Jeanie woke in the middle of the night, hungry as hell. She sat up from her makeshift bed, wind blowing like a blizzard, grabbed her bag, and opened it looking for cooked fish. Something drew her attention to where her brother was. John was sitting, face barely visible in the night. The moon barely giving off any light.

Actually, no light, why…?

Jeanie thought to herself looking up. Through the leaves shook and rustled, and branches swaying, Jeanie looked for the moon, and couldn’t find it. She couldn’t find the moon, or the stars…

Where the fuck are we?

Jeanie, starting to worry, looked around. They were in the same place.

No stars, what the fuck does that mean?

“John, wake up, bud” Jeanie said getting up from her spot. “ Hey, get up, bud…. John.” Jeanie said, shaking John. Nothing. She shook him again.

Nowhere…. Nowhere. You can’t. Don’t leave!

Jeanie heard a voice. Close to her, but no one was around. Close but not there.

No help is coming. Help me. Worthless. Don’t leave. Stop trying. Worthless. Don’t go. Hate. We hate her. No point. Give up. Worthless. She hates him. Hate. Die. No. NO NO

The voices got louder

Worthless, Just give up, die, dead meat. Gross, Dirt. Urchin, hate, dead to him, worthless, horrible sister, Hated, Loathed, Murderer, Thief, hated, dead, make me die. NO NO NO NO NO DDDIIIEEE!!!!!!”

The voices were from every direction, as if the trees in the forest they were camped in ….were...talking.

Fuck fuck fuck! What do I do!?

“FREYA HELP ME” Jeanie Shoutedly prayed.

Worthless, Just give up, die,Thief, hated, dead, he’ll die. Don’t leave. Stop trying.Hate. We hate her. No point. Give up. Worthless. She hates him. Hate. Die

*KAKROOOOOOOOM*

Thunder clapped heavily, Lightning struck the sky lighting up the entire area.

*BRRROOOMMMMAAAHHH FFFRRROOOOOOKKK*

A loud, thunderous female voice boomed through the air, sending a chill down, Jeanie’s spine. The air itself shook and wavered as if scared by the voice. The trees shook violently losing leaves left and right. Small branches broke off and fell to the ground. A woman emerged from the darkness of the forest. The woman looked quite healthy, and curvy. She’d be considered attractive under normal circumstances, but she had paint and mud on her face. She wore a dark green, and brown robe. Gold pieces hanging from different ends of leather, and cloth. A golden headband, bangle, and earrings hung from her body loosely. Her chestnut hair pulled into a ponytail and held by a gold ring. Her face was slender and stern, but still attractive. She had green paint under her eyes,which were green, in the shape of what looked like plant roots. She had a red leafy vine design on her arm, and she was barefoot. She wide, thick feet, though covered in mud, made little noise while walking. In her right hand she held a wooden staff,and the head of it was in a design of a bramble bush. Thin spiky, red, and looked like it would hurt to be hit with that end.

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“Thank you” Jeanie said looking over at the stranger, while still trying to wake John.

“Not to worry my child.” the stranger said with a beautiful smile, almost unbefitting of her previous facial expression. “Let us make haste, and leave this place.”

Jeanie, understanding the urgency of the situation, put on her bag, and picked up her brother, cradling him in her arms, and followed the stranger away for the Mountain into the night. Not knowing who, or what this stranger was, Jeanie was hopeful.

She didn’t know why, but she felt at home in the presence of this stranger, and it made her uneasy. She followed the stranger for a few hours, in silence, until they reached a familiar place.

“Why here?” Jeanie asked as they stepped through the thin aura that protected Little Vana.

“Well, child, if we have the opportunity to relax, don’t you think we should take it?” The stranger asked smiling, much like a mother telling her small child.” A break from running and stress is always good for the body and soul.” she said while crouching down to lie in the grass.

“ Yeah, okay, I see your point.’ Jeanie said setting John down on the grass. “Do you know if my brother is gonna be okay?” Jeanie asked worriedly.

“ Yes, child, he will be okay, the sleep spell he is under was only to frighten you back at the mountain. Very cruel way to treat such sweet children. A pity really, the trees misbehaving like that.” The stranger continued conversing while laying down, with her arms on her stomach, and her eyes closed.

“So, what do we do?” Jeanie asked.

“We sit and relax, the animals should be back soon.” All the animals that normally occupy Little Vana were absent, though what for, Jeanie was clueless.

After sitting in silence for a while, Jeanie heard leaves rustling behind her. She turned slowly, to be met with the image of a badger. Four badgers actually. A mother and three badger pups. Behind them two adult wolves, and 5 wolf pups, three doe’s, a stag, a bear, two phase hounds, and a Black Speartooth Lion. One of the wolf pups, separated from his family, and clumsily ran to John, and started licking his face. John sturred and wiped his face in his sleep, but the pup kept licking, unphased by the boy’s movement.

“ But mom, it’s a holiday….no school.” John spoke in his sleep. “I don’t mind it.” “ She drools in her sleep.” John continued on for a minute or so before finally snapping his eyes open.

*AAAAAAAH*

John reeled back shouting,surprised by the wet touches he was receiving.

“HUH, wait. Jeanie? JEANIE?!” John sat up and looked around.

“Good morning sleepyhead” Jeanie said while her and the stranger both giggled at the cuteness.

“Hehe, hi. Oh, hello, who are you? My name is John.” John greeted the stranger

“Hello, child. Yes, I know who you both are.” The stranger said, still smiling.

“How?” Jeanie asked bluntly

“Well you called for help didn’t you?” The stranger asked so kindly, like a soft cloud…

Cloud, why do I think they are soft?

“Yeah, but that was more of a prayer, in fear of what was happening.” Jeanie stated still curious as to who the stranger was. Who could this Stranger possibly be, and how did her prayer have to do with this person showing up.

“I was the one that quieted the trees, and lead you here, did I not?” The woman said, pointing out a fact more than asking for an answer.

“True, and thank you, I always liked this place. So peaceful, and lovely. Hey, maybe you know, why is this place so peaceful, not that I’m complaining, but why?” Jeanie asked with pure curiosity.

“Well, darling girl, it’s because it’s an area that is touching Vanaheim, the land of the Aesir.” The stranger stated proudly. Proud about what?

“Okay... you mean like one of the other realms, Vanaheim. Like of the nine realms?” Jeanie asked in disbelief.

“Exactly.” the robed woman stated looking Jeanie in the eyes.

“Okay, so what does that mean?” Jeanie asked, unsure of what to think.

“Let me show you.” The stranger said holding out both her hands for John and Jeanie to grab. John grabbed her hand immediately, curious as to what this would lead to. Jeanie saw her brother’s smiling face, along with the woman’s. She slowly took hold of her hand, and made a silent prayer to Freya…

Please let this be a good thing….

“Don’t worry child, it will be” the stranger said smiling warmly.