Blader and his father jolted to their feet at Ivan's words. His eyes were wild and fearful as Gunil raced out of the kitchen, Freyja on her heels. "Where's Hilda?" their mother demanded, her eyes wide.

"I don't know," Ivan said, the words tumbling out in a rush. "I started to look for her but then I saw them. And Sig freaked out, so I just raced him up here to get you."

"Gunil, take care of Sig," Karl directed, snatching a wolf-grade stun baton from over the door. "Then stay inside with Freyja. Make sure you're armed. Blader, Ivan, let's go."

Blader grabbed his sword and shield, quickly fastening the shield to his arm as Ivan grabbed the other sword and shield, his face pale but determined. The father and sons raced out the door, Gunil behind them to grab the frightened Sig from where Ivan had dropped his reins. The horse reared slightly, his eyes rolling his fright, flashing the whites of his eyes.

"Take him inside!" Karl bellowed as the rag shepherds flocked to them, Rollo leading them. "Don't risk the barn! Vinna, Ast, Sok, stay. Rollo, Rada, on my heels."

The pack of dogs split, the three guarding Gunil and Sig as she coaxed the horse around to the stock door in the back of the house, built for moments such as these. The other two loped after Blader, Ivan, and Karl as they raced away from the house, calling for Hilda.

"Where could she be?" Karl demanded.

"The stream, perhaps!" Ivan shouted. "We all like to go there to think." Blader nodded in agreement as they all altered their course slightly.

The three sprinted down the hill, Rollo and Rada baring their teeth as they raced along behind them. The shepherds could smell the wolves as well as the fear and worry of their masters.

Blader saw the wolves by the creek bed and felt the blood drain from his face. The huge, hulking creatures made the large rag shepherds at his heels look like puppies. Their dark fur bristled and their malicious eyes gleamed in the light from the setting sun. They were circling a tree, one wolf even placing his paws up against the bark, and in the tree, clutching to a branch, was Hilda.

These wolves were the bane of Midgard, being as intelligent as humans and as vicious as an enemy's sword. They roved over the land in packs, normally only striking at night when they could see and their victims could not. Attacks during daylight were quite uncommon, and Blader couldn't even remember one ever happening in Njordesden.

What are they doing here? Now, of all hours?

"Papa!" Hilda screamed. "Ivan, Blader!" Her voice was filled with terror, and at her scream the wolves howled, their harsh voices a promise of fear.

"Rollo, Rada, attack!" Karl yelled, and the rag shepherds streaked past them and launched themselves at the wolves as the beasts turned to face them. Blader counted eight, a large pack for one attacking while the sun had not yet set. Their lips curled back from their teeth as they snapped at the much smaller Rollo and Rada, the shepherds sinking teeth into their skin, releasing, and attacking from a different angle to avoid the wolves' fangs.

Blader, Ivan, and Karl leapt into the fray, Karl slamming his stun baton into the side of a wolf's head and sending a jolt of electricity shooting into its skull just as Rollo released the wolf's ear from his teeth. Ivan was working together with Rada, striking one side of the wolf while Rada struck the other, keeping it distracted enough to do what damage they could. Blader struck one wolf in the back of the neck with his sword but the wolf turned before he could beat through its thick skin, snarling at him and lunging.

Blader lifted his shield, feeling a shudder move up his arm as the wolf hit the shield, forcing him to step backwards. He struck again with his sword as the wolf recoiled and he moved forward, suddenly seeing where he needed to strike.

Its eyes were vulnerable, as were its nose and belly. But Blader could kill it the best through the eyes, not wanting to be on the ground around these monsters.

He shifted the blade in his hand as he bashed his shield down into the wolf's snout, changing to a backhand grip with his sword, silently thanking Loqé for teaching him how to do so while in combat. He then thrust downward at the wolf's eyes, the tip of the sword missing as the wolf jerked back, the sword striking under its jaw.

"Blader!" Hilda screamed. "Behind you!"

Blader spun, his blade swinging, as a wolf pounced from behind. His sword connected with the side of the wolf's head, biting into the skin near the eye. With a yelp, the animal recoiled as the other wolf slammed into Blader's shield again, knocking him off balance.

Two wolves detached themselves from the pack and loped up the hill, another wolf continuing to circle the tree, looking hungrily up at Hilda. The wolves were known for devouring children, although it had been a while since such a horrible event had occurred anywhere near Njordesden. Blader swore it would not happen again today.

Ivan and his father were surrounded by the other three wolves, Rada and Rollo at their sides. Two of the creatures were wounded, blood dripping from their snouts, but they were growling, showing no signs of backing down.

Blader could hear Hilda whimpering in the tree as he staggered from the force against his shield, feeling the fangs catch at his tunic sleeve. Both wolves sprang forward, seeing Blader's weakness as an opportunity, and Hilda screamed again.

Acting on new instinct, Blader hurled himself to the side, tucking his sword in close to his shield and rolling to come up on his feet. He whirled back towards the wolves and charged, shield up, sword raised. At the last second, he dropped into a slide before the first wolf, shield covering his abdomen as he jabbed his sword upwards.

A howl erupted from the first wolf as the blade cut through the softer skin on its underside, blood dripping down onto Blader as he rolled to the side, slamming against the wolf's leg as it fell. Catapulting to his feet, he spun, knocking his shield into the snout of the approaching wolf and then thrusting his blade into its eye.

The wolf yelped, backing away from Blader as blood spurted out of its eye. He advanced, anger coursing through him as the first wolf he had stabbed lay on the ground, whimpering as it bled out.

Leave my sister alone!

He heard shouts, yelps, and growls from where Ivan and Karl fought the wolves beside the shepherds but he kept his eyes on the wolf with the bloodied eye. The wolf, in its turn, returned his gaze, his remaining eye angry but confident.

A flap of large wings and a howl from dog broke the silence. Blader didn't even have time to turn around before Loqé appeared at his side, her sword in her hand, shield strapped to her arm. The blade was slick with blood and her black armor was spattered with the crimson liquid, her gaze fierce. Haraun hovered above them, the only sound she made being her wings cutting through the air.

A rag wolf leapt after her, the Valkyrie hunting dog lunging past her to deal with the one-eyed wolf. Loqé and Blader then turned, racing to help Ivan and Karl.

Loqé jumped over one of the wolves, twisting and aiming her blade up under its throat. The wolf reared, the sword just missing, and came down at the Valkyrie with its mouth agape. Its fangs closed around her arm and her leather gauntlet right before she plunged her blade through the gap in its fangs and into the roof of its mouth. The wolf yelped and stumbled forward, Loqé tearing her arm from its mouth as it fell.

Blader joined his father and brother, cutting at the other two wolves until they slowly retreated, growling but looking less sure of themselves with two of their comrades on the ground. The wolf guarding Hilda's tree turned to join the others.

As Loqé came alongside the Thryms, brandishing her bloody sword at the wolves, the creatures seemed to all agree and the three turned and fled, accompanied by the one-eyed wolf, as the Valkyrie's rag wolf returned to her side, blood dripping from its jaws. Smaller than a wolf yet larger than a rag shepherd, the canine was bred specifically for assisting the Valkyries on their hunts and missions.

Karl turned to the tree. "Hilda! Hilda, are you all right?"

Within moments, Hilda had climbed out of the tree, moving so quickly Blader thought she was going to fall. She catapulted herself into her father's arms, hugging him tightly as he smoothed her hair, unable to speak.

Blader turned to Loqé. "Thank you. How did you know they were here?"

"They're everywhere tonight," Loqé said, brushing aside a strand of her hair and leaving a smear of wolf blood on her cheek. Her bitten arm was coated in her own blood, mixed with the slobber and darker blood from the wolf. "All over Njordesden. I came out this way when I heard the howling in time to see the two wolves approaching your house. Your mother sent me down here."

Ivan had been studying Loqé curiously from where he knelt beside a severely injured Rada, her side bloodied. He now offered her a weary smile. "Thank you," he echoed. "I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't shown up."

"Blader had it under control," Hilda said in a muffled voice. "He killed that wolf." She raised her head from Karl's shoulder, her cheeks stained with tears. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "I'm sorry, Blader, I'm sorry!"

"It's okay, Hilda," Blader said. "I understand."

Hilda looked at the dying wolf, who was still whimpering as it continued to bleed out. Loqé followed her gaze before turning and striding over to the animal, raising her blade to end its life. "You're not going to die," she said. "You're going to prove yourself, you're going to be einherjar."

"That's what we all think," Karl said, Ivan nodding. "Recruiter, your assessment?"

"I think he's got a shot," Loqé said, seeming a little surprised at the respectful title. She stepped away from the wolf carcass. "Wolves are no easy predators to kill."

[----]

"Hilda! Oh, my Hilda! You're safe, you're safe!" Gunil's voice was a mixture of exhaustion and fear and joy as she opened the door to the group, snatching Hilda into a hug. Hilda had insisted on walking back, which she did, seeming to recover some of her composure during the walk up the hill, although she had been unnerved on seeing the huge, bleeding carcasses of the two wolves the Valkyrie had already killed, lying near the house and being sniffed by the other rag shepherds. Loqé, on unanimous invitation from Ivan, Karl, Hilda, and Blader, had reluctantly come with them, Haraun walking behind her with her rag wolf, Klofna. Ivan carried Rada in his arms, the shepherd whimpering from the fang marks of the wolf in her side. Rollo stood right behind Ivan, looking up anxiously at his companion and licking her muzzle in reassurance, giving an occasional whine.

"Are you and Freyja all right?" Karl asked concernedly.

Gunil pulled back from Hilda, cupping her hands around her face to study her. "Yes, we are fine." She looked up. "I see the Valkyrie found you."

"She's injured, Mama," Hilda said. "She killed a wolf but it bit her, I saw it."

"It's nothing, I assure you," Loqé said. "If everything is all right here, I need to be on my way to help my sisters with the rest of the wolves."

Gunil narrowed her eyes. "Not with that arm wound, you won't. You help us, we help you. Thrym honor, Valkyrie. You don't leave until I tend to your arm." She glanced out at the wolf carcasses. "It's the least we can do."

Loqé shot a glance at Blader, her eyes furrowed. He just gave her a tired grin. She wasn't getting out of this.

"I think it means you're coming inside, Recruiter," Karl said. "My wife won't take no for an answer."

Bewildered, Loqé allowed herself to be steered into the Thrym home, snapping a command to Haraun and Klofna over her shoulder. The rest of them followed her through the foyer into the living room, Rada still whimpering in Ivan's arms. Rollo looked forlorn as Blader ordered him to stay outside, his ears drooping as the other dogs gathered around him.

Gunil gestured to the chairs. "Please, sit down. Freyja, get –" Her words halted as Freyja hurried up to her, holding the first aid kit. "Thank you."

"Rada's badly hurt," Ivan said, Freyja taking an old blanket and spreading it out on the floor. He gently laid Rada on the blanket, running his hand along her neck as he lowered himself down to sit beside her. "She's going to need care quickly."

"Take care of the shepherd first," Loqé said as Gunil turned to her. "My arm will wait." When Gunil looked like she was about to argue, the Valkyrie shook her head vehemently. "I will get up and walk out this door if you don't take care of the dog first."

Gunil knelt down beside Rada, Hilda kneeling beside her, as Ivan continued to stroke the dog. Blader started to clean the weapons as Karl turned to Loqé. "You said this is happening everywhere?"

"All over Njordesden, from what we can tell," Loqé nodded. "Not in the city itself, fortunately, but at all the farms, it seems. Most of my sisters were deployed to help the farmers."

"What made those creatures come out of their dark holes?" Karl mused. "During sunlit hours, no less?"

Loqé shrugged, her muscles tense as Freyja came to sit beside her on the bench, swinging her legs as she looked up at the Valkyrie curiously. "We don't know yet."

Rada yelped as Blader, finishing with the weapons and hanging them up, headed into the backroom to check on Sig. The horse stood, tied to the ring in the wall of the stock room, his eyes wide. "Sh," Blader soothed, coming up slowly and making sure the animal could see him before he touched him. "Sh, Sig, sh. It's just me. Everything's okay now, everything's fine."

Carefully, he patted the horse's shoulder before quickly checking him over for any wounds. The horse was uninjured, although still tense, and Blader loosened his girth and took the saddle off. He knew nobody was going to risk leading the horse back out to the stables tonight, not while the wolves were prowling.

Setting the saddle against the wall, he grabbed a spare halter from a hook and exchanged the bridle for the halter, easing the bit out of Sig's mouth and clipping the halter into place. After retying the horse up, he took up a brush and brushed Sig down, murmuring soothingly the entire time until the horse's muscles relaxed and Blader could no longer see the whites of his eyes. "Good boy, Sig."

Blader filled a bucket with water and brought it over to the horse, allowing him to drink before stuffing some hay into the haynet and tying it up by Sig's head. The horse began to yank at the strands of hay as Blader made sure nothing harmful was within Sig's reach before heading back into the living room, closing the bottom half of the stall door separating the backroom from the rest of the house.

Rada was lying by the fireplace, Ivan sitting by the dog and stroking it as he talked with Loqé, his mother and Hilda kneeling by the dog's side. Blader was glad to see that the Valkyrie seemed less tense now. It was almost as if she was waiting to be criticized, waiting to be somehow blamed for the wolf attack.

"There," Gunil said, sitting back on her heels. "That's all I can do for the poor girl, Ivan. Rada will have to do the rest herself."

"She will," Ivan promised, rubbing at the fur between her ears. "She'll pull through, won't you, Rada?" The dog whimpered in response.

"Now for you, Valkyrie," Gunil said as she turned to Loqé. "Let me see your arm."

Reluctantly, Loqé held out her arm, the blood and wolf slobber covering her skin and gauntlet. Gunil made a face and gestured to Hilda. "Bucket of water, now. Freyja, thread a clean needle. This one will need stitching."

Hilda hurried back with the bucket of warm water, the cleansing herb floating on top. After stripping the gauntlet off Loqé's arm, Gunil took a rag and began to clean off the mess of blood and saliva.

"Valkyrie, what's your name?" Ivan asked quickly, seeing the tension and pain in Loqé's face as Blader came around to check on Rada. The rag shepherd whimpered, but she did attempt to wag her tail in greeting when she saw him.

"Loqé," Loqé said, gritting her teeth as she sat frozen.

"I'm Ivan," Ivan introduced. "Blader's older brother. You've already met him – then there's Hilda, and Freyja, and my parents, Karl and Gunil Thrym."

Loqé nodded, eyes straight ahead as Gunil continued to clean her arm. "Pleased to meet you."

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well," Ivan returned. He looked at Blader, his eyes saying quite clearly Talk to her!

You're doing a pretty good job yourself, Blader shot back, but he glanced over at his Valkyrie. "Thank you for your help tonight, it was greatly needed."

"Yes," Hilda said. "Thank you."

"Thank you," Gunil said fervently.

Karl nodded from where he stood by the window, staring out into the evening, the sun close to disappearing completely for the night. Darkness had started to cover the land, and the howls in the distance were becoming more frequent. "Thank you."

"Thank you," Freyja said, finishing threading the needle and holding it carefully in her hand. She looked up at Loqé. "You're pretty, for a Valkyrie."

Loqé's lips twitched. "Um, thank you."

"But you shouldn't wear black," Freyja advised, frowning at the Valkyrie's battle gear. "It makes you look angry. You should wear white, with flowers."

"Uh...."

"You should braid the flowers into your hair!" Freyja enthused, warming up to her ideas for improving Loqé's appearance. "It would look pretty, and everyone would say so."

Ivan was grinning at Freyja, and now he lifted his eyes to the Valkyrie. "I have to agree with my sister, Loqé."

"It's Recruiter," Karl corrected, glancing back. "Ivan, she has a title. Use it and show your respect."

Ivan's eyes widened. "My apologies, Recruiter. I-I didn't realize."

Loqé shook her head quickly, her lips pressed tightly together. "That is all right, Ivan. Mr. Thrym, he can call me Loqé."

"Old habits die hard," Karl muttered, continuing to stare out the window.

It looked like something suddenly clicked in Loqé's brain. "That's right, you were einherjar," she breathed. "Thrym. That's a legacy name. I don't know why I didn't realize it before." She glanced at the portrait of Blader's grandfather. "General Aetlun Thrym. I-I should have known." She sounded almost awed.

Karl nodded. "Being einherjar runs in the family."

Loqé looked over at Blader. "Now I understand why you enlisted."

Blader only nodded as Gunil finished cleaning Loqé's arm and started to inspect the depth and seriousness of the wound. She understood what everyone else did – the Thrym legacy would die if one of them did not take up the shield. She didn't understand the deeper motivations for his choice.

"I don't see any more wolves," Karl said, just as another round of howling broke out, closer than before. The barks of rag wolves and shepherds mixed in with the cries of the beasts, the Thryms' dogs and Klofna joining in.

"Do we have to barricade tonight?" Hilda asked, her voice now steady but fear glinting in her eyes.

"Perhaps," Karl answered grimly. "Ivan, how is the barn?"

"Closed," Ivan answered. "I shut it up behind me after taking Sig out."

"I believe a simple stitch will mend this," Gunil said to Loqé, taking the needle from Freyja. "Just hold still."

Loqé stared off into the distance as Gunil inserted the needle into her skin and began to lace the wound closed, her face hard and closed. The howling had silenced any attempts at conversation, and everyone was tense, glancing out the windows and around at each other for comfort as Rada whimpered.

"Bring the dogs inside," Karl finally commanded in a low voice. "Blader, get the dogs inside."

Blader stepped into the foyer as Karl walked behind him, still holding his stun baton. After a nod from his father, Blader opened the door, whistling to the dogs. "Rollo, Vinna, Sok, Ast, come!"

The dogs raced toward the door as Karl glanced over at Loqé. "Do you want me to call in your rag wolf and winged horse?"

Loqé hesitated, then nodded. "Klofna, come! Haraun, stay in the air!"

Klofna bounded in through the door and Blader quickly shut it, dropping the bar across the sturdy door. The rag wolf looked to the Valkyrie, who ordered quietly, "Klofna, sit. Stay."

Blader turned, stepping past the wolf and herding the shepherds away from Rada. The dogs all were sniffing at their fallen comrade and whining at her, but they obediently, although reluctantly, left her side. They followed Blader to the backroom, going through the door as he opened it to stay with Sig.

"There," Gunil said, finishing the last stitch on Loqé's arm.

"Thank you," Loqé said. "I need to head out now, help my order with the wolves." She glanced at Blader. "See you tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," Blader affirmed, nodding his head.

"Are you sure leaving's a good idea?" Ivan asked.

"You're welcome to stay, Recruiter," Karl said.

Gunil nodded. "Of course you are."

"Thank you," Loqé said. "But I really must leave. It is my duty. Thank you for everything." By the tone of her voice, Blader felt like she was referring to more than just the medical attention.

After wiping off her bloody gauntlet, the Valkyrie slipped it on over her wound, promised Gunil that she would take care of herself, and called Klofna to heel. Before Blader could do it, Ivan stood and snatched his sword and shield off the wall, offering to escort her outside and make sure she got a safe start. It surprised Blader when Loqé accepted the offer.

"She's not what I expected," Hilda said when Ivan had closed the door behind them.

"Not all Valkyries are despicable," Karl said. "Perhaps the head of Njordesden's Valkyries is questionable, but that girl is quite brave."

"I'm grateful she's your recruiter, Blader," Gunil remarked, collecting the dirty rags as Hilda sterilized the medical gear. "If you have to join the einherjar, at least your Valkyrie liaison is a decent one."

The door opened and Ivan slipped back inside, locking and barring the door behind him. "Lo – er, the Valkyrie is safely on her way." He hung up his weapons beside Blader's.

"Good," Karl said. "We're going to barricade, just in case. Blader, Ivan, help me with the windows. Hilda, check the back door. Freyja, make your sister a sandwich, she hasn't eaten yet."

As Freyja trotted off into the kitchen, Blader helped his father pull the heavy wooden shutters over the windows, barring them into place as they had done with the door. Afterwards, he was sent off to bed, told to get rest before his assessment in the morning, and he was grateful to fall into his bed, the soft mattress seeming to absorb him.

The howling of the wolves in the distance continued throughout the night, echoing in Blader's mind as he drifted off to sleep.

/**/

Hope you guys enjoyed! What did you think of the wolf attack, and Loqé's interaction with the Thrym family? 

Thanks for reading! Please leave a vote and comment, let me know what you think!

Skylar Wittenborn