Chapter 4: The Pact with Raven

The sky was a steel-gray blanket by midday, casting a cold, muted light over the village. Mihai stood at the edge of the trees, peering into the depths of the forest with a sense of anticipation he couldn’t quite explain. His mind kept returning to the wolf—the creature that had saved him from the Grimee, with eyes as fierce and as knowing as Yahweh himself.

Since that night, Mihai had felt a strange pull, as if something—someone—was calling him back into the woods. Raven, he had begun to call the wolf in his mind, though he didn’t know if the name was his to give. There was a bond between them, something unspoken but undeniable, as if they were meant to cross paths.

“Are you off to meet him, then?” Cian’s voice broke into his thoughts.

Mihai turned to see his new friend watching him with an amused smile, arms crossed and a spark of curiosity in his eyes.

“Meet who?” Mihai asked, though he suspected Cian already knew.

“Mac tíre,” Cian said with a grin, his eyes drifting to the forest. “The wolf, of course. You’re restless as a fox near dawn—you’ve been waiting for him, haven’t you?”

Mihai shrugged, though he couldn’t help but smile. “Maybe. I feel like… he’s waiting for me.”

Cian gave him a nod of approval. “Good. Mac tíre don’t cross paths with just anyone. Go on then. Éist leis.”

With that, Cian turned and headed back into the village, leaving Mihai alone at the edge of the trees. Mihai took a deep breath, letting the cool, damp air fill his lungs. He stepped into the shadows of the forest, his senses sharpening as he ventured deeper.

The silence was different here, a quiet that held weight, like a lingering breath in the stillness. The trees loomed taller, their bark a deep, dark gray that seemed to drink in the dim light. Moss coated the roots, and the ground was damp, each step sinking slightly into the earth. Shadows clung to the edges of his vision, and the forest floor was strewn with fallen branches and leaves in faded shades of brown and dull green.

Then he saw it—a glint of amber in the shadows.

Raven emerged, his movements graceful and silent as he padded forward, watching Mihai with an intensity that felt almost human. Mihai felt his heartbeat quicken, but he held his ground, meeting the wolf’s gaze.

“Hey there,” he murmured, unsure if Raven would understand but feeling compelled to speak nonetheless. “I’ve been waiting for you… if that means anything.”

The wolf tilted his head, studying Mihai with a calm that bordered on eerie. Slowly, Raven circled him, and Mihai felt the weight of that gaze, as if he were being measured, judged.

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“Yahweh brought me here,” Mihai continued, speaking softly. “I don’t know why yet, but… I think I need you. And maybe… you need me, too?”

The words felt strange on his tongue, almost childish, but there was a truth to them he couldn’t deny. He could sense something ancient within Raven—a power that lay dormant, waiting for the right moment to awaken.

Without warning, the wolf lowered himself to the ground, watching Mihai with expectant eyes.

Unsure but trusting his instincts, Mihai knelt down, so they were at eye level. He reached out, hesitating just before his hand touched the wolf’s dark, thick fur. Raven remained still, his gaze never wavering.

Then, as his fingers brushed Raven’s coat, a jolt of energy surged through him. Mihai gasped, feeling an unexplainable warmth spread through his chest. It was as though he were connected to the wolf, his senses heightened, his mind sharper. He felt the damp earth beneath Raven’s paws, the scent of pine and moss filling his nose, the muted sounds of the forest alive in his ears.

Mihai drew in a sharp breath, overwhelmed by the connection. He could feel Raven’s heartbeat, steady and strong, pulsing in time with his own. And then, a voice, low and quiet, filled his mind.

I have waited for you, too.

The words were simple but carried a weight that filled Mihai’s heart with a fierce, unexplainable loyalty. This was no ordinary wolf, and whatever bond Yahweh had forged between them, it was powerful beyond his understanding.

He took a shaky breath, meeting Raven’s steady gaze. “Is this… a pact?”

Raven inclined his head, the slight motion holding an unmistakable elegance. It is more than a pact. It is a bond that binds our fates together. If one of us falls… so does the other.

Mihai swallowed, the gravity of Raven’s words settling over him. “So we’re… tied to each other.”

Yes. Raven’s voice was steady, calm. If you are to carry out Yahweh’s will, we will need to fight as one. We share strength, understanding… even our voices. What you need, I will hear. And what I need, you will know.

As if to confirm the bond, Mihai felt a surge of energy unlike anything he had ever experienced. The forest around them grew sharper, each leaf and branch etched in perfect detail. He could sense the small creatures hidden in the shadows, the rustle of leaves as a breeze passed through, the distant cry of a bird high above.

He could feel Raven’s presence within him—a steady strength, a fierce intelligence that made him feel both humbled and protected.

But there was something else, too—an echo of storms, a raw power that crackled beneath the surface of the wolf’s calm demeanor. Mihai sensed it, a dormant ability that lay hidden, waiting for the moment it would be unleashed.

“I think… I think I understand,” Mihai murmured, more to himself than to Raven.

Raven’s voice echoed in his mind, a gentle yet firm reassurance. You will. With time.

They stood in silence for a long moment, the bond settling into place between them like the last piece of a puzzle finally falling where it belonged.

Finally, Mihai broke the silence. “What should I call you?”

Names have little meaning to me, Raven replied, a hint of amusement in his tone. But if you wish to name me, I will not object.

“Raven,” Mihai said, the name feeling natural, as though it had been waiting for this moment. “Your eyes… they remind me of home.”

Raven’s gaze softened, and Mihai felt a surge of warmth through their bond. Then Raven I shall be.

Mihai rose to his feet, the weight of the pact settling comfortably over him. He felt different, stronger—like he belonged in this strange world, connected to it in a way he couldn’t fully understand but was ready to embrace.

He turned back toward the village, Raven falling into step beside him, their footsteps quiet on the soft earth. They walked in silence, but Mihai felt a new sense of certainty settle within him, a confidence that came not from himself but from the bond he now shared.

As they neared the edge of the forest, Cian was waiting for them, his expression a mix of curiosity and approval.

“Well, look at you two,” Cian said with a grin, nodding toward Raven. “Seems you’ve made yourself a friend, Mihai. I told you, mac tíre don’t take to just anyone. Fáilte romhat.”

Mihai returned the grin, a newfound confidence in his voice. “I think it’s more than that. We’re bound to each other.”

Cian’s eyes widened, a glint of respect in his gaze. “Then Yahweh has truly blessed you, Mihai. Tá tú ceangailte anois.”

They walked back toward the village together, the gray sky looming above, casting an eerie light over the huts and fields. Shadows stretched long and dark as the sun began to sink, but Mihai felt a calm certainty in his heart, knowing that he was no longer alone in this journey.

He glanced down at Raven, who returned his look with a steady gaze. Through their bond, Mihai felt the wolf’s loyalty, a fierce, unwavering presence that would guide him through whatever lay ahead.

For now, they were at peace. But Mihai knew that this world held dangers he could only begin to imagine. As they entered the village, he caught the faintest scent of smoke on the breeze—a warning of battles yet to come.

But with Raven by his side, Mihai was ready, or he felt so.