"Ah, what an asshole. That was so exhausting even when it should have been a simple diplomatic discussion." Ruby mumbled as she settled under the shade of a fruitful peach tree.

She just returned from the diplomatic discussion with the sultan of Gomharra and now she finally managed to take a deep breath and enjoy the scent of the earth. In the course of three weeks, she has been very busy commanding her new army. After she had decided to form a warband with her wolf sons and daughters, now she had to figure out how to feed them and provide weapons for all of them if she wanted them to march into the Abyss to protect her boyfriend.

Of course, before she began with her schemes, she asked Skoll to send a letter to Devas informing them about her whereabouts and her plans of establishing her own army with Fenrir's children. She informed them that they can visit her but she won't be able to return to Devas just yet until she finally completed the preparations for her army. She did ask Sorca to come and help with the planning and strategy making since she knew that the Captain of the guards is well-versed in leading armies and sustaining one.

So far she hasn't heard any reply from them even though it's been weeks since she mailed that letter. It frustrated her a little to receive no reply from Sorca or Martis even though Lyubim, the winged wolf confirmed that the letter had been delivered in the hands of King Martis.

Now she was very busy when the letter was being written and so she was dictating her message to one of her more intelligent female wolves who can also transform into a human form-some of them do not have the magical ability to change shape- but then Skoll and Hrod called for her. Because the matter they were asking about was of utmost importance, Ruby didn't stop to check what Alaska had written. If she did, she would know that the letter was written in the old runic alphabet that had died centuries ago. So when Lyubim delivered the letter in King Martis' court no one could understand what was written in the paper so they were left with further mystery and ignorance about what had happened to their precious friend.

(This is how I imagine Lyubim)

When Martis asked about Ruby, the wolf only said "Our mother is well and healthy. You will find further information in the letter she wrote to you. I am bound by duty to keep my mouth shut about the specifics. Now I must return to serve by her side." Martis tried to follow the wolf along with his best soldiers on their fastest horses but no one was able to chase or track the wolf because he was very swift and nimble.

With no hope of getting more information from the wolf, Martis eagerly opened the letter but to his utter shock and horror, he found out that he could not read the symbols which detail Ruby's whereabouts. No one in the whole kingdom, from the scholars to the magicians, could decipher what secrets the parchment held.

Sadness came upon him every time he received letters of the same kind but he never surrendered. He began studying the language and the letters of the old Norse to finally understand the meaning behind the cryptic letters but so far he could only understand the first lines which said "To my dear friends" while the other parts are still a work in progress.

Since Ruby knew none of this, she allocated all her attention to governing her children and establishing an encampment on the mountains of Pandava. She needed to organize the wolves to fully utilize their abilities because she discovered that they are not only well-versed in hunting and killing but they are also excellent at other fields like magic, medicine, architecture, smiting, and many more. Apparently, some of them are also half-dwarf, half eagle, half centaur, half-elf, half-human, half-giant, and half of almost anything under the sun.

Ruby concluded that Fenrir had been very busy with his sex life before he was imprisoned that he could father many children across many lores. But in his defense the first wolves he had fathered bred and multiplied, so technically a good percentage of them are simply his descendants.

Going back, when Ruby was introduced to her children she gave them a short but powerful speech about conquering the Abyss. They all knew the Abyss as one of the most powerful factions in the Land of Dawn and none of them complained since they are prepared for war. After that, she began working on the logistics and feasibility of her plans.

Wolves are surprisingly organized beasts and very intellectual. Yes, they would sometimes fight for no apparent reason but they can also be very sweet and caring. The fae- as she learned was the term used to call female wolves- can be very rough and bossy but when it comes to her they are very kind and gentle. They worry for her every need and want and look after her when she's not eating on time. Meanwhile, the male wolves can be really mean and unpleasant but they are not unkind. They show her respect despite her seemingly fragile appearance compared to their hulking bodies and ensure that no one offends or disrespects her in any manner.

She can still remember what happened to the bandit who called her a bitch when they were attacking the den of thieves. They slowly ate him alive while avoiding the vital parts to prolong his suffering. She can still hear the screams ringing in her ears but at least she knew that she was safe with them around. They were considerate enough to maintain a humanoid form whenever they're around her because she had told them the story of her childhood when Hrod asked why she's so jumpy and wary of them. They didn't take offense about what she did and they even commended her for enacting revenge on her own.

It was really flattering to have thousands of people who understood you and worshiped you like an actual goddess. Although she would still feel guilty about not telling the truth that she's not Fenrir, she knew she wouldn't feel guilty if they ate her for it.

Fenrir had not been speaking to her for quite some time now which is odd since she's been asking him a lot about his children and why he sent them to her.

Ruby sighed. She wanted to storm the Abyss the moment she got her own warband but the wolves are still lacking in weaponry to just go marching casually in the Abyss. So even if she wanted to be by his side and protect him, she feared that she'd only send these loyal beasts to their demise if she acted too selfishly so she needed to wait and strengthen her forces first before everything else. If she had her own army Alice would not be able to bully her so easily and those usurping underdogs wouldn't even dare to think about harming Dyrroth.

Ruby smiled with determination as she reaffirms with herself the reason why she's doing all of this. It is for love and nothing more than love. And so she will endure because there's no sacrifice Dyrroth wouldn't do if they were to reverse positions.

Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted when her stomach released a low growl. Now she regrets refusing the lunch Runa offered to her since she was busy with the census report of the total wolf population. She even discovered various wolf races she thought never existed. There were actually 12,800 wolves under her command and they can be divided into a total of 8 races namely: Divine Wolves, Centaurial Hybrids, Druid Wolves Werewolves, Hellfangs, Direwolves, Arctic Fleet, and Winged Hounds.

Anyways since she's quite far from their makeshift cafeteria, Ruby opted to pick a peach from the tree. She decided to go for the low-lying ones instead of climbing because she's a little dizzy after such a rough ride with Skoll. He leaped through a lot of walls which was very nauseating so now she's kind of a mess.

"Come on!" Ruby exclaimed as she stomped her foot on the ground, the peach refusing to fall into her hands. Her arms are too short to grab the fruit and it was the closest and the lowest-lying so it frustrated her not to grasp something so close yet so far out of reach.

A small gasp escaped her lips when she saw someone else grabbing the fruit before handing it to her.

"Here, Lady Mother." said a black Centaurial wolf who offered her the fruit.

"Oh, uhmm. Thank you." she said as she shyly accepted the fruit from his furry hand.

"Should I get you some more? I noticed that you didn't receive your lunch when you returned. You said you were still nauseous because of Skoll back then. If you are feeling very hungry I can go back to grab something heavier for you to eat." Ruby felt a little bit awkward since she's still trying to get used to their deep rumbling voice that occasionally terrifies her. She forced her body not to instantly summon her scythe because any signs of aggression might trigger them.

"You don't have to bother. Peaches would be sufficient for me. I'm still not in the mood for something heavy." The Centaurus wolf nodded before grabbing a few more peaches from the tree and putting them down for her to eat.

Ruby took a step back to properly take a good look at the peculiar-looking wolf. He had two pairs of legs and one pair of arms, one held a spear while the other held a shield. Both weapons are currently on the grass as he picked fruits for her. He is very large and very tall. His lower half is like a massive wolf while his upper half possesses the upper body of a werewolf. To summarize he looks like a hybrid between a werewolf and a Centaur. Even though he looked peculiar he carried himself with pride and majesty, however, Ruby could detect something like melancholy in his eyes. His fur was mostly black with a few patches of white fur on his underside and paws. He had a stern pair of brown eyes that held more warmth than most of his brethren and it piqued her interest.

(AN: He looks nearly like this but his fur is mostly black and he's a bit more muscular and furry along his chest.)

"Are these enough?" questioned the wolf as he presented to her the fruits he had plucked.

"Yes, thank you. You are very kind."

"It's nothing. You are my mother now so I will follow whatever you say. Is there anything else you would like for me to get? Like some water or some cloth to wipe your hands with?"

"No, it's okay. This is enough."

"Very well. Then I shall scout the grounds to make sure that you can take your rest peacefully, lady mother."

"Uhmm, wait!" Ruby called out as she doesn't want to be left alone. Frankly, she's a little bit curious about him so she figured that she'd enjoy his company a little more. He doesn't seem to be as devious and as beastly as all the others so his presence might be a comfortable change.

"Yes."

"Could you join me for a while? If it's not a bother. Oh, you don't have to if you don't want to. It's okay."

"Certainly. It is my honor to accompany you." The Centaurus wolf took a seat beside her leaving a few inches between them to give her some space.

"So how is life here? I'm sure it's a little uncomfortable living with so many people like this."

"It has its downsides but I think I kinda like cohabitation with brothers and sisters. It felt... nice to have a big family like this. If it's not rude to ask, are you feeling comfortable living in these conditions? You know that if you want, we can make better accommodations for you. The dwarves are really excellent architects."

"I know but we're planning on taking over a new territory so I feel like demanding something grandiose would be a waste of time. I want all of you to allocate your precious time in getting ready and rested."

"Are the fruits delicious enough for you, Lady mother? I have some honey-oatmeal cakes in my bag and several strips of beef jerky if you want." offered the wolf as he began rummaging through his satchel.

"Yes, I would like that." Ruby replied as she accepted the food being offered. The wolf also pulled out a chequered canvas and laid it for her to sit on before arranging the food he brought in front of her.

"Why do you have so much food in that bag?" asked the maiden between giggles. It fascinated her how he seems to have brought a whole lot of items for her to use. It was very sweet and caring.

"I heard your tummy rumbling while you passed by so I thought that I ought to give you some snacks. All the fae are busy mating with their husbands to tend to you so I decided to serve you in their stead. I apologize if I'm not as wonderful to look at as them and my fur is not even that soft."

"No, it's alright. You look mighty and glorious like a perfect example of a War God's son. Anyway, you don't have to feel self-conscious around me. I'm not even that perfect as well. I'm just glad that you're very thoughtful. But I just need to confirm one thing. Was my stomach really that loud?" questioned Ruby as she began eating the honey-oatmeal bar. Her eyes widened in delight as the sweet and crunchy texture pleasured her taste buds.

"Not really. I just have very good hearing. Is the cake good? I traded that honey cake from the shepherds."

"It's delicious. Do you want some?" offered Ruby as she broke bread with the wolf who graciously accepted the simple pastry.

"Thank you, lady mother. You're very kind."

"It's funny. I never got your name even though you're pretty famous among our clan. I can see everyone constantly needing your assistance on something and even with that you still have time to play with the children and teach them as well."

The wolf paused for a while looking back and forth between her and the ground before deciding to answer her question truthfully.

"I have no name. I'm an outcast."

"What? Why? How are the other wolves treating you? Is that why you're always being ordered around by everyone?" Ruby exclaimed, frowning with displeasure at the information.

"No, it's not that. The other wolves are great. They are my family so it's okay for me to help them a little. What I meant is as a Centaur. We Centaurial wolves are outcasted by the horse Centaurs and viewed as blasphemous creatures. The horse centaurs are born from the earth goddess Alicia so they are beautiful and perfect while I came out ugly and deformed. Our mother consorted with Fenrir, a God of destruction and we were created from that union. I was thrown into the woods to die along with my other siblings but we managed to fend for ourselves. With no parents to claim us, we were nameless." Ruby's heart broke at the tragic story. Now she knows why she feels a little sense of kindredness with the wolf. She has felt a sense of disparity between her and her friends. She knows what it's like to be a stranger from the outside looking in. Solitude is a loyal friend but she's a real bitch.

"Then how do you call each other?"

"With our howls. The pitch of our howls distinguishes us from one another."

"I see. Then, how about I give you a name along with everyone else?"

"A name? Just for me?" The wolf seems to be surprised at her proposition, disbelief is clearly written on his face along with excitement. Ruby noted how his fluffy tail began swaying ecstatically.

"Yes. Is that okay with you?"

"Yes, of course. Most certainly! What would you have me named, Lady mother?"

"How about... Fragarax? It means the Truth Seeker. It's the sword of a mighty king that when pointed to someone compels them to tell the truth. I always noticed you disciplining the pups when they're misbehaving. Plus you also keep the adults in check when they're stealing extra snacks from the kitchen. Do you like it?"

"Yes... It is a beautiful name. To have a name and to have that name be given meaning... There's nothing more joyful than that."

"Then from now on, you are Fragarax Fenrison."

"Fenrison? What does it mean?"

"It means son of Fenrir. Fenrir's son. Like that. It's kinda like your family name. It's your identity that you share with all your brothers and sisters. Although the girls should be called Fenrisdottir because the old Norse for daughter is 'dottir'."

"I see... I joined my brothers Skoll and Hrod when they rallied us because I thought that I could finally find a place where I belong and I was right. Because here I am speaking to a beautiful creature that is now my mother." Fragarax stood from the ground and took both of his swords from their sheaths before bending his knees to offer them to her.

"I know that all of us are automatically your property but I would like to formally swear my allegiance to you. I, Fragarax son of Fenrir, give you my body and my soul as your shield and your sword! I swear to slay all your enemies and to protect everything that you love for this day till the day that I shall fall! Hail Queen Ruby the Valiant!"

"Hail Queen Ruby the Valiant!" shouted Skoll who suddenly emerged from behind her.

"Hail Queen Ruby the Valiant!" repeated Hrod and soon all of the wolves who had rallied under Fenrir's name stood before her to kneel and show their support. The forest rang with their cheers and howls and Ruby couldn't help but feel warmth spreading through her heart.

"They suddenly decided to do this? How did you even know that I'm here?"

"We can hear everything from a mile away. Why do you think there are no birds here? We kill them before they can even defecate near our mother." Fragarax explained.

"I see..." mumbled Ruby as she looked at each and every one of them.

"The battle is tonight. Would you like to address all of us to give a little motivation to your troops?" suggested Skoll who went to her side. Ruby nodded before straightening up to stand taller.

"My children," she began and all the wolves went quiet as she addressed them, carefully listening to every word that she said.

"I have rallied you all under a united banner so that we may become a pack that shares its glory as equals. Today the Sultan of Gomharra had insulted me and by doing so he has insulted all of us. Do we lower our heads to these filthy despots who can only hide under their mothers' skirts? Or do we fight back and bare our fangs at them?"

"We fight!!!" replied the wolves unanimously.

"Follow me tonight in battle and I will give you blood. Kill my enemies and I will give you glory. I will not ask you to die for me but I will ask you to kill so that we may live. Unlike them, we will not fight with greed, corruption, and fear. Tonight, we will take everything that they have. Those upper crusts have sat long enough on the bodies of the weak. That ends tonight." Ruby can see the excitement on their faces. Right now she is promising them war and bloodshed, the things that they loved the most.

"If you give me your allegiance and I will make sure that everyone who tries to harm you will die screaming. I will not hide safely in some tent, I will fight by your side through fire and ice, from heaven and hell. WE are the proud wolves! We are the strongest fighters in all the Seven Realms! We are the fury!"

"WE ARE THE FURY!"

The wolves howled in unison. Each one of them sings a different note that promises her victory. They have chosen her as their queen, the very creatures that she so loathed are now the ones supporting her to protect her family. It was a laughable irony but she will take it and wear it with pride. Long gone is the little girl who cowers at the sound of the wolf howls, now a queen will emerge whose howl will shake the world to its very foundation.

"Hail Queen Ruby the Valiant!"

Oh my gosh I updated 3 times in 1 week! See that's what your love and support makes. I give you back my love and if you're having a bad day, know that I value you!