The sunlight filtered through the gaps in the forest canopy, striking my closed eyelids. Its dazzling glow greeted my eyes, forcing me out of my dreams.

"Hmm... mhnmm..."

I groaned, my hand reaching for something that should have been beside me. Unfortunately, I found nothing, causing me to jolt awake in a surge of panic.

"That raven!" Sleepiness and laziness instantly vanished, replaced by anxiety over my feathered companion's whereabouts. "Where is he?!"

I immediately got up, scanning my surroundings with my sharp vision, trying to locate the raven that had slept in my embrace last night. But no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't find him.

"Raven, where are you?!" I called out loudly.

I placed my hand near my ear, sharpening my hearing. Yet, I heard nothing. Not the flap of his wings, nor any sound that could hint at his presence.

Sniff, sniff.

Unwilling to give up, I tried using my keen nose to track him down. But again, there was nothing. The wind must have carried his scent away.

"Damn it, when did he leave? Why can't I pick up his scent?" I grumbled in frustration.

Restlessly, I stood up and started walking, determined to find where my little bird had gone. However, I barely made it nine meters before the clinking of chains stopped me in my tracks.

"Curse you, Gleipnir! You won't even let me search for my friend!"

I struggled, fighting with all my strength until my muscles tensed, desperately trying to break free from Gleipnir. The pendant given to me by that bastard glowed brightly, as if mocking my futile efforts.

"Ugh... heavy... damn it!"

As expected, my struggle was in vain. The harder I tried, the tighter the chain bound me, reminding me that I would never escape its grip. The me of today was still far too weak to break Gleipnir.

"Tch, it's useless."

With heavy steps, I trudged back to my stone bed and sat cross-legged on top of it. Tilting my head back, I gazed at the delicate clouds dancing gracefully in the sky.

"So... all I can do now is wait," I muttered in annoyance. "How boring!"

I lay back on the stone, my face turned up toward the vast blue sky.

As I waited, an unsettling feeling crept into my chest. A strange emotion I couldn't quite put into words.

"Strange... what is this feeling? I want to see him again..."

The image of my beloved raven suddenly flashed in the sky, making me even more impatient.

"Hurry up and come back, you stupid bird!" My shout echoed in the air, carried away by the gentle wind, hoping it would reach that damn raven's ears.

After venting all my frustrations, I let myself collapse into the thick snow covering the ground. My eyes stared blankly at the floating clouds, my mind wandering as I waited for my black-feathered friend to return.

Time passed unnoticed, the sun nearly reaching its peak, yet there was still no sign of the raven's arrival.

"He's taking so long..."

Time felt unbearably slow. I could only laze around, rolling in the snow and growling softly in frustration.

"Curse you, Gleipnir!" I shot a resentful glare at the powerful chain that had bound me for the past few years. "You've already sealed away part of my power, restricted my movements, and now you won't even let me go find my new friend!"

Gleipnir, a magical chain forged by the dwarves from various unknown materials. A chain said to remain unbroken until the day I die.

I took a deep breath, recalling the feelings I had when that raven first appeared. It was the first time an animal had dared to approach me, bringing an unfamiliar emotion I struggled to describe.

"That raven..." I murmured, my tail and ears flicking unconsciously at the thought of him. "If he comes back, I'll make him my precious pet."

Before he arrived, I had always been alone. The aura of destruction surrounding me scared other animals away. I was used to solitude, but his brief presence had somehow eased the loneliness I never realized I had.

"Why do I feel like this?"

The clouds above danced cheerfully in the sky. They looked so peaceful, so carefree. So different from the turmoil churning inside me.

Sret. Sret.

The faint rustling of leaves behind me caught my attention. My nose flared, picking up a distinct scent I knew all too well.

"He's here!"

I sat up eagerly as I spotted a raven flying toward me, two mice dangling from his claws.

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"Finally! You're back!" I cheered, stretching out my arms in an attempt to reach him.

"Koak... koak," the raven cawed above me before dropping the mice right at my feet.

I tilted my head, inspecting his latest offering. "You... you hunted? For me?"

The raven gave a small nod.

Although I didn't necessarily need to eat, I never turned down food. Especially if it was brought to me by my beloved pet. Without hesitation, I grabbed the mice and gratefully accepted his gift.

"Thank you!"

My tail swayed with delight as I eagerly bit into the fresh meat, savoring its taste. Every so often, I wiped away the thick blood trickling from the corners of my mouth.

As I enjoyed my meal, I felt the raven's gaze fixed on me, watching intently. I furrowed my brows, wondering what was on his mind.

"Why are you staring at me like that?" I asked between bites. "Never seen a beautiful girl eat before?"

His expression suddenly soured.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I narrowed my eyes suspiciously. "What are you thinking, huh?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he perched on a nearby branch, observing me from above.

I could only pout at his behavior. For some reason, it felt insulting.

"You're so annoying."

I let out a bitter smile. Deep down, I wished we could truly understand each other. I wanted us to talk and share laughter.

But I knew it wouldn't be easy. He was just an ordinary raven, while I was a feared jotun. How could we possibly chat like friends?

Yeah, somehow, he seemed to understand what I was saying. But in the end, he was still just a bird. How could we ever have a conversation? Unless...

"Koak... koak."

His loud caw snapped me out of my thoughts, making me turn toward him.

"Hey, what's with you? What do you want?"

Without a clear answer, he suddenly flapped his wings and took off, leaving me behind.

"Hey, where are you going?! Don't leave! Stay here, you ugly bird!"

"Tch, where is he flying off to now? What the hell is going through his head? Why does he leave me so easily?!"

I puffed out my cheeks, pouting at my companion who seemed oblivious to the loneliness I felt. But there was nothing I could do. I could only watch as he flew away, unable to stop him.

"I'm definitely going to put a collar around your neck, you ugly bird."

*****

[Raven’s PoV]

I spread my wings, flying low over the vast expanse of snow. Occasionally, I maneuvered in the air, avoiding obstacles in my path. I kept flapping my wings, trying to explore this forest more deeply.

This unrelenting curiosity compelled me to further investigate the state of the forest in this mysterious valley. If I remember correctly, this place is called Lyngvi, the valley where Fenrir is supposed to be sealed. Though there are actually several versions of that story.

There was nothing particularly interesting here.

Even though I had explored a quarter of the forest, I hadn't found anything remarkable. This valley was just like any other forest enduring a long winter.

I slowed my pace and perched gracefully on the branch of an apple tree that was still bearing fruit.

Due to the long winters that always plagued the Norse lands, many plants had evolved to adapt to the extreme environment. One such plant was the apple tree, which could bear fruit in winter. Something like this shouldn't exist in the world I came from.

Once again, my wings felt slightly numb from flying too long. I tilted my head upward, staring at the sun as it began its descent toward the west.

I would rest for a moment before returning to Fenrir's side.

Glancing left and right, I spotted winter berries growing in abundance. Their glossy color awakened my hunger. Without hesitation, I swooped down and eagerly devoured the small fruits, soothing my throat with their sweet and sour taste.

"Koak. Koak. (It seems like this is the only interesting thing about this valley,)" I cawed loudly, dancing with joy as I realized the berries here were far more delicious than those elsewhere.

I continued my berry feast, losing track of time. My instincts only stirred when I saw the sun nearing the horizon, as if waving at me to return home.

Without thinking twice, I followed my instincts, preparing to head back to Fenrir's side. Though I had yet to see a single alpha predator around, the night was still a dangerous time for a beta predator like me. That was reason enough to return before the sun disappeared completely.

Before taking flight, I plucked a small branch of berries to bring as a snack for Fenrir. Though I wasn’t sure about her dietary preferences. Was she a strict carnivore because she was a wolf, or an omnivore because of her humanoid form?

Along the way, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was strange. There were very few animals in this lush valley. I only saw a few insects and the occasional small creature scurrying about. Even in winter, this level of emptiness felt unnatural.

Was this because of Fenrir’s presence?

Yes, as an animal, I could also sense the aura of destruction surrounding her. But perhaps the remnants of human conscience within me made me less affected by the overwhelming energy that clung to her.

After flying for a while, I was almost back when the sky was painted in breathtaking shades of crimson.

There she was.

I spotted her leaning against a large rock, her lips pursed. Arms crossed over her chest. Tail swishing harshly. Her expression was one of pure irritation. Her sharp eyes locked onto me as I approached.

I had no idea what had happened. I swooped down toward her, the branch of berries still in my beak. But before I could land in front of her, the girl suddenly lunged forward and grabbed me roughly, causing the berries I had brought for her to fall.

"Koak! Koak!" I screeched in pain, writhing in her grip.

"You damn bird!" she shouted, her voice loud and accusing. "Why did you leave me without saying anything, huh?"

So that was it. She was mad because she thought I had abandoned her. It seemed she truly couldn't understand my language at all, even though I had cawed loudly to let her know I was leaving.

"Koak. Koak. (Let me go for a moment so I can explain first,)" I pleaded, trying to break free. But her grip was too strong. Or maybe... I was just too weak.

"You want me to let you go? Then give me a satisfying explanation, or I’ll make you my dinner tonight, Ugly Bird!" Her sharp eyes bore into me, making my feathers bristle slightly.

I fell silent for a moment, taking a deep breath.

She also grew quiet, becoming calmer than before. Tilting her head, she looked at me with curiosity. "Why are you just staring? Do you want to become roasted bird?"

I swallowed hard, slightly intimidated by her threat. My mind spun quickly, searching for a way to escape this dangerous situation.

I glanced to the right, then to the left. That was when my gaze landed on the fallen berry branch. Shifting my eyes back to Fenrir, I gestured for her to follow my gaze.

The girl followed my line of sight, staring straight at the berries on the ground. "Berries?" she murmured, tilting her head.

Her grip loosened, and I immediately took the chance to slip from her grasp. Walking over to the branch, I picked it up and placed it in front of Fenrir.

"Koak. Koak." I cawed, my gesture sincere.

She picked up the berries I had set before her, staring at them with wide, glistening eyes. "You… you brought these for me?"

I nodded slowly.

"Thank you. You're so kind, little bird. I like you even more now." A small, thin smile formed on her beautifully carved lips.

I couldn't help but smile as well when I saw her eagerly devouring the berries. Yeah, I think I preferred watching her eat fruit rather than raw mice. Honestly, it was unsettling to see such a gorgeous girl happily munching on a raw rodent.

Suddenly, Fenrir lifted me high into the air. A spark of happiness flashed in her eyes as she looked at me as if I were her dearest friend.

"You've been so good to me. Do you want to be my pet?"