wheel of fate

The delicate, pixie-like yearling stared into the molten river thoughtfully. Despite the heat of the cavern, she felt a shiver go down her silver-ticked spine. Such a beautiful and terrible thing to flow beneath the surface of Midgaard. A river of fire.

Movement from the corner of her eye drew her attention, and her Father stepped into Existence beside her. She knew him from her mother's stories, had always known him, the wise one-eyed wolf with the gleam of starshine around his grizzled form. He had always seemed to take a keen interest in her and her siblings though it seemed only she could see him there watching. He watched her now, meeting her gaze calmly, and Alfrun felt the calm like a blanket slowly draping over her body. There was nothing to fear in this place, he was telling her. There was danger, yes, but was not life danger? There was some lesson to learn in the here-and-now.

Comforted by her Father's presence, the yearling allowed her attention to drift as she stared into the river once more, allowed her gaze to blur and lose focus until her mind became immersed in the heat and the light that the river gave off. The gods were speaking to her - she just needed to listen.