Chapter Text
As a general rule, most humans avoided wolves. They were dangerous creatures, unreliable, untrustworthy. Or so the rumours said, anyway. And yes, wolves could definitely be dangerous and should be approached with caution. But Rania Varanger, daughter of Mayor Sigry, mayor of New Jorvik, chose not to heed these warnings. For the most part, they’d been made up by people who’d been hurt by wolves or had mistreated them, setting up farms too close to where wolves lived or otherwise disturbing them or hunting them for sport.
And now, Rania settled down in the midst of the wolves outside of their den in New Mistfall, the place that she’d once called home until her mother had gotten caught up in GED’s plots and had decided to become the new mayor at the insistence of many folk, including her own daughter. Rania missed her home, but she was still so proud of her mama. Besides, the distance meant that she’d have a long ride with which to bond with her beloved Haflinger Dellingr. He’d been her eyes ever since she’d gradually lost her vision several years ago, and was the best friend she’d ever had.
“Hey now, one at a time,” Rania laughed as several wolves all tried to lick her face at once. Many of these wolves, she’d known since they were pups suckling at their mother’s belly. Now, they were full grown and like big dogs around her. Of course, they still had their natural instincts, knowing that Rania was different, but Sigry had often said that Rania had a way with the wolves unlike any she’d ever seen before. If the riders of Old Jorvik had had special bonds with their horses, soul bonds, then Rania had one with the wolves. And Rania definitely felt that bond as she ran her hands through thick fur of black, brown, every colour that wolves could come in. Not that she’d seen those colours for a very long time, but Rania cherished the memory of it.
The only warning that Rania got was the sudden growling of wolves.
A darker-coloured Haflinger galloped into town as the sun set on that day, his reins flapping loose in the wind. Foam flecked his sides, and he looked like he’d been running for ages, but he didn’t stop until Sigry Varanger came outside to see what her daughter’s horse was making all that fuss about.
“Dellingr, what’s gotten into you?” Sigry asked, scowling as she stepped out her front door. She saw the empty saddle first, and then she saw the note tacked to Dellingr’s bridle. There was a splash of red on it that made Sigry’s knees go weak, her hand going out to brace herself against the doorframe.
It was just lipstick, mercifully. But behind the lipstick, the words still chilled Sigry to the bone.
“You took our land, our water? We will take your daughter. Come to the following coordinates, but do not involve the authorities. If I see a single deputy or sheriff, your daughter will know no more. Nobody crosses a Drake and gets away with it”
Sigry read the note over and over, her vision doubling until she blinked to clear it. She sucked in a deep breath of air, realising belatedly that she’d been holding her breath, and then she took several more gulps of air to compose herself. Her daughter, the only thing that mattered in this world, the one who meant the world to her, had been taken. By Drake of all people.
And then, Sigry’s mind snapped into motion. Her fear was quickly swallowed up by consuming rage, a fire that set her blood to boiling. How dare she. How dare Drake, that witch, that snake, take her precious daughter? Some people were just sore losers, apparently. Besides, it wasn’t really anyone’s land to take. The land belonged to the native people of this land, the people who had always been here, as did the water, and it hadn’t even been Mayor Skoll’s to sell or give away.
“Sigry? What’s wrong, what’s going on with Dellingr?” Eiren asked, appearing from the kitchen wiping her hands on a tea towel. In answer, Sigry thrust the piece of paper into Eiren’s hands, her eyes spitting venom.
“That bitch,” Sigry snarled. “I have half a mind to saddle up Ostara and take off after her myself!”
“Oh dear,” said Eiren, her eyes going huge behind her glasses as she read. “I see what you mean.”
“My little girl is out there, scared and alone, and I can’t… I can’t even go after her!” Sigry cried, her eyes spilling over with tears now. “I need to be here to protect New Jorvik, and she knows that! She’s probably planning on moving in while I ride halfway across the damn West to rescue my daughter.”
“Well then, it’s a good thing you live in a town that’s full to the brim with heroes or people just waiting for a good adventure,” said Eiren, a twinkle in her eye. “You just stay here, I’ll make you a cup of tea and get Dellingr cleaned up and put away.”
“No, I’ll do it,” said Sigry, shaking her head and brushing her partner’s hand away. “Thanks for the offer, but I need to do something so my mind stops running in circles thinking about what’s happening or what she must be thinking or feeling…” She trembled. “I knew it was a bad idea to let her go and visit the wolves, but she was just so insistent!”
“You know she would have gone without your permission otherwise,” Eiren said, resting a reassuring hand on Sigry’s shoulder. Sigry nodded, though she closed her eyes against fresh tears.
“I never should’ve taken the job,” said Sigry, shaking her head. “Or gotten involved in that whole mess.”
“Hey now, it’s your ancestors’ land, you did the right thing in getting involved,” said Eiren. “And again, Rania would have done it anyway under your nose if you hadn’t gotten involved.”
“I know,” said Sigry. “She’s stubborn like that. Like her mother.”
“Stubborn and strong and beautiful,” said Eiren, wrapping her arms around Sigry. “Whatever’s happened to Rania, wherever she is, I’m sure that she’s already working on getting out of there.”
“She’s all I have,” said Sigry, trembling in Eiren’s arms. “I mean, I have you too now and this whole town, but…”
“I know what you mean,” said Eiren, rubbing soothing circles on Sigry’s back. “She was your whole life for so long and you worked so hard at protecting her, and now to have her snatched away like that…” Sigry sobbed, and Eiren held her partner while she cried. “There, there, let it out. It’s going to be okay.”
“I hope so,” Sigry whispered. “I really hope so.”
Later, while Sigry tended to Dellngr, rubbing him down and giving him fresh water and feed, Eiren headed into town with Ostara, having still not acquired a horse of her own (though she was eyeing off some of the horses for sale at the Moorland Ranch). When she’d first arrived here, Eiren didn’t exactly make a habit of frequenting saloons despite being from the city, not enjoying alcohol beyond the odd glass of wine after a busy shift, but she’d been a regular face at the saloon these days. After seeing some of the things that Anwir had done to those poor horses, Eiren needed a strong drink.
Today, though, Eiren’s intentions were different. After hitching Ostara to the post outside, she headed through the swinging double doors into The Wolfpack.
“Doc Eiren! You’re here early,” Emma, the woman behind the bar, called to her. “That bad?”
“Oh no, nothing like that,” said Eiren, shaking her head as she headed over to the bar. “I’m actually looking for some people who would like to go on an adventure.”
“Just call this the adventurer’s guild,” said Emma with a snort and a roll of her eyes. But she smiled, clearly not offended. “Ask around, I’m sure you’ll find someone willing.”
“I’ll do that,” said Eiren. “And while I’m here, do you think that I could order some food to take home? Sigry’s dealing with a lot right now and I want to be there for her, I don’t want either of us to have to bother with cooking tonight.”
“You’re sweet,” said Emma. “I’ll just get Louisa to whip up something simple and comforting for you.”
“Oh, you finally got her to work here?” Eiren asked.
“Yep, another two mouths to feed will do that to you,” said Emma, nodding. “Good luck finding some adventure buddies. Or just adventurers, I guess.”
“With the amount of horses rescued from Anwir’s compound, I’m going to be needed here for a long time yet,” said Eiren. “Much as I’d love to rescue our daughter myself. And Sigry can’t go, of course, she’s the mayor of this place.”
“Hmm, yeah, you’re really up the creek with this one,” said Emma. “But good luck.”
“Thank you,” said Eiren, flashing a grateful smile at Emma before she headed off to mill among the bar’s patrons. How had Dorian done this? Come to think of it, how had the other groups of adventurers, of heroes, been formed? They’d all been forced into it by circumstance, by a series of events. But Eiren and Sigry, and now Emma, were the only ones who knew of this, and they couldn’t go for various reasons.
Still mulling over her problem, Eiren didn’t notice the blonde woman until she was right in front of her.
“Saw you staring,” said the woman, a smirk curling red-painted lips. With her perfect makeup, nicely-curled hair, and outfit that very much revealed her bust, there was only one thing that this woman could possibly be.
“O-oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to,” said Eiren, her cheeks surely as red as her hair. The woman in front of her laughed.
“They never do, and yet,” said the woman, raising an eyebrow. “So, what’ll it be? I normally approach men, but it’s a bit dry in this town when it comes to the men. And, well, things change, don’t they?”
“I beg your pardon,” said Eiren, though she wasn’t too offended. If anything, she was flattered by the suggestion. Oh, if only her old town had been so accepting to those so inclined. “I have a partner.”
“Oh, don’t worry, sweetie, so do many of my clients,” said the woman. “The name’s Ariana, by the way.”
“Doctor Eiren, the partner of the mayor of this town,” said Eiren. For a moment, Ariana froze. And then, without warning, she burst into gales of laughter.
“Oh my god, I’m- so sorry,” said Ariana, wiping away a tear of laughter between giggles. “That’s how I met my damn horse, getting caught up in the mayor’s business. Damn.” She giggled again, and now even Eiren was smiling.
“Best not to do that again, then?” Eiren asked. Ariana only laughed, shaking her head.
“I mean, hey, it definitely adds a bit of excitement to life,” said Ariana. “But you’re unwilling so I’ll leave you be and keep looking. You have a nice night, now. Tell your girlfriend she’s lucky.” She winked and turned to leave, but Eiren stopped her.
“Wait,” said Eiren, holding a hand up. Ariana turned to look at her, her grey eyes lighting up.
“Hey, I can do threesomes too,” said Ariana. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”
“No! No no no, not that,” said Eiren, shaking her head. “I actually came here looking for someone who might need a little excitement in their life- not like that!” Ariana laughed.
“You make it too easy,” said Ariana.
“Anyway,” said Eiren, pointedly ignoring her (or trying to). “Our daughter’s horse came home without her today, and he had this note.” She handed it to Ariana, who took it and read it. It was fascinating, to watch the flirtatious face fall away, replaced by a crease growing between furrowing brows and her lips thinning to thin lines as colour suffused her cheeks.
“Who here can read coordinates?” Ariana hollered. Though some people looked up, others remained eating. But one woman rose, one with long brown hair and brown eyes. She was dressed like a librarian, but Eiren could have wept for joy as she recognised Carina Lightlee, known bounty hunter.
“I’m your gal,” said Carina, walking over to Eiren and Ariana. “What do you need?”
“Some bitch named Drake is holding this poor girl hostage at wherever these coordinates are,” said Ariana, handing the piece of paper to Carina. As Carina read it, a frown grew on her face.
“Now, how in the hell did she get out?” Carina muttered. She looked at Ariana. A prostitute wasn’t the expected travelling companion, but she’d do. “You got guns? Pack ‘em. We leave at dawn.”
“Let’s get this bitch,” said Ariana, nodding.
“Please get our daughter back,” said Eiren. “Oh, and maybe take Dellingr with you when you leave. He and Rania have a strong bond, maybe he’ll even help you track her down.”
“Good idea,” said Carina, nodding. “We’ll swing by and grab him first thing, he can help carry things.”
“Let’s hope he’s better at carrying stuff than Lion is,” said Ariana. “He’s not gonna like leaving early but tough. We’ve got a bitch to take down.”
“And this time, it’ll stick,” Carina vowed. Eiren sighed in relief, sagging at the weight that had been taken off her shoulders. That hadn’t been so hard after all.