I’ve barely begun to wonder when I should round them up and head home, when a bone-chilling howl breaks the night. Katja startles, exchanging a worried look with Aili. From the milling crowd, the twins and Helkki reappear as if it was a summoning cry.
“Too close,” Katja murmurs.
“We’re safe here. No need to worry.” I try to sound certain, though I’m unsure why they look so rattled. The music only missed a beat. Everything is carrying on.
“Way too close,” Johannes agrees as if I never spoke, his eyes scanning for escape.
This is Ylvara,place of the she-wolf. Wolves must be common in the Frozen Forest, right? The rest of the crowd has already returned to dancing. No one else seems worried.
Katja and the twins push their way out of the square, purposeful and tense. Why are they moving toward danger?
“Hey, let’s stay in the crowd where it’s safe. I’m sure no wolves will wander into a revel. Aren’t there wards?” My voice lifts with hope. Or are wards yet another thing I take for granted as a Point Fae? Maybe these folk don’t have wards.
Ignoring me, they keep going.
Helkki tugs Aili’s hand, her glitter-smeared face set. “Come on,” she tells me, more serious than I’ve ever seen her.
My feet follow without input from my brain.
At the edge of town, Katja tosses her jacket to me, and I catch it automatically as her wings spread behind her. “What are you doing? What’s going on?”
“I’m going to fly ahead. They should be this way.”
With no more explanation, she lifts off the ground with a flutter of gossamer lavender wings, too delicate-looking to hold her. I don’t have time for wonder. Katja sets a startling pace, with the twins breaking into a run to follow.
“Come on,” Helkki urges again.
Then we’re running down the track, Eevi bouncing against my chest. I promised Lark they’d be safe, and now this? I can’t lose them!
“We need to head back,” I call out in vain. It falls on deaf ears.
The path narrows as we wind through trees, boots skidding on old pine needles and patches of ice. Branches whip past. I don’t even try to keep up with the boys. I just focus on keeping Aili from falling and not losing Helkki’s bright crimson hair ahead of me in the silvery gloom.
Then the woods split open ahead, and an enormous shape bursts from the trees.
The monster that emerges is one I’ve only read about and seen as a stuffed trophy mounted on my father’s wall.
Huge. Shaggy. A sloped back, massive paws, and a maw full of glistening teeth.
A fenriswulf.
The twins scatter to the trees on each side as it barrels toward them.
Shades of the gremlin attack flood my memory, but I won’t be useless this time. I have to protect the kids. Immediately, an ice spear forms in my hand. This time it's steady and strong.
Thank you, Beron, for all the training, even if you’re a giant traitor.
But as I level my aim at the beast’s heart, judging its thunderous approach, Katja swoops between us in a violet blur.
“No!” she screams.
My spear goes wide.
The fenriswulf snaps its jaws, leaping after her as she flutters up and away. I use the opening to summon another ice spear, forming it in my hand with ease.
“Val, don’t!” Helkki screeches as a small body slams into my leg. Aili latches on, nearly toppling me. The boys come running back, hands raised, shouting over one another.
All at once, I understand.
