Ravensblood Forest My life ain't filled with worries

A few days after receiving the bad news from Gunnar, Junior decided to head out in the direction of Stavanger Bay to catch up with her foster mother and offer some condolences. As she trekked along the coast, enjoying the bracing ocean air, she thought of her mentor, Ragnar. He had trained her up to be a fierce Shield Maiden. Without him, she would not hold her title of Warrior today. Her heart throbbed painfully when she found she couldn't recall the last time she'd seen him, or her last words to him. He had been more of a father to her than Peregrine had been in some ways.

She passed beneath the shadow of Horizon Ridge and was about to cross the river when she heard scuffling sounds coming from the forest off to her left. That was the forest where Ragnar and Thistle had found her half-drowned and taken her into their home. Swallowing, Junior ventured forward into the trees. Over the treetops, she spotted Gyrfalcon's Keep and remembered her adventure there with Thistle. Then more noises up ahead drew her attention. She slunk forward, emerging at the edge of a small clearing.

She arrived just in time to watch as the bull moose rushed a silver wolf, who rolled just in time to avoid being obliterated by the ungulate's fearsome rack of antlers. The yearling winced, then sucked in a breath through her teeth when the wolf rose and snapped at the moose's leg. Dante! she realized with a shock. She nearly called out his name but managed to bite her tongue at the last possible second. Who knew what might happen if she made a sound? She could get him killed.