The Wind She-Wolf of Oxidore

A Flashback

Hooves hit the ground. Her eyes were watery because of the wind that was crushing on her face. The horse was running as if it is certain where it should go. She holds the reins tighter as she goes fast-paced towards the woods deep. She ready her knife in anticipation that she might be caught off.

" Yaaahhh!!!"

Astrid uttered one more loud cry. She was fourteen. And she's not aware of the dangers outside her mother's territory. She should have listened to the oldies' advice not to go to the tavern. Now, she's being chased by some bad guys, and she's heading toward an unknown forest.

It started when her scent attracted the attention of some men who were also tavern guests. And so, she's sure these men chasing her are vampires as they were the only ones in this world who could smell their wolf scent.

" Sh***!" she cussed.

It was too late for her to notice that she's gonna bump into the tree trunk. The next thing she knows is she was rolling down the steeped hill and when she got up on her feet, the men were now near her, drawing...baring their fangs, and their glaring eyes.

Astrid was shaking in fear, but she tried to hide it. She had loosened her knife. The more that she felt helpless.

She stepped back.

The men moved forward.

" Hey...kiddo!" one of them muttered.

Just when they were about to jump at her. An unfamiliar creature suddenly appeared in between them, shielding her with his own body.

" She's the princess!"

Astrid heard him say.

And she saw the men step back.

" She's the daughter of the north wind goddess!" said the man.

Astrid saw the sudden shift of mood in her attacker's face. They become soft, soon they bowed, and leave them alone.

" Thank you... Ivar," Astrid said.

" Your mother wants to see you," Ivar said.

Astrid understands that's why the beta wolf was here. He was fetching her.

" Okay.." she nodded.

The goddess of the north wind was her mother. Although her mom won't always be present in the land of the mortals, she had built a place for them to dwell whenever she would visit her daughter. Astrid grow up not knowing who her father was. It was her mother's servant who took care of her since she was born. She was kept in this place that mortals view as paradise. The meadow was beautiful. There is a large castle in it. Its boundaries are secured by her mother's power. There are some wolves guarding every gate, lots of food, and convenience. Her mother made sure she would not lack anything.

Yet, although this place seemed a paradise. Still, there are lots of questions in her mind, lots of stuff she was curious of knowing. First, is who is her father, and next is why can't she live with her mother in Valhalla. But until now that she was fourteen, none of those were answered. And then she set in her mind, that, maybe, demi-god like her are meant to live life like this. Ivar would always comfort her saying she's lucky compared to other demi-gods who weren't even acknowledged by their deity parents.

" My mom had arrived?" Astrid asked Ivar the moment they arrived at the castle.

" Yeah, and she has an important thing to discuss with you," Ivar replied.

She saw her mom waiting for her in the chamber hall. She was there standing arrayed in splendor. Magnificent and forever young.

" Good thing you're here," said her mother.

" Why?" she asked.

" It's about time you leave for Oxidore,"

Astrid's eyes widened. She was shocked and, thrilled. This is the first time she will be traveling and seeing places far from here.

" Oxidore?" she gasped.

The north-wind goddess nodded, " yeah, your father's kingdom," she replied.

" My father?"

The more that she was shocked.

" Yeah...time to meet him, and time to train in there. Once every month I will visit you there, and train you.." said the goddess.

Astrid agreed. Of course, that's what she wants. For the first time, there's a change in her life. She's already bored spending every day in this castle for 14 years. Though she was wondering why her mom suddenly decided this, she keep her bewilderment to herself.

When they arrived in Oxidore, Astrid felt at first like she isn't welcome, or maybe her father was just surprised he was not expecting she will be staying with him, for good.

" Why is she here? Do you think she'll be safe in here? I am just mere human!" Balthar whined.

" I'll be checking you closely!" the goddess blurted out.

Still, Balthar couldn't be at peace.

" You know she can't be with me in Valhalla! Or else the other gods there will kill her! Until now they were paranoid about why I had given birth to a wolf when none of us are werewolves!" said Shuria.

" And now they learned I was keeping her in that forest!" she added.

Balthar fell into silence.

He was thinking.

" Okay," he sighed.

" let her stay in here,"

As days passed by, her father hide nothing from her about her past. He told her why she was sent here in Oxidore, and why she needs to train harder. It was not only to protect her life against the deities who's suspecting her but also, to win the Lycan god's favor.

" You can't beat all the gods in Valhalla with just the wind element. You need to get all, and marrying the Lycan god was the key to that, perhaps...that's the reason why you were born a wolf, despite that we, your mothers are not, because that nature of yours would be the access, to win the Lycan's trust,"

Her father told her one time when she was training.

And then, eventually, that becomes her reason for living.

Not winning the heart of the Lycan god, but living for her parent's cause. If she gets the Lycan god, then she gets what she needs to be with her mother... in Valhalla.