Lost Creek Hollow Too loose

That sounds like a solid plan! This will be the last from Ujurak, here. I would love some more time with these two, soon!

Ujurak was unable to determine the passage of time. It seems that each second lasted an eternity. With each passing beat of his heart, the boy wondered if his father would still be alive when he returned. Accompanying his anxiety, a seed of doubt grew a swirling storm of thought.

Was he really helpful in joining Skáld as messenger? He only did what Tauris asked of him, but he was easily left behind. Surely Skáld could have made this trip without him? Was it to keep him out of the way? To keep Astrid out of the way? 

Astrid.

A lump formed in his throat as he thought to Astrid. To how fiercely she held onto Gunnar, as though he was about to fall off the edge of the world. What if they were too late? Would he be a bad brother — a bad son — for leaving them? Even for help?

Physically and emotionally exhausted, he leaned into Skáld until the shadows between the trees manifested a wolf. Ujurak haphazardly rose to his paws as the Riverclan wolf approached them. To help them. To help his father.

A small glimmer of hope carved a space for itself in his mind as they began the journey back to Kvarsheim.