Stranded in a Nameless Forest

Morning arrived. Gentle sunlight pierced through the thin leaves, creating a beautiful mosaic of shadows. Its brightness softly caressed my slowly opening eyes. The warmth of the morning sun brought a small sense of comfort amidst this suffering.

I woke up, realizing my body was still lying on a pile of snow.

"Ow, ow…" I tried to sit up, but the sharp pain throughout my body made me wince.

I looked down at myself, bruises and a few leftover cuts covered my body. Bloodstains smeared my tattered clothes.

Still, as I stared at the blood scattered everywhere, I felt incredibly lucky. Not a single predator had come close while I was in this half-dead state. The strong scent of blood would normally attract any passing predator, especially nocturnal ones with sharp senses like wolves.

"I'm so lucky to still be alive. But what happened? Why didn't any predators come near me?"

As my unanswered curiosity lingered, a stabbing pain in my right shoulder quickly dragged me back to the harsh reality of my injuries.

I tried moving my right arm, but it wouldn't budge. Every small movement only triggered unbearable waves of pain.

"Damn, it looks like my shoulder was dislocated in last night's fight. That Spino really was one hell of a strong and annoying monster."

In this condition, I couldn't transform into a raven or a four-legged creature, those forms would only make my movements less effective. My options were limited to slithering or staying bipedal.

Like it or not, even though I preferred my true form, I could only move as a human for now. At least until my dislocated shoulder was healed.

"Haah~ no other choice, huh?" I muttered with a bitter tone and a forced smile.

I let out a long sigh, reluctantly. My gaze swept across the surroundings. All I could see were the same trees and thick snow blanketing the landscape as far as the eye could see.

There was no sign of the monster anymore. The Spinosaurus had truly left. Not only that, there were no traces of other monsters nearby, which gave me a slight sense of relief.

"This must be the Spino's hunting ground. That's probably why no other monsters dare to enter its territory."

Growl. Growl.

Suddenly, my stomach let out a loud rumble, breaking the morning silence. Hunger struck me hard, adding to the pain still lingering throughout my body.

"Damn it, why am I so hungry at a time like this?"

I sighed in frustration, realizing just how bad my condition was now.

"This must be because I haven't eaten properly these past few days."

The busy days, combined with my body not feeling fatigued, made me skip meals, thinking I'd be fine. But last night's battle with the Spinosaurus had drained me completely.

"I need to find something to eat. Fast."

I tried to stand, but my body was still too weak. After gathering my strength and willpower, I managed to support myself on trembling legs, staggering forward with half-dragged steps.

"My regeneration won't work at its best if I don't fill my stomach soon," I muttered, noticing how the smaller scratches and bruises on my body were healing, albeit slowly.

I gave a faint smile, silently grateful for the rune Fenrir had given me. Without it, I probably wouldn't have survived.

"Even when she's not here, she's still helping me… This is a bit embarrassing."

But even with extraordinary physical abilities and regenerative powers, I knew I wouldn't last long if I didn't find food soon.

Warm breaths escaped my lips, turning into mist in the cold morning air. Every step felt like an unbearable burden, but I had no other choice.

"First of all," I said to myself, trying to boost my morale, "let's head in the opposite direction from where the Spinosaurus went last night. I don't want to run into it in my current state."

I walked north, carefully avoiding the trail the Spino had taken. Even at my peak, I couldn't beat it. How could I hope to now?

I scanned my surroundings, looking for signs of life—rabbits, small birds, or even fruits—anything I could eat. But in a season like this, most animals were likely hibernating, and with the sun already high, they would be curled up in their dens.

I shook my head, uncertain how fate would test me next.

"I… will survive this awful place."

I couldn't stop now. Survival instincts pushed me to keep moving forward, ignoring the biting cold wind, the pain coursing through my body, the exhaustion that weighed me down.

I… I will meet Fenrir again. I will keep my promise to her. I will take her to explore all of Norse lands. And I… I will give her the happiness she's been denied for so long.

****

The usual silence of the grand hall in Utgard's palace was shattered, broken by the echoing thunder of my footsteps. Each step reverberated like a storm, a harsh symphony tearing through the morning warmth.

Rage burned in my chest, driving my claws to dig into the cold walls of the palace, leaving deep scars on the stone. My mind was consumed by a single thought—why hadn't Yata returned?

The towering doors of the throne room loomed ahead. Loki's guards moved to block my path, but it was futile. With a single sweep of my hand, they were flung aside like dried leaves caught in a gale.

"Fenrys... please calm down," cried Linnie, Loki's daughter, trailing behind me, her breaths ragged. Her face was riddled with worry, but I didn't care. My anger had reached its boiling point.

I stormed through the massive throne room doors, kicking them wide open, and found Loki seated on his throne, his usual smugness replaced by a more anxious expression.

"Where is he?!" I roared, marching toward him.

Loki rose from his throne, exhaling a long sigh. He tried to appear calm, but his eyes betrayed him, darting away to avoid my glare. "Young lady, please, allow me to explain—"

"Cut the crap!" I growled, leaping forward, grabbing him by the collar, and lifting him off the ground. "Where is my pet?! Where is Yata?!"

Loki turned his face away, guilt etched into his features. "I... I accidentally teleported him to a random place—somewhere I can't even identify."

"What?" My voice cracked, barely a whisper, before rising again. "Don't lie to me! How could someone as skilled in magic as you screw up like that?!"

Loki struggled weakly against my grip. "I'm sorry, but it was an unintentional mistake."

"Grr…" I growled, a sound like rolling thunder. Pulling him closer, I pressed my face to his, nearly nose to nose. "Listen, Loki. If anything happens to my pet, you'll…"

"Fenrys, stop!" Linnie screamed, tugging at my arm. "Your anger won't help us find Yata!"

I glanced at her, catching the tears threatening to spill from her eyes, before I threw Loki onto the ground. He landed with a loud thud.

"Explain," I demanded coldly, holding back the urge to tear him apart right then and there. "Now. How are you going to fix this?"

Loki sat up, rubbing the back of his neck. "I... I don't know where he is right now. But I have a way to locate him."

"What way?" My eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"I need something tied to him," Loki said with uncharacteristic firmness, as if trying to convince me he could make amends.

"Something tied to him?" I echoed, skeptical, while his expression softened, as if piecing together a plan.

"Yes," Loki confirmed. "Anything that carries traces of his energy. The stronger the connection, the easier it will be to track him."

I fell silent, thinking. Then it hit me—I remembered the three feathers Yata had left behind the evening before. Thankfully, I had tucked them into the pocket of my gown.

"Here," I said, handing them over carefully. "Yata always leaves three feathers behind when he goes somewhere. It's his way of reassuring me he'll come back soon."

I felt a flicker of gratitude toward Yata for being so thoughtful. Ever since I threw a tantrum when he left without notice once, he'd made it a habit to leave those feathers for me. That small gesture meant the world to me. But this time, he hadn't left any behind, and that's what had set me off.

Loki accepted the feathers with care, examining them briefly before nodding. "These will do. But I'll need time to find him with my magic."

"How much time?" I demanded, impatience clawing at me.

Loki rolled his eyes. "Maybe a day or two."

"Two days?!" I snarled, leaning closer to him again. "You think I'll sit still for that long? No way! You're finding him tonight!"

"Young lady!" Loki's voice rose sharply, startling me. It was rare for him to raise his tone like this. "This process is complicated! I need time to ensure it works. If I rush, I could mess up again, and Yata could be lost forever!"

"He's right, Fenrys," Linnie said softly, placing a gentle hand on my arm. Her touch eased some of the fire burning inside me. "I know you're furious, Fenrir, but we have to give Father the time he needs to do this properly."

I stood frozen, my chest heaving with a mix of rage and anxiety.

"I'll try to work faster," Loki said, his voice softer now. "But don't expect results overnight. Give me time, young lady. I promise, I'll find him."

I turned away, clutching at my chest where the pain of fear and anger churned together. "You'd better find him, you scrawny trickster. If anything happens to him… I won't forgive you."

Linnie stepped closer, wrapping her arms around me in a comforting embrace. "We'll find him. I know we will."

I closed my eyes, trying to calm the storm inside me. In my mind, one thought echoed louder than anything else.

"Please... hold on, Yata."