Grettir's Pool Novels & Stories

But the stench, metallic, ancient clawed its way up the cliffside like a hand reaching for us. Dominic stepped forward, his brows drawn. “What the hell is this?” Sylvester didn’t answer immediately. He stepped toward the edge and looked down. Then slowly, he turned to us, his expression grave. “This is the Pool of Mourning,” he said. “The final trial of this forest.” “Why is it red?” I asked, already knowing I wouldn’t like the answer. His voice was low. “Because of how many have fallen in.” My blood ran cold.

I said quietly. "You carry Death in you, and he is the Gallows," Jarnja said quite simply, giving Heith a knowing look. Heith opened a vellum book of hours and began reading a skaldic prayer to Mother Freida. But before her eyes met the page and she returned to her coffee, she winked at Gullinkambi, who had flew onto Grimnr's shoulders and was now preening Grimnr's mane. Grimnr gave a damp whuff and nuzzled my rooster fetch, and they seemed thick as thieves as Grimnr danced on his horseshoes and gave bright hoo-hoos.

I turned back to face the pack and asked, “Hey, guys, who fancies a dip in the pool?” Odin was the first to reply as he jumped off of the couch and pulled his t-shirt off, “Seriously, they have a pool, why are we only finding out now?” With Odin showing off his huge muscular body, the other guys quickly followed suit. First Chase, then Jax, and finally Cody. They all then ran at me as fast as they could, and I wasn't intending to get into the pool with them, but it seemed as if I didn't have a choice. Odin had a huge grin on his face as he yelled,

we get deep into the cave and there is a crystal clear pool inside with a slow running waterfall where they have an alter built and flowers decorated beautifully all around. They stopped at the pools edge and my grandfather stretched his hand out to me and I took it << go into the pool and walk over to the fall, call out to the ones you seek and they will be able to see and hear you >> I take my shoes off and walk into the pool and make my way over to the fall, incredibly the water is warm. I clear my mind and call out {{ Kai }} I waited and the water falls water began to glow << Raven! thank Goddess, I have been going out of my mind with worry when our communication got cut off, are you oka

“We’ve come this far. Whatever lies beneath is part of it. The bond opened the way.” We descended together, the heat growing with every step. Shadows clung to the walls like they were watching us, and the deeper we went, the louder the hum became—like a heartbeat hidden in stone. At the bottom, a massive chamber opened, filled with lightless flames and statues that bore no face, only outlines—warriors, wolves, monsters. In the center was a pool, not of water, but of pure silver. “The Origin Pool,” Alina whispered. “The first wolves were born here.”

At the center stands a pool of water, its surface mirror-smooth, reflecting the moon and the runes carved into the surrounding stone. “This is the Lunar Well,” Sylvara explains. “A place of communion. Here, you can connect to the Moon Goddess’s essence, learn to harness the lunar power within you. It will help you control what you are becoming.” I approach the pool cautiously, my reflection distorted by the silver light. The girl staring back has silver-flecked eyes, no longer hidden by contacts, and a faint glow around her silhouette—an aura I hadn’t noticed before, a blend of silver and amber that pulses with my heartbeat.

But the moment my foot touched the edge of the glowing pool— —the pool rippled. Glowed brighter. Whitened. My Gate-mark flared in response. The starlit water reached toward me like hands. Kael’s head snapped toward me, eyes wide with terror. “ARIA—DON’T! THE POOL—IT ISN’T WATER— IT’S—” He never finished. Because the liquid surface rose up—forming a luminous tendril—and wrapped around my wrist with icy force. I gasped. Somewhere beneath the pool—at its deepest point—

Althea murmured, her eyes wide with wonder. I approached the pool cautiously, and entered. The water’s surface sparkled like the night sky, reflecting countless stars. It felt otherworldly, as if it held memories and secrets from ages long past. “This is where we find the truth,” I stated, steadying my voice as I turned to face my friends. “We must work together if we are to harness the power here.” When we joined hands once more, a wave of calmness washed over us. I felt a peculiar warmth radiate through the connection we shared. Each heartbeat echoed the resolute rhythm of our determination, and as one, we focused on the water’s surface.

“Because of me?” Kael turned to her then, his eyes dark and storm-laced. “Because of what you carry. Your blood… Lyra, it’s unlocking things that were never meant to wake again.” They moved again, following the spectral tune until the trees thinned, revealing a glade bathed in moonlight. At its center lay a pool of obsidian water, rippling though no wind stirred its surface. Around it stood standing stones etched with runes—some glowing faintly as if stirred by unseen breath.

“If we don’t kill it today, it’ll come for revenge when it recovers its strength. “If that happens, it’ll easily create spaces to launch sneak attacks in hiding while we’ll be in the open, constantly on our guard to defend ourselves. It’ll put us in a passive position. I suggest we kill it!” Andrius thought the same. It was not his first time facing the Whirlwind Panther, so he was aware of its strength and cunningness. “Let’s go!” The two then braced themselves and entered the new space, which they found very different from the outside world. The space was not huge, and it was much brighter. However, what shocked Andrius was that the Whirlwind Panther was lying by a pool, licking the water.