After hours of walking across an empty field, I find myself standing at the edge of a dark and foreboding forest. The first rays of sunlight barley penetrate the dens canopy overhead, casting long shadows that dance across the forest floor. As I stare into the depth of the ancient woods, a chill runs down my spine, and a sense of unease settles over me. Despite the uncertainty that lies ahead, I steel myself for the journey into the heart of the forest, knowing those answers and perhaps even danger awaits amidst the tangled trees.

My body is exhausted and wounded, I have to find a safe protective place in the wood where I can lay down and rest, as I walk further into the forest the air gets thicker, the sunlight is nowhere to be found the tangled trees block the sky and leaves only darkness and shadows.

The road stretches over an uneven landscape as I look further down the uneven road, fog slowly approaches, it is like I get hypnotized by the fog like it is calling to me but an eerie sound cut my sight away from it, I look around but don’t see anything but as I look closer into the darkness I see two white glaring dots the come closer revealing a grey wolf a lone wolf. This big, strongly built wolf commands attention with its imposing presence. Its thick, grey fur provides both insulation and camouflage, blending seamlessly with its surroundings. Despite its formidable stature, the wolf's white paws offer a striking contrast against the muted tones of its coat. Its piercing green eyes gleam with intelligence and intensity, betraying a keen awareness of its surroundings. A black snout completes the majestic visage of this magnificent creature, adding a touch of fierceness to its noble countenance.

I keep calm and stay still.

The wolf approaches me and slowly comes closer and closer.

He reaches out his snout and sniffs my hand to my surprise he sits down on the ground right in front of me.

The pain in my arm starts pounding, I am afraid I will scare the wolf with my quick movements but I quickly move the hand closer to my chest, but instead he looks at my arm and then bites the end of my wrapped cloth unwrapping my wound, the cold breeze hurts my scar but once the cloth is off the wolf looks at my wound and comes closer and starts licking the wounded arm, the pain is insufferable, after the wolf has finished I slowly reach out my hand to him giving him a gentle pat on the head he leans his head on my chest and then as i wrap my arms around him he leans his head on my shoulders.

This peaceful moment is cut short by a rumbling in my stomach. I look at the wolf and ask him.

 I assume you don’t have any food on you, but do you know where I can find some food?

The wolf signaled to me to follow him. I run after the wolf he stops after each turn just to make sure I still see him.  After some running, he stops close to a berry bush covered with delicious blackberries.

He eats one to show me it is safe and then I grab every single one before we notice the berries are gone. My stomach is still rumbling a little bit then I ask him if he knows where to find more food and he bites a part of my clothing and drags me along, he quickly let’s go and I follow him through the dark forest. 

All of a sudden, he stops taking on a protective stance and a low growl. I freeze and before I know it, I am being grabbed by a green hand with fingers as sharp as knives. The wolf starts to protect me but more and more of these otherworldly beings emerge from the shadows. 

Before we know it, the wolf is busy fighting off the others so that he can’t fight the one that is grabbing me. 

The being is covering my nose and mouth with their hand and I am slowly being suffocated, after the wolf has fought off the others he attacks the one behind me forcing the being to release their arm and I take a deep breath then I pick up a big log and start hitting one by one,  we defeated the beings but before the last one falls to the ground I felt a piercing pain in my left side, I fell to the ground but before I hit it the wolf goes under me so I fall onto him, I use the last of my power to get into a better position on the wolfs back and then he runs off with me on his back.

My body slowly starts to become heavy and one by one I lose control and then I pass out. I wake up to a glowing light I am back at the burning cabin I hear the screams of the boys, I try to notice something new about the betrayer, but nothing seems to come to light I scream and cry as the person runs towards me, and I wake up.

I woke up in a tent, my wondes have been bandaged up. 

I hear humming coming from the outside of the tent. I take a look and see five silhouettes sitting around a fire. 

As soon as I see the fire I start panicking and getting flashbacks to the cabin. I quickly grabbed my shirt and put it on, I turned around and sneaked out to the back of the tent and I just started running further and further into the forest until I ended up at a dead end. 

I stop and look around everywhere I look the forest is blocked, I fall down to the ground, and I curl up to a ball the forest becomes darker and darker it is like a black hole is swallowing the world around me my ankles get tight down by roots and then my hands, they burn and then they turn into thorns piercing me everywhere. 

In a matter of moments, I am completely stuck. The roots start squeezing me so tightly I can barely breathe. 

I notice that the roots are being cut by something. 

I start screaming” please don’t hurt” me over and over again then tears start running down my cheeks. 

I feel something soft boop my arms, but I just keep screaming “please don’t hurt me I didn’t mean for it to happen please don’t hurt me.”

 Then the darkness slowly faded away, my vision was blurry, but I looked to my right seeing a grey blob at first then my vision became clearer, and I notice it was the grey wolf.

 I wrapped my arms around him and cried.

Then, a soft-spoken voice broke through the silence, asking, "Are you okay?"

I found myself repeating the same words over and over, my voice trembling with fear, "Please don't hurt me."

The voice responded gently, reassuringly, "I won't hurt you."

I looked up towards the voice seeing a young man he is dressed in a pristine white Viking tunic, the fabric adorned with intricate patterns reminiscent of frost patterns etched on a windowpane. 

Beneath the tunic, he wears sturdy brown pants that allow for ease of movement, paired with knee-high brown boots that bear the marks of countless journeys through rugged terrain.

On each of his wrists, he wears a brown Viking leather cuff bracelet, intricately laced, and adorned with small runes that whisper tales of bravery and adventure.

At his side, he carries a brown leather sheath with a place for a sword.

The sheath is worn and weathered.

He reached his hand toward me I get spooked and quickly protect myself,

The young man's words echoed in the air, his voice filled with sincerity and compassion.

 "I promise you I won't hurt you like everyone else has. I know how it is, and I don't wish that suffering on anyone. I have made it my mission to protect those who have been broken.

My name is Björn, Son of Jökull. What is yours?"

I hesitated for a moment, feeling a glimmer of hope flicker within me at his words. 

With a deep breath, I reached out my hand and said, "I am Cordelia Hope."