“Oh no! It is already getting dark!” Astrid exclaimed with a bit of panic in her voice. If I hurry, I might be able to make it. 

Astrid started to jog her way back to the village.

She managed to find the herbs her grandmother had described. “They will be difficult to find my dear, but we must have them before the long night starts. When prepared correctly they help keep away evil spirits and my joints from hurting, hehe.”

Astrid was not sure about this particular herb, but her grandmother was usually right. She is a healer after all. She thought to herself as she was moving towards the village, back to her grandmother.

Nonetheless, it was never a good idea to stay outside the village gate after dark, especially during the winter. The Grimtharvok was said to wander in the long nights of the winter, hunting for any souls to devour. A tale as old as the village Astrid grew up in. It would be best to be in the village before the sun sets. Astrid was not sure if she believed in it too, but also other creatures in the woods at night - wolves, bears, trolls and yetis. But most of these are in hibernation this long into winter. The thought of wolves and trolls being around was enough to make her want to sprint. But there was something else too, that made her want to hurry up just a tiny bit more. 

Astrid ran as fast as she could, while carrying the basket of herbs. 

She had travelled far into the forest, far deeper than she usually would go, but she had to find these herbs. Not only for her grandmother, but for herself, she wanted to become an herbalist like her grandmother had been and her mother. The village called her a witch, but Astrid knew better. Her grandmother was a healer, not some evil hag. They had said the same about her mother, before they had banished her during the long night long ago, back when Astrid was barely ten winters old. 

The sun was halfway down the horizon now. Oh no, Mielikki and Silvanus! I will not make it! Astrid could feel the fresh frozen air down her throat, leaving it dry and sore. But she did not care, she had to make it to the village, to her grandmother. 

This time of year, in the dead of winter, the sun barely showed itself on the sky, only barely peeking up over the horizon before returning. It was freezing, Astrid had been walking around for hours in the snow and freezing wind, between the ancient trees in the eerie silence of the Grimwoods. The trees’ bark was almost black from the lack of sunlight, this deep into the ancient forest. I wonder if my mother ever made it this far before the Grimtharvok found her. They should never have banished her. There was nothing to be done for that child. Astrid’s mind kept returning to that day 6 winters ago. 

The child had been sick for a while, and Astrid’s mother had tried everything. She had spent night after night researching, taking care of the child. But nothing would work, nothing short of divine magic could help at this point. There was nothing to be done. But the villagers would not hear any of it, they believed she was preparing the child for a demonic sacrifice. My mother pleaded and begged for her life. But they would not hear. They threw her out of the village.

Only the very top of the sun was visible now. Shit shit shit! “Shit!” the last part Astrid shouted out loud. She had stopped for a second to catch her breath after she stood staring at the last sun in horror since nobody would be able to see the sun for a week. The village would gather by the longhall, watching as the sun went down under the horizon for the last time.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Astrid felt it before she heard it. A vibration in the ancient magic of this forest, and then a deep eerie growling howl filled the forest, it came from somewhere in the depths of the Grimwoods. But far closer than Astrid had hoped for or expected. As she snapped back to the moment, Astrid started into a dead sprint. 

I’m almost there! Just on the other side of this hill! The last sun rays losing the battle to the ever-present darkness of the Grimwoods. Again, she felt the magic of it before she heard it and felt the heavy stomps getting closer and closer, too close. 

The darkness had taken over the forest and Astrid was sprinting for her life. Grandmother, please save me! Mother, Please! Panic was flowing through her thoughts. Her mother had been dead for years. It was the villagers' fault, she hadn’t killed anyone, she only tried to help. But not everything can be cured. Where were they now? They had said, “the sins of the mother shall not fall onto the daughter”. But where were they when I need help? A sharp anger was building in Astrid’s chest. She had never thought about it like this. It made a lot of sense. 

She noticed that she couldn’t hear the heavy footsteps anymore, She slowed down, she was still running. Where did it go?

All of sudden it was there in front of her, the darkness framing the hulking figure, pale eyes glowing. It was three times her height and two times her size, covered in white fur, an unnatural large mouth with ragged teeth, the eyes were dead pale with a glow of grey almost white and a pair of antlers covered in moss, but sharp and ragged. Oh my goddess of the forest, it is the Grimtharvok! What should I do? Run? But where? The village is too far. Astrid had stopped at the sight of it, uncertain what to do. It moved towards her at a slow pace, shaking the ground with every step. 

Astrid wanted to scream, but was unable to. The Grimtharvok grabbed her with one clawed hand like the one of a troll. It held her up as easy as picking a flower. Astrid felt lighter, as this beast stared into her eyes, and slowly opened its mouth wider than it should be able to. She felt a tugging at her chest, like something was being sucked out. 

“No, Not her! Oh gods no, it is too late!” 

Astrid snapped out of the entrancement of this creature’s pale glowing eyes. 

She managed to free herself from the grip and as soon as her feet touched the ground, she ran as fast as she could. What was that? The voice felt familiar. The voice had come from behind the monster, almost sounded like a panicked scream.

Astrid continued to run, feeling lighter all of a sudden. She needed to get to the village. The air did not feel as cold or as dry. She could hear the Grimtharvok behind her moving after her, chasing her. Why did it let me go? Who’s scream was that? 

The trees flew past her as she sprinted, the basket forgotten. She could see the light of the village behind the hill in front of her, the Grimtharvok behind her. I need to get to the village! I want revenge for my mother. Astrid was angry, thinking of how they had banished her mother and abandoned her. She stopped at the hill looking down on the small village, she had called home for so long. But at the moment she felt only hatred for everyone in this place. Behind her, Astrid could hear the footsteps of the Grimtharvok, for some reason she did not fear it. Something had happened when it had stared into her eyes. 

The village gate was opening and an old lady passed through it. Grandmother? She looks older, like her time is near. Astrid was filled with heartbreaking anger, she stormed towards the village. They will pay for what they did to my family, to me!

The elderly lady looked up at the frozen maiden, who had started to show up every year at the beginning of the longest night. Ever since my granddaughter was found frozen deep in the forest. This is my worst nightmare. But at least I get to see her one more time before I join her on the other side. The frozen maiden stormed down the hill toward the village, to her. She held her arms to embrace her granddaughter as she did every year, but for one last time. Oh my dear Astrid.

“I will have my revenge!” the frozen maiden screamed as she fell in the embrace and vanished. The elderly lady held her for a second feeling the frost, the cold sig into her frail body. When the ghost of her granddaughter vanished, she felt her body give in. 

In the dead of winter, an elderly lady sat in the snow looking up at the night sky, crying as she passed from this world, her tears frozen to her check. “One last time.”