"Fuck it!" Martis exclaimed as his fist met the wall leaving a deep fissure on the once pristine marble.

It's been hours since those mysterious bastards came and took Ruby. They infiltrated the embassy deep in the night, knocking out all the guards before making their way to her room. Sorca immediately sensed the threat and did everything in her power to stop them. She guarded Ruby's door to the best of her abilities but she was outnumbered. Her assailants were ferocious fighters but the scales were even when Martis came after being called by one of her guards. He and his men immediately neutralized every foreign combatant they could find, however, when they finally burst through her room, Ruby was already being carried off by someone while another one took her scythe to hold them off long enough for the others to retreat.

No one died during the fight but many of Ruby's demonic guards were injured or sedated by some nonlethal toxins. Sorca was outraged at the abduction of her friend but more so at her powerlessness to do anything about it. Now, none of them knew where Ruby was taken nor if she was okay.

"I... I'm a fucking failure." Sorca mumbled as she stared into nothingness.

"No, this has nothing to do with you. You were perfectly capable, you don't have to blame yourself, Miss Sorca. What we should do now is know how to track her, we won't rest until we find Ruby." Shura said, trying to console the demoness who only nodded in reply but even her words did little to lighten the burden in her heart.

"Melthrylis has already deployed the hell hounds to track her down. Hopefully, they prove to be more useful now than they did during her exile." Sorca informed as she stood from her chair to examine the map of Indra.

Currently, the three of them, Martis, Shura, Sorca along with their trusted soldiers, gathered to create a plan on how they can find Ruby and save her from her kidnappers. The demoness was on the verge of breaking down due to her inability to protect her friend and Martis could only imagine the grief she must be in due to the events that transpired. Not only did she fail to protect her boss, Dyrroth, she also allowed her friend to be kidnapped by someone they completely don't know.

He couldn't say that he was in a better mental condition after letting Ruby be taken captive by some unknown assailants. A few hours earlier he was ready to tear down every structure in his vicinity to vent out his frustration and wring the life out of anybody who comes as close as three meters from him. He was furious, frustrated, and humiliated because he vowed to Dyrroth that he would protect Ruby and he promised her that she will never be in harm's way after what happened to her and those elves.

"What if they're one of those elves? What if they're going to kill Ruby? Sacrifice her to some dark god? Or murder her just for fun? I can't stay still without knowing anything!" Martis vented as he slammed his fist on the table.

"Martis, you need to calm down. We won't achieve anything from screaming bloody murder. You won't be able to think straight if you continue to rant and wreck things. Right now Ruby needs our help. You can scream out later once we find her. Act now, react later. Okay?" Shura reasoned as she grasped his hand. Martis didn't reply and only turned his head away to hide the sorrowful expression on his face.

"Sorca, how long do you think the hell hounds need to find the kidnappers?"

"One day at best. They were only going by foot so I doubt that they can get very far and if they've hidden a vehicle somewhere then it must be capable of flight since there were no track marks anywhere in the forest."

"Well, there is one trail, leader, but we didn't pay it any mind since it seemed animal and not something any sane person would choose to ride." added the demoness soldier, Legima as she pointed to the location of the tracks they found on the map.

"And that is?"

"Wolf tracks, captain. A pack of about 20 strong."

"Wolves? But there are no wolves here. We've hunted them down ages ago. One or two is plausible but a whole pack? That doesn't sound right." Martis cuts in, frowning at the information.

"How big are their tracks?"

"They're very large so the estimated wolf height must be around the size of a regular adolescent boy. Four feet or so."

"That's ridiculously huge! The normal wolves here are only as tall as two feet. It must have been from somewhere else." Lady Shura concluded.

"Perhaps those wolves were the getaway. Such beasts are incredible hunters so their speed is undoubtedly fast to catch their prey. And if they're being used as a means of transportation then perhaps they can reach quite a distance from here after all." Sorca pointed out as she pondered over the information.

"Then we'll have to find out what group of people uses large wolves as a means of transportation. To narrow down the search it's obvious that they must have come from a forest region where such species are endemic or locally domesticated. To be specific, the Azrya forest would be a good start." Martis added as his mind began to calm down.

"That is a good plan. There are still some troops loyal to Lord Dyrroth posted on the Moonshire. I will command them immediately to locate such a tribe or society and tell them to figure out if it's black elves or what. It might be a resistance of moon elves planning on evening out the scores with Lord Dyrroth. But it's unlikely since they're barely capable of even lifting a single finger in their current state. Alice is having a banquet as we speak but the stragglers might have a chance."

"We can't rule out any possibilities. It might even be Loki trying to kill her again. Frankly, based on Ruby's accounts it wouldn't be the first."

"Fuck, if only there's some easy way to track her with." Sorca groaned as she weakly hit the table with her fists. The ruffling of feathers distracted Martis for a bit and he came face to face with a raven staring back at him with beady enigmatic eyes. It was watching him like he was some mundane being and a memory suddenly flashed in his mind. A certain blondie was chanting up a spell to help reunite a daughter with her family. It only took a little paper and a specific chant to make the spell.

"I think I have an idea."

🌹

Ruby blinked as consciousness finally returned to her. She propped her body with her hands and found herself alone on a makeshift bed of straws and blankets with a few cushions. She was inside a large dark cave with only glowing stones to dimly illuminate her surroundings. There were lots of stones, rocks, and boulders and almost nothing that would hint of anything akin to civilization or any organized group of people which she assumed would be the one responsible for her abduction given the tightness of the security that guarded her in Devas.

Poor Sorca. She can already imagine what sort of things she's going through with her gone. She just hopes that they find a way to track her down and help her while she tries her best to escape whatever this place is.

"Where am I?" she whispered as she tried to recall the events before her blackout.

She remembered waking up on her bed after another episode of peculiar dreams. She saw a man, an assassin perhaps, staring at her with something akin to wonder and admiration. She recalled that his accomplice called him Hrod and the other was Skoll. The names sounded oddly familiar but she couldn't point out where she heard them. Anyway, after identifying the threat she tried to chop Hrod with her scythe but he was nimble. He wasn't really attacking her and only dodged her strikes but it was evident that he was a skilled fighter. The events that followed felt so surreal that she couldn't distinguish which is true or just a figment of her imagination.

"What did I do to deserve this?" she mumbled in exasperation as she slumped back to the large pillow behind her.

"Apologies, mother. It's a little sloppy but we assure you that we'll find something new and beautiful for you to live in. For now, consider this as a temporary base of operations." The hair on the back of her neck immediately straightened with fear due to the deep and monstrous voice that rumbled from behind her. Ruby turned to see that her comfortable "cushion" was actually a wolf laying on his side to allow her to use his soft belly as a pillow.

As an instinctual response, Ruby, sleepy as she was, released a deafening scream. The wolf actually seemed hurt by the high-pitched assault on his sense of hearing and proceeded to cover his ears with his paws, whimpering ever so slightly due to the torturous pitch of her voice.

"I'm in a wolf's den?! You've brought me as food? Fuck, no!" she exclaimed as she went on her feet to better defend herself.

"Calm down. We're not going to eat you. We would never dare. Please calm down, mother. Or else you'd wake the others up. They're not as civil as I am. In fact, they're excited to meet you as such they would probably overwhelm you with a lot of questions and obnoxious conversations." The wolf warned as he kept a little distance to make her comfortable with little luck. Ruby somehow recognizes him. He reassembles the unknown assailant who abducted her and his voice and tone almost sounded the same. Could this be transformation magic? She had seen a few morphing spells from her vagabond adventures but none of them are as impressive as this wolf.

Ruby decided to calm down and think with her head to gather some information about her predicament. The wolf had lowered his body and exposed his neck, a symbol of submission to her presence. Seeing that he has no intentions of fighting her or doing anything else, she decided to take a seat on the straw bed and ask him a few stuff.

"What is your name? Are you somehow related to Fenrir? Why did you abduct me?" she began, trying to sound as calm as possible while maintaining constant eye contact to establish herself as another predator and not a prey.

The wolf seemed confused by her question as if these things should be common knowledge for her. Nevertheless, he answered to satisfy her curiosity.

"I have been given several names: Hati, Hróðvitnisson, and Managarm. You can take your pick since I am your son. But most of my siblings call me Hrod, chaser of the moon and son of Fenrir. Don't you remember any of this? Did they do something to you to make you forget us? Forget who you are as the powerful Wolf of Destruction."

"Oh, I get it now." Ruby mumbled in realization which seemed to brighten the wolf.

"You remember?"

"No, no. It's just... All of this is a misunderstanding. I'm not Fenrir, I'm Ruby and I made a contract with him. Perhaps it was the stench of his power that you recognize since I've been learning how to master his strength. I'm sorry but I think you got the wrong person." Ruby tried to explain but the wolf only laughed at her words.

"Perhaps... If that is what you want to believe in, but I can't deny that I see his darkness within you. His soul blazed bright inside this cute tiny body of yours and no matter how much I want to eat you, your power simply terrifies me." The wolf chuckled as he prowled towards her. Ruby wanted to move away but she knew that if she took a step back his predatory instincts might recognize her as a prey and devour her for it, so she held her ground.

The wolf stared into her eyes for a while. It was a good few seconds but the hammering of her heart was so loud she feared it might burst out of her chest. His eyes are a terrifying gold that shined with wisdom and strength. It was intimidating but somehow... She also saw some warmth there.

"You're not a bad dog, aren't you? Hrod is my cute and sweet son." Ruby said trying to coo him into not attacking her. She bit her lips when she saw his mouth open, fearing that he might devour her but instead of searing pain, all she felt was the warmth and the wetness of his mouth as he licked her cheeks and snuggled his furry body on her tiny one.

"Hey, cut it out! That tickles hahahaha! You're such a big bad wolf! You're so big and heavy, get off me! Heeey!" Ruby exclaimed as the wolf showered her with wet kisses like an excited little puppy.

"Yesss! Hrod is the best son! I missed youuuu so much. I don't know why you chose this form but it's beautiful and perfect." the wolf exclaimed as it showered her with affections.

"Hey, Hrod! Don't keep mommy all to yourself! Scoot over!" exclaimed a man who just came in from somewhere in the cave. Ruby remembered him being called Skoll before she passed out meaning that he's one of Hrod's accomplices and brother.

"Shut up, Skoll! I got to her first." Hrod argued back as he morphed into the shape of a man confirming Ruby's theory that they can shapeshift.

"I guess I can pet you both. Please stop fighting." Ruby suggested to avoid having these two massive wolves kill each other which may lead to her as collateral damage.

"Oh, okay mom. But it was Hrod's fault for being selfish."

"It is so not! Clearly, I am the better son because I fought for father longer than you did when Odin imprisoned him on that island. I kept chewing on Gleipnir from dusk till dawn until that arrogant All-Father appointed us to the sky while you gave up on the first try." Hrod argued as he pulled Ruby in his arms.

"I did not give up! I was only looking for another means to cut that blasted ribbon. I was actually trying to use my brain instead of stupidly chewing an unbreakable dwarf-forged rope!" Skoll refuted as he wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her to his side.

"I SAID ENOUGH!" Ruby exclaim as their bickering hurts her head. The two instantly lowered their heads and whimpered in fear. Her voice wasn't really that loud or booming but it certainly was imposing.

"Gods, I'm having a headache because of you two. But if you stop your senseless bickering we might come to an understanding. Straighten up and no more fighting or I'll punish you both." Hrod and Skoll sat up straight on the ground carefully listening to her words.

"Sorry, mom." the two said in unison.

"First of all, why did you kidnap me? What's your motive and agenda? Who ordered you?"

"Kidnapped you? We were trying to rescue you. We felt your power about a month ago. It was like a beacon summoning us to your side and it led us here in Indra." Skoll began while Ruby pondered his words.

"We thought that you've broken out of hell so we rallied our brothers and sisters to provide you a warband. Our numbers are 10,000 strong and 256 pups. We will be training the pups to be ferocious so that you'll be proud of them." Hrod added.

"Now that we've been reunited, what are your plans, mother? Do you want to strike Asgard and settle the score with those runts? We're always up for war."

"That's the least of my concerns. Now I need to get back to my friends and see if Dyrroth is okay. Also, I need to inform Sorca, my knight, that I'm alright. Can we send them a message?" said Ruby as she finally realized that as long as these wolves think that she's Fenrir she'll be safe with them.

"Well, if that's what you want. But before we do, can you please catch us up on the things that happened to you? We heard that you were ambushed by elves." Hrod said as he placed his head on her lap seeking her attention. Ruby was immediately alarmed by this gesture since she's not very fond of wolves but he might get offended if she pushed him away. The best decision she could come up with is to simply caress his head making him growl in delight. Skoll got envious so he placed his face on her lap.

"How did you know about that? Did Loki tell you? He was the one who set it up so I guess you would know as well since he's technically your grandfather."

"He WHAT!!!" exclaimed Hrod as a menacing growl rumbled from his throat.

"That bastard old man threatened our mommy!!! I'll kill him!" Skoll added as he prowled the ground plotting his revenge.

"It was a bit frustrating but I managed to come out of it alive. That's all that matters, also it's my- uhhhm- husband I need to worry about. Dyrroth is still not waking up but people are trying to kill him. I really need to get back there to protect him."

"You got married again?! Mom's gonna get furious." Skoll mused as he frets about the information.

"She won't as long as we don't tell. We're not snitching on dad." Hrod added as he smacked his brother. Ruby only smiled at how bipolar these wolves are. Earlier they were furious about Loki and now they're fuzzing about her love life. She was about to ask who their biological mother was when her stomach rumbled loudly.

"I'm... Ahhh... Well, is there something I could eat?" Ruby shyly asked as she lowered her head in shame.

"Oh," Skoll mumbled as he remembered something.

"Yes, I hunted a deer for you earlier. Let me get it." Skoll pulled a deer from the entrance of the cave chamber and left it in front of her. The twin wolves stared at her expectantly waiting for her to do anything. They were also slobbering up so she guessed that they're also hungry but since she's the alpha they can't eat unless she's finished.

"Uhhm, I can't eat it like this, I might get sick. We need to cook it first."

"But you like your prey raw and bloody?" Skoll reasoned as he tried making sense of her words.

"Shut up, Skoll! Let's just do what mother wants. Perhaps it's what her human body demands "

"If that's the case then I'll start the fire."

"We'll just gather some firewood and some flint and stone. Please stay put while we're away. Goran might step on you if you leave your cave." Skoll said as the two of them transformed back to their wolf forms.

The twin brothers left her to accomplish their tasks leaving Ruby alone with her thoughts. The solitude allowed her to consider her current predicament and think of ways on how she can escape from those two. They don't seem to be putting on a ruse just to gain her trust and they look like they genuinely believe that she's Fenrir regardless of how she looks. Hrod had said earlier that she somehow emits an aura like Fenrir's and Lady Shura had said something similar when she fought all-out with those elves. She guessed that being favored by the Wolf of Destruction rubs off some of his essence on her body or something.

Still, it was confusing how they can mistake her as their father given that their appearances and personalities are very different. Regardless, Ruby doesn't plan on insisting that she's not Fenrir because it seems to be giving her some advantage and authority over them.

She paused.

Her mind began to wander about the thing Hrod mentioned earlier about them rallying thousands of their brethren to give her a war band. If she has 10,000 powerful wolf warriors in her command then she can protect Dyrroth from anything in the Abyss. She grew up believing that wolves are powerful beings because the people from Vanargand worshiped them and created statues of their likeness to ward off evil spirits. She hates to acknowledge it but as much as she loathes their kind for slaughtering her family, she'll be needing their strength to protect her new family now.

Ruby has made her decision. She will become Fenrir's avatar and take his children as her own. She will come back to the Abyss not as a prisoner or the pet of their prince, but as his princess regent with 10, 000 fighters under her command. It's her turn to protect him.