When she woke up, the cave was loud with activity. Kymn, Yeol, and Bihn had removed the head of the Knawl. The plan was to take it back to the village as proof that it was dead. Kymn cleaned and dressed her wounds, as the others made a platform to transport their spoils, and the body of the Knawl was pushed into the hole.

Kors had been their only loss. Gyden had kept watch over Yliren while she was unconscious and Misr lay at Kors’ side. He had yet to move, mourning the loss of his pack member and mate.

“Yeol dug a grave for her by the stream, but the white wolf wouldn’t let us near her,” Kymn explained.

“Misr. The white wolf is Misr.”

Yliren and Kymn walked together, and Misr whined as she leaned over Kors and whispered a prayer for their fallen warrior. Then, Misr followed her and Kymn to the stream to bury her. It was a peace Yliren and Kymn had never experienced before. Birds chirped in the distance, the stream bubbled and flowed, and the breeze rustled the dead leaves that barely hung on to the limbs. Pink buds were blooming. Carefully, they wrapped her body and lowered Kors into the ground.

To pay his respects, Kymn knelt to Misr, lifting his head to the sky, exposing his throat to the wolf, showing trust. Misr looked at Yliren and when she nodded, Misr moved forward, pressing his head against the side of Kymn’s face in acceptance. A lump formed in Yliren’s throat. Funny how this made her emotional when not much else did.

They left at daybreak. Earlier than they thought was daybreak since the clouds had passed, and the sun showed through the trees. The sun had never been seen this early. They stayed the next night at her camp near the edge of the woods. Yliren, cleaned and dressed Kymn’s wounds.

“This looks bad Kymn. It’s already infected, I don’t know if the salve will work on it. I want to ask you why, but…”

“… but you know it’s the same reason you came after me.” Kymn finished her sentence.

“Probably not,” she murmured and when Kymn asked about it Yliren shook it off.

Darkness set in. Real darkness, not the storm-covered sky, but the pink and purple hue of the sunset Yliren had never seen in her life. The group marveled at the spots of light in the blackness of the sky as night crept in, then they piled into her little tent and slept, the sounds of the wolves in the distance lamenting for their lost companion. For the first time, a tear escaped.

She slept solidly and comfortably in Kymn’s arms. In the morning, Yliren prepared with a heavy heart for the first time that she could remember, to say goodbye to her pack. But as she stopped at the line of trees, Misr continued on. They followed her through the clear snow-covered valley, the sun brighter than she had ever seen, reflecting off the snow. The village could even be seen if she squinted just right. Yliren had never seen the valley without ice and snow beating down on it, but the storm was gone. The sun glistened off the snow, melting the eternal winter she had grown up in.

There was a scream as they walked into the village later that night. With Misr, Gyden, and Kymn at her side, she led the group into the village center, where the people had started to gather. They kept their distance afraid of the wolves, and they gave them a reason, growling at anyone who came close to Yliren.

Neyl stumbled through the crowd, pointing at Yliren. “See, I told you she was an animal, she fits right in. She’s even brought them here.”

“Yliren has saved everyone.” Kymn countered, “She killed the Knawl.”

“That’s impossible. No one can kill the Knawl.” Neyl shrieked.

“She did,” Yeol yelled back, “I’ve been no friend of hers. I have no reason to lie, she saved us and killed the Knawl.”

Yliren laughed. They had returned when no one else had, and Neyl still denied. She didn’t speak, only walked back to the platform and pulled the woolen blanket off the head of the Knawl. Gasps and whispers spread across the people.

“How,” the chief asked, “how when so many trained warriors had tried, did you kill the Knawl?”

Yliren didn’t know really, there was only one explanation she could think of.

“They didn’t have wolves.” She told him.

“And you do?”

Yliren stood beside Misr, stroking his fur, “I helped them, and they helped me.”

“What about the others?” A voice came from the crowd.

“Runn, Oryn and Vern were victims of the Knawl.” She told them, searching the people for Vern’s parents. “I’m sorry. I was a day late.”

She retrieved the pin from her tan, leather pouch she had made from fox skin, holding it up so that the villagers recognize Vern’s pin. “This should go back to her family,” Yliren turned and walked back to Symr, handing the pin to her, “her true family that was there for her.”

Tears streamed down Symrs face as she excepted the pin and nodded to Yliren.

She returned to Misr, kneeling down and giving him another silent apology for Kors. He whined resting his muzzle on her shoulder.“She’s the Y’va Yliren!” The widow pointed as she stepped past the line of people. “The wolf girl whom the gods sent to free us.”

Yliren looked back at the woman who had taken her in when she had been brought to the town. She had forgotten about the legend the village people had only whispered until now. A girl, one with the wolves, in tune with all animals that would defeat the scourge of the Knawl and lead the people out of their eternal winter. She laughed at the thought of someone thinking that of her.

“I am no Y’va Yliren.” She told the woman.

“You are, you come with the wolves by your side, you defeated the Knawl. You will lead us back to fertile lands and prosperity.” The widow insisted.

“You have me mistaken, widow. I have no intention of leading you anywhere.” She laughed again. “You were all so afraid of this creature that you refused to help your own children when they needed you. This village isn’t worth saving. You are all free to do as you please, go where you want, the Knawl is dead. I want nothing more to do with you.”

“You must… you’re the Y’va Yliren… the gods said you would save us…”

“Your gods were wrong.” She told them simply. “I only wanted to save Kymn. I didn’t care to kill the Knawl, and I would have left it alone if I could have gotten Kymn and the others out safely without killing it. Now that I know Kymn is alive, I’m leaving. I’d rather try it on my own than stay here in this village. You, widow, are free to come with me. I owe you for all of these years. I will take care of you now.”

The widow nodded, pressing her hand to her chest in acceptance.

“I’m coming with you.” Kymn inserted.

Yliren turned to him. “You don’t have to do that. You have family here. These are your people, they aren’t mine.”

Kymn lips turned up in a heart-shaped smile, and he took her hand, slipping his fingers between hers, “My family left me to die, you saved me. Besides, you should know my life is tied to yours now. You’re my person, I go where you go.”

Yliren smiled and squeezed his hand back, his use of her own words felt like a secret understanding between them. Love was an understanding, she decided.

“I’m going too.” Yeol chimed in from behind them. Bihn and Symr both agreed.

“No offense, I don’t want to be responsible for you.” She told them.

Yeol came forward, “You don’t have to be. We are responsible for ourselves and we choose to follow you.”

Yliren nodded then turned back to the villagers. “The head of the Knawl is yours to do with what you will. Let it be a reminder of how you failed your children and your future. Thank you for allowing savage girl live among you. And thank you for giving me the skills and strength I need to make it on my own.”

As if he understood, Misr started forward. The people parted as he approached, keeping their distance from the massive creature. Yliren followed still together with Kymn, then Yeol, Bihn, Symr and the widow. The Wolves fell in behind, Gyden tailing the group and keeping the people from getting too close.

“See, she is a monster herself,” Neyl screamed at them, “She cares about no one, she’s a savage, an animal, we should have left her where we found her…”

Neyl was brought to silence as Gyden turned to her, making a slow approach. Somehow, Yliren knew, “Gyden!” She warned without looking back. The wolf fell back in line.

Yliren could hear Neyl screaming as they strode out of the village and into the darkness of the unknown.

“You know, we should really give you a proper name now that we won’t be among them.” Kymn mused.

“How about Y’va.” She smiled.

“Wolf?” Kymn’s thick brows furrowed at her.

She looked to Misr who gave one vigorous nod.

Y’va turned back to Kym, “I am the wolf girl after all.”