I Reincarnated in Norse Mythology

From the blue sky, I gazed down at the blanket of white snow covering the earth. The crisp, cold air refreshed my lungs as my obsidian wings stretched against the fierce wind. Bare trees, cloaked in snow, stood in place of their fallen leaves. Below, jagged rocks adorned the towering cliffs.

I kept flapping my wings, gracefully maneuvering through the leafless branches. My dark feathers, starkly contrasting against the snowy white, scattered below me in disarray.

"Caw... caw..."

My loud cries shattered the silence enveloping the valley, disturbing the serene symphony of nature.

The scene reminded me of the moment I first hatched into this strange world.

I used to be a human, living in a world called "Earth." For reasons unknown, I suddenly found myself hatching as a raven in Norse mythology.

I barely remembered anything about my previous life, even my name. Oddly enough, I retained all the knowledge I had acquired before. General knowledge, social norms, technology, and even the history and myths of Earth—I remembered it all.

Though I didn't know who I used to be, I felt grateful.

And honestly? I didn't care much about it. I had come to accept and even enjoy this life without any desire to return to being human.

Now, I experienced freedom and happiness beyond imagination—perhaps something I had longed for in my previous life.

Strange, isn't it? Could this be what I had wished for before?

*****

Two hours had passed since I began circling the mountains. I could feel fatigue weighing on my wings. It was time to find a place to rest.

Scanning the area below, I searched for a suitable perch. That's when I spotted a frozen lake at a higher elevation. Strangely, several trees around it still had lush, green foliage.

Curious, I decided to descend and rest there. Perhaps I'd get lucky and find some food. Food was scarce during this season.

I landed gracefully on the branch of a nearby tree, only to realize I had missed something entirely.

She was breathtaking...

A beautiful girl sat leaning against a boulder, bound by long golden chains.

Even in tattered, ragged clothing, she looked stunning. Her pale, mesmerizing skin contrasted sharply with her golden, wolf-like eyes. Her head was adorned with wolf ears, and her long, deep-purple hair cascaded down her back.

The girl struggled against her golden chains, writhing and straining to break free.

"Damn it! This is useless!" she shouted, her voice filled with frustration.

I could feel the anger and resentment radiating from her, but something about her seemed... off. Intrigued, I moved closer.

Who is this girl? What did she do to end up chained in a place like this?

I glided down elegantly, landing softly near her. Our eyes met in a silence so profound it was almost suffocating.

The girl broke the silence with a loud, angry outburst.

"Are you here to mock me too, you ugly bird?!"

Rather than feeling threatened, her fiery demeanor piqued my curiosity. I could hear a faint bitterness in her raspy voice. Bravely, I stepped closer.

"Ha. This is the first time a bird's dared to come this close to me." Her lips curled into a wry smile, revealing sharp fangs. "Aren't you afraid of me, you wretched bird? I could eat you anytime I want!"

Her threats didn't faze me. Instead, I drew even closer and held her gaze.

"You insolent..."

The girl growled in frustration, clenching her jaw tightly. Her face flushed crimson, like a volcano ready to erupt.

"What do you want, you ugly bird?! If you're here just to mock me like the others, you'd better leave before I make a meal out of you!"

I stood firm against her threats, deliberately provoking her with a look of pity.

"Get out of here, you wretched bird! Leave me alone!"

Her rage exploded as she tried to shoo me away. The clinking of her chains echoed with every swing of her claws.

"Save your pity for yourself, you miserable bird! I don't need it!" she snapped. "Now, get out of here!"

I hopped nimbly to dodge her claws but stayed just out of reach. Still, she kept trying to drive me away.

Eventually, I flew to a nearby tree, maintaining a safe distance from her tantrum.

She marched over to the tree and screamed, her voice a mix of anger and anguish.

"Get lost already!" she yelled, her tone bitter. "I, Fenrir, the strongest wolf in all of Norse lands, don't need the pity of a lowly creature like you!"

I froze upon hearing her name—Fenrir.

Fenrir? The monstrous wolf? Is this really her? But isn't Fenrir supposed to be male?

Is this truly the Norse mythology I thought I knew? Something wasn't adding up.

My thoughts were interrupted as Fenrir shook the tree with all her might, trying to uproot it.

Leaves and snow rained down in a flurry as she shook the tree violently. She truly wanted me gone.

"Caw... caw... (Alright, alright, I'll leave!)" I squawked in a panic. "Caw... caw... caw... (Fine, I'm going!)"

Flapping my wings, I flew far away, leaving her alone once more.

For a moment, I glanced back to see her slump to the ground, her golden eyes shimmering with sadness.

Why did she look so lonely? Was she all by herself?

The image of her sorrowful expression would linger in my mind for a long time.

*****

I landed on a nearby apple tree, its branches heavy with shiny red fruit that could make anyone's mouth water.

But I wasn't interested in the fruit. My thoughts were consumed by Fenrir—not out of infatuation, but because of who she truly was.

Fenrir was the strongest wolf in Norse mythology, often portrayed as a brutal, vengeful beast. A wolf destined to play a crucial role in Ragnarok—the future cataclysmic war where she would slaughter gods and devour Odin.

Ragnarok itself was the great battle between the Jotun and the gods, culminating in the burning of Yggdrasil, the Norse world tree. In essence, Ragnarok was the Norse version of the apocalypse.

Yet, knowing all this, I couldn't help but feel conflicted. Fenrir was just a young girl—lonely and suffering.

Was it truly right to rob her of her freedom like this?

In the original myths, Fenrir was chained while still young, despite her massive size. Perhaps her Jotun lineage caused her to grow much faster than other races.

After witnessing her plight, I could clearly sense her isolation. Bound and abandoned in this desolate place for years, it was no wonder she harbored such deep resentment toward the gods.

In my previous life, people always thought of Fenrir as a vicious, male wolf. Because of this, no one ever cared about her. But if they saw her now, they would surely rethink their judgment and realize the gods might be the true antagonists.

Was it okay to let her continue like this?

The thought of a young girl, bound, exiled, and despised until she became consumed by despair, was heartbreaking.

I looked up at the sky, a faint smile crossing my face.

"Maybe it wouldn't hurt to try and befriend her," I thought.

*****

[Fenrir's PoV]

I took a deep breath, feeling my exhausted body sink into the snow-covered ground. The weight of defeat and despair crushed me, leaving me with the sense that there was nothing more I could do.

"In the end, I drove him away, didn't I..."

All my life, I have been feared and hated by every creature in the Norse lands because of my strength and the prophecy of destruction that follows me.

The gods saw me as a threat and sealed me in this desolate valley of Lyngvi.

The fire of hatred and anger burned endlessly in my heart, consuming any emotions I might have once had. I had forgotten what it felt like to be cared for, how to interact with others. All that remained was loneliness and rage.

Revenge? Hatred? Perhaps those were the right words to describe my feelings toward the gods who treated me this way.

Tears slipped from the corners of my eyes without me realizing it. "Why... why am I always like this?"

My heart began to harden, wrapped in darkness, until a raven appeared before me. Boldly, it stared into my eyes. Even if only briefly, its presence slightly eased my burden.

But my heart ached when I saw the bird approach me with what felt like pity. The only way I could think of to rid myself of that pain was to drive it away.

Yet, in doing so, I only hurt myself. I knowingly pushed away the one creature that dared to come near me.

"I... I just want a friend."

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice the evening creeping over the forest until the rustling sound of movement came from behind me.

"Well, what a coincidence," I said, wiping away my tears. "Maybe eating something will ease the pain a little."

I stood up, revealing my sharp claws, ready to strike and turn whatever approached into my dinner.

But what appeared was unexpected.

"The same raven?"

My sharp nose immediately recognized the bird's distinct scent. The raven flew gracefully toward me, holding an apple in its beak before dropping it into my hand.

"What does this mean?" I looked at the apple in confusion before finally smiling, understanding its intent. "I see... You want to be friends with me, don't you?"

I quickly devoured the apple. Even though it was just an apple, it somehow tasted far better than anything I'd eaten in a long time.

A warmth spread through my heart, something I hadn't felt in ages.

"This is delicious..."

After finishing it, I turned to the raven, now perched sleepily on a tree branch. I called out to it, stretching my arms wide.

"Hey, bird, come here!" This time, I softened my tone. "I won't eat you. I promise!"

The raven hesitated for a moment before finally flying toward me.

I gently pulled it into my embrace. Then, I walked to the large stone at the center of my seal and sat down, leaning against it. Placing the raven on my lap, I began stroking its glossy black feathers with care.

The bird seemed at ease, curling up on my lap, its eyes growing heavy until it finally drifted off to sleep.

"Are you sleepy?" I asked, bringing my face closer. "Go ahead and sleep. I promise to keep you safe. No one will hurt you—I swear," I said, gently stroking its head.

Without hesitation, the raven closed its eyes completely, surrendering itself to rest on my lap.

"You're really letting your guard down, aren't you, silly bird..." I murmured, tracing its face with my fingers. "I could eat you if I wanted to."

I smiled softly, watching the raven peacefully sleeping in my lap, and I couldn't help but feel drowsy myself.

"Yawn," I stretched my arms. "Now I want to sleep too."

I curled up, carefully cradling the raven in my arms. Slowly, my eyes closed, and I fell into a deep slumber, holding the bird close.

Happiness filled my heart. After so long being alone, I finally felt the warmth of having a new friend, and I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

Unbeknownst to me, this meeting would one day change the destiny Yggdrasil had woven for me, the lonely wolf girl.