Maya's POV
Anger and despair. It was the first thing I clung to, expected to feel, and be overwhelmed by. But instead, rage. Pure and overpowering rage. It spread in my body like warmth, exploding in my veins and filling every inch of my trembling body. My eyes were glued to the falling figures, and before I knew it, I lit up. I mean, I was freaking lit up! I have no idea or clue how it all happened, but all of a sudden, I stood there. Legs far apart, staring into the green field. Images flashed through my mind, bright light and the feeling of rage blinking in between, and I think I flew! I mean, actually flew through the air, like a bird without feathers and wings. The dragon landed hard, and I could still feel the heavy weight throbbing up my feet after we landed, but no pain and no fractures. The massive beast was still breathing; his chest rose and fell again, but blood also kept pooling up beneath him.
While looking at him, waiting, I realized I knew who I was now. I recognized that pull, that surge of power and aura I now had flowing around me. Accepting the change and welcoming the familiar change, I lifted my head to the war-like scene below, a scene I've seen and experienced before. Throwing one last glance at the dragon, I decided there was nothing I could do for him right now, and others needed my help more. Walking, I turned to run, and my armor snapped into place. Thick and heavy leather bracers wrapped around my wrist and up my arms, golden letters shining as they appeared from nowhere. Lights flashed around me as the shiny metal greaves plated themselves up my legs, ending in a pointy piece right above my knees at the same time as the corset clicked together on my back, causing oxygen to leave me briefly as it tightened.
The soft white fur that created my shoulder piece and cape grew out of my back pieces, locking around my spread wings. Empowered. That is how I felt like I came home to where I belonged, and I knew exactly what to do, when, and where. The last piece was my headpiece. The pointy and heavy metal draped down over my nose, and the sharp wings rose up from the crown-like piece as it melted together in the back of my head. With a smile, I remember my first decades with this headpiece and how long it had taken me to get used to it. How it threw me out of balance and made my neck hurt, but now I know better. My armored crown is balanced and protected. The sharp wing on each side of my head has, more times than I like to admit, saved my life, and when I first learned to accept it, it started working to my advantage.
A golden snake slid around my arm and bit his tail, tightening around my upper arm before turning into the golden piece that always brought me so much comfort and confidence. So the second it was where it was supposed to be all along, I reached my arm out in front of me and called out for all to know who was there. The bright lights flared up, and the white turned to bright red and warm yellow as my sword grew into my grip.
I know who I am; I am the lost Valkyrie! And I have so much to catch up on, so much built up, and so much to avenge!
A bloody chaos ensued, and I loved every second of it! I had missed this rush, this sense of power and control. I had always found my peace and calm in the midst of chaos and destruction; it sounds terrible, I know! But this did not mean I love pain, blood, and misery, far from it. I would never find this peace in an unholy fight. In my eyes, there is a right time to fight and a right time for war; every act outside of this should be self-defense. But this had been an assisted attack from my side, and I wanted to protect the people I loved.
My eyes scanned the village, the open green field, and my gaze ended on the dens and wild forest. Letting out a deep sigh, I lifted my sword and slowly tilted it from one side to the other before turning it around. Shiny like new! With a smile, I tucked my little cloth down in a pocket; the dark leather sucked up every single drop of blood without showing it every single time. Again I felt that warm and fuzzy feeling I used to get after a good fight, and the comfortable feeling spread further into my body with every heartbeat. I could feel Arcane´s eyes on me, but I tried to pretend I had no idea.
I knew he was surprised and shocked even after my true form finally found me, but I could also see the pride in his eyes. However, I felt conflicted. I know he wanted to protect me. Protect me and the baby, but that did not mean I found it acceptable for him to meddle when I fight. Not at all. Then again, I had never been with a child before. Not even back before the Great Hall of the Fallen became recognized by humans, and could finally have its permanent upgrade to Walhalla. Maybe I would have to learn to live a different way eventually. My free hand slowly brushed over my stomach while I stared out into nothing absent-minded. A baby.
Now, I shook my head. We don't have time for this. The dragon had slowly shifted back to a human as I had returned to him, followed by Tew, Arcane, some warriors from the village, and many more. He was hurt badly, but he would live.
"When are we leaving?"
Tew turned to face me; Hades and an older man he had just spoken to do the same.
"Now. We split up; someone will stay here, and the rest of us track down Eir."
We wasted at least 10 minutes bickering and discussing who was going and who was not. All had been good up to the moment Arcane volunteered me to stay back here. Not a chance! He may have had some valid point about the baby, but I am not cowering down and hiding. I know Eir is here, and I want to find her! To my surprise, he stepped aside rather quickly. He kind of just gave up, lowered his head, and took a step back. I appreciated it, but it was also not what I expected, to be honest. The sun burned from a clear sky as we made our way through the dense forest, following the deep tracks or wheels and horse hoofs. I was not really trying to hide their tracks, something that made me uncomfortable. They don't waste time to hide their route, and it makes me think they feel they don't need it.
That thought brewed In my mind as we struggled through the woods over fallen logs, deep moss, and wild-growing bushes before we finally came out on the other side, and I felt like I could breathe for a couple of seconds. That was only before I realized there were massive mountains blocking our way now.. And I wish we could take a new tour through the forest instead. I hate climbing.
"We will take a break here. Fill up with water and stretch your legs while we scout the area a little."
Tew´s voice shouted out as we all finally reached the first top. It wasn't really a top either, but a flat area filled with moss and bushes. We had to crawl up the last piece of this mountain, and we were only halfway up. Luckily, we are not going over, but passing between the mountains would make us too obvious without a place to seek cover if we were spotted or attacked. So, instead, we climbed halfway up and around on the outside of the little mountain chain.
Now, we were all spread out on the green stone shelf. Everyone ate and drank; some took time to lie down, and others talked or scouted the area around. Arcane snored like an old sawmill, so it took me a while before I heard it. The sound of stones clashing together. Looking around, I couldn't see anyone having a rock in their hands, so I turned around and listened again. Getting up, I started following the sound, and I almost jumped out of my boots when two hands suddenly stretched out of the ground!
My heart fluttered, for real. Eir!
"Eir?.... EIR!!?"
I shouted before I even realized what was happening here; I shouted and started walking towards her. Faster and faster. I almost cried when her head popped out, resting in her arm. She looked terrified, stressed, dirty, and covered with small stripes of dried blood and scrapes. The relief and joy I saw in her face mirrored exactly what I felt, and seeing her reach her hand out to grab mine was my birthday and Christmas all in one.
Her hand was so close I could feel the warmth from her palm, and just then, she disappeared. Like someone swallowed in one piece, and the shock had me stunned for a couple of seconds before I heard the rustling, growling, and shuffling, and everything happened beneath us! Just like that, my armor began to snap into place; we were going down there now! And I saw her neckless; I can't believe that thing still exists, but I will make sure to stuff it up those brother's buttholes!