The roar of the waves accompanied by the soft crash of water against the side of our small boat created a natural harmony, submerging me in the solitude of the endless sea beneath the quiet night sky. Each stroke of Fenrir's oar broke the water's surface, sending ripples outward, as if we were part of an ancient symphony composed by the universe itself.
"Yata," called Fenrir, her voice slightly hoarse. Sweat trickled down her pale, smooth skin. Her eyes locked onto me, sharp and intense. "Aren't you supposed to be my pet?"
In my raven form, all I could do was nod my head.
A bitter smile crept onto her lips as I watched beads of sweat slide from her temple down to her slender neck.
"Then, wasn't crossing this ocean in a small boat your idea?" she asked again, this time with a slightly higher pitch in her voice.
I nodded once more, confident there was nothing wrong with my decision. The sea appeared calm, even though small waves continued to nudge our boat. My instincts told me this was a safe route.
But then, Fenrir's voice changed, a hint of cynicism lacing her previously calm tone. "Don't you think there's something strange here?"
I shook my head slightly, sure that no danger awaited us. The sea felt safe, at least for now. A gentle breeze touched my dark feathers, carrying the salty scent of the ocean. Everything felt peaceful.
Suddenly, Fenrir lunged at me without warning, her strong hand gripping my neck roughly. I gasped in shock, pain shooting through my throat as her hold tightened.
"Kraaah… kraaah," I choked out, flapping my wings desperately, trying to escape her grasp.
"Then why are you letting your master row alone, huh?" she snapped, glaring at me with eyes blazing with emotion, her face so close I could feel her breath. "Shift back and help me row, you useless, clueless bird!"
"Kraaah, kraaah." I could only whimper in pain, struggling to explain myself in helpless cries.
How did things end up like this? Why was I being choked in the middle of the ocean? To answer that, we need to go back to a few hours earlier, to the moment this foolish decision was first made…
*****
After walking all day, we finally arrived at the edge of Lyngvi Valley. A secluded beach still blanketed in snow, though the sea breeze occasionally sent flakes swirling into the air. Here, the world felt frozen, not just from the cold, but from the silence that surrounded us, as if all of nature was holding its breath.
Though dusk had arrived, wrapping the clouds in a mesmerizing golden orange, it was hardly an issue for us to continue without feeling tired. This was thanks to Fenrir's Norse strength and my own reliance on the rune she had given me.
"How are we supposed to get to Jotunheim like this?" Fenrir asked in a low voice as she gazed out over the vast sea blocking our path. "I'm not good at swimming, let alone flying."
I turned to her and answered casually, "Simple, we just need to make a boat."
"Hah? Did I hear you right?" Fenrir's eyes narrowed, as though I'd just suggested something utterly insane.
Lyngvi Valley was a small, isolated island at the northern tip of Jotunheim, about a hundred kilometers from the main island. The area was surrounded by calm but barren waters. Not many fish swam below its surface, only a few crustaceans occasionally emerging from the sands below.
It wasn't surprising the Jotuns avoided this place. Not only was there little reason to stay, but there was also the risk of encountering Fenrir, the harbinger of ruin.
"Hey, are you listening?" Fenrir tapped my shoulder, pulling me out of my thoughts.
"Ah, sorry. I drifted off for a second," I replied quickly, shaking my head. "What were you saying?"
"Honestly, pay attention when someone's talking," Fenrir scoffed, hands on her hips. "I asked, how exactly are we supposed to make a boat? Just so you know, I'm better at destroying things than creating them."
I gave a small, wry smile and muttered, "That's just how you are."
I thought my words were quiet, but Fenrir's wolf ears caught them, her face suddenly tensing. She walked closer, grabbing my collar roughly, her face inches from mine.
"Watch your mouth, you ugly bird!" Her tone was sharp and threatening. "These ears of mine can hear everything, you know!"
I could only manage a forced smile as I stared at her angry face. There was an urge to tease her further, but considering her strength, it was probably best to hold back this time.
"I-I'm sorry."
"Forget it." I gently removed her hand from my collar. "Better yet, help me chop down some trees for the boat."
Fenrir tilted her head, a confused frown on her face. "Wait, can you really make a boat?"
"Of course," I replied confidently.
Her eyes remained narrowed, but she sighed heavily, giving in. "After everything I've been through with you, I'm not that surprised anymore. Sometimes I wonder, do I really just keep a regular raven as a pet?"
I only shrugged, looking at the snow-covered expanse around us. "I don't know. What do you think?"
"Forget it." Fenrir resumed her serious stance. "I'll handle chopping the trees and enchanting them. Your job is to build the boat. Deal?"
I chuckled softly. "Alright, deal. Besides, I can't let an impatient wolf girl wreck everything."
"What did you say?!"
Before I could add anything, Fenrir swung her arm at a nearby tree. With a single strike, the large tree toppled over, making me swallow nervously. Alright, enough joking around.
"S-sorry. Let's get to work on our tasks," I stammered, realizing just how serious her anger could be.
Fenrir only snorted with a satisfied smile, "Good, now you know your place. A pet shouldn't defy its master."
"I-I understand, I won't do it again," I replied, trying to ease the tension.
With a single swipe, Fenrir managed to bring down several more trees at once, finishing her part swiftly. "I'm done. I'm going to relax. Call me if you're done or if you need more trees."
"Alright, rest well, my master," I said, a hint of sarcasm in my voice, just enough to make her huff slightly.
Fenrir turned and walked away, but I noticed her tail swishing sharply behind her.
I turned my attention to the felled trees. "Alright, now it's my turn to work."
With the help of a knife Loki had given me and my shapeshifting abilities, I began cutting the wood.
First, I transformed my feathers into various tools to make the work easier. Then, I started building the boat with the skills I could recall.
Inwardly, I felt a small sense of gratitude for being able to use this ability for something other than fighting.
An hour passed, and at last, a simple boat took shape, complete with a pair of oars. Its design wasn't luxurious, but it was enough to cross the ocean.
I stood up and called out to Fenrir. "Fenrir, the boat is ready."
She quickly rose, stretching her arms with an annoyed expression as though I'd disturbed her from a pleasant nap.
"Wow, you really did it," she muttered, her tail and ears perking up.
She walked over, touching the boat, and began chanting a spell. A circle of magic appeared around it, illuminating the night for a moment before slowly dimming.
"It's done," she said proudly. "With this enchantment, this boat's sturdier than you'd think. If we hit something, unless it's magical, it'll break instantly. Hahaha!"
I nodded, joining her in laughter as Fenrir basked in her own pride. "Amazing, my master. Truly impressive."
Fenrir planted her hands on her hips, striking a heroic pose. "Of course! Thanks to my magic, this boat will sail without a hitch."
I chuckled again, watching her. "Alright, then we're ready to cross this sea."
Just before I shifted back to my raven form, Fenrir eyed me suspiciously. "Wait, why is there only one oar? Aren't you going to row too?"
I tilted my head, "Should I? Surely a wolf as strong as you is enough? I'd only slow us down."
Fenrir's smile faded, her tail and ears stiffening. "R-really," she mumbled softly. "Fine, I'll row on my own. After all, I'm the strongest wolf in Norse lands."
And so, our adventure on the quiet sea began, accompanied by Fenrir's powerful rowing as I flew above her, gazing at the horizon where the sun was slowly awakening from its slumber.
*****
Morning greeted us with a gentle breeze, cool even as the sun stood high in the sky. I perched on the bow of the boat, eyes fixed on the horizon, on guard for any signs that we might be nearing Jotunheim.
Fenrir was still sound asleep at the center of the boat, curled up comfortably despite the constant rocking from the waves. Somehow, that girl could stay in deep slumber under conditions that would keep anyone else awake.
We had been sailing for a full day and night, navigating through the strait between the Jotunheim mainland and the Lyngvi valley. Without a map, there were still plenty of ways to navigate, like using the stars at night.
Fortunately, the stars in the Norse skies were just as I remembered from my previous life, making our journey easier. When the stars were hidden, we used the sun as our guide. And with my sharp instincts and memory as a raven, I was confident our course to Jotunheim was true.
'We should be getting close,' I thought, continuing to scan the horizon.
I lifted my head higher, and at last, caught a faint white line in the distance. Beyond it, an expanse of icy terrain shimmered under the sunlight, framed by a beautiful blue sky.
"Khaaakh. Khaaakh!" I cawed loudly, hopping around in excitement as I realized we were almost there.
Without hesitation, I flew over to Fenrir, who was still asleep, and started pecking at her head to wake her up.
"Khaaak... khaaak."
Instead of waking up, she swatted at me with her hand, eyes still shut. Apparently, my calls weren't enough to rouse her.
"Mmm... mhmm..." she mumbled, her tail and ears twitching slightly, showing she was only half-awake.
Why is it so hard to wake this girl up?
Frustrated, I realized that waking her in my raven form was pointless, so I shifted back to my human form and shook her shoulder. "Hey, wake up. We're almost there," I said, giving her shoulder a firm pat.
"Mhmmm... five more hours... fufu..." she groaned lazily.
This time, I shook her harder. "Come on, get up! We're almost there!"
"An hour more..." she replied sleepily.
I sighed at her stubbornness. "This is going to be tough," I muttered.
After much effort, she finally opened her eyes, groaning with annoyance. "What's your problem, Yata? Can't you see I'm trying to sleep here?" she complained, rubbing her eyes. "I'm still sleepy, you know? Don't you remember I rowed this boat alone for nearly a whole day?"
I rolled my eyes at her grumbling. "Weren't you the one who asked to be woken up when we were close?"
At my remark, her ears instantly perked up, and her eyes widened. Without warning, she sprang to life, pushing me so hard that I nearly fell out of the boat. "We're really there?"
"Wait, you'll tip the boat over if you keep moving like that!" I shouted.
"Oh, sorry," she apologized quickly, moving off me. No longer grumbling, she stood upright and looked far ahead.
"Whoa. You're right. I can see the shore over there," she said with wide-eyed wonder, her mouth open in awe.
Returning to my raven form, I perched on her shoulder. Together, we gazed at the vast icy plains stretched out before us—the Jotunheim mainland. A place filled with secrets and challenges, waiting for us.
*****
Our small boat finally reached the shore, nudging softly against the snow-covered beach. Fenrir set foot on the snow-covered white sand, her boots crunching in the snow's fine layer.
Perched on her shoulder, I took in the wide, untamed landscape before us.
As far as the eye could see, there was only a vast stretch of ice, shimmering under the pale sky. Bare trees stood frozen, cloaked in thick snow, giving the scene an eerie, almost chilling silence.
A winter wind blew softly, biting through me. For a moment, bitter memories returned, the scars left by those bastards. Though my wounds had healed, my feathers hadn't fully grown back.
"You're not planning on turning human, Yata?" Fenrir's voice broke through my thoughts.
I glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. 'For what?' I thought.
"Oh, come on!" she pleaded. "I want to talk to you."
I simply tilted my head. Why was this girl so talkative? Wasn't it enough just to keep her company in silence?
"Not interested? But I wanted to hear more about Jotunheim," she continued in a forlorn voice, her furry ears drooping, though her tail wagged with hope.
I frowned. Her dejected look, I had to admit, stirred something within me. Perhaps a bit too cute for her size. With a long sigh, I relented, shifting back to my human form to indulge her request.
"What do you want to ask?" I asked, somewhat weary.
"Tell me everything about Jotunheim," she replied eagerly, her eyes sparkling, ears twitching with excitement. Like a child impatiently waiting for a gift.
"You're pretty excited."
"Of course!" she exclaimed. "Jotunheim is my birthplace. I want to know everything about this place."
With a bright smile on her face, Fenrir began spinning around on the snow, dancing with the gentle breeze that blew. Her beautiful eyes closed, her face turned to the sky, pure happiness shining on her face.
But soon, she stopped. Her arms dropped, and her ears and tail stopped swaying. Her wide smile faded, and the light in her eyes dimmed. She lowered her head, hiding her melancholy expression.
"Did you know?" Her voice was soft, nearly drowned by the waves. "I was taken to Asgard when I was a child. I've never really known Jotunheim. I have this small desire to know more about this place, more than just the half-hearted stories from the gods who... ah, you know what I mean?"
Her confession left me silent. Fenrir, who seemed so strong, had carried a deep longing for her birthplace she had never truly known.
"No one ever told you about Jotunheim while you were in Asgard?" I asked, trying to understand.
She shook her head slightly. "No. Even that Bastard never told me about it. He only mentioned I was born in Jotunheim. That's it."
I couldn't bear to look at her much longer. The pain beneath her calm smile made my chest tighten. Silence returned, wrapping us in an unspoken awkwardness.
Suddenly, a loud roar echoed, followed by an explosion that shattered the quiet. My instincts reacted instantly. I turned, finding Fenrir already looking at me with a small, challenging smile.
"You heard it too, Yata?"
"Someone needs our help, right?"
She nodded. A challenging grin crossed her lovely face. "Think you can take on that little beast alone? I'd like to see how strong you are now. How about it?"
"Fine, I'll do it." A confident smile spread across my face. I was ready to take on Fenrir's challenge.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
Fenrir sped off towards the source of the noise. I quickly followed, preparing myself for my first battle to come.