our child to gain valuable experience. Yet the fear that accompanied that desire still lingered in my heart.
"No... they're still too young for such a task. I won't risk anything happening to them," he replied firmly.
I nodded, recognizing the truth in his words. "Perhaps you're right," I murmured.
For a moment, we sat in silence, sharing the unspoken worries that loomed over us. Slowly, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders again, holding him tightly, hoping to offer him some peace amid the tension we both felt.
"I love you, my husband," I whispered, my voice soft and filled with sincerity.
"And I love you, my wife," he replied, his voice warm though still tinged with unease.
We savored the quiet together in the vast, empty hall of Asgard. It was just the two of us, and for a fleeting moment, the outside world seemed like a distant shadow.
But unbeknownst to us, a black raven had been watching from a nearby window. The bird smiled smugly after overhearing our conversation. Then, without a sound, it took flight, disappearing into the blue sky, far from the palace, without us ever noticing.