Chapter 1: Danger Signs in the Storm

The renowned Viking ship, the Dragontooth, was violently hurled into the churning sea, the impact reverberating like a thunderclap. The storm, a furious beast, bellowed with escalating rage, its ominous clouds obliterating the sun. Thor's booming voice echoed in the distance, and the wind, a wrathful spirit, threatened to suffocate the men on deck as they valiantly battled the tempest. The sea, a roiling mass of fury, tossed the ship like a toy, its waves crashing over the deck and threatening to swallow the crew.

Helga, a fearless Viking warrior with a scar across her cheek and a glint of determination in her eyes, stood at the ship's mast. She was not just the captain, but also a bastion of hardihood for her crew. Her voice, a potent blend of authority and unwavering resolve pierced through the tumult of the sea, inspiring her crew to fight on. Her leadership was a rock in the storm, a beacon of hope that guided them through the chaos.

The crew members, their faces contorted with determination, hurried on the vessel, grappling with ropes and sails in the relentless rain. The robust sailors united in their struggle, strained every sinew to navigate the boat through the tumultuous waves with their mighty oars, their efforts a testament to their unwavering spirit in the face of the storm's onslaught. Their resilience, a beacon of hope in chaos, was a sight. Despite the storm's fury, they never wavered, their every move a testament to their survival instinct and commitment to each other.

"We're perilously close to the rocks!" shouted another Viking, Haakon, standing at the front of the deck and pointing to the stones jutting out of the water. The crew's hearts skipped a beat as they realized the imminent threat, their survival instincts kicking into high gear. The rocks, a treacherous obstacle in their path, could spell disaster for the ship. They had to avoid them, but the storm was relentless. Their plan was to dodge in an arc. Still, the storm made executing it increasingly difficult, adding a layer of suspense to their struggle.

A colossal wave, its crest a menacing wall of water, crashed onto the ship. The impact sent several crew members hurtling into the air. Lightning streaked across the sky in that split second, illuminating the chaos. The tattered and torn sail flapped in the wind like a wounded bird. The ship, a sturdy vessel with a dragon's head at its prow, groaned under the relentless assault of the waves as if the sea itself was determined to tear it apart. The crew, their faces etched with determination, fought against the elements, their every move a testament to their survival instinct. The air was thick with the smell of salt and rain, and the sound of thunder and crashing waves filled their ears, making it hard to hear each other's shouts.

The Dragontooth, a ship as renowned as the Viking warriors who crewed it, was no smaller than other Viking ships and was crewed by experienced seafarers. But even so, they were not prepared for such a wild storm. Now, they were all fighting for their lives, and no hand was relaxed on the deck. The Dragontooth was not just a ship but a symbol of their strength and resilience, and its survival was a testament to their indomitable spirit. They were on their way home from Ragnar Lodbrok's siege of Paris with many other ships scattered by the storm. Therefore, they were now left alone without allies against the storm.

Helga surveyed the deck and saw a mix of fear and determination on Sven's face. He was the youngest and newest crew member, his fear palpable, unlike the calmness of Futhark, the ship's mysterious old fox, who tried to bolster the young man's spirits. The old man had taken the boy under his wing, and though they were strangers, he never left Sven's side. Helga made a mental note to speak to them later once they had weathered this storm. But for now, their focus had to be on the sea.

"Hold on, people!" Helga, the fearless captain, shouted, her voice brimming with determination. "Olaf! Do you hear, you deaf giant?!" Her words, a blend of authority and concern, mirrored her dual role as the crew's leader and protector.

"Tell me, harridan!" replied the giant Viking wielding the rudder oars. "Did you finally remember you owe me a few drinks?!"

The helmsman's voice did not hide any fear and did not give the appearance of effort. No wonder he was the strongest and bravest member of the team. Olaf, the giant Viking wielding the rudder oars, had survived more storms than Haakon had concubines. His experience and strength were the ship's best defense in this storm.

"If we survive this, we can talk about it! But now, let's turn left to avoid the rocks!" shouted Helga, trying to hide her nervousness. The giant had once again cut his drinking habits to the head.

"Don't forget your word! We're turning left!" Helga's thoughts were interrupted by Olaf's answer.

"Wait! The rocks continue in that direction!" Gunnar's voice rang out as he stood atop the crossmast. They had finally managed to reattach the sail with Freyja, which the storm had torn apart. Gunnar's eyes, which barely see when the sky is clear, are sharper than a hawk's in darkness or storm. His keen senses added a layer of mystery to the scene, leaving the crew and the audience in suspense.

"Then let's turn right!" shouted Leif, the ship's carpenter. He never waited until Helga gave an order and always said what he thought out loud. It was precisely because of his habit that the captain hated him. She would have thrown him off the ship long ago if Leif didn't own the boat. The Dragontooth was by far the best ship that could be found in the countryside and was already the birthplace of the legends of many local heroes. So Helga choked back the curses she intended for Leif and shouted:

"Didn't you hear him, Olaf?! TURN RIGHT!"

"Then everyone holds on because we're going to turn sharply to the right!" with this prompt, he changed direction with the rudder blades so quickly that not even four men would have done it sooner.

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Everyone on board held on so that the momentum of the turn did not invite them to the depths of the sea. They were very close to the rocks they were trying to avoid. This was seen by those on the left side of the deck. They knew they couldn't rest because the storm didn't want to subside. At that moment, they all understood why Ingrid had fainted when asked to predict the storm clouds that were gathering ahead of them. Beyond the rocks, the storm became even more ferocious than before. It was as if the sea and the sky had collided, where the sky was at the bottom, and the sea was at the top and back again. The water of the sea took on shapes and forms you couldn't understand even if you saw it, and the crew of the Dragontooth tried to survive in this blue and dark chaos.

"Hold on, people! We're losing ropes! Don't let anyone fall into the sea! Rán would like us to have dinner with her at Djúprinns today!" Helga's voice rang out, a beacon of determination in the chaos. She knew her crew, knew their desires and fears, and she used that knowledge to infuse them with strength. Her words were a rallying cry, and the ship rode the waves in safe hands.

With Gunnar's guidance, a few more dangers were avoided, and it seemed that the storm would stop. Then suddenly, the sea and the storm calmed down. It was so quiet that you could even hear the popping of bubbles coming from the depths. Everyone anxiously awaited what would happen because it couldn't mean anything good.

Out of nowhere, some rooster's crowing shattered the stillness, a sound that sent a shiver down everyone's spine. The voice seemed to be not one but three roosters, its origin a mystery that seemed to emanate from the South, the depths of the sea, and the sky simultaneously. It was a sign, but of what? No one dared to say it. The crew held their breath, their hearts pounding with anticipation, as they awaited the next twist in their perilous journey. But Sven broke the silence.

"It's just not th-th-the..." Sven began stammering.

"Sign of Ragnarok!" interrupted Leif as usual. "But we haven't heard Heimdall's horn yet, so it might mean something else."

"Yes, Leif?! Then why has the storm stilled?" said Helga, who could no longer control herself. In the meantime, his mind was on the question, 'Why now?'

"Stormcaller, didn't you silence the storm?" Leif turned to the mystical woman, Sigrun, who had been watching over Ingrid since the beginning of the storm.

"Leif, I've told you quite a few times that I can only draw wind into our sails. I can neither summon nor calm a storm. I don't even understand why you named me Stromcaller," blurts out Sigrun. She also expressed how much the woman hates her nickname.

"I think we should use the opportunity to find a place where we can dock," suggested Ivar, who began to examine everyone in a calm moment. As the ship's butterman, he needed more time for his work. "What does the captain say about that?"

"Good idea," agreed Helga, then raised her gaze to the top of the mast. "Gunnar, do you see a beach suitable for mooring?"

"Not captain," Gunnar quickly replied. "We are on the open sea, and the nearest shore is in a calm place two days away."

"Gunnar, don't you remember Hjaltland?" Freyja interjected. "We can get there in half a day with no wind.

"You're right, Freyja," the navigator agreed with his helper. "But there were strong winds in that direction last time as well. How did the captain decide?"

Before Helga could answer, a loud horn stopped her. The sound was so noisy that everyone had to cover their ears. Even Ingrid protected herself from the horn's power because it brought her back to herself, which the storm could not do.

After the sound died, they all looked at each other. Their faces were darkened by a sense of disappointment and loss. They had missed Ragnarok, the battle of the gods, and could not be Odin's einherjars in this fight. Futhark was the first to speak.

"Then we don't have to worry about it anymore. Let's focus on the task because we're still unsafe!"

"You're right, old man," Helga told him. "Everyone to your place and head to Hjaltland!"

Apart from Futhark, the others were still distraught. Helga's words encouraged them to action; the captain's family was famous for their sense of purpose, which made up for the lost zest for life in the crew.

Just in time, because the storm started again. Gunnar thought he saw the World Serpent emerge from the water. Jörmungandr's departure from the water created an enormous tsunami. The navigator had never seen such a wave, and the others had not yet sensed anything from it. They have only one option left. They had to get on top of the wave somehow. He looked down at the Dragontooth and assessed the injuries, judging who would survive. He looked at Olaf and Helga and then told them his plan.

"Olaf, can you handle the rudder alone?" Helga asked the giant.

"If it's not bigger than the waves we've ridden in the western waters, I'll be alone," Olaf replied confidently.

"Olaf, this is much bigger than that! It is at least three times bigger than the waves of the western waters," Gunnar had already indicated worriedly. Seeing how fast the wave is. They didn't have a minute back. "Whoever is at the end of the ship, help Olaf quickly! Pull the securing ropes!"

Because of their frustration, not everyone could do their job without mistakes. And those who made a mistake now will not make it again. A tidal wave is crazy to ride, but they were Vikings. Brave warriors of the seas who knew the storms better than anyone. Any Viking would have attempted this, but the Dragontooth and his crew did it. Many people's anchoring ropes break, and many are injured when they reach the top of the wave. Helga also lost consciousness and would have fallen off the ship if Erik hadn't caught her. Olaf got what he wanted: a real challenge. But then two people slipped and crashed into Olaf. The others couldn't hold the shovels without the giant, which seemed to be the end.

Then Futhark quickly made marks on the deck floor, pressed his hand upon it, and shouted, "NER LER!"

Horse shapes formed from the water around the Dragontooth, which helped him up to the top of the wave and escorted him down the other side. Everyone was shocked that the old Futhark had cast a spell. This would have been expected from Sigrun or Ingrid. They immediately started asking questions, but the old man just kept silent. Helga finally came to her senses and put an end to the questioning.

"Leave the old man alone! Let's tie up at a safe shore first! Everyone back to their seats!" Helga commanded.

Then Gunnar said: "Captain, another such wave is approaching us!"

"Futhark!" Helga said to the old man. "Can you do the former again?"

"No," he answered. Helga's face stiffened at this, but the old man continued. "However, I can carry us under it once."

"Then do it," Helga instructed with a sigh of relief. After saying it, he thought more about what the part underneath meant.

Futhark carved marks on the deck again. Then, the ship suddenly fell under the water and passed under the wave. After they emerged, many started gagging from the salt water.

"Next time, tell us to take a deep breath, old man," coughed Helga.

Futhark didn't answer; they just sat down on the right side of the deck. Helga quickly gathered the rest of the team and continued their journey in the abating storm. With Sigrun's favorable wind, he would have reached his goal quickly. But the goal was nowhere. Instead, it was blocked by a giant waterfall gushing in the middle of the sea.