I know that the easiest way to tame an animal is to give them food. It might be hard with that monster but if he sees me as a source of food he will think of using me. Then we’ll slowly build a relationship between the master and his pet.

When I opened my eyes I saw a dark ceiling. I thought that Loki took me to another meeting with him but when I looked around I was in the mine. It was already day but… I don’t remember anything after Tae arrived with the food and… booze… 

Now I know what happened… I got drunk! There are a few bottles around me! Of course, I did it again! But man… This booze is so good and strong! Wait! Where is the dog… Oh… He is sleeping on my lap… That’s… a surprise? What the hell happened when I was drunk?! The coal started to move. I wanted to move but I didn’t want to wake up the dog just in case. From the pile of coal appeared Tae. With a bottle in his hand. 

[ Eric ]

“So you were drinking too? Haha!” I laughed quietly. 

[ Tae ]

“No! You jerk! You’re the one that made me!” For the first time, I saw him so pissed.

[ Eric ]

“Really? Well… It’s probably true.”

[ Tae ]

“Probably?!”

[ Eric ]

“Anyway… Can you tell me what happened?”

[ Tae ]

“With a wolf? After you took a few sips you acted like a kid. The wolf wanted some of your food so first, he tried to just take it but you started to eat while you were standing. The wolf bit you and then you were fighting over the food and somehow… This took a liking to you…”

[ Eric ]

“Cool.”

[ Tae ]

“That’s all you're gonna say?”

[ Eric ]

“Yup…”

[ Tae ]

“It’s not weird that it was that fast?”

[ Eric ]

“Nah… I don’t care as long as he likes me.”

[ Tae ]

“You’re so weird… I’m leaving.”

[ Eric ]

“Fine… but can you bring me some water? My head hurts… Tae? Tae?!”

I took the dog with me to the village. Somehow I managed to get there. The kids were interested in the dog. They didn’t know that this was the same wolf that wanted to eat them… To not disappoint them I just said.

[ Eric ]

“Maybe later, he is sleeping now…”

When I arrived at home I didn’t even realize that the dog was already awake. He wasn’t barking, biting me, or even moving at all. He was just lying in my arms. If that means I tamed him then I’ll also need to name him… 

[ Eric ]

“Skyge… It means shadow in Swedish… I think… or was it in Norwegian? Whatever… You like it?”

The dog looked at me and howled. Does that mean he likes it? His forehead started to shine and a white mark appeared. The mark was the same as my tattoo. What is that supposed to mean? 

[ Eric ]

“Don’t tell me… Do we have some kind of pact? Or something?”

Skyge barked in response. After a second I realized that I understood him and I mean I know what he said.

[ Skyge ]

“That’s correct!” He said with a childish voice. 

[ Eric ]

“You… can talk?”

[ Skyge ]

“Of course! I always could but you didn’t understand me…”

[ Eric ]

“Oh… Well… How old are you?” I asked because of a childish confusing voice.

[ Skyge ]

“I’m two!”

[ Eric ]

“And you’re attacking others at that age?!”

[ Skyge ]

“Attacking? I was helping that boy.”

[ Eric ]

“What do you mean?”

[ Skyge ]

“He was scared, probably lost in the forest. I was going to show him the way to the village but he started to run toward a cave. It's a more dangerous place than a forest and then you came!”

[ Eric ]

“So you didn’t attack children a few days ago?”

[ Skyge ]

“Children? I have never seen a human child!”

[ Eric ]

“So… Do you have a father… or mother?” I asked Skyge.

[ Skyge ]

“Yup! My dad is big and strong! He is the alpha of our pack! And mommy too!” Said Skyge cheerfully. 

[ Eric ]

“There is… more of you?” I said in shock

[ Skyge ]

“Yup! I think… two, three, four… twenty-four!”

[ Eric ]

“Yeiks… But where are they all? Villagers have never seen your kind.”

[ Skyge ]

“On the other side of the mountain! When we knew that the big bad bear was no longer in the mountains I asked dad if we could go to the other side!”

Probably this big wolf was his dad… This complicates things but it also gives the possibility to have the monster wolves on our side… 

[ Skyge ]

“Master? Can I go see my family?”

[ Eric ]

“I don’t see a problem with that but come back in two days okay? Don’t come to the village just howl near it and I’ll come for you ok?”

[ Skyge ]

“OK!” Said Skyge cheerfully as he jumped off my hands and ran toward the forest.  

I’ll let him spend some time with the family before we go to the Pure Sun clan. Now… I need to inform Jarl about the wolves and my plans with them. I was going to enter his place casually as usual but guards stopped me this time.

[ Guard ]

“You’ll need to wait. Jarl is currently busy.”

[ Eric ]

“Ok… I’ll wait.”

I waited an entire hour… But finally, something happened! Some dude with yellow clothes left. On his back was the orange sun. It’s easy to spot him so he’s probably not a warrior. Guards let me in and there was Astvar sitting on his throne. He was so focused on reading something that he didn’t notice me walking in. 

[ Eric ]

“Uhm… Astvar.”

[ Astvar ]

“Oh! Eric! My apologies for not welcoming you.”

[ Eric ]

“Not a problem. Probably that talk with that guy was very important and concerning. Mind telling me who that was?”

[ Astvar ]

“Not at all. It was a priest from Pure Sun. Something bad happened to them so to get to the Sehus we needed a guide.”

[ Eric ]

“What exactly happened?”

[ Astvar ]

“Something similar to our situation but on a bigger scale. The monsters appeared out of nowhere and they are attacking the ships. Priests were blessed with the power to protect the ships and cities from the monsters so that’s why the priest will be coming with us.”

[ Eric ]

“Sorry to say that but there are more things to worry about.”

[ Astvar ]

“What do you mean?”

I explained everything I knew about the wolves on the other side of the mountain. How many of them are their weaknesses, and my ideas to stop them from attacking the villagers. Also, I said that I tamed one of them. This was the only thing that brought Astvar a little smile on his face. He will let me take Skyge with us. Right when everything was looking better than earlier something happened. 

I heard crying in my head.

It was the weirdest feeling I ever had. I could hear the cry but it didn’t drown out any sound. I knew where it was coming from but I couldn’t really see it. I just feel it.

[ Eric ]

“Sorry, Astvar. I’ll come back later!” 

I ran out of the building and ran through the forest. The rain came out of nowhere. It was hard to think with the sound of rain hitting the trees. I slipped a couple of times. My clothes were a total mess. Covered in mud and with a little bit of jagged clothes, I stopped right in front of a broken bridge. 

[ Eric ]

“There is no way to the other side…” I thought, but then how did Skyge cross the mountain?

On the side of the mountain that I was standing on, there was a path that I hadn't seen earlier. Did someone make it? Probably the bear… I barely could breathe but this feeling of uneasiness. I was getting really close to the source of that feeling. The cries were getting louder and finally, I actually heard them.

I saw Skyge… on the beach… laying by the side of a big black wolf… This wolf was covered in blood and many injuries. Somehow I knew that this wolf was Skyge’s dad. Many times I didn’t say anything in that type of situation because I was scared but for the first time, I really didn’t have anything in mind. I was shocked.

[ Skyge ]

“They… killed him…and took others...” Whispered Skyge.

[ Eric ]

“...who? Who killed your dad? Who took your family?”

[ Skyge ]

“I don’t know…” Sobbed Skyge.

[ Eric ]

“So… You didn’t see… his last moment?”

[ Skyge ]

“I… did…”

[ Eric ]

“I’ll… find them… I kill them myself… I can promise you that…” I have never been this furious in a long time.

[ Skyge ]

“Black… Moon… They had a moon… on their clothes…”

The only thing I could do now was to comfort Skyge. I can’t bring his father to live. I don’t have any traces of the attackers or where they took Skyge’s family.

[ Eric ]

“Are you enjoying the show… Loki?” 

Everything froze. Waves, raindrops, birds, and trees moved by wind. The head of the wolf looked at me and started to talk.

[ Loki ]

“I knew you would be very entertaining.” 

[ Eric ]

“Was that one of your plans?”

[ Loki ]

“Of course not! But it makes things more interesting…”

[ Eric ]

“Do you know who did it?”

[ Loki ]

“Yes. I know.”

[ Eric ]

“Will you tell me?”

Loki remains silent. No words came out of his mouth. He was slowly pissing me off…

[ Eric ]

“Will you tell me?!”

[ Loki ]

“No.”

[ Eric ]

“Then… give me the power to kill them…”

[ Loki ]

“I like the idea of killing but… There will be one condition.”

[ Eric ]

“What… will it be?”

[ Loki ]

“I’ll give you the power to kill them but only if you find the person who killed the wolf. There also will be a second condition but I’ll tell you that… if you kill that person.”

[ Eric ]

“Deal.”

Everything started to move again… except Skyge’s father… I asked him if he had a favorite spot with his father. Skyge pointed at a pawn… the same pawn that I was drinking from. Near it, I dug a hole. I put his father there and I covered him with the stones. I used my axes to make a cross. While I was preparing the grave Skyge asked me. 

[ Skyge ]

“What is this?” “What are you doing?” 

[ Eric ]

“When someone dies… We dig a grave for them… So they can rest well and we will always know where they are at this moment.”