“I AM an adult!” I barked childishly. I chased Papa through the house. Like a lost puppy dog.

“No, Hildr.” he replied simply. Repeating the same two words he had been for the past two hours.

“I am the best hunter!” I continued, holding up my casted arm. It was blue, the worst color. “Even with one hand!”

“No Hildr.” Mama said, walking by with a bowl of sweets.

“Mama, I won’t get lost!” I say, following her now. “I won’t get hurt!”

“You are too young to be in the Wild Hunt, Hildr.’ She said, opening the front door. She placed the bowl out, and closed the door. We shivered from the night air. “By four years you are too young.” She frowned at me, hands on hips. “And you need sleep! You are not going to be out that late. Thus brings us to the end of the discussion.”

“Not fair!” I pout, cheeks puffing out. “I haven’t finished my arguments.”

“You know it isn’t an actual hunt, right dearest sister?” Nikolai said from the coch. He didn’t look up from his textbook. He had a pen in his ear.

“I’m not dumb!” the room was quite for a moment. My family looked at me, expectantly. Finally, I asked softly, “...then what is it?”

Nikolai chuckled. My face burned. Mama tutted as she started pushing me to the bathroom. “Time for a bath my darling. Then straight to bed.”

“The Hunt!”

“Will wait until your time has come.”

I did not sleep. I waited. Silently and patiently I waited. Listening for the sounds and calm of a sleeping household, even while the Wild Hunt raged out on the streets. I was seething with childish anger. I was the greatest and the strongest of my age. Better than those older and still treated as a child.

But I knew what to do. I proved I was the best at all the kids games. But if I proved I was the best at an adult thing, they would have no choice. It would be obvious that I was an adult. And I wouldn’t have to follow their dumb rules anymore. I would prove my might forever with this final test of bravery.

The house finally fell silent. I slunked out of my room. Stalked into the living room. On my tiptoes I could just reach it. My mothers sword, forged by her own hands, mounted over the fireplace. A sign of her adulthood.

Strapping it to my back, I moved to the door, opening the door. Looking around to make sure I went unnoticed. Satisfied, I closed the door softly. I made my way to the woods.

I was smart. I remembered where the bears cave was.

I stalked into the cave, holding the sword levelly, ready for anything. It was darker than dark. My body blocking the moonlight as I went deeper and deeper. It reminded me of the tales of Skoll and Hati, children of Fenrir. How they would one day devour the sun and moon. It felt like that now. A world without light. A world of monsters.

I couldn’t help but beam. “To glory.”

It wasn’t much farther before I couldn’t see. Slowly I shifted down, body sideways to decrease my profile, sword ready to stab forward.

I felt, and shortly after, heard a large creature rising. Warm rush of air that smelled like morning breath times a thousand hit me in the face. I closed my eyes and sent pulses outward. It was closer than I thought. Larger than anything I’ve ever seen. Larger than Papa. Larger than Gothi Cadoc. Larger than the statue of Karl Marx and all his ideals. Claws like knives, teeth like spearheads.

It slowly stood up, becoming taller and taller. It was angry. Primal unending anger. I had awoken a monster strait from the coldest parts of Hel. I heard a noise rumble deep inside it’s chest, and slowly rising up into it’s throat. Thunder filled the cave when it let out a hateful growl like nothing I had ever heard before. A sound I would remember forever.

Run.

Run.

Run.

Over and over this thought repeated in my mind. My stomach boiled in disgust and annoyance. I shoved it deep as I stood my ground. Squared my shoulders. Doing my best to copy that same vibration in my chest as the bear, I let my roar simmer, before letting it out. I bellowed back my challenge to the bear. I would not be intimidated by any foe of any size.

I was Hildr the Wild.

I did not run.

The bear was bigger than me, so any advantage I gave myself in these next few seconds were vital. And exactly what I’ve been trained for. So I lunged first, aiming for it’s head. Slashing at it’s eyes. An instinctual jerk of it’s head saved one of it’s eyes. I opened a gash in it’s face, taking it’s right eye.

Momentum was key. Keeping on the balls of my feet, I made to take out the tendons in one of it’s heign legs. I was slow.

“HOMPH.” I gasped, as a stabbing push hit me on my left side, sending me rolling. As quick as I could manage, I staggered to one knee. Eyes still tightly shut, I saw it make its next move, and chopped up as hard as I could. Mama’s blade struck true, cutting halfway into it’s left arm.

We both pulled away at once. I took the next second to stand fully. I used Mama’s sword for support, as I probed my side. I hissed at the touch. My fingers felt warm sticky liquid. My head was dizzy. I wanted to puke.

The only warning I got next was that same thunderous vibration in it’s chest. As it jumped forward unto me, I quickly backpedaled, but fell. It landed hard on my legs and again I cried out. It’s maw went for my face, but I slashed again, forming an x with my previous gash on it’s eye.

My legs cried out as I moved to stand again. Almost caved with the motion. I silenced them with the help of my stomach, which screamed louder than any wound I’d had before.

The bear charged. I roared. Mama’s blade found it’s shoulder and I dug in hard. Teeth gritted, I sent it away for another round, pulling the blade, almost losing it with the bears retreat.

It came back faster than I could prepare for. I was slowing done, momentum gone. Pain returning. With the last bit of my energy, as it struck down one final time, I aimed for it’s neck. Four jagged knives cut away at my neck with the bears mighty swing, and I was sent against the cave wall. I heard the sound of metal snape, and skull crush as I made contact with the ground.

With one last growl filling the cave, I met with darkness.

I was cold. Colder than I’ve ever been. Once, when I was very small, I ran outside in just my diapers. I almost got frostbite. But right now, I was cold. It was wet all around me. And although the wet was warm, I was still so cold. With all my effort, I reached out for anything with both my hands. Snow, sticky with the wet. I could feel the handle of my mother's sword with the tip of my fingers. I reached out harder. Gripping for it. Holding my life tightly. I held it up. It was broken in half, and covered in that sticky wet. It was red. I was covered in it.

It was hard to breath. Every attempt felt like my chest was being stabbed and punched at once. My head pounded. My stomach burned. I had never felt like this before. What was happening.

“Hello, Hildr.” Came a stern and loving voice. I slowly turned my head. Hot sticky fluid flew down my neck with the movement. A tall women, strong and kind looked down on me sadly. She was wearing long robes like a gyoja, long golden hair, a sword at her hip.

“Fee...feer...free?” I wheeze, almost blacking out. Pain I’ve never felt before shooting through my chest with the attempt.

She tutted, sadly, kneeling. She touched me, and I was filled with warmth. Comforting and giving me strength. “I could not miss the chance to meet you. I have passed over the souls of a hundred other warriors sharing this moment with you, for the chance to speak with you. To guide you.”

“Eee...emm...me...” I tried, blood gurgling in my throat and pain returning.

She smiled, sadly. Looking as if she was about to cry. But she wanted to give me further strength. “You were chosen for something greater than yourself. A sacrifice made by us to the people of this world.” her tone turned to lecture as easily as any mother. “You cannot be this selfish again. You were given strength to uphold your duty. Perseverance to see others through hardship. And fury to avenge the atrocities of thousands of dying and destroyed kindred.”

“Dee...dea?” I asked. This was my final action as darkness creeped in. My final act. The last of my energy.

She stood tall, darkness creeping around her. Voices in the distance. “I cannot claim you yet.” blackness enveloped my vision. My community closed around me, yet all I saw was her, standing above them all. “You will live, to be the sword of an oppressed people.”

I closed my eyes, carried by my community.

“Our eyes are on you, Hildr the Fury.”