The village was alive with activity. I heard the rhythmic clank of a blacksmith’s hammer and the noise of livestock being driven. A pack of young pups raced past us, chasing a goat. Selby stepped out of their way.

“Oh-ho! Careful there.” He called, laughing. It was a deep belly laugh, the sort that made everyone around him smile. “So lad, are ye looking forward to the work?”

“Yes sir,” I responded, “After so much study and preparation I’m quite looking forward to getting my hands dirty, as it were.”

“Sounds about right. Hopefully not too dirty, eh?” He laughed again.

“Well, yes, of course. I hope that Solsilva stays in good health. I feel prepared though, especially with an experienced mentor such as Frode to turn to.”

“Always encouraging to hear a young person willing to listen to the elders. Yer Auntie speaks highly of ye, says ye’re one of the good ones.”

“She honors me, sir.”

“Even so, Runa’s put a lot on ye. Let’s hope ye’ve the back for it.” He stopped, “Here we are.”

He knocked on the door of the house he had stopped in front of. A man with long grey hair held back in braids popped his head out of the door.

“Selby? Is everything alright then?”

“All is well, Frode, I’ve come to tend the wattling on the infirmary and I’ve got the new healer here for ye.”

“Ah yes, you must be young Eir. Welcome, welcome!” He said, opening the door and beckoning us in. He grasped my arm and embraced me in greeting. “When did you get in?”

“Last night sir.”

“And your challenges?”

“Finished them four days ago sir, my hugr was quite drained after so I rested a couple days before traveling.”

“Yes, yes. That’s quite common. They really go at you the last couple of challenges. Gotta make sure you’re strong! You’re finished, though! I’m sure you are happy to be through.” He led us to fur covered benches near a hearth where a woman sat stitching on something. “This is my mate, Alva. Alva, darling the new healer has come at last.”

She looked up at me and smiled, “Welcome dear. We’ve been expecting you. Since our son, along with his mate and pups, moved to the longhouse it has been so quiet around here.”

We sat by the fire and Frode began asking after Selby’s family. I listened intently, he told him of Sage taking over the training of the pups. Canute had been wanting to join him in his work more lately. Rose was a great help to her Aunt Sylvi around the house. Runa was undertaking some new livestock ventures and would be meeting with the Hatikin soon to discuss the fall equinox celebration.

“Oh, I love those.” Alva said, “It’s always so nice to get all of Fenrir’s children together. Have you ever been to one Eir?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Oh, they’re lovely. You get to see everyone that has mated into the Hatikin and so many find their mates. There’s food and drink, music and dancing. They’re wonderful.”

“Aye, they are quite the undertaking, though.” Selby said, “They begin meeting months out.”

“Oh, it will all be worth it when there is a new batch of pups in a couple years.” She was practically cooing.

“And I won’t be the one having to deliver them,” Frode looked at me, laughing.

“I thought you loved deliveries, dear?”

“Aye but after the first few thousand an old man begins to crave his sleep. Take it from me lad - pups come when it is convenient for them, not you.” Selby joined him in laughing.

“Alright I must be off to my work. Can’t spend the day on my rump by the fire.”

“Thank you for bringing me over, sir.”

“It’s Selby to ye, lad. We’ll be seeing ye around.”

I nodded and Frode walked him to the door.

“Alright then, Eir. I’ve a few things to finish around here so why don’t you make yourself comfortable in the loft? That will be your space, we’ve no cause to go up there.”

“As if your old bones would make it up there.” His mate laughed.

“Woman, I swear.” He ran his hand through his hair,pulling a few strands out of his braids. “Once you're done join me. I will be jarring a fresh batch of salve and then we’ll take them to where they ought to go.”

“Thank you sir, I’ll be right down.”

“Take your time, I’ve no rush.”

I climbed the ladder, the loft was spacious and well appointed. There was a double bed loaded with bedding and some crates to store my belongings. I didn’t have much, the life of a trainee was very ascetic, most energy being focused on practice and study above all else. I emptied my bag, folding a change of clothing and placing it into a crate. I pulled out my materia medica, a simple journal bound in soft brown leather, and I placed it on the desk shoved into an eave. All healers kept one and it was the first of many I would fill over my years of practice. I looked forward to having access to the hundreds of volumes Frode had filled with notes and observations over his many centuries as the lead healer of our clan. I hung the sling bag on a hook and sat on the edge of the bed and looked around. This was to be my view for the foreseeable future, and I was not displeased with it.

I leaned back on to the bed. My mind drifted to the only thing that would make it more pleasing. Perhaps I would see her when we went out, but I knew she was not sitting around daydreaming and it would not do for me either. I stood and headed towards the ladder. As I was coming down there was a pounding on the door.

“Ah, fetch it lad. I suppose we’ll be off.” Frode called as he pulled off an apron.

I answered the door to find one of Sage’s sworn guards there. Asmund or Dagny, I didn’t know who, was out of breath.

“It’s one of the pups. They’ve broken an arm.” She said.

“We best get on our way before it heals itself and we have to rebreak it.” Frode came behind me with a bag slung over his shoulder. “At the practice fields then, Dagny?”

“Yes, sir.” The twin, Dagny, turned to lead us. I followed my mentor out the door.

“Now the trick with pups is that they will always heal much more quickly than us grown folk. It is simple to rebreak the bone and properly set it, I’m sure you are wholly capable of accomplishing that. Sometimes half the fight with our people is beating our damned fast healing. What it comes down to is that it is simply more upsetting for pups and I don’t like doing it, so off we go.” Frode spoke as he walked. He moved quickly for an old man and I lengthened my stride to keep up. As we walked Frode was greeted by everyone we passed and he slowed down for none of them, focused on only getting to the practice fields.

I smelled her before I saw her, hunched over and comforting the howling pup in her arms. Frode knelt next to her and waved me closer, the pup’s forearm was at an ugly angle and he had it in his hands. “A nice clean break, little one, it’ll heal right up.” His voice was gentle and even as I kneeled next to him, “Have you met my friend Eir? I bet he would be happy to fetch the honeyed cherries out of my bag, would you like that? Fetch the cherries, Eir. Did I ever tell you of when Hel hurt her arm? And Fenrir had to help her?”

I hurried to find them and opened the jar, passing it to Sage. Frode launched into a tale about a young Fenrir fetching his mother. The pup was so entranced between the sweets and the animated storytelling that she barely noticed her arm being set and wrapped tightly in a splint. Asmund came running with her mother as Frode was finishing binding it, telling her about how Angrboda rushed to her daughter’s aid. Sage passed her to her mother’s arms, still feeding her a steady stream of sweets as she sat next to me. I was very aware of our closeness, crowded around the pup and her fussing mother. Frode fashioned a sling from her mother’s scarf and told her how brave she was, that she would make a fine and fierce warrior.

“She’ll be fine in a few hours,” He said to her mother, “she needs to be still and rest for the afternoon while it heals. I will send Eir by this evening to make sure it has healed properly, though I foresee no issues.”

Sage stood, brushing her hand along my side as she did. She offered her hand to the child’s mother and pulled her up, “I'm so sorry about this Alynda, poor thing has no fear. She went flying at one of the others and must have landed on it wrong.”

Alynda held the pup close to her chest, “She’s my third one Alpha, yet whenever I think I’ve seen it all they find a new way to bang themselves up.”

“Isn’t that the truth.” Frode stood, grunting.

“That’s why we breed them sturdy around here.” Alynda smiled, helping her daughter stand up, “Isn’t that right little one? Say goodbye now.”

The pup raised her good hand which was covered in the same sticky honey that dotted her face and the front of my mate’s light leather armor. She waved to us with a toothy grin and then took her mother’s hand. Asmund and Dagny had set the rest of the pups to a task across the field. It looked more like they were playing a game than training for battle. They formed two lines, each line holding hands and facing each other. Alternating turns, each line sent one of theirs to attempt to break through the others’ line. They were all laughing and loudly teasing one another.

“What are they doing?” I asked Sage.

“It’s a game I devised!” She said, “They are too young to do much physical training, none of these have experienced the shift yet. We do a bit of basic sword and knife work but mostly we make up strategy games to help develop their growing minds. Imagine if the opposite side was a shield wall? Or a line of warriors in wolf form? Being able to quickly spot and use a weakness is an important skill, as is knowing how to hold a line.”

“Our young Alpha is quite the strategist.” Frode said, repacking his bag.

Sage ducked her head with modesty and my instinct was to reach for her, craving her touch. I wanted to pull her close and let the whole world know she was mine. My desire to respect her and consider her wishes in all matters regarding her warred with this instinct. I stayed quiet, not trusting myself to say the right thing.

“We best be on our way, still have to get those salves jarred. Give your mother my regards, Sage.” Frode hefted his bag to his shoulder and began walking towards home.

“Meet me in the clearing again tonight.” I whispered, leaning into her ear. I followed Frode but looked over my shoulder to catch her smile. I was counting down the hours until she was in my arms again.