A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

The winds cut through the trees like a knife, and howled out like a banshee in the night. Lightning shivered and hugged her arms tighter to her chest. She watched the treetops anxiously as they swayed in the strong gusts, causing the trees to creak under the force. The noises were unsettling and she couldn't keep her eyes forward for any length of time before another noise would draw her attention. She would spin in circles, trying desperately to see into the dark between the trees, sure that at any moment, some hungry animal would find her to be an adequate meal.

She was afraid. More than that, she was lost. She'd been sent out to gather kindling for the stove and wandered too far. The sun had set and Lightning didn't know which way was home any longer. At ten years old, she was still too young to find her way by the stars and so she wandered the forest, desperately trying to find a path or a lantern light in the distance. Anything that would help her find her bearings but hours of walking had come up with nothing.

It'd been warmer during the day and she'd left her father's modest house in her linen shirt, a choice she now regretted. Her teeth chattered noisily as she tried to ignore the skin on her finger's turning pale. Her father had warned her not to cross the river, into the Járnviðr forest and she didn't listen. She thought she was smart enough, old enough to venture a little farther from the small town but now she knew she was wrong. She wanted to cry.

Eventually her shivering legs gave out and she huddled up close to the base of a tree, trying to shield herself from the cutting winds, and hoped for the sun to come up soon. She would curl up as small as she could in order to keep herself warm and try to sleep, but every time she would close her eyes, the trees creaking and the wind howling would rattle her too much and she would open them again.

She shook from the cold and eventually from the tears. "Daaaaaad!" She called out and tears broke free from her eyes. She'd held the tears off longer then most would, but eventually she succumbed to her fear.

There was no response in the night. She was certain he would be out looking for her and called again. "Daaaaaaad!" She shook with more tears when no one answered.

She rubbed at her arms, trying to keep them warm, but they stung from the cold. She knew she needed to find some way to keep warm, shelter or fire. Something. But the howling and creaking kept her from moving any farther and she sobbed in her spot at the base of the tree.

She heard a rustling nearby and stopped her sobbing immediately out of fear. She shook slightly and watched the brush, waiting for the source of the sound, her imagination running wild with the images of monsters and witches her father had told her about. She pictured a demonic creature that smelled of death that liked to eat human flesh in order to keep itself alive and felt herself grow even colder.

She kept her eyes on the brush, refusing to look away as she waited for the monster to make itself known. It rustled again and Lightning stiffened and reached for a rock at her feat to defend herself with. Through the brush a black wolf emerged. It wasn't much bigger than Lightning, not fully grown, but not a puppy either. It's coat was thick with black fur that tussled in the wind and made it look bigger than it was.

Lightning swallowed and raised the rock, threatening to throw it at the wolf. The wolf lowered it's head, as if in understanding and cautiously moved closer to the young girl. It made no aggressive movements and eventually nudged it's head against Lightning's leg.

"What do you want? Are you gonna eat me?" Lightning asked, still holding the rock in her hand. The wolf then sniffed at her a few times, checking out the odd little girl then it stretched slightly in front of her before curling up around her, shielding her from the gusting winds. Lightning furrowed her brow but lowered her rock as the wolf made itself comfortable. It yawned, revealing it's white teeth before nuzzling it's face against Lightning's side and closing it's eyes, ready to sleep.

"Wha-?" Lightning didn't know what to think. She'd never seen a wolf nuzzle with a human before. It was almost as if the wolf knew she needed warmth in that moment and decided to help her. Lightning could feel the heat radiating off of the animal and tentatively ran her hand over it's thick fur. The wolf didn't move, letting her pet it as it tried to sleep. "What a strange animal..."

Lightning hadn't even noticed she'd stopped shivering. Even the creepy sounds of the forest went unnoticed. She suddenly felt safe. It didn't take long before the small girl fell into a comfortable sleep with the fuzzy animal.

"Faaaaaaang!" It had been eight years since the small black wolf had saved Lightning's life in the forest, and now Lightning made it a point to give her an offering each night to show her gratitude. With a plate of raw mutton in hand, Lightning made her way out into the wooded area behind her father's modest home and called out for her wolf friend. "Fang! Supper time!" It didn't take long before the black wolf burst through the bushes, tail wagging as she greeted Lightning by jumping up on her.

"Hey! Hey! Quit it!" The wolf had grown in the eight years since they had met and was enough to knock Lightning on her rear if she wasn't prepared. "Yeah, I missed you too." She pushed Fang down with one hand and with the other, placed the plate of meat on the ground for Fang to eat. The wolf sniffed at the meat a couple times, cocked her head at Lightning and whined.

"What? It's mutton. You like mutton."

The wolf whined again and Lightning sighed.

"I don't know what you want..."

Again Fang sniffed at the food before reluctantly tearing into the meat with the sharp teeth for which she'd been named. Lightning watched her as she ate and sat on the stump of a sawn tree, waiting for Fang to finish so she could bring the plate inside to be cleaned.

"Dad says if you keep chasing the goats in the field, he's going to run you through with a pitch fork."

Fang didn't seem to care about Lightning's warning as she continued to eat her mutton.

"I know you haven't hurt any... but you're stressing them out and Sally's stopped producing milk... Dad's not too happy about that." Lightning reached down and scratched behind Fang's ears as she ate. "You have to stop being such a pain in the ass, okay?"

Fang lifted her head a moment, and licked at Lightning's hand, almost as if to say "Yeah, I hear you." but Lightning simply made a face and pulled her hand away, wiping it off on her linen trousers.

"Gross... Thanks for that. Hurry up."

Once Fang had finished off the mutton, Lightning scooped the plate up off the ground and gave Fang one more scratch behind the ears before heading back towards the modest stone house. She stopped when she heard Fang whine at her and turned to face the wolf. "What?"

Fang took a couple steps towards the house with Lightning.

"No... Stay."

Another whine and a couple steps from the wolf and Lightning sighed. "Fine... Wait here." Fang seemed to understand and sat down on the ground as Lightning went into the house. A few minutes later and Lightning came back out with a thick blanket.

"Come on." Lightning motioned with her hand for Fang to follow her and the wolf did so gladly. Lightning laid the blanket out on the ground next to the stump where she'd been sitting moments before and laid down, allowing Fang to lay down next to her and place her head on Lightning's stomach. Lightning gave a soft smile as the wolf made herself comfortable for the night. "The things I do for you..."

Lightning placed an arm behind her head and relaxed, staring up at the sparkling stars as Fang settled in for the night on her stomach.

A couple days had passed since she had spent the night out under the stars with Fang and since then, Fang had made herself scarce. It wasn't anything new. Fang was known to disappear for days on end before reappearing again, but Lightning missed the wolf nonetheless. She thought of the wolf as her best friend and frankly, enjoyed her company more than she did most people.

"Goat's milk, bread, leg of lamb... tomatoes." Lightning read off the list her father had given her before he sent her to the market, making a slight face as she counted the gil in her pocket. She needed to make sure she would have enough to buy lamb from Bjornsson and a cut of mutton for Fang. Bjornsson had the best lamb for miles, but his cost a little more than the older meats at the general market. She made a face, when she realized she wouldn't have quite enough for both and would have to barter with the old man.

The market was buzzing with activity. Wooden carts were pulled through the dirt streets by sturdily built oxen, kicking up dust as they crossed through the throngs of people that were busy bartering and laughing with the vendors. It was a familiar sight to see any day of the week. People from all over the village and countryside would make their way to the markets for fresh meats and vegetables. Lightning was familiar with the many vendors and made her way towards Bjornsson's meat stall where many people were crowded around, checking the various cuts of meat he had for sale.

"What about a rabbit pelt?"

"It looks like it's been mangled by a damn dog!"

"Alright... two rabbit pelts?" A tall woman with wild dark hair leaned on Bjornsson's stall holding aloft two thick rabbit pelts in offer of a cut of meat. She had a few other furs tied to her hip and Lightning assumed the woman was a hunter, trading pelts for other meats and vegetables.

Bjornsson rubbed at his greying beard, looking over the pelts in the woman's hand before he finally sighed and took them from her. "This is the last time, Yun. I deal in gil, not pelts."

"Yeah... Yeah I know. But I bet you could make some nice shoes out of those for the coming winter." The woman winked as Bjornsson wrapped a cut of meat in treated paper and handed it to the woman.

"Shoes aren't going to pay for the feed I need for the animals."

"I tell you what, the next time I catch a nice grouse, You'll be first in line, yeah? Payback for the veal."

The old man pursed his lips and nodded his agreement before turning to the next person at his stall.

Lightning watched as the woman called "Yun", turn to leave before she noticed one of the pelts tied to the hunter's waist. A fine wolf's pelt with deep black fur and a soft luster hung loosely on her belt. Lightning's stomach dropped at the sight of it. She hadn't thought much of Fang's disappearance but the wolf's pelt on Yun's side looked fresh. Before she could stop herself, Lightning yelled at her.

"Hey!"

Yun turned at the sound and if Lightning didn't know any better she would have sworn she'd seen a hint of panicked surprise pass the woman's face. The woman regarded her stiffly with some apprehension, waiting for Lightning to speak again.

"Where'd you get that?" Lightning demanded and pointed at the wolf's pelt hanging from the woman's side.

"Uh..." Yun knitted her brows together as she almost waited to get caught under Lightning's intense glare. She was caught off guard, not just by the question but by the person asking it.

"Where did you get that?" Lightning demanded again.

Yun seemed to shake her surprise away and turned her gaze downward to the pelt at her side. "Oh... This ol' thing? Family heirloom. It's not for sale... Sorry."

"Family heirloom?" Lightning looked at the woman skeptically and Yun seemed slightly amused by the exchange. "You know... there's a wolf that lives on the outskirts of town... Looks an awful lot like that pelt..." There was a hint of threat in Lightning's voice.

"Oh yeah?" Yun let the smallest of entertained grins pass her face as she let her eyes study Lightning. The other woman didn't find it as amusing and her brow furrowed in a mix of worry and anger. Eventually Yun pursed her lips and nodded her head as if suddenly remembering. "You know... I think I know this wolf... not too shy around humans... Green eyes? She's been known to terrorize the locals' animals for fun."

"She doesn't hurt them..." Lightning said in defense of Fang, the bite still strong in her voice.

Yun nodded her head again. "No, I suppose she doesn't." She let a charming and amused smile cross her lips that caused Lightning to swallow visibly and avert her eyes. "Relax, love... I'm sure your wolf is fine. This 'ere is my pelt. Been in my family a long time."

Lightning shook her head as she eyed the pelt on Yun's waist. "If anything has happened to her..."

"Listen..." Yun grinned and licked her lips in thought. "She likes veal... Why don't you take this... Cook it up real good with some garlic. Let me know how she likes it." Yun handed the veal she'd just bought to Lightning and Lightning knitted her brow together.

"She's a wolf... what does she care if it's cooked or not?"

"Just do it alright?" Yun chuckled slightly, placing the meat into her hand.

That night Lightning did exactly as she was told. In a heavy cast iron pan, she fried the cut of veal with some garlic until the smell filled the small house. Once she had moved it onto a plate she shook her head at the ridiculousness of feeding a perfectly good meal to a wolf. Her father would be disappointed if he knew that not only was she still feeding the wolf, but now she was cooking for it too.

"Fang!" She made her way out to the stump with the plate in hand. "Supper time!" It didn't take long before the black wolf burst through the bushes, tail wagging as she came to greet Lightning.

Lightning let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding when she saw the familiar face. Relief washed over her and she gave Fang a hug as the wolf jumped up on her.

"Something a little... different for supper tonight, Fang. I know it's stupid but... here."

She placed the plate of veal down and Fang wagged her tail in excitement as she immediately got to work on the plate.

"Okay... maybe not so stupid..." Lightning watched in amusement as Fang cleaned her plate in record time, even licking it clean once the meat was gone. "That good, huh?"

Lightning shook her head at the wolf as she sat down next to the stump as Fang excitedly trampled her and tried to lick her face before finally settling down and letting her head rest on Lightning's lap, content with her meal. Lightning scratched behind the wolf's ear and sighed. "I was worried about you, idiot..." Fang didn't react to the insult and simply yawned as she soaked up the warmth from Lightning's lap.

Lightning stroked Fang's thick fur and let it run through her fingers. "I... met this girl today..." If Lightning had been looking at Fang and not at the swaying treeline, she would have seen Fang's ears perk up. "A hunter... I thought she had hurt you." She shook her head. "It was her idea. The veal, I mean... I guess I owe her an apology." She smiled at the thought of seeing Yun's charming smile again before catching herself and shaking her head and averting her attention back to the wolf laying on her lap.

"What's this for?"

Lightning looked away in slight embarrassment as she handed the pastries she'd baked that morning over to Yun.

"An apology."

Yun arched a brow in amusement. "An apology?"

"She was fine... and... and she loved the veal." Lightning wasn't one to apologize often, but she knew she owed the hunter that much and so that morning she cooked a couple simple pastries with the help of her younger sister and made her way to the market in hopes of running into Yun again. It hadn't taken long to find her in the crowd as she argued with one of the vendors over the price he wanted for a small pot of honey.

"I didn't think Lightning Farron apologized to anyone."

Lightning knitted her brows together at the comment.

"I asked around about you." Yun grinned her charming smile at the girl before weighing the pastries in her hand. "You want to help me eat these? I know a nice quite place down by the river bend."

"I... Uh." Lightning was caught off guard and felt herself blush, which caused her to blush more.

Yun raised a fine eyebrow at her in amusement. "...Unless you have something better to do?"

"No... no. I...yeah, okay."

Yun grinned again.

"It's... so stupid, Fang..." Lightning sighed. She laid on her blanket by the stump with Fang as her pillow. The wolf's ear twitched every now and again as she listened to Lightning speak, another plate of veal was licked clean and sat on the stump, waiting to be brought into the house. "I hardly know her and yet... I feel like I know her... and that she knows me..." Lightning could feel herself blush slightly even though Fang was the only one around to hear her. She was almost worried that the light wind would carry her words to fall on someone else's ears.

"She's... well you know her, right? She's... " Lightning scoffed at herself in slight amusement. "I think..." She sighed and shook her head. It was too much to say it out loud, but she let her small smile speak for her as she fiddled with a blade of grass in her hand.

Yun was on Lightning's mind a lot since they'd met. There was something about her that Lightning couldn't help but feel drawn too. Maybe it was something in her comforting green eyes or, in her confidence, but whatever it was, it had Lightning feeling like a silly girl with a crush. She sighed again.

"You know that feeling when you look straight up into the sky... and it feels like you're going to just... fall into it? I feel like that when I'm around her..."

Fang nuzzled her face against Lightning.

Weeks passed and during the days, Lightning would spend her time with Yun, hunting or eating down by the river bend, and during the night, she'd spend her time with Fang, telling the wolf all about her day with Yun. It hadn't taken long to cement the bond between them and before long, Lightning had brought Yun home with her after a day at the market.

"You're... cooking veal?" Yun asked as Lightning seared the tender meat in a pan.

"Yeah... for Fang."

Yun nodded and sucked her lips... "Ah.." She made a face but pressed her fist to her mouth to hide the awkward look that graced her face. "I thought you and I were gonna... spend the evening together."

Lightning smiled slightly at the remark and turned to look at Yun who sat at the kitchen table. "Are you jealous of a wolf?"

"No... " Yun scoffed in amusement.

"When was the last time you saw Fang?" Lightning asked.

"Oh... I see her around now and again."

"She's been coming by every night lately. Ever since I started cooking her veal." Lightning let out an amused puff of air as she flipped the meat and shook the pan over the open flame.

"Maybe she just likes being around you." Yun suggested. "I like being around you."

Lightning felt her cheeks burn as she finished cooking the meat and put in on a plate. "Yun..." She shook her head slightly trying to fight off the blush that threatened to embarrass her further. "Come on."

At the prompting, Yun followed after Lightning trying to hide the awkward face that she was making.

"Fang! Supper time!" Lightning called out and waited for the wolf to emerge from the bushes that ran along the treeline. A minute passed and Fang still hadn't shown herself and Yun scratched the back of her neck awkwardly as Lightning continued to call out to the wolf.

"I uh... don't think she'd coming, Lightnin'."

Lightning furrowed her brow and stared at the plate in her hand. "Where is she?"

Yun made a face and shook her head, "Probably spending the evening with a fox."

"A fox? Does she do that?" Lightning asked and Yun simply raised her eyebrows.

"I'll eat the veal for you..." Yun offered and Lightning sighed, looking back towards the bushes. She waited another minute but when Fang didn't show she handed the plate to Yun who licked her lips in anticipation.

It didn't take Yun long to finish off the small piece of veal and lick her fingers clean. "You're a good cook."

"Fang seems to think so too."

Yun laughed lightly as she set the plate on the stump and laid down on the grass and patted the spot next to her, asking Lightning to join her. Lightning didn't need much convincing and laid down next to Yun, crossing her arms behind her head as she stared up into the sky.

The two laid in silence as the sun started to set and basked in the comfort of each others company. They watched as the sun cast bright orange rays across the sky that turned to bright vibrant pinks and purples as it passed through the clouds. After a short while Yun spoke up.

"Feels like you might just fall into it, doesn't it?"

Lightning furrowed her brow at the comment and felt her heart jump with unfounded adrenaline. Something about the comment didn't feel entirely random and she propped herself up on her elbows, regarding Yun with a strange look. Yun met her eyes and arched her brow as Lightning watched her strangely. A strange feeling tugged at the back of Lightning's mind as she stared at Yun's green eyes but she pushed it back. "How did you...?"

"How did I what?" Yun asked.

Lightning shook her head, suddenly feeling silly. "... Nothing..." Lightning sighed at herself and gave Yun one more sideways glance, analyzing the woman beside her in curiosity as the strange feeling didn't immediately dissipate.

Yun turned her eyes back to the sky as Lightning watched her. Lightning watched as Yun ran her tongue along her teeth and licked the salt from her lips, left there by the veal and then let her eyes trace down the woman's body to the wolf pelt that she seamed to take with her everywhere she went. The one that reminded her so much of Fang and she furrowed her brow more before looking back towards Yun's familiar green eyes again. A strange feeling welled up in the centre of her chest. In that moment, Yun seemed almost too familiar.

"... Fang?" The name left her mouth before Lightning could stop it but Yun didn't seem phased.

"Yeah?" Yun continued to stare up into the sky a moment longer before she realized her mistake and her eyes widened.

Lightning felt the feeling in her chest change into a jolt of adrenaline as she watched the panic cross Yun's face. Yun immediately sat up and swallowed as she met Lightning's confused stare. For what felt like an eternity, neither spoke a word, waiting for the other to say something. Yun looked like a caught, panicked animal under Lightning's confounded gaze.

Yun dropped her gaze in fear for a moment before meeting Lightning's eyes again. It was as clear as day to Lightning now. She could see the same familiar soul in Yun's eyes that she saw in Fang's. Even small mannerisms, like the way Yun licked her teeth or cocked her head. The veal... the pelt. There was a reason Lightning had felt so comfortable with Yun. Finally Lightning spoke.

"Just... who are you?"

Yun looked away from Lightning's prying gaze and towards the bush, almost looking for an escape, before finally shaking her head and meeting Lightning's eyes again. "Lightning... It's... I can explain..."

Lightning arched her brows and sighed in preparation. "Okay..."

"I..." Yun avoided her intense gaze, feeling guilty. "I didn't mean to deceive you... I just... Liked being around you. You're not exactly a people person but... as a wolf..." Fang cocked her head to the side, "you're a lot easier to get close to." Yun almost cringed as she said it, knowing how weird it sounded.

"So... are you... a werewolf or something?"

Yun raised a brow at the question. "No... not a werewolf. It's my pelt... I got it from my father..." Yun winced slightly, "Fenrir..."

"Fenrir...? The son of Loki? The harbinger of- of Ragnarok?" Lightning gawked at the revelation.

Yun bit her lip. "He's not that bad..."

Lightning closed her eyes and shook her head. It was all a bit much to take in. After a moment of silence she knitted her eyebrows and looked at Yun in confusion.

"... So let me get this straight... You're the daughter of a God... and you were too afraid to just... talk to me?"

Yun looked Lightning in the eye and shrugged somewhat sheepishly. "... You're intimidating."