38 37. Terra’h Luite

Above the roof of the house, rain fell in torrents, thunder rumbling through the skies with menacing intensity. Lightning streaked across the heavens, casting an eerie glow.

Everyone Panicked.

Anderessa, heavy with pregnancy in its final stages, found herself unexpectedly going into labor. Though her due date was still four days away, the baby had other plans. She was swiftly whisked away to a nearby midwife for urgent assistance.

As the midwife and her team sprang into action, Anderessa's husband, Rizan, paced anxiously outside, his heart heavy with worry.

He longed to comfort his wife, but he knew all too well the ferocity of female Fenrir during childbirth. For now, his place was outside, ensuring his own safety as he waited for news of his beloved.

Anderassa cried out once more, her voice being drowned out by the sound of the rain. The fact rain fell was perplexing in itself, they lived in Frosthaven, a city known for its perpetual snow. Yet, only on this day and never again. Rain fell.

She pushed.

And pushed.

And pushed.

However, despite the midwives' efforts, the baby refused to emerge, causing them to fear for Anderessa's life and the well-being of the child.

However, just when all hope seemed lost as if by some kind of divine intervention, the baby's head appeared, and with astonishing ease, she slipped into the world without resistance.

The unexpected and almost miraculous birth left everyone stunned, but they quickly dismissed it as a stroke of luck. This newborn, who had defied the odds, was later named Terra'h Luite, the cherished daughter of Anderessa and Rizan Luite.

Or as everyone else knew her currently,

Erra.

Fenrir were renowned for their tireless work ethic and unmatched strength among all beastkind. Their resilience enabled them to perform arduous tasks, from plowing fields in the harshest snow to hunting with remarkable efficiency, all without complaint.

This was their life, peaceful and prosperous, they enjoyed it. "Ah. Terra'h you want to see what daddy is doing?" Rizan lifted his daughter by the arms, hoisting her above his head with a proud grin. As the chief of their Fenrir Village, he was not only a formidable warrior but also a skilled mage.

Meanwhile, Anderessa approached them, affectionately kissing Rizan's cheek before joining them and holding Terra'h's tiny hand. With a gentle smile, she walked away toward the nearby trees, a basket in hand.

"Mama!" Terra'h muttered as she saw her mother walk away and Anderessa smiled, waving at her.

"Look, Terra'h, this entire village belongs to us. Every person here is like family to us. We're bound by something even stronger than blood," Rizan declared proudly, turning around so Terra'h, perched atop his head, could see the entire town and all its inhabitants. "Everyone here cares for you deeply, do the same for them okay?"

"I will!" Terra'h muttered, her eyes glistening as she took in the expanse that was the Luite village.

"Now, is there anything you want my sweet little angel?" Rizan asked.

"Show me magic!" She ordered and Rizan chuckled as a fireball materialized in his palm, eliciting delighted claps from Terra'h.

"One day, you'll be able to do it too." Rizan laughed as he continued toward the fields, "Daddy will teach you all about it."

"Okay!" Terra'h screamed out.

Fenrir children possessed remarkable growth rates, and despite Terra'h being born just a few months ago, she already had the physique of a three-year-old.

Fenrir's accelerated growth phase lasted until they reached twenty years of age, but for now, Terra'h was rapidly reaching developmental milestones and within just two months of her birth, she had already begun speaking.

She was the life of the town, learning as much as she could from each member of the community. Magic, swordplay, hunting, cooking. She knew everyone in the village and she acted as a beacon of hope for all of them.

A beacon they would give their lives to protect.

Which they did.

On a hazy night, the skies were covered by snow and darkness. As dusk grew, the sound of approaching footsteps increased, from one pair to thirteen. Every member of the Fenrir village was ready for their attackers, hiding in dark spots.

Yet.

These weren't any ordinary attackers, they were special. Humans that had outpaced them in every way. Rizan fought with the leader, hoping he could kill the strongest first, yet as Terra'h stood in her house watching. She saw her father get cut down by a bouquet of cherry blossoms.

Her mother hid with her, taking her to their basement and bursting a hole through the ground. It was a tunnel. This tunnel would lead to a frozen canal a mile from the village. But why? Why was she being made to run? Couldn't they win the fight?

"Honey. I love you okay." Her mother cried out, cleaning her tears with her sleeves. "Terra'h, no matter what you do, or where you go. Mommy loves you okay, and even though... we might not see each other again. I'll always be with you... by your side, forever."

"No, I don't want to go." Terra'h cried out, holding her mother by the arms.

Footsteps echoed from within the building, heading toward them. Andressa knew time was up, this was possibly the last time she'd ever see her child, the last time she'd be able to hold her or read her a story. "Go to the canal okay, find someone, anyone. They'll take care of you okay, don't hate the humans. They aren't all bad... regardless of what happens. Survive, my child. For our sake."

As an axe swung towards her mother's neck, Andressa reacted swiftly, swinging backward and releasing mana from her hand to cast a spell.

"Frost Magic: Ice Breaker!"

A massive iceberg formed, crashing into the enemy and sending them hurtling through the building. Andressa quickly ushered Terra'h into a tunnel, collapsing the entrance behind them.

"Basic spell. I swear getting a challenge from a beastman is near impossible." A voice muttered, its footsteps heading back into the room.

Despite Terra'h's efforts to return, she found herself trapped inside the tunnel, unable to reach her mother, and from within the darkness, she heard her mother's scream, followed by an abrupt silence.

As tears flowed down her eyes, she crawled through the tunnel. She wanted to wake up from this bad dream, hug her father, and pluck apples with her mother. Yet, she would never wake up, this was her new reality.

She stood up, next to a frozen canal, her body freezing as she walked through the snow with barely any clothes on. She walked for miles, hunger setting in as she struggled to move any further, and finally, she collapsed, her life flashing before her eyes, thinking it had all ended.

A man grabbed her head, covering her with a blanket and forcing a potion down her mouth, she thought this was her savior but it was the farthest from, it was Meed. The slave owner that captured her and put her up for sale. While in some ways he did save her, prolonging her life for another four years, she longed for her freedom... her revenge.

Every night she stayed inside that cell, she had the same dream. Dreams of her mother dying, dreams of her father dying, dreams of her dying. Eventually, she forgot her own name. Forgetting the names of her parents. Her brain's way of stopping her from going mad.

At that moment, Erra noticed a blank spot in her memory, like a void where fragments of her past should have been. Within it, a woman stood, holding an apple.

The woman exuded a gentle aura, but as Erra reached out to touch her, her hand passed through the woman's form. She couldn't make contact, all she could do was watch helplessly as the figure faded away before her eyes.

"No, Mom. Please, talk to me!" Erra cried out, her voice filled with desperation as she reached out futilely. But her mother remained unreachable, disappearing into the void of her forgotten memories.

Erra suddenly jolted awake, finding herself comforted by Harvey, who was holding her head and soothing her. Instantly, she felt her heartbeat slow down as she realized his presence. He was the first person she had grown to trust in four years, and she wished he would never leave.

"Are you okay?" Harvey asked, continuing to pat her hair gently.

Erra blushed, feeling guilty for causing Harvey to worry, even though she enjoyed his comforting presence. She gently pulled away, assuring him, "I'm sorry for making you worry. I'm fine now."

"This isn't the first time you've had that dream. Are you sure you're okay?" Harvey pressed, concerned.

"I'm fine," Erra insisted, though deep down, she was far from fine. She longed to remember her parents' names and their faces, but her memories remained frustratingly elusive. She knew they had died, but the details eluded her, and she found herself torn between wanting to remember and wanting to forget.

A tear escaped her eye as she tried to recall her mother, but she only found emptiness. "No..." she whispered, wiping her tears away. "I'm... fine, really. It's just the weather."

Harvey removed his mask, revealing his white hair and blue eyes, and hugged Erra tightly. She glanced at his mask, remembering his insistence on keeping it on, and began to apologize, but Harvey interrupted her.

"Don't apologize. Don't lie. Don't put up a front," he said earnestly. "I don't know everything about your past, but I'm here for you. I'll protect you, and you don't have to worry about losing me."

"Why..." Erra began, puzzled by his unwavering support.

"Because I'm the greatest!" Harvey declared with a grin, attempting to lighten the mood.

Erra couldn't help but laugh at his unexpected response, covering her mouth in amusement. "Wait, what? That was funny? But I'm serious," Harvey continued, only making her laugh even more, although she hadn't figured out what exactly she wanted, in that moment she found a new goal. She'd protect this dumb potato head of a master she had.

She woke up.