Elsa was lucky that Lakris saw her before she could run straight into the intruders. The capable warrior appearing out of nowhere in Elsa's path and Nokk had to come to a sharp halt, her frozen hooves leaving deep marks in the ground beneath them. Lakris demanded silence from both spirits with a raised index finger to her lips and beckoning to follow her with a jerk of her head. Leaving Nokk at a small creek close by, Elsa rushed after Lakris, a rare sense of pride flowing through her as she was able to be just as silent as the other woman. Lakris, who had sneaked a little ahead, lay flat on her stomach and as Elsa reached her she mimicked the movement.
The spot for observing was well chosen, rendering them practically invisible.
Elsa did not like what she saw. The men and women that had set up camp were all fighters, fierce-looking and heavily armed and she did not need Lakris pointing out who these four close the biggest fire were. She had seen enough dukes, kings, and queens in her time to know a leader when she saw one. Two women and two men, one of them huge like a small hill – she could not make out more details for they were too far away.
As she watched this group from afar, Elsa was not surprised as worry made her throat feel tight, her old foe fear rising in her chest. Her bright imagination became her enemy for a moment as well as it showed her terrible images of her friends running off as fast as they could, falling to the ground as they fled, never to rise again and Maren fighting, desperately defending, struggling, the light in her beautiful brown dying as she made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. And then for a mere second, she saw Gelwa's image, her freckled face and her bright brown eyes burning behind her eyes and ice-cold panic gripped at her heart, so strong that she had to take a deep, calming breath and violently push reason forward. Lakris was here, which meant the camp would not be hit by a surprise attack. The resourceful woman had probably sent someone back to camp by now. Elsa could nearly see it and felt more at ease already as the thought of Yelena shooing everyone around like a strict mother, giving calm orders left and right, while working just as much as everyone else. And Maren, seemingly everywhere at once, her helping hand always finding the one that needed it most, easing fear and uneasiness with her mere presence, making sure that everyone was safe and sound, including Gelwa. She looked at Lakris next to her, silently telling her that she had seen enough, and followed her back to Nokk.
On the way there, Elsa told Lakris about Gale before the warrior put her up to speed, precise and in a whispered tone that was probably not necessary anymore since they were already quite far of but the Northuldra were not known to be careless. Elsa only half listened, partly because it only confirmed what she already had guessed herself but also while the memory of that weird powerful feeling of dread as her mind told her Gelwa could be in danger, still send light pulses through her, urging her to return home and find the girl. She fought her magic down that wanted to protect something that was not there. The intensity of the feeling baffled her, leaving her unsure what to do about it.

'Talk to Maren' was her first thought, but then she was suddenly unsure, suddenly not brave enough to go deeper into why she did not want to talk with Maren about that particular subject just jet….
'Too soon!' her own mind yelled at her.
'Anna! Yes talking with Anna would be a great help. Alvor, Venling, or Rue would be a good choice…maybe Yelena too…..'
Nook came in sight and Elsa decided she had to push that issue aside for now! She had to find Gale first, as fast as she could then she could return home, help deal with these intruders and then there will be enough time to figure out that new feeling.
Elsa must have still looked quite worried, for Lakris smiled knowingly at her as their eyes met.
"Elsa, we got this. Uthol will be back home by now. Yelena will have already cooked up a good plan and Maren will send reinforcements soon. Go, look for our wind spirit, and make sure she is ok." She said friendly only guessing a small part of what was occupying Elsa's mind.
Touched by the honest concern for Gale in the warrior's voice and the kind smile, Elsa gave herself a little push.
'Trust Maren as she trusts you. She, Gelwa and the others will be fine.'
"Thank you." Elsa said quietly, smiling at Lakris.
"Just be careful when you head back to camp. We see to it that they go a little more south so it will be best when you take the opposite direction."
Elsa nodded but could not help and ask: "How will you do that?"
There was a sly smile on the Lakris' face that made Elsa very happy that she was not part of intruders close by.
"We have our ways." She said simply before giving Elsa a friendly pat on the back, turning and vanishing into her surroundings like a shadow.
With new urgency Elsa mounted Nokk again, freezing her quickly and rushed on to the mountain, focusing on the task at hand, hoping that her fellow spirit was alright.

'Where is that girl!?'
Maren may be able to hide it, but she was worried.
The sun was rising slowly, and even the dim light was more than welcome to Maren after another sleepless night.
Thanks to the amazing effort of her people, they had made remarkable progress for the few hours they had worked! All of them had pushed through the night with her, something that was not her order, yet they had done it without batting an eye, even most of the children had to be sent to bed, Yelena's strict words probably still ringing in their ears but Maren could tell that she was just as proud of them as she was.
She had already made a new patrol routine and looked into it that essential workers always had some guards with them and a few minutes ago Fara's first messenger had arrived, telling her that Lakris had caught Elsa before she was spotted by their 'guests', easing Maren's concerns greatly and that they would lead them off to the south, into a little valley that would take some time to go through and was very easy to supervise without being seen.
The goahti's were coming along nicely and even the reindeer were already taken care of. A group of six lead by her brother had done quickly what she asked for and now she could see Ryder helping Issun prepare the food for their 'guests'. The herder taking care of all none baked foods while Issun skillfully baking over an open fire. Under better circumstances, it would have been fun to tease her little brother, who blushed always when Issun gave him no more than a smile or a look, but the adorable scene was lost on Maren as only stopped for a few short words, telling them to get some rest soon, before rushing past them, searching the camp, a tight feeling in her chest.
Where was Gelwa? Only a few hours ago she took a peek into the resting hut to make sure both were alright, seeing a peaceful slumbering Ven and Gelwa, curled into a little ball, her blanket neatly covering her as she slept very quietly, her soft breathing barely audible next to the content snores of her great grand-father.
In the earliest morning hours, after Fara's messenger had left camp with orders for the scouts, Maren felt her feed leading her back to the hut to check again. She knew she was crossing the line of overbearing but she simply could not help it, this new sense of protectiveness, which was so different from all that came before, pushed her forward.
As she found Gelwa's straw mat empty, it was like a punch in the gut.
Her hope to find her with Linga and therefore with Venling did not pan out and she had to try very hard to not let her worry show on her face, acting all nonchalant so Linga would not get worried about her friend.
"Can I come and help looking for her?" the little artist had asked, her eyes big, nervously shifting on her place and besides everything Maren smiled, Linga's concern for her friend was touching.
"Don't worry little paintbrush, I am sure she is not far. Would it be fine if I send her over when I find her?" she asked Venling.
"Of course! It would be our pleasure." The young mother smiled, and Linga eagerly nodded.
"She can help us count! Right, Fen?"
The little girl babbled happily, the word 'Gelwa' the only one Maren could make out as she turned around and continued her search.
But she was not with Rue, Flippan or Riffan and Faru, who she had been playing more often lately. The two boys were impressed by the younger girl that could easily keep up with them and had included her more and more in their daring games and plans or trained with her after fighting lessons, with Linga mostly staying at the sidelines when the three 'rolled around in the mud', as the artist put it while drawing picture after picture in a sketchbook, a gift from Anna. Only joining in when the four challenged each other to a race for the top of the highest tree they could find.
All that and more rushed through Maren's head as she desperately scanned the area, hoping to see the familiar outline of the tall girl as a hand found her shoulder, making her flinch.
"Hey, you looked pretty out of it back there. Can I help?"
Ryder… of course her brother would look right through her act. He always knew when something was up so she did not bother trying to hide it.
"I cannot find Gelwa anywhere. She is not in camp." Maren spoke quietly, her voice full of worry.
It baffled her a little to see that Ryder was not surprised that the tall girl was not around, an understanding but also a sad smile on his face.
"Ah, I bet she wants some time to herself."
"What are you tal…."
And then it hit her well-aimed blow.
'Damn Nattura! Why are you so stupid!' she shielded herself.
"Thanks, Ry, I think I know where she is! Can you tell Yelena that I will be back before dinner? Just in case she is looking for me."
"I got you covered." He said and Maren was very thankful that out of all people in this world this was her brother.
"And get some sleep!"
"Yes mum!" her brother said rolling his eyes.
Without even the time for a response, she turned around, running to the tree line, whistled for Vakker, and rushed north as fast as her reindeer could go.

Not even the swiftest horse of Arendelle or fittest reindeer of the Enchanted Forest could match Nokk's speed and endurance and so Elsa found herself at the foothills of Dyra, only a few hours after she left the camp, asking Nokk go at a slow pace in hopes to see Gale throwing snow around, playing one of her games and listened closely, in hopes catch the wind's spirit bell-like laugh, anything that could give a hint of her whereabouts but nothing! No trace of her magic and still no answer to her call. So she leads Nokk further up the mountain and even as fresh snow had covered most of the tracks, Elsa could, thanks to Maren's teachings, still make out a good portion of them, marking the place where the intruders had entered Northuldra territory. Intuition spoke to Elsa again and she asked Nokk to flow the tracks, discovering the narrow passage that made it possible to ride over the pass to the lands of the other tribes and as both spirits carefully made their way up, looking out for Gale, possible dangers, anything out of the ordinary really, Elsa tried to remember what Yelena had taught her about them.

'With us, there are five tribes: the Northuldra, people of the sun and protectors of the Enchanted Forest. But you know that already.
Then there are the Nord, closest to us in costumes and habits, living further north of the Dyra, on the wide grassland that you can find there. Like us there ride on reindeer and have a close relationship with them. They tamed owls and hawks, and with their help, they have become masterful hunters.'

The strong conviction that Ryder could teach the Nord one or two things when it came to reindeer had overcome her. No one understood these friendly beasts as good as him.

'The Etela are aloof and proud, living the farthest up north where it is cold and harsh and life is a fight every second of the day. Their horses are big and strong and hard to tame but fiercely loyal to their rider. They can be sneaky and stubborn but there have honor and principals and in battle, there are persistent and ferrous like a bear.'
'Who? Rider or horse?'
Elsa had asked making Yelena laugh.
'Both' the leader had said with a twinkle in her eyes.
'An Etela never surrenders; they die first before they give you any quarter! So think before you pick a fight with them.'

Elsa had nodded, hearing the serious tone of her leader and made a mental note to head her advice!

'Then there are the Lansa, they live west of the Dyra, close to hot geysers and hot like the water that shoots out of mother earth is their temper, no doubt but they have a great love for arts and crafts. I remember I was no older than five, walking through the village and being mesmerized by their drawings and sculptures and even the smallest of everyday objects was tastefully crested. They ride on reindeer but you always could find a few small horses among their mounts. But their bows do not just look pretty, make no mistake! It's said that some of them can shoot off the wings of a fly. Granted I have never seen it done though but I have seen them shoot birds out of the sky, that had been mere dots in the endless blue...'

At that Elsa had thought of Linga and her amazing art, and an image of the whole tribe of Lingas in different sizes and ages that fought over paintbrushes and the best paper had nearly made her laugh. Now she thought more of their deadly aim with the bow and how easy it would be to shot a certain someone of Vakker's back.

'And last but not least there are the Itaan,' Yelena had continued: ' they live in the far east of the Dyra close to its foothills, most of them are big like small mountains themselves. There ride on tiny but immensely strong horses and the difference in size could look funny but with their thick armor and their sharp battle axes, there are a fearsome sight when they charge you and only the bravest prevail against them! Like no other tribe they can bend the metal to their will. They seem simple but they have a knack for building and ingenuity. Endlessly curious when they find something new.'

The Northuldra were no novice when it came to working with metal but there was little to find in the forest without cutting trees and digging deep holes into the earth and most preferred wood and stone much more anyway. Elsa had not been living long in the forest as Maren had shown her one of the few objects that had been forged in her new home. In Maren's goahti a small, artistically most pleasing, wooden casket had been placed in Elsa's lap and she had marveled at the reindeers and runes carved into it.
After an encouraging nod from Maren, she had opened it and her eyes had widened a little. Inside was masterfully crafted spear tip, long as her forearm and gleaming in the light of the fire. Carefully Maren had taken the spear tip with both hands and holding it out so Elsa could tack it from her. It had felt cool and surprisingly heavy in Elsa's hand, sharp so it could cut a single hair in two, lethal and beautiful at the same time.
Elsa had looked quizzically at Maren, not sure why the warrior showed her that and why she looked so grim.
'You only know the Northuldra as peaceful, defending themselves when threatened yes but never killing needlessly, only for food, and only that what is necessary to make it through winter. But it was not always like this. Very long ago, as the forest was still young before even Arendelle came to be, our ancestors roamed the forest and the lands that lay behind it, killing everyone that was not like them, not believing in nature and its magic, spilling their blood, soiling the ground beneath their feet in the name of the spirits until the sprits had enough, their wrath was terrible, putting the tribe back into its place, killing many as punishment until Rauha Huldra came. He became the first great leader, brought order and peace and under him his warriors took of the deadly spear tip, putting it safely away, only keeping it for the direst of situations, were only one way is left open to you and as a reminder of the blood, they're spilled without reason. From his leadership and wise teachings originated many traditions and costumes we still follow to this day, thanks to him we became the Northuldra, the people of the sun, as you and I got to know them!'
Elsa had listened intrigued, shocked that not only her Arendellian heritage had a dark tint to it, but as she thought about it, it was kind of a naive thing to be surprised about. Everyone and Everything had its dark side.
Another thought came to her.
'This is not written down in any of the scrolls Yelena gave me.'
This had made Maren laugh lightly, a broad smile gracing her face.
'Of course, you read them all already!' she had said fondly, her eyes resting warmly on her, and Elsa's heart had fluttered in her chest. The warrior had taken the spear tip from her again, placing it carefully back in its casket.
'There is actually not a lot of our history written down. We Northuldra always have taught our past by telling it to each other, that we write things down for future generations to come is a relatively new thing Yelena has started only a few months before you came and freed us. She has not yet started with the important ones, she says her handwriting, especially in Arendellian has to get better first.'
Elsa had laughed at that, for some of the letters and runes looked indeed a bit skew like someone had to get back into the art of writing neatly.
'But this story….we don't share it with outsiders Elsa, for it's our burden, a constant reminder to do better every day and not repeat mistakes of the past.'
Elsa brow had furrowed as she thought about Maren's words, until…
'So I am not an outsider anymore?'
She had expected Maren to laugh again, to smile, to jest her back but no such thing came. Maren's gaze was intense but tender and her expression sincere as she spoke, her voice sagely and deep.
'Not anymore or ever again.'

These honest words had made Elsa's heart go incredibly fast, nearly leaping out of her chest, and even only thinking about this conversation, like she did now, had the same effect.
She had to give herself a little push, scanning the area more toughly for anything unusual but nothing except the remains of old fires were the intruders must have rested for a while.
But as she wanted to turn around she saw it, a little red dot, barely visible amongst the blinding white of the snow.
Elsa nearly stumbled over herself as she quickly made a makeshift tube for Nokk, thawing the ice she created with a swish of her so the water spirit had something to stand on, as Elsa jumped off her, rushing to the small dot, pulling at it and revealing a leave of last autumn, touched by the magic of Gale, Elsa could feel it. So the wind spirit had been here, but where was she now?
The fifth spirit let her eyes roam her surroundings again, looking for another clue.

Gale was getting angry, if she had a mouth she would have been foaming by now! These roots were so thick and she had so little air to work with. Sometimes she wished she could make her own air like Elsa could make snow.
Furious Gale pushed against her cage, wind lashing out again and again until…..
Crack!
For a moment Gale was surprised, nearly dumbfounded as more air filled her prison.
Oh, that blasted nymph was going to get it now!

'There!'
Finally, Elsa had spotted something! A little higher up she could see something round, covered in snow, nearly invisible against the background. Rushing back to Nokk, refreezing her she asked her fellow spirit to run at full speed, helping her ascent with her magic. In mere minutes there stood before the strange structure and Elsa easily let the snow that covered it vanish, revealing something even more out of the ordinary.
'Roots? Up here? How…'
Crack!
The loud sound echoed back from the mountainside, and in an explosion of small root bits, stone and snow the wind spirit broke free of her cage, nearly pushing Elsa of Nokk.
Finally, she had found what she had been searching for!

The Huldred had made her decision. After her 'surprise' was over she wanted to play some more. First, she picked the untiring one, Uthol. Well, untiring for a mortal at least. It was easy for she was still sleeping, exhausted from her amazing feat! She had just had to wait until the young Northuldra was left alone for a moment; a mere second was enough for a quick kiss on the young girl's forehead unnoticed by everyone, marking her while she slept peacefully.
Then she found Ryder-dear talking with the sly Yelena before he vanished in one of the little huts. He literally passed out as soon he laid down, her lips easily finding his forehead too.
Then she had to endure disappointment as she joined the darkness and found sly Yelena still hustling about, no sign that she was going to rest soon or be alone for a moment. She also could not get to the little artist for she was with her mother, her scanning worriedly her surroundings like she looked for something or someone, nor could she find Honeymaren, her favorite so far.
Ah just as well, she will have her chance soon enough, she could be patient if she wanted to, she just didn't want to be most of the time.
She appeared here and there, watching from the shadows, to well-hidden for anyone to see.
Then she found the smart one, Iloh, laden with a basket that looked heavy.
She looked absolutely exhausted as she opened the door of the big hut where the Northuldra brought their sick.
With a soft push of her magic, the Huldred was inside, her magic still hiding her, and she was overjoyed that the smart one was alone!
The Huldred did not even had to wait very long, as a small bottle slipped for the third time out of the young woman's hand she let her head fall on her arms, groaning in frustration, before her breath got deeper, telling the Hulderd that she had fallen asleep. She didn't even wake as the nymph turned her head a little so she could place a kiss on her forehead as well.
'Some luck after all!' she thought, pleased with herself.
Three out of six was not a bad start!