Yaga's home, located a short distance from Raven Lake, was a little property and a cozy two-story home. The carved wood and the chiseled stone that created her humble abode and the pine trees that decorated her yard were picked and blessed by the shaman herself. And just like the house's owner, it too was decorated with bone and runes. No one was allowed to enter without her say. And when you are allowed, then it was important. This was a sacred patch of land everyone lay eyes on it knew it.

Barlog kept a steady pace behind Juno when they walked up the dirt path leading to the front door. A wave of emotions filled his body with each step. Wonder, excitement, fear, dread, and everything else rolled into one and weighed down his heart into the pit of his stomach. Still, he stood tall and pushed onwards into the cool night air. Turning his head, Barlog can see the lights of Hrafnvatn residents going along their nightly business of parents tucking their children to their warm beds and guards preparing for their nightly patrol. Another peaceful night to end a somewhat peaceful day. Yet this peaceful scenery could not quell the swelling emotions in his guts and heart as he approved the porch of Yaga's home.

"Please wait here for a moment." Juno broke the silent night with her gentle voice. Barlog nodded without saying a word and Juno opened the door, moved inside, and closed it behind her. With nothing better to do at this second, Barlog took a seat on one of the steps and look upon the stary night, and decided to find as many constellations as he can to pass the time. Not the most entertaining, but it's better than nothing, right?

There's the Big Dipper.

And the little Dipper

Orian

…

That's all he can find.

That's not good.

Luckily, Barlog didn't have to wait long. Juno opened the door wide and said "Sorry about the wait, you can come in now."

Barlog thanked whoever was listening and got up to meet Juno. She moved to the side and welcomed him inside and closed the door behind him.

Yaga's home entered into a small hall two open rooms that are brightly lit with a multitude of candles of different colors. One room to the right had its walls covered with bookshelves filled with tomes, grimoires, scrolls, and other reading material forms. All of which shown signs of significant use and collections of dust over the shaman's long life. And for the shelves that didn't have books, They held an assortment of runes and charms that they too show much use and dust. The center of this room was furnished with four chairs and one long table separating them and a large carpet beneath them. The carpet design looked foreign and complex to be of öxl. Perhaps Yaga purchased this from Andy last time he was here? Or maybe she took it during the raids when she was younger?

To the room on his left, is what appeared to be a small and simple kitchen. The kitchen had a small cauldron hanging over a small fire pit with its flame smoldering weakly, a sign that they had dinner before his arrival. Hanging on the wall of the kitchen were dried herbs and spices that were either planted by Juno earlier in the year or purchased today. The feint smells reminded Barlog that he hadn't eaten yet. Once he was done with whatever Yaga wanted him for, He'll get himself a nice big piece of salted fish before bed.

"This way, please." Juno instructed and lead the way once more and he followed. Juno led him down the hall and to a large door with runes carved in every inch of the wood. Juno took the handle and pulled it open to reveal a staircase leading down into the cellar. The stairway was dimly lit and small wisps of smoke coming from the bottom. The smoke carried a faint smell Barlog couldn't be recognized by him.

"Yaga is waiting for you in the cellar." Juno elaborates.

Barlog felt unsure as he looked down the stairs. A feeling that he shouldn't be having he thought. Yaga had helped Hrafnvatn and its inhabitants many times over. Plus, He knew Juno since childhood, She would never cause him or anyone harm or warranted distrust. But the sight of the darkened stairs did not help calm his uneasy nerves. Hesitantly, Barlog took the first step and slowly made his way down the stairs. When Barlog was a few steps ahead, Juno closed the door behind them and made her way down as well. Barlog felt a bit better seeing that Juno was coming along. Which made him moved a little faster until he got to the landing at the bottom.

The cellar was a large and open space with a large rune painted red on the wooden floor. Handing from the ceiling were bones, feathers, and her trinkets all over and just out of Barlog's reach. Wisps of smoke came from small candles that produced that faint but pleasant odor he smelled from upstairs. In a corner was a caldron much like that in her kitchen. But unlike in the kitchen, the caldron was surrounding by shelves stocked with bottles and vials of liquids of vibrant colors along with potted plants and flowers that he could not recognize. And in the back of the cellar was Yaga, kneeling in front of a shrine, praying silently. And behind the altar, was a great statue.

The statue was carved from a massive boulder. The statue was that of a great warrior in armor and a cape. He had a large beard and an eye patch over where his right eye should have been. Perched on each of his broad shoulders were birds. In his right hand, held a spear pointing down to the shrine was in front of him. And in his left hand was an opened book.

The All-Father

The King of Asgard

Odin

Barlog stared in awe of the statue. Never in his life had he seen a depiction of the All-Father this grand or detailed.

Juno walked up behind Yaga and nudged her shoulder to grab her attention.

Yaga turned her head and seen Barlog.

"Ah, there you are..." Yaga acknowledged him and then turned to Juno.

"Thank you, my dear," Yaga thanked Juno while she helped her stand up "Now go and prepare yourself." The shaman instructed. Wordlessly, Juno nodded. She made brief eye contact with Barlog and headed for the stairs, leaving the two alone.

"Such a nice girl, isn't she?" Yaga said with a giggle.

She then lay eyes on Barlog and her smile slowly disappeared.

"Please sit down." She ordered Barlog and pointed to a spot on the floor in front of her shrine.

Barlog gave Yaga a confused look, but ultimately did what she asked him and sat down on the floor crossed-legged.

"What's wrong, Yaga?" Barlog asked the old woman. Yaga moved slowly moved her way to her caldron before replying.

"Dreams, visions Barlog..." Yaga crocked out while she rummaged through the shelves of bottles for something.

"These plagued my nights for weeks now, but last night was the most powerful I had in a long time." Yaga said. She pulled out a small bobble of a dark blue liquid and a few petals of a green flower.

"There were visions of fire, death, and unimaginable crimes of nature. Demons taking what they want, killing everyone, and forcing themselves onto whoever they desire the most." She placed her items on the shrine and turned to Barlog "I turned my gaze to the heavens above, and I see a night sky, filled with stars of blue and green." Yaga finished and pointed to him with a boney finger and said "You're eyes, Barlog."

Barlog inadvertently touched his face, feeling uncomfortable when Yaga said that. Barlog never cared much of his eyes. When he was younger, the boys would make fun of his eyes for how different they are compared to the rest of them. The girls on the other hand thought it was cute and sometimes ask him out. All in all, his eyes drew attention that Barlog did not want. Only with age did the teasing slowly ended. But when Yaga pointed out his eyes in her dreams, A small part of him felt like the gods were finally joining in on the teasing as well.

"What does it mean exactly?" Barlog asked Yaga questionable and worried.

Yaga took a pedestal and mortar from underneath the shrine. The shaman placed the flower petals in the mortar and began to grind up the petals.

"I do not know, but I know that it is urgent if they sent such a vision. I fear it could be an omen of war. And those in Asgard need to have a word with you."

Light footsteps were heard from the staircase behind Barlog. He turned his head and seen it was Juno had returned, except now looking much different.

The robes that covered the dark elf were replaced with a knee-high skirt of the same dark color as her robes. Hanging on her hip was a small seax, a knife of the öxl people. Her tunic clung to her body tightly, as if it was trying to show off the curvature of her slender yet ample body. Juno's tunic was cut so low that it left her midriff exposed and seemed to show off how big her chest truly is. Her jewelry was a necklace with runes carved into wood and hung low into the valley between her breasts. The only thing she had on that Barlog can recognize was the silk veil that covered her mouth.

Barlog felt his heart skip a beat and his face heated up at the sight of Juno.

"Nice to see you, dear. Did you bring the roots as I asked?" Yaga asked.

"Of course, Yaga." Juno replied and walked over to her.

Juno's body could have driven a lesser man to madness while making even the most respected to have her in their dreams. But as she draws closer to the two, Barlog can see markings on her bare skin that made his heart sank.

Scars, both small and large, covered her midriff, arms, and legs. A sign of what the orcs did to her as a child. What sort of methods and tools they used on her nearly made Barlog's shake and his blood boil. What drove these abominations to perform such acts of torture and cruelty to a violated little girl? A show of dominants and sick pleasure is the only answer he can come up with.

Barlog still remembered her screaming as Yaga and the others stitched up her wounds and how she shook in bed fearing that they might return for her. Every night, Barlog would come to visit her to see what she was doing and try to keep her company. She was quiet for the first month, but Juno eventually spoke little by little as time passed. Barlog would teach her as much of the öxl people he knew at the time and even sneak her a sweet roll from time to time, which she eats vigorously. One time when Juno had a bad dream, he dragged an axe to her bedside and stood guard all night to make her feel safe.

Yaga and Hogarth offered to take her back home, but turned them down and begged them to stay. Yaga agreed and adopted little Juno and raised and eventually prepared her to be the next shaman of the öxl people.

Juno walked past Barlog and up to the shrine and placed the roots she wanted. Juno unsheathed her seax and chopped up the roots and squeezed the liquid remains into the mortar. Juno reached for the small bobble in Yaga's hands but Yaga pulled back. Yaga pointed to Juno's veil. The dark elf's eyes were filled with uncertainty and looked away from Yaga and looked at Barlog.

"It's fine." Barlog said as softly as he could.

As if she felt reassured by his words, Juno closed her eyes and took a deep breath, mentally preparing herself. She moved her hands up to her veil. She paused for a moment, but slowly removed the thin fabric away from her face.

Behind the veil was a beautiful elven woman that possessed the softest of features he could have seen. But a ping of sorrow hit his heart when Barlog looked at her mouth.

At the corners of her mouth was a large scar that reached her pointed ears.

A deep carving of a crude smile.

When they found her, the wounds on her face were so deep that the blade that made it pierced through her cheeks. An orc's twisted sense of humor.

Juno fidgeted in place after she removed her veil. Juno is always concerned about the scar on her mouth, fearing that she might frighten someone or become the center of unwanted attention. Barlog wonders if those scars caused her discomfort or pain. Juno said that they don't, but he can't tell if she was lying to not let others worry about her or if she was telling the truth.

Yaga gave the bobble to Juno, who quickly took it and pulled the cork off. Juno brought it close to her lips. In a voice that is barely audible to the human ear, Juno whispered to it. The words she spoke sounded alien and strange to those that are not öxl. An old language used by the shamans long before Yaga and Juno to comune to the gods above and in some cases cast any matter of incantations and spells. As the words left Juno's lips, the liquid inside the bobble churned and turned gently. The dark blue potion slowly turned into a bright red color. Juno and Yaga inspected the bobble for a moment for something out of place. Yaga nodded in approval and Juno poured it into the mortar with the rest of the mixture.

Juno took the mortar and her seax and brought it over to Barlog. Juno place the mortar down in front of him and presented him her knife.

"One drop and you drink it all." She instructed Barlog.

Barlog took Juno's seax and looked at the mixture before him. He looked up to Yaga who nodded at him. Barlog turned to Juno and she did the same. Letting out a sigh to calm himself, Barlog took the tip of the knife and pushed it against his finger. He continued to push the tip into his finger until a small bead of blood began to form. Placing the knife beside him, Barlog move his hand over the mortar and pinched his bleeding finger until a single drop of his blood fell and touched the potion below it.

Barlog slowly move the potion to his face and smelled it first. It smelled sweet and fruity. Juno knelt next to Barlog and place a hand on his shoulder.

"It will be fine," She told him "You are strong enough to handle it."

Barlog gulped his fears down and brought the potion to his lips. Tipping his head back, Barlog let the concoction poured down his throat. It tasted extremely sweet and salty to him and he struggled to not gag as he emptied the mortar.

"Good, now lay down now." Juno instructed him further.

Barlog laid down flat on his back, looking up at the ceiling and Juno who was looking down at him. He wanted to ask what is next, but all of a sudden, his throat burned. It felt like he just swallowed a burning lump of coal and it got stuck. Barlog reached for his throat, he opened his mouth but no words came, he could not even scream. Barlog's body shacked violently, Juno place a hand on each side of his head and looked into his eyes.

"It going to be fine now!" Juno said to the Shaking Barlog. His vision began to blur. His head felt light. And all of the sudden, the world around him went black.

Stories told that the woods of the öxl are home to mighty beasts. Beasts so great and powerful that their souls refuse to leave this world. They wander and protect the old homes or wander the land like they had in life. They say these old spirits even possess warriors to ether enact their savage vengeance to those who those that did them ill will, or aid those they deemed worthy.

The mighty wolf ran through the snow-covered forest. He moved as swift and quick as the wind can allow him to. He twisted and turned past the trees with the grace of the wind. The wolf stopped suddenly. He tilted his nose to the air and sniffed the frigid night air. The whiff of smoke was the first thing the wolf noticed. The wolf turned in the direction of the scent and dashed off to the source. The wolf noticed new scents as he got closer to his goal. The wolf began to think about why he was running to the smoke. But one another scent caught his nose. Something foul, something evil, something that should not be here. The wolf felt his jaw tighten, he let out a low growl in anticipation for what he will find up ahead.

In the distance, he saw a faint orangeish-red light. All the scents he picked up all converged at that light. The wolf skidded to a stop, he huffed and puffed to catch his breath so he was prepared. The wolf hunched down and moved slowly to the end of his short journey. His breathing was slow and steady as to not reveal his presents. The muscles in his body were relaxed but tensed enough for whatever challenge that will be waiting for him and the wolf stepped beyond the treeline and the snowbank.

Before the wolf was a small fire burning ever so silently as to not disturb the quiet night. The wolf saw three creatures around the flame. The two creatures were a pair of cats. One with fur that was white as the snow around it, and the other was black as the night sky. And the last creature was just that, an unknown spindly creature of malice and hunger that crawled on all four limbs. It barked and growled as it approached the felines that hiss in defense.

The wolf was so invested in this scene that he nearly failed that he was not the only one looking on. To his side were two humans. One was a tall man with a hood that held a spear with two ravens on his shoulders. Between the wolf and the tall man was a woman like no other. Her golden blonde hair went past her elven ears and hung just above her ankles. Her white robes barely protected her exposed body to the cold elements around her. The elven woman turned and looked at the great wold. Her beauty could rival the full moon itself that hangs low above their heads. Maybe the elven beauty could rival a goddess, the wolf thought.

The monster that barked and growled brought back the wolf's attention. The wolf looked back and has seen that the monster was moving closer to the hissing cats. This thing's hunger was too great, its evil too strong to be left alone, and the putrid stench made the wolf decided that it had to go. It must die.

The wolf walked up to the monster and stared at it, to challenge this abomination. The monster howled and growled back at the wolf, a sign that it accepts his challenge. The wolf held his ground as he continues to stare at the thing while it barked at him as if it was hurling insults to try and force the wolf to make the first move. The wolf instead ignored it. He hears words coming from the tall hooded man but the wolf could not make out what he was saying. The monster howled at the wolf as if it was angry that he chooses to ignore its petty insults. No longer waiting for the wolf to strike first, the monster tries to jump at its opponent. But with the speed that was impossible for something as large as the wolf, he lunged at the monster's throat and clamped his jaw down hard. The wolf tasted the monster's blackened blood as he thrashed the monster's body around like a toddler playing with a ragdoll. The wolf threw the thing down to the snowy ground hard enough that the sounds of bones breaking rang out in his ears. The bloodied monster tried to crawl away from the wolf with its one good arm. The wolf wasted no time and lept on the bleeding monster to finish what he started. The wolf bit its good arm and pulled and chewed until the flesh ripped and severed. The monster howled in pain but the wolf ignored it, knowing full well that this thing would do the same if the roles were reversed. The wolf continued the same with its other limbs. When the limbs were no more, the wolf moved on to the monster's guts. With its claws and fangs, the wolf dug into the thing's entrails. First the intestines, then the liver, the ribs were broken and tossed aside shortly before its lungs were removed, and finally, its black heart was ripped out of the hole that was his chest. The wolf looked down on the now mutilated corpse of the monster and his grisly work. The wolf bit down on the thing's lifeless head and ripped it off its body. He bit down so hard that the monster's head exploded in his mouth. What's left of its skull and brains dripped out from the corners of the wolf's maw.

The wolf felt something rubbed upon his leg. The white cat rubbing its head on him and purred, A way of thanking the wolf for its protection. The black cat just hissed while walking past the wolf and lay down by the cozy fire. Its brightly colored feline counterpart quickly joined as well.

The wolf looked at what remains of the monster and then looked to where the elf and the tall hooded man and see that they are gone. He looked to the sky and gazed into the moon, one that is hung low and full of light.

The wolf tilted his head back and, with all the power he could muster from his lungs, howled. Its sound echoed throughout the forest and shook the snowed covered branches off from where it had landed.

A signal of the wolf's victory.

When the wolf finished, he has seen that the snowed covered forest was replaced with darkness. No cozy fire, no monster, no cats, nothing. The wolf felt strange, he looked to his paws and seen hands in their place. His tail gone, his fur gone, he was a wolf no longer, but now a man.

The man looked up and standing before him was the tall hooded stranger. His hood was gone and revealed a weathered but strong appearance of an old and wise warrior with an eye patch on his right side. The wolf turned man's eyes widen as if he knew who this man was. The tall stranger pointed his golden spear to the wolf-turned man, the point resting between his eyes.

"Go."

The tall stranger said in a voice as deep and powerful as the seven seas.

"Go and change this awful fate."

The tall stranger commanded the bewildered wolf-turned man.

"Go and show these abominations the true fury of a wolf."

With a clap of thunder, all went from all-consuming darkness to blinding white light.

Barlog awoke with a loud gasp, sweat dripping down his face. His stomach felt like someone had made a forage that was on fire. He sat upright and looked around his surroundings. He was laying on the of Yaga's cellar. He spotted a bucket with a little cup. He looked inside to see his reflection caused by water. Without any hesitation, Barlog grabbed the bucket and began to chug the entirety of the water as fast as he could. The water was cold as it went down his throat and into his burning guts.

"Ah, you have awakened."

Barlog looked at the shrine and seen Yaga sitting in a chair. She got up and stretched and hobbled over to Barlog.

"H-h-how l-long?" Barlog stuttered.

"It is morning." Yaga answered, "But worry about that later, Just calm down and drink." She suggested to Barlog.

Barlog nodded and went back to tilting the bucket back and drank the remainder of the water.

But then the door to the cellar sounded like it was kicked open.

"Where is he?!" An angry voice was heard followed by footsteps rapidly making their way down the stairs. Barlog and Yaga recognized it to belong to Hogarth

"If you did anything-" Hogarth yelled but stopped when he came down and seen Barlog. His eyes widen and he quickly ran over

"Barlog!" He nearly screamed and knelt over him "Is everything okay? Are you hurt? Do you need medicine? Mead? ANYTHING!?" Hogarth grabbed Barlog's shoulders and asked worried about his wellbeing.

Juno was the next one that came down the stairs, now back in her full-body robes and veil.

"I'm sorry!" Juno said panting and out of breath "When I deliver him the news, Hogarth nearly ran over everything in his path just to get here."

"I'm fine, thank you." Barlog said to Hogarth quietly.

Hogarth seemed to relaxed a little upon hearing Barlog.

"I hate to interrupt," Yaga said and knelt with Hogarth "but can you tell me what you have seen?"

"Not now Yaga!" Hogarth ordered the shaman "Just give him a minute."

"Is alright, Hogarth," Barlog said and began to move. His legs buckled at first, but he managed to get off the floor and stood tall. He lifted his arms over his head and stretched the stiffness in his joints away. Proof that Barlog was fine and well.

Barlog looked at the Odin statue. He remained silent for a short time, still confused at what he witnessed.

"Barlog?" Juno asked him, worried that something is wrong.

He took a steady breath and began to speak.

Barlog told Yaga, Hogarth, and Juno everything that he had seen and done. He told them about him being a wolf that was running in a snow-covered forest. He recalled his meeting the elven woman with golden hair and the hooded stranger while he challenged a black monster. And finally, he told them all who was the tall hooded man was.

"By the gods…" Hogarth said in awe.

"The All-Father himself?" Yaga nearly stumbled "Never in our history had Odin himself come to speak to anyone so directly."

"And Celestine as well…" Juno chimed in.

"He told me to 'Change this awful fate' and 'show the abominations, the orcs I believe, the fury of a wolf', and then I woke up." Barlog said, finished explaining his vision to the others.

Hogarth began to pace back and forth, still trying to make sense of what he was told.

"What in Helhime does that mean?" Hogarth asked no one in particular.

Juno looked between Yaga and Barlog in confusion as to what all this means as well.

The words that Odin said echoed in Barlogs head. 'The fury of the wolf'. Odin demanded that he must fight. 'Change this awful fate' is the part he didn't understand. But a thought popped into his head.

"The alliance," Barlog spoke up, Hogarth stopped his pacing and looked at him. Yaga had a small smile on her face

"You remembered that letter you've got yesterday, the one from Ken?" Barlog asked Hogarth who he nodded yes.

"It said that their war will be ending soon, right? I think…" Barlog paused for a second, wondering if he is right, "I think that The All-Father wants us to be a part of the final moments of that war."

Everyone remained silent after hearing Barlog's suggestion on what his vision means. Hogarth looked down at his feet.

"Ha…" A small sound escaped Hogarth's lips.

"HAHAHAHA!" His small chuckle became a full-blown laughing fit. Hogarth pulled his head back and continued for a few minutes longer and finally calmed down.

"Of course! Now I understand completely!" Hogarth said and clapped his hand "The end of a war that lasted for centuries is about to end! And the mighty Odin wants The öxl to be the ones to deliver the final blow to that devil worshiping cunt of a queen!" He yelled to himself and made his way to the staircase.

"Where do you think you're going?" Yaga called out to stop Hogarth.

"To reply yes to that high elf goddess and rally some of the toughest bastards here in Hrafnvatn. We ride at sunrise!"

"Do you even know where Ken even is?" Juno questioned him.

Hogarth stopped mid-step.

"Ah, damn it." Hogarth cursed to himself.

Juno made a good point. Nearly everyone on Jormungandr's Jaw never left since the great raids ended. And not many people come up the mountain.

Except…

Barlog huffed while pushing the cart that held two chests over a small hill on the road.

"I can't believe what we are doing…" Hogarth grumbled, not looking forward to what he was about to ask.

"Do you have any other plan on how to get to Ken?" Barlog grunted out and pushed harder when the end goal in sight.

Andy was waving to a child who just bought a toy from him and thank him for doing business. When Barlog suggested that Andy would know the way to Ken, Hogarth was about to change his mind altogether at the thought of traveling with an 'Endless Fancy Windbag'. But thanks to the combined power of Barlog, Juno, and Yaga, who added that Asgard would not approve, Hogarth reluctantly relented.

"Be sure to tell your parents about me!" Andy yelled out to the boy.

Andy turned his head when noticing the sound of a cart coming his way and spotted Barlog and Hogarth.

"Ah, greetings gentleman!" Andy greeted them politely. He then noticed the chests in the cart and his eyes nearly bulged out of his head.

"M-my goodness!" He exclaimed, knowing what the contents of the chests contained even before Hogarth yanked one of them off the cart and slid it in front of him.

Hogarth kicked the chest open and revealed its cargo.

The coins that glittered gold in the sunlight seemed a bit bigger. Andy's jaw hung open at the sight and looked back and forth from Hogarth and the treasure chest.

"W-w-what do you plan on buying?! My whole emporium? Or are you p-p-planning to invest in m-me?" Andy stuttered out.

"Oh, it's not what I'm buying," Hogarth said and let out a heavy sigh. He then pointed a finger and the traveling merchant

"It's what you are going to do for us."