Chapter 3 - The journey

Ciscra pov

I knew I needed to free the woman I have felt for years was missing, but the look in aunt Freya's eyes scares me.

" No one knows, she has a daughter, if word gets out. You will be in danger too" Freya says as she gets up to hug me.

" No I wouldn't, you know I am strong. I haven't yet explored the extent of my powers, I need to free her. But why are you telling me these after all these years" I asked slightly curious by the turn of event

" I can't die with this secret. It was time to tell you the truth" she whispered as I felt a pang in my heart.

"Die?, Aunt Freya, is they something you're not telling me?" I asked.

"Am dying, Ciscra. I don't think I will make it" she says.

" What do you mean? " I asked as she stared up at me.

" I have been cured by your mother sister Asa, without the antidote I can't live long, I have spent my powers for years on herds to sustain me but they don't work like that anymore" she said. At that point I felt my whole world crumble, I couldn't bear to lose her too.

" And this Asa,will have the antidote?"I asked

"A witch can only make her antidote" she replied.

I was determined to get that antidote no matter what it took, much to Freya disapproval. The next few days I spent preparing for my journey, I told Grey about my trip and he decided to tag in. I was currently at the extreme end of the forest as I watched the village from the hill I stood on. I was scared of what the future held but I refused to let down my guide. 

"We should make it to the dark mountain, if we left now" Grey said from behind me, I turned to look at him with a smile. Grey didn't really have anyone left in the village, he was raised by his grandparents who died a few winters ago. He has been alone since.

"Let's get going then" I replied back as he stood still and gave me a look I didn't expect. "What?" I asked him.

"You should definitely do your thing" he said shyly as he scratched his neck, I giggled at him. It was his way of telling me to change my look as I was currently In my real appearance.

"Ok then" I said as I felt myself morphed into a female with black hair, five feet tall and curvy. As I opened my eyes I saw him stare at me with shock.

"I still can't get over this nice appearance tho '' he said as I nodded at him. We began our hike into the forest, we had brought two horses and a map before we left the village. And as we mounted them and walked into the forest it made our journey easier, just as Grey predicted we got to the dark mountain which was at the edge of the forest. 

Aunt Freya had taught me how to summon a portal and she directed me to do it. At the edge of the dark mountain, she gave me what seemed like a necklace and told me to summon myself to the inner lands.

As I stood on the clearing,the wind picked up and the environment changed around me, I could feel the power flowing through me, I held the cold chain on my hands,I close my eyes and a and thought of the task as I felt a strange chat began to form in my mind which I began chanting from my lips, the power began to flow around me as I chant lounder.

The wind grew stronger, whipping my black hair around my face in a frenzy. I let my hair drop to my sides for a moment, the chain glinting in the moonlight, and felt a hot surge of energy course through me. I kept chanting and the words flowed from me like a river.

I opened my eyes, and I saw a portal hovering in the air before me, a gateway to the middleland, I turned to Grey who seemed surprised and I signaled him to let the horses go. He beat them and they ran back the way they came.

Together, we held hands and stepped into the portal. The moment we went through everything stopped for a while, it felt like color and I felt lightheaded. After what felt like eternity we stepped foot in a strange land. 

The first thing I saw was a statue of a wolf, its eyes glowing ominously in the dark, for some reason I felt a chill run down my spine. 

"We made it" Grey says as he stared around us, I nobbed as he rushed to hug me, feelling my unease he said.

"Don't worry," he said. "We'll figure this out together."

I nodded, feeling heartened by his words. Seeing as we were fine, we made camp that night under the shadow of the wolf statue, and as we set fire we brought out the little food we took with us, and we were lucky to catch a rabbit which we roasted for dinner.

After dinner we decided to go to bed, we cuddle each other as we slept, it wasn't till grey woke me up, as I sat up pushing the strands of hair that had fallen across my face. I noticed noticed Grew standing above me, his eyes scanning the surrounding with a furrowed brow 

"Grey, what's the matter?" I asked.

He turned to face me, his expression a mix of concern and urgency. "We have to get out of here, now."

Confusion washed over me as I stood up, my body still heavy with the remnants of sleep. "Why? What's going on?"

But before Grey could answer, a chorus of howls pierced through the air, sending a shiver down my spine. The sound was primal, chilling, and it echoed ominously through the trees. I felt fear grip my heart as the realization set in.

Wolves.

The footsteps grew louder, the crunch of leaves under their paws becoming more distinct. Panic welled up inside me, and I instinctively grabbed Grey's hand.

But before we could make a move, we were surrounded. Massive wolves emerged from the dense foliage, their eyes glinting with an eerie intelligence. They formed a tight circle around us, their bodies tense and ready to strike.

I trembled, my eyes wide with terror as I clung to Grey's hand tightly.

Suddenly, one of the wolves stepped forward, its fur shimmering in the dappled moonlight.

 And then, right before our eyes, the creature underwent a transformation. Bones shifted and rearranged, fur receded, and in its place stood a naked man, tall and imposing.

He walked toward us, his gaze piercing and scrutinizing. His voice was deep and commanding as he demanded, "What are you doing on our land?"

"We didn't know it was your land" I replied back. This caused the wolves to growl and bark at me.

"You will pay for this," he repied back with a bold voice.

It wasn't long till we were rounded up and asked to move,I wanted to attack them but I remember what my aunt to me, she warn me never to reveal my identity no matter what and I knew I needed to get away from them no matter what they had an advantage as they knew these land better then I, we had no choice but to follow behind the wolves as they led us deeper into their land.

It wasn't long before we stumbled upon an entire city that left us in awe. But it was the towering, golden castle at the center of it all that left us breathless. Statues of wolves dotted the city, their heads thrown back in a haunting howl. The city was beautiful from where we stood k was lost in it awe till I felt a wolf nudges me to keep moving.

We were taken into the castle to the dungeon and dumped into separate cells,I hated being separated from Grey but I knew I had to play cool.

I didn't know how long I had been there when I heard footsteps coming toward my cell. My heart raced as the door creaked open, revealing a man who was nearly a giant. A scar ran down his face, and he had silver hair that fell on his back, and he was far more muscular than anyone I had ever seen. And to add to that he was the most beautiful man I have ever seen, and his beauty had my mouth thrown open as I stared at him.

 He seemed to be staring at me in shock, and I couldn't help but feel lost in his golden eyes. He began sniffing the air, which had me confused.

"Open the door!" he roared, and a guard rushed to open up the door for him. The man entered the cell and began to take in my scent, leaving me feeling even more bewildered. Then he said a word that made my heart skip a beat.

"Impossible ," he said, his voice deep and gravelly. And I felt my heart skip a beat