Vol. 1 Chapter 11 - Hunting

A.D. 867 Kingdom of Northumbria, Ragnar's Farm

/pov MC/

"Uhtred!.. you got everything we need?.." I ask my brother as he walks up.. 'leading' the draft-horse 'carrying' our hunting supplies..

"Got it.. got the tent.. all the supplies.. traps.. arrows.. bows.. 'skinning knives'.. hm.. got our salt.. our pots.. yep looks like I got it all.." he informs me..

"Alright let's go ahead and start out.. want to reach the mountains as the suns 'coming' up.. will give us all day to see what we can 'find'.. let's go.. Hilda.. Brida.. hold down the 'fort'.. we will be back.." I tell the girls as me and Uhtred head on out for our 'hunt'..

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****Back Mountains Behind The Farm***

/pov MC/

"Ahh.. it's so beautiful.. isn't it brother?.. something perfect about 'untouch-ed' wilderness.. it's so peaceful.. all the noises.. bouncing around coming from the 'inhabitants' of the 'woods'.. can you taste that 'pure' air.. gods.. what a 'majestic' sight.." I tell Uhtred as we are 'entering' the tree-line.. at the foot of the hills and mountains.. behind Ragnar's Farm..

"Gods.. your right.. it's almost 'serene' walking through these 'woods'.. tasting the 'taste' of fresh 'sap' in the 'air'.. rolling down the bark of the 'pine' trees.." Uhtred said whilst 'absorbing' our surroundings..

"Shh.. hear that.. I can hear wolves 'howling' already.. I'd like to find a couple 'cubs' of different animals.. to make 'gifts' of.. for the 'girls'.. I want a 'panther' cub.. for Hilda.. and ofcourse I have to have a 'wolf' cub for myself.. a 'panther' and 'wolf' cub would make for 'excellent' hunting partners.. and they would just be 'cool' as shit to have.. I can picture it now.." I go on to talk about my goals of our 'hunting' trip today..

"Man.. that would be 'sickly' as you call it.." he says making me 'cackle' out a laugh..

"'Sickly'.. 'sickly' indeed brother.. 'sickly' indeed.. let's go.. step light brother.. we don't want to 'spook'.. the day's folley.." I tell him as we are moving deeper into the woods.. more and more… different animal tracks are being 'revealed'.. as we reach further and further into the 'woods'.. I notice a set of tracks.. definitely 'canine' from the looks of it.. haven't found any large 'feline' tracks.. but no matter I will find Hilda her 'panther' cub eventually.. if I have to I'll sponsor hunters to find me one.. once I've made my first 'pot' of 'gold' so to say..

"Alright.. we got one wolf.. heading west of us.. it's large.. see how deep the prints of the pad's of it's feet.. pressed into the soil here.. it's heavy.. maybe just gave birth before winter.. maybe it's still pregnant.. perfect.. let's move.. I want this wolf.." I say.. as I notice the 'tracks' I've been praying to find.. I can smell the 'estrus' in the air around the path of 'tracks' we are following.. she's either just given 'birth' or she's close..

"There's the den!.." I hear Uhtred whisper to me.. pointing out a hole in the rock-face of the side of a mountain..

"Stay here.. don't follow me.. trust me.. I'll be back.." I tell him.. then I started to 'stalk' towards the 'hole' of an entrance of the wolf's 'den'..

I can smell her.. I can hear her 'slumber'd' breathing.. bouncing around.. off of the walls of the carven.. coming all the way from the spot the 'mother-wolf' is sleeping.. she's heavy with 'pups'.. I deliberately scrape my foot across the floor of the cavern.. scattering a couple of 'pebbles'.. across the ground.. making just enough noise for the wolf to open her eyes.. and smell there is an 'intruder' in her cave.. I lock eyes with her..

"Hello.." I say before she starts to growl.. stopping her growl before it ever leaves her throat.. my voice seems to carry a 'calming' message to her ears.. as she quietly watches me.. waiting for my next 'move'.. or what 'words' I will speak next..

"What a beautiful mother you are.. but your all alone.. how will you feed your 'off-spring'.. what if a enemy finds your 'den' whilst you are away 'hunting' for your 'pups'?.. have you thought about that?.. come with me.. I'll keep you and your 'pups' safe and 'well-fed'..Fenra.. thats what I'll call you.. do you like it?.. you do?.. it's a pretty name.. for a pretty 'wolf'.. isn't it?.. come on.. I won't hurt you.. I won't let anyone hurt you… trust me.. trust me Fenra.. come Fenra.. come.." I speak in my 'lullaby-like' voice.. in a 'singy-songy' way… trying to 'hypnotize' her into following my commands using my Beast Taming skill.. it must be working as she's following me back out of the cave.. after we exit I see Uhtred and the 'draft-horse' waiting for us in the 'clearing' outside the 'den.. Fenra started to growl..

"Easy girl.. this is family.. this is kin.. he won't hurt you.." I assure the cranky 'mother-wolf'

"By the gods.. why is she following you.. and why is it listening to your words brother?.." Uhtred asks in a quiet voice.. not wanting to upset the 'large' predator..

"Her name is Fenra.. she's been waiting here for me.. for a long time.. she's coming home with us now.. we've got enough 'prey' for this 'hunt'.. cmon let's go back.. Im excited for the girls to meet Fenra.." I tell Uhtred as we get started.. on our 'journey' back to the farm.. we should make it back before 'sun-down'.. I can't wait to see Hilda's face when she sees our new 'pet' and her new 'protector'.. I found for her..

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Aethred's Home-Stead

/pov MC/

"Hilda! Brida! Thyra!.. come out.. come see what me and your brother found in the woods.." I yell out towards my house as we cometh.. upon the 'clearing' in front of my 'hall'.. the doors to my hall 'burst' open.. revealing the three young women.. with wide eyes and open mouths.. staring at Fenra.. as she stands by my side..

"Wolf! O my god! It's so big!.. is it 'dangerous'?.." Hilda asks..

"Her name is Fenra.. don't worry she is now 'bond'd'.. with me.. she won't hurt any of my 'blood'.. she's very smart and can understand what we say.. so don't talk bad about her where she can hear you.. if you want her to like you.. hahaha.. so what say you Hilda?.. do you like your gift?.." I ask her..

"O my gods! Ofcourse I love it my big strong 'wolf'.. and I love you too.. ofcourse.." she smiles the most 'mesmerizing' smile at me as she replies..

"Good as long as you love it.. come on let's get her settled in.. we will have an entire 'litter' of 'wolf-pups' any day now.." I said.. as we get Fenra settled in her very own room.. we put plenty of hay and straw down.. for her to lay down on and be comfy.. she 'sniffs' around a bit.. the she drank some water I had pour'd in a bowl for her.. she then.. 'circles' her 'pile' of 'straw' a couple times.. the she laid down and prepared to sleep.. to have the first 'safeful'.. 'peaceful'.. rest.. she's every had in her entire life.. her first 'night' in her new 'home'..