Past Soren’s eyes are wide as he darts anxious looks around the village, but when we arrive at the longhouse, his shoulders loosen. As Erik enters, a woman rushes up and hugs him. “You’re home!”
“Oof, Helga, easy!” Erik chuckles. “Soren, this is my sister, Helga.”
Helga’s smile falters, her eyes turning soft and sad. “Poor dear. Whatever happened to you?”
Past Soren hangs his head and doesn’t reply.
Erik takes Helga aside, and I move closer to catch what he says.
“The Blackbriar pack attacked his village. He is an orphan. Not a soul from the village survived.”
Helga clasps a hand to her mouth. “Oh, by the gods. Poor dear. Those wretched beasts…”
Erik nods grimly. “Where are the boys?”
“Anders and Gunnar are training in the yard. Wulfric and Lyall went to the market together but they should be back any moment.”
“Good. The boy needs some space before those rascals descend upon him.”
Helga smiles. “I know just the thing!” She approaches Past Soren with a big warm smile. “How would you like a bath and a spot of food?”
Past Soren twists his fingers together and nods. “Yes, ma’am.”
She laughs. “Call me Helga, dear.” She calls out to the thralls, “Take him to the springs. The poor dear needs a relaxing warm soak.”
The thralls lead Past Soren back outdoors. The air warms as we walk until we arrive at a large hot spring. The thralls leave my younger self with a soap stone and a towel, and the silence of the wilderness descends on us.
Past Soren undresses, then sinks into the bath. Out in the wilderness, he looks so small. He hangs his head, andhis narrow shoulders start to shake. Great wrenching sobs tear from his body.
Tears prickle my eyes. I wish I could go to him and hug him and tell him everything will be okay, even if I’m not sure it will.
“Don’t be sad.” Lyall puts a hand on my shoulder.
“Is he… Am I going to be okay?”
Lyall smiles. “Just watch.”
Twigs snap. A white wolf prowls from the trees. He’s not very big, not an adult or a pup, but I recognize him instantly. The tension in my chest unwinds. My child self has nothing to fear, not from this wolf. Terror bleaches Past Soren’s face as the wolf nears the edge of the water. He freezes, screwing his eyes shut tight.
“D-don’t. Please. Stay back!” Past Soren whimpers.
The wolf halts, ears flattening. His tail droops as he whines. I don’t know how, but I know he’s apologizing. His body ripples as the shift pulls back.
“Are you scared of me?”
The wolf is gone. In his place is a boy as wild looking as the wolf. He’s got long messy blond hair, and his emerald eyes are a perfect match to Lyall’s.
“Where did it go?” Past Soren looks every which way, but there’s no trace of the wolf. Well, except for the white wolf furs around the boy’s shoulders.
“What?” Lyall looks around.
“The wolf!” Past Soren is clearly wondering how he could’ve missed it.
Understanding widens the boy’s eyes. He grins, sunny and bright. “That was me! Oh, Father didn’t tell you? Hang on…” The boy throws the furs over his head. I give a start as his body ripples, shifting before my eyes into the white wolf. Fear stiffens Past Soren’s spine as the wolf regards him. Then a smile curls the wolf’s mouth, tongue lolling out. With a pounce, he leaps into the hot spring, and my younger self’s cry of alarm becomes a laugh as water sprays all over his face.
A chuckle escapes me. It’s nice to hear my child self laugh after everything.
After splashing around together for a time, Past Soren gets dressed and collapses on the warm tundra. The wolf shakes off, making Past Soren sputter as drops of water fly at him. Lyall shifts back to his human form.
