by Joanne Vruno
“I’ll show you the tree with the giant bulge in it,” I told Emily. “It’s hard to believe a tree could entwine a dwarf like it did and have it become part of the tree. I stood in shock as it happened. I also was glad to have the dwarf gone. They’re so scary, and it frightens me to know some are not far away from us.”
“Worse than trolls?” asked Emily.
“Far worse than trolls,” I answered, grabbing the book of creatures. “Look at them, they have swords and knives and believe me . . . they will use them!” I could still feel the blade of the knife on my throat.
“What are we going to do if they come here?” asked Emily
“I don’t know, maybe go invisible for a while. Hide the villages and stay put. You have to make sure not to react if you notice one. They’re really tuned into other’s behaviors. They’re masters at hunting and aren’t afraid to kill any creature in their way, even humans!”
“Did the dwarf try to kill you?” asked Emily.
“Yes, it wanted to kill both me and Chica. If it wasn’t for the tree, it would’ve done just that. I had no knowledge on how quickly a dwarf could move, so it took me off guard. Now I have more magic skills and am stronger. I could put it to sleep, transport it, and unarm it. I don’t know if I could handle a whole band, though, and I hope I never have to find out. I really dislike dwarfs!”
“I wish I could help you more. I can just warn you telepathically and heal you,” said Emily. “I wonder when I’ll get more powers,” she mused.
“That, we have no answers for. They’ll come when they come. But for the next few weeks, be on guard for any creatures in the area. Remember to stay calm and maintain even breaths, and make no eye contact!” I said, holding Emily’s hands and looking her straight in the eyes.
“I know, I know,” smiled Emily back at me.
Emily went to her bedroom and as I climbed into my bed. I knew I was going to have another restless night thinking about dwarfs. At least I wasn’t as scared of the wolf now.
Chapter 3
As we entered Grandma’s house the next day, to my surprise Beck and Dolph were there waiting for Emily and me to arrive. I looked curiously to Grandma, who gave me a look that showed distress. Lunt, Lina, and Berg were also seated with somber faces.
“Is the wolf all right?” I questioned, being that was the first thought that came to me.
“The wolf’s fine—so fine his scent’s drawing the dwarfs into our area. They’ve shown up by our village. The wolf scent is still in the woods nearby,” said Beck. “We’re watching them very closely, but as you know, dwarfs are superb hunters. Our elves may be at risk even though they’re high up in the trees. Dwarfs listen, smell, and observe the outdoors with such efficiency that our elves are staying put and sending the birds with messages which they drop in flight to the village. So far we haven’t been detected, but if the dwarfs stay by us much longer, we surely will be.”
“Do you need me to move the dwarfs out of the area?” I asked.
“No, Aly,” said Grandma with a troubled look. “There are too many of them for us to move. If we move a few, the ones left here can be a threat to the humans in the area. Dwarfs are unpredictable when they’re upset. They’ve been known to lash out at others. Plus, they’re not alone. They have rock elves with them.”
“What! Rock elves are here? How many?” I asked.
“We don’t know the numbers. Three have been spotted riding on the shoulders of some dwarfs. And they’re hidden in the dwarfs’ clothing. The movement of one made the sentries focus on it to identify it. After seeing one, they searched the other dwarfs as they passed by and saw a couple more. At this time, they’ve found just the three. There are most likely more,” said Beck.
“Are they hunting the light elves?” asked Emily. Emily and I had just covered the light elf/rock elf situation. She knew the threat rock elves posed to our light elf villages.
“That’s a good question, Emily,” said Dolph. “We’re not sure. It seems they’re really focused on the wolf scent. It makes us wonder if they were the ones responsible for the wolf appearing in the city. If they’ve been tracking it a while, the wolf may be fleeing them. Or they may have just crossed the wolf scent as they were looking for us light elves. Either way, they seem fully determined to find the wolf.”
“Grandma, can we hide the scent?” I asked.
“No, Aly, we can’t. We could bring the wolf inside so its scent won’t carry on the wind, but being confined in one area may make the scent more potent. When we do open a door, it would be noticed. We aren’t sure what to do. Moving the wolf to a unknown place may put it in extreme danger, especially now when he’s not fully recovered.”
Lunt stood up as he spoke. “I have an idea. I could roll in the wolf’s hair and be transferred into the woods. I could dash around, away from the village, and have the dwarfs chase me. They can never catch me. The scent would be strong enough to draw them away.”
“That would work, Lunt, if you didn’t leave footprints. As slight as your footprints are, dwarfs would notice them. They’d know then the wolf is guarded by a gnome,” said Beck.
The room went silent in thought. I looked from one face to the next. For some reason I wasn’t worried. The group of creatures and Grandma were wise and experienced. An answer would come. And just as I acknowledged that, one did.
“I’ve never tried this, but I don’t know why it wouldn’t work,” said Grandma. “Aly, we can transport creatures and people, so let’s try scents. We can go out in the backyard and transport half of the wolf scent to the train track along the Mississippi River. That’s close enough to Beck’s village for the dwarfs to detect the wolf scent, and it’ll lead them away from our human neighborhoods, as well. Then we’ll move the other half of his scent down the river to where the old stockyards were in South St. Paul. The earth has never let the smell of the livestock housed there completely disappear. This may confuse the dwarfs. I doubt they’ll backtrack to the village areas. Instead, I’d bet they’d move south, searching the shores along the Mississippi for some time.”
“Now that’s a plan, Alice,” Dolph said. “Do you think that will eliminate the wolf smell in your yard, also? I was wondering when a neighbor might say something about it.”
“Is it getting strong? I guess I don’t notice it that much because I’m around it all the time,” chuckled Grandma. “Well then, this may be beneficial in more than one way.”
“Won’t the smell return? I mean, it comes from the wolf, right?” asked Emily.
“Yes, it will, and so we can keep sending it away in different directions to throw off any future dwarf encounters. This is only until we figure out where this wolf belongs,” said Grandma. “Well, Aly, are you ready to go out and visit our guest?”
I followed Grandma out the back door. Lunt came with us, while everyone else watched through the window.
The wolf approached us as with a greeting. He rubbed up against my arm. I spoke to him as he did. I wanted him to know what we were going to do and why. He looked at me as though he understood my words, and as I finished talking, he gave me another rub and this time I petted him. Then he lay down right in front of Grandma and me.
Grandma told me exactly what words we were going to say seconds before she counted down. Then we held hands to combine our magic as we spoke, “Send half the scent of this wolf to the train tracks by Lower Afton Road along the Mississippi River. Send half the scent of this wolf to the train tracks by Lower Afton Road along the Mississippi River. Send half the scent of this wolf to the train tracks by Lower Afton Road along the Mississippi River.”
We both breathed in, trying to detect if it worked. With the wolf still so near to us, we couldn’t tell.
Still holding hands, Grandma told me the next lines to repeat, “Send the other half of the scent of this wolf along the shores of the Mississippi
River near the old stockyards. Send the other half of the scent of this wolf along the shores of the Mississippi River near the old stockyards. Send the other half of the scent of this wolf along the shores of the Mississippi River near the old stockyards.”
This time as we breathed in, all scent of the wolf vanished. Even my clothes didn’t smell like wolf. We gave a thumbs up to everyone in the window. Smiles beamed back at us.
I sat down next to the wolf and stated, “We’re going to keep you safe. We’ll do all we can to hide you from the dwarfs. We just wish we knew where your home is so we can send you back once you’re completely healed.” I patted his head then and he rubbed his nose against my hand.
Grandma went inside to talk to the others as Lunt and I stayed in the yard next to the wolf. The creature completely trusted us, and I felt safe. The wolf lifted his head and stared at the sky as two bird sentries from Beck’s village swooped down to inform us the dwarfs had moved away from the village.
I let out a sigh and told the wolf the dwarfs had left.
I stayed with the wolf for some time. Funny how even just moving a scent made me feel weak afterward. I knew it was time to grab something to eat and rest a while. As I entered the house, I noticed both Beck and Dolph had returned to their villages. Grandma was cooking up some chicken noodle soup for the rest of us. I was so focused on eating I didn’t notice Emily’s sad expression at first. I looked at Lina and Berg to see if they knew the cause, but they both shrugged their shoulders.
“Emily, why are you so sad?”
“Oh, seeing you with the wolf out there makes me miss the swan maidens,” Emily sighed.
“Grandma, how long do you think it’ll be before Emily can meet the wolf?” I asked, thinking that would cheer her up.
“Oh, I’d say a couple more days. Definitely before Christmas. And talking about Christmas, let’s bake some cookies today. Emily, which ones do you want to make first?” asked Grandma.
“Gingerbread men,” answered Emily.
“Sounds good. It just so happens I made the dough early this morning, and it should be ready to roll out after we eat,” said Grandma with a smile.
“Oh, Grandma, I love you!” said Emily as she gave her a hug.
The rest of the day we baked, laughing as we designed some strange-looking gingerbread men.
Chapter 4
Arriving at Grandma’s the next day, I saw we were having a more normal day. No extra creatures and no problems to solve. I quickly ran to the backyard to check on the wolf, who was asleep in the sun as I entered the yard. Almost as though he sensed my presence, he woke and made his way over to me to greet me with another rub. Lunt came out when he saw us.
“Miss Aly, I believe that wolf has almost become a pet for you. He’s very attached and you’re the only one he greets that way. He lets your grandmother pet him but doesn’t shows that much affection to her.”
I wondered why that was. “Maybe he remembers I was the one who brought him here. I know he realizes we’d never harm him. He’s majestic, isn’t he? So tall and strong. I think I can sense some magic in him, also. I don’t know what kind, but there seems to be something powerful inside him,” I said looking at Lunt for his thoughts.
Lunt pet the giant wolf’s foot. “You are right there. I noticed it the moment I first saw him. I often wonder if other humans can actually see him or if he’s invisible to them, as the rest of us magical creatures are.”
“Do you really think he has those creature traits? I never even thought about that. My dad did hear his howl. Could a human hear a creature that they can’t see?”
“Probably not, but I know there’s magic in him,” said Lunt.
The wolf turned and looked into Lunt’s eyes up close as if showing Lunt he was right. The two stared into the other’s eyes as though they were reading each other’s thoughts.
“Did he tell you anything?” I questioned.
“No, but I can tell he wants to. I just wish I knew what,” replied Lunt.
All our speculation vanished as Grandma called with urgency for both Lunt and me to hurry inside.
As we stepped into the kitchen, she announced, “Emily’s gone!”
“What do you mean Emily’s gone?” asked Lunt.
“She was watching you two through the window. I was right next to her and she . . . vanished!” said Lina. “I don’t know where she went.”
“Did her transporting power arrive?” asked Lunt.
“It must have. I’ll check your house, Aly. Stay here. If she’s not there, I have an idea where she might have gone. I’ll return soon,” Grandma said right before she disappeared.
Seconds later she returned, shaking her head. “I’m afraid she might have wished to see the swan maidens. If her transporting power has arrived and she repeated her wish three times in a row, she may be in Murkwood,” said Grandma, trying to stay calm.
My head was spinning. Grandma was probably correct, but I was worried. All Emily had been talking about was missing the swan maidens, especially Svanhit. “Where is Murkwood, anyway?” I asked.
“Nobody knows the true location,” said Lunt. “It’s thought to be in one of the dark forests of Germany. Tales say it moves though and isn’t completely of this world. It has some good magic in it, like where the swan maidens live, but also some really dark magic. Even the forest’s trees and plants are magical.”
“So will it benefit Aly that she’s a guardian if she travels there?” asked Grandma.
“You want me to go to Murkwood?” I asked, looking in Grandma’s eyes.
“It needs to be you. We can’t both go. I know all the amulet powers to protect both villages, so I have to stay. We don’t know if Emily knows how to return. I just pray she’s there and with the three sisters. They’ll protect her. If not, she may be in grave danger. Here, grab some food to give you strength,” said Grandma as she started to pack a container of food. “Eat this sandwich while I make more. This’ll be a long transport and you need to get your strength up when you arrive to transport yourself and Emily home. Now, since she’s new at transporting, hold her hand and have her speak in unison with you for the transport home.”
“Will I have enough strength for the return trip?”
“Not today. Rest a day or so, then try to return at the time you left. If you miss it by an hour or so, it’ll be all right. If you’re not back by four o’clock, I’ll call your parents and ask for you two to spend the night,” said Grandma.
“Aly, stay close to the swan maidens at all times,” said Lunt. “Never venture into the woods alone. Don’t listen to any unknown creatures. None are to be trusted there. They don’t know of the guardians, and we don’t want to announce to new creatures that you exist. The best story is to say you’re related to the swan maidens’ husbands. They’re human and may get lonely for family. I’m sure the swan maidens occasionally transport family members in or their husbands out, so this could be a believable reason for you and Emily to be in the woods.”
“You can do this,” Grandma said, taking my hand.
I stood tall and let out a sigh before I spoke. “Send me to the swan maidens in Murkwood. Send me to the swan maidens in Murkwood. Send me to the swan maidens in Murkwood.”
I found myself in a dense snow-covered forest with a small stone house in front of me. I looked around for any sign of a swan maiden or Emily when a small boy of about five approached me. He walked around me as he viewed me from every direction.
“Hello, do you know where I can find Alvit and her sisters?” I asked.
The boy ran into the house yelling, “Mother, come here!”
Out came Alvit in her human form, the form I had first seen her in when she appeared badly injured last fall near Beck and Agda’s village. She looked strong and healthy as she walked quickly toward me, a smile on her face. “I was wo
ndering when you’d arrive. Welcome to Murkwood,” she said as she held out her arms for a hug. “We need to move into my home now. Too many eyes are on us.” She looked deep into the wooded area.
As we entered her home, the warmth of the fire greeted me. “We have very few visitors here, so you can imagine our surprise when Emily arrive a little while ago. Don’t worry. She’s safe.”
I sighed in relief, “Oh . . . I’m so happy she made it to you.” Tears formed in my eyes as I quickly brushed them away. I hadn’t realized the extent of my fear for Emily’s safety until that moment.
Alvit saw my emotion and quickly gave me another hug.
“I now know how your sisters felt when they couldn’t find you,” I said to Alvit. “Is she all right? This is her first transport anywhere. She’d been talking about you and your sisters, so we assumed she came here when we couldn’t find her at home.”
Alvit let go of me and looked into my eyes as she spoke. “She’s weak but fine. She’s with Svanhit. You know how close those two are. Svanhit’s house is behind mine. I’ll take you there in a little while. First, I need to ask you, why do you smell of wolf?”
“A stray wolf showed up unexpectedly in our area. Lunt thinks he’s an descendent of Fenrir. He was injured when we found him, so we’re nursing him back to health. We tried to vanish his scent, so I’m surprised you can smell him. He greeted me with a wolf hug this morning, though, so I guess that’d be the reason,” I said, smelling my arms.
“I need you to quickly change into some of my clothes, wash your arms, hands, and face so the smell will vanish somewhat. Wolf smell will draw many curious eyes around here. There is only one colony of wolves in Murkwood, hidden in a place where they’re safe, but that’s far from our area. You see, these woods can be very dangerous. King Klas has put a spell on our area, so we’re fairly safe. Others with magic have done likewise, but we’re all surrounded by some of the most dangerous creatures. Murkwood is where many magical creatures came for refuge from the human world. No human can just walk into Murkwood. They need to be with a creature who belongs here or have magical abilities to enter these woods.”
