AIYANA
The smell of burnt moss and dried herbs lingered in the air inside Tuuri’s tent.
The heat from the embers warmed us, but it wasn’t enough to chase away the chill running down my spine.
"You... are mates."
I blinked, hoping he meant something symbolic—like allies, survivors, anything else. But when I saw Maxim’s tense shoulders and the way Icarus looked away, I knew exactly what he meant.
"Relax, pups," Tuuri went on, his smile slightly crooked. "It’s easy to see the cord pulling you toward her..."
He pointed at me with two heavy fingers, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. And maybe it was to him.
AIYANAWaking up felt like swimming through honey, thick, slow, sticky.Sunlight filtered through the cracks in the canvas, bathing the inside of the tent in gold, a reminder that the darkness had lifted. A new day.I was still lying on the plush rugs, the warmth of the wool against my skin barely masking the cold that came from within.My grandmother sat beside me, her long, calloused fingers braiding something she didn’t even seem to see. Her eyes darted across the tent, avoiding mine."Grandma...?" My voice came out weak, but it was enough to make her freeze.She stopped braiding.Her lips tightened, f
AIYANAI’ve thought a lot about death over the years more than what’s considered healthy. But it was never something I could control. I had so many questions and so few answers, and everything always came back to death.So, yes. I thought of all the ways I could die. But never, not even once, did I imagine it would be by the claws of a soulless beast driven by dark magic. My little hunting knife was still in my hand, covered in blood, but it was useless to believe I had a chance.Isabela was sniffling behind me, her breath fast and shaky.The wolf stood still. It didn’t growl, didn’t charge. It just stared at me. Its eyes were soulless and yet, it didn’t move.
AIYANAWe moved quickly to the back of the tent. The sound of screams and chaos outside was louder now, like a rising roar of ferocity and fury. Those creatures, the wolves altered by dark magic, were getting closer by the second.Tuuri’s tent, with its wooden beams and heavy fabrics, felt like a safe haven compared to what awaited us beyond. But stepping outside, the feeling of freedom was fleeting, an illusion that vanished as quickly as it came.As we slipped past the edge of the tent, the darkness of night swallowed our steps. The surrounding trees were wrapped in thick mist, and the screams outside seemed amplified by the eerie silence around us.Icarus looked ahead and gave a subtle signal for us to move quickly and si
AIYANAThe smell of burnt moss and dried herbs lingered in the air inside Tuuri’s tent.The heat from the embers warmed us, but it wasn’t enough to chase away the chill running down my spine."You... are mates."I blinked, hoping he meant something symbolic—like allies, survivors, anything else. But when I saw Maxim’s tense shoulders and the way Icarus looked away, I knew exactly what he meant."Relax, pups," Tuuri went on, his smile slightly crooked. "It’s easy to see the cord pulling you toward her..."He pointed at me with two heavy fingers, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. And maybe it was to him.
AIYANAThe smell of roasted meat blended with the strong, sweet scent of Tuuri’s cigar, filling the cabin with a haze that made the air feel oddly comforting.Seated around an old wooden table, worn by time, Max, Icarus, Grandma Aldrich and I shared a meal like old comrades… or at least we tried to.Tuuri watched us from the other side of the smoke, his eyes gleaming with that insane sparkle of someone who knew more than he let on.If this place were a version of Wonderland, Tuuri would be some chaotic mix between the Mad Hatter and the Caterpillar. The only difference? No one here offered tea.As I chewed on a juicy piece of meat, I noticed Kamari, Tuuri’s second-eldest daughter m
AIYANAThe walk to the village wasn’t long, but with each step, it became harder to ignore the feeling in my chest. The trees grew denser, the air colder, and it wasn’t just the weather. It felt like we were passing through an invisible membrane.When we arrived, I immediately noticed this wasn’t like any village I had ever seen.The houses were small, made of raw wood and hardened clay, but everything seemed... alive. Bone amulets hung from the doors. Braided leather strips swayed in the wind, adorned with feathers, stones, and animal teeth. Every detail carried meaning. The Sámi’s clothing wasn’t like ours, they wore long tunics dyed in blue, red, white, and yellow. The edges were hand-embroidered with ancient symbols I didn’t re