As the beastkin began to move, and the foxkins came closer, a notification was yearning for his attention.

[ Gungnir’s Rune Leveled Up ]

[ Rune Empowerment Acquired ]

What the hell is rune empowerment?

*****

[ Rune Empowerment - The power of the gods will flow through you for one minute. During that time all stats are doubled. Has a cooldown of seven days between uses. ]

*****

Blinking his eyes a few times, Einar tried to comprehend what that kind of power could do.

“Do you desire healing?”

“I’m sorry, what?”

The first foxkin was bent over slightly, almost as if bowing, Einar realized as her yellow eyes watched him.

“You and your men. We can heal you. Would you accept that as a way for us to show you we now know we were wrong and owe you an apology?”

“That would be appreciated,but if you would, please help the other ones first.”

The first foxkin, who Einar now realized had a slightly redder coat of fur compared to the other, which was slightly more brown, moved to where Thorodd was and held out both hands slowly, as if approaching a wild beast.

“He won’t hurt you.”

Thorodd chuckled, and then winced.

“Allow me.”

Bending down, the foxkin placed both hands on his injured knee and then let out a high-pitched howl. Other beastkin joined in and as their voices grew louder, an orange glow radiated around the large viking’s leg.

An audible crack came as whatever had been broken and in the wrong position fixed itself.

“SHIT! TROLL HUMPING SHIT!”

Einar tried not to laugh at the outburst and at how Thorodd grabbed his leg. The foxkin pointed at the hole in his quad that had been burnt shut.

“May I?”

Breathing from the pain, he nodded and grimaced.

“That was way worse than anything Thorve ever did.”

Chuckling, Einar nodded, moving slowly toward the noise that was getting closer.

“Einar!”

Two bearkins were carrying between them a clawed, slashed, blood covered mess of a giant Viking.

“I shall heal him,” the second foxkin stated as it moved to intercept the pair who, without thinking, dropped the man on the ground.

He hit with a grunt and Einar watched as both bears lifted their paws as if they didn’t know they had done something wrong.

The foxkin tore into both of them in whatever language they used and each of them bowed low and backed away quickly, melding into the gathered beastkins.

“Forgive them, they are bearkins. They care about nothing but food and sleep. Please allow me to heal you.”

Skardi grunted, his face down in the dirt, apparently not able to fix his position, which had his ass up in the air.

“Good thing none of them are in heat,” Thorodd called out.

A growl came from a few beastkin and the second in command went silent.

Once more, a loud howl from all the beastkins matched the foxkin and Osvif sprawled out on the ground, shaking in the dirt for over ten seconds before gasping, blowing chunks of soil and dust from his lips.

“What in the gods is that?!”

“Forgive me… our healing is not… built for one so fragile.”

A barking sound that reminded him of laughter came from some of those watching, and Einar moved to where Skardi was starting to rise and held out a hand.

“I guess you still owe me a life.”

“Forget that…” the giant scoffed. “It was one thing expecting to die… it was a whole other thing getting your flesh ripped off you by dozens of claws.”

As the other three received healing, Einar tried to consider how best to handle this political situation.

It’s not really my place to create chaos… but then again, the truth is often best when ripped off… or set like a broken bone.

***

The redder foxkin had cried a few times, saying nothing as the other had been the only one to speak.

Most of the beastkin that were surrounding them, in fact, had cried or wailed until the brownish one cut them off.

“For so many years we forgot our brothers and sisters… all because of a crystal…”

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“How did you come by this crystal?”

“A trader… I cannot recall who or what… it is like a shadow in my mind… smoke that clouds it still. Someone came, and it was so beautiful. I remember…”

The brown-haired fox held out its hand, almost as if it was reaching for what filled its mind.

Hissing, it lowered the appendage and sighed.

“We are grateful for freeing us and sorry for the life of yours we cost you.”

“I am sorry that we killed so many of your kind. If Freyr himself hadn’t set us on this task, I am certain we would not have ventured here and done so.”

Both foxkins glanced around the assembled beastkin. About eighty were present.

“So many… lost. Our brothers and sisters are gone. Perhaps Fryer will grant us more in the coming days.”

Cries came from many, and it was then that Einar noticed what he was missing.

“There are no children.”

Both foxkins nodded slowly. A few more tears rolled down the red fur of the smaller of the two.

“There had been children. We had so many cubs. Now…”

No one spoke as the hard truth of a generation of children was gone. Stolen by whatever spell had been part of the crystal.

“I don’t want to simply just leave, but we have friends, as I mentioned, who are hurt and waiting on us. Would it be possible for one of you to join us as we go? Perhaps heal them if they still need it?”

The red foxkin stood immediately.

“I shall go. We owe them that.”

The other stared for a moment and then nodded.

“Let us depart. Before, our home would have been safe at night. Now, after what you say is true, I hope that has not changed.”

***

“Xirina we are grateful for your help.”

The foxkin nodded, giving what Einar assumed was an attempt at a grin. She moved with a grace that spoke of agility, and her eyes were constantly scanning the woods.

“Einar… such a strange name. Tell me, is Ragnarok really coming?”

“Can you think of any other reason why you would turn on the elves?”

“Besides foolishness and pride? No… you are right. If Freyr has done all that you say he has, then things must be dire. How long do we have?”

Wincing, all he could do was shrug.

“We are not promised tomorrow, yet I think there is still some time. A year? Maybe two. There is much I must accomplish, and my warriors need to gather items to help make the runes that Odin has given us knowledge of.”

A long sigh came from Xirina as she nodded.

“So… even if we are given cubs again… they may not make it in the coming years…”

Thorodd coughed from behind, and looking at the spot the road bent in the forest, another pack of a dozen or so beastkin were walking slowly toward them.

“More of my family. They look lost. Give me a moment.”

Xirina bounded up ahead, her bushy tail swinging from under the tattered robe that still clung to her body.

When she was gone, Thorodd moved to join Einar, who had slowed down a few steps.

“How you do what you do amazes me.”

“Do what?”

“We killed probably a third or half of all they have left, and yet they apologize to you. They heal us. I’m already aware of what you’re going to do next, and I have no doubt they will say yes to that.”

“Asking for reagents?”

“Exactly. I understand why you will do so but do you think there is a better time for such a request?”

Einar stopped and held up his arm, stopping the movement of his second in command.

“Tell me, why did we come here? Why did we venture into this realm?”

“You know that answer.”

“I do, but have you forgotten? You say I’m the leader I need to be, and those leaders make the hard choices. I cannot wait forever to ask. Soon we shall hopefully be gone, headed back to Midgard and Bior. There, we will attempt to make runes before my time to avoid one we both know cannot be avoided.

“Plus, you know I shall be married and soon we shall have a second pack, or perhaps a third depending on how things go. Can I give up so much power because in this moment there is regret and pain? How will that stop Ragnarok?”

Thorodd shook his head and said nothing.

“You know the roles we are to play. Do you wish you hadn’t come?”

“No!” Thorodd exclaimed, so loud he shook his own face, appearing surprised when his eyes went wide at how loud he had said that. “This is the day I longed for… just inside me… there is compassion and my heart hurts for them. Magic stole from their people. Dark magic and while we might not know who did such a thing, to know their children were stolen…”

A single tear came from the large man and he used his thumb to remove it as soon as it appeared.

“I had a daughter… There was a woman… A troll…”

No one said a word, the other Vikings with them having taken a step back and given the two space.

Thorodd shook, his hands clenched and his arm's muscles flexed so hard the bones inside might snap.

“I was gone, pursuing power and glory and when I returned… they were gone. That pain made me a fool for so long. I rushed into battle, wanting to die sometimes. Eventually, Bior found me and helped me recover. He gave me a purpose and now…”

Putting his hand on Einar’s shoulder, Thorodd squeezed it.

“Odin has given me a chance to help others not feel the pain I felt. So forgive me if this part hurts a little more.”

Returning the embrace, Einar looked up at the taller man’s eyes, holding the gaze and seeing the pain that was hidden behind a wall.

“I promise to do what I can to help others not experience that pain. Know that when I ask the hard question, that I do so because I don’t want others to suffer. Each day is a race. We must win, crossing the line, prepared for battle. Otherwise… every child will suffer.”

Sniffing, Thorodd nodded and smiled.

“Then let us go see how our friends are doing. The beastkins are waiting for us.”

***

Einar tried to not smile too much as the look on Varitan’s face told him that the elf had honestly not believed things were going to work out.

I can’t blame him… for just a moment, I wasn’t a hundred percent certain either.

Part of him was frustrated that no other boons had come, but then again he didn’t know what exactly it took for that to happen. Even worse was the knowledge that someone or something had come here and put that gem in the hands of the beastkins, knowing what it would do.

With a fire going and the twenty plus beastkin who had stayed with Xirina to ensure her safety, everyone gathered further down the road. The pain in the beastkins eyes as they saw the bodies of their fallen brothers and sisters was too much.

Yet even with all that, not once did the body of Bodalf leave their side.

“I will do what I can, but it may be hard to convince Vulpec but I will try. Our kind are hurting and there is much shame. We have dishonored a relationship that was never meant to be broken.”

“There is no blame from me,” Einar replied. “Still, in order to do what we can, anything you can give to help in our fight is appreciated.”

Xirina sat there quietly, staring at the fire, her clawed fingers picking at the threadbare robe.

“It feels like I have been empty for so long. Memories of things I should know… I cannot remember the last time I sat and stared in a fire, yet I know we spent many moons singing to it and Freyr, praising him for how he always gave us his blessing. Now I wonder if we shall ever be given it again.”

Thorve stood up and moved to the log where Xirina was sitting and put her hand on the foxkin’s knee.

“None of us blame you, especially Freyr. While I cannot speak for him, I know that he cares about you. That is why he sent Einar and us to fight for you. No one else could come and free you.”

A few large tears came, and the foxkin sniffed a few times, smiling at the older woman who sat next to her.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

The cracking of the fire was the only sound for a while as the truth of Thorve’s words brought comfort to a group whose hearts were filled with pain.