The advice from the strangers had proven solid and reliable, it took several for Brynjar to reach the entrance of the cave but with a solid ten or more hours straight sleeping, he was able to move at a much faster pace. His skin was sunburnt and his body had lost a fair amount of water weight due to the journey and knew that he needed to drink plenty the first opportunity that he got. However, for now he was focused on the task at hand, the grave of Glwyn was not far now and he couldn’t focus on his well being when the whole clan’s destiny was moments away from him. Brynjar stood at the mouth of the cave and peered in, the cave was too small for his humanoid form, but for a wolf. It might fit a wolf and that was all that he needed. Placing his belongings in the satchel that he brought with him, Brynjar stripped naked and ensured that everything would be safe and secure for when he returned. Shifting into his large black haired wolf, his nose twitched as he peered into the darkness, seeing the gloomy light of something deeper within had Brynjar intrigued.

Stepping into the cave, the large dark wolf padded quietly, carefully in case there were any traps or dangers that lurked ahead. The wolf was always cautious especially since humans could have found this cave and set traps to hurt his kind if they were found lurking around the cave. The deeper down the cave he explored, the colder and damper it got, to the point that mushrooms grew all around him in the cave, it made him shiver since the mushrooms were not pleasant sight in his mind but also he was very deep in the earth currently and any tunnel collapse could see him lost forever. The wolf paused and sniffed, the tunnel diverged into two pathways, he needed to figure out which one would guide him to the correct destination. From the left there was a scent of even colder, damper air while the right seemed to have air that was more similar to what was around him. Left seemed the appropriate course of action since he believed it could guide him down towards the grave.

glow_by_aurru_dcjz96u-pre.jpg


Darkness engulfed him as the wolf crawled and scrambled his way through the tunnel as it got narrower and narrower. He was half tempted to backtrack and go right, this felt wrong, felt too tight and tricky for any Lupo to get through. Something in his mind convinced him to push on, to go forward. One more step, one more squeeze through the narrow walls that scratched at his flesh. Just as he thought he was lost in the dark, he spotted a faint glow, it was in the distance but he could reach it. Within sight and with some dedication, within reach. Pushing through, Brynjar ignored the cramped, claustrophobic feel of the tunnel squeezing his wolven form as he scrambled and clawed his way to the glow. It felt like an age before Brynjar reached the cavern, a room that expanded from the tiny tunnel and there was a crypt with Glwyn’s headstone at the top. It was a sight, something wondrous and completely unique. His ancestor died so long ago, yet his grave remained so well intact and it was as if no one had ever been here before Brynjar. Looking around the cavern, there were paintings, the drawn achievements of his ancestor. They described the hero as caring, kind and patient. Listening to every clan and always protecting the first Anasi and his family. The fact that this all stood here, that Brynjar stood here showed how much his clan had changed. His parents were so focused on improving their status, his family had become so focused on that ideology that they forget where they came from. Who they came from. A man of caring, dedication and putting the needs of others before himself. A man that was focused on protecting everyone, especially Clan Svard. Brynjar wondered how he would think of the state of Clan Threist now. Being here highlighted the changes that he needed to make.

Placing his hand on the stone crypt, Brynjar thought about the future and what was in store for him now. Suddenly as this happened, his vision went black and he collapsed. As soon as he hit the ground, his body felt like it was floating in water. Darkness surrounded him, his vision unable to perceive anything, it was terrifying and he wasn’t even sure what was happening to him. That was until he heard voices, quiet at first and in the distance but they steadily grew louder. Suddenly, he was in a great hall surrounded by all the Alphas of the different Lupo clans and some other familiar faces. Brynjar looked around, confused and unsure what was happening, how did he get here?

“Does anyone wish to announce their wishes to become Anasi?” A distant voice that he didn’t recognise called out. Brynjar turned to see if anyone stepped forward before him, but no one did. After a long, paused moment, Brynjar stepped forward and made it clear he was making his claim for the title Anasi.

No one countered, Brynjar was sure that someone would have fought back this decision, perhaps Gerwald, maybe even Aelin? But he couldn’t see them in the crowd as everyone seemed to roar with cheer. Lifting Brynjar up as the new Anasi, leader of all the clans. Second Threist to ever receive this title. Brynjar blinked and suddenly he was sitting on his throne, it felt like months had passed since he had been Anasi. People were arguing in front of him, their voices were difficult to hear at first as if they were all underwater as they talked. It slowly became clearer as he adjusted and he realised they were discussing what to do about the Fayth. Attacks against the Lupo had increased and apparently, the human monarchy was calling for Lupo blood. War was coming whether they liked it or not. Brynjar rose from his throne and looked around the room.

“If they seek war, then we will bring them war. For too long have we acted like prey, now is our time to stand strong and fight. Show them that to be Lupo is to be the hunter and not the hunted. That we have every right to live and we will fight and kill for that right! We deserve to be free and by the Gods’ will, we will be!” Holding up Medelwr high in the air as he howls loudly. The other Lupo all howl and stomp their feet, all clearly ready for war as well. Brynjar smirked, this was it, this was the first day of their new lives. United and free, they would be unstoppable against any foe.

Blinking again, the setting changed, war was in full swing. Lives were being lost heavily on both sides but this mattered more to the Lupo side since every loss was devastating and no one was sure how they could ever recover from this war. Brynjar was scarred with more wounds than anyone, he always fought on the front lines, leading the charge and was the last fighter when they had to retreat. This dedication and way of fighting was all that kept the peace between the Lupo, they were becoming more and more divided with some wanting peace negotiations with the Fayth and humans, while others thought that as long as Brynjar didn’t fall then they should keep fighting and showing the Fayth that they can’t walk all over them. These were dark days and Brynjar couldn’t deny that he wondered if any other leader could have saved them from this war, from this darkness that loomed over them. Having Medelwr, it just didn’t seem to be enough, he wondered if someone, anyone from Clan Svard had lived and obtained the Godstones that perhaps that would be enough to win this war. His body was nearing breaking point, he never let it on but he knew deep down that he couldn’t continue this fight any longer. He refused to surrender though, the Fayth could be defeated, it just all depended on this last great battle. Brynjar gathered every able-bodied Lupo and they would charge at the Fayth in an all or nothing battle. Last stand. It was all he could do now.

Another blink, more time passed. The heat of battle, the tide was in the Lupo's favour as they were beating the Fayth. Victory was a heartbeat away. Then out of nowhere, more humans arrived, like a horde, they overran the Lupo forces. Everything was going wrong, sounding the retreating horn, Brynjar decided that his people needed to flee. He couldn’t watch them all die here, if the ones still alive fled, then they could rebuild, rethink and strike another day. But they needed time. Time to retreat successfully and get away. Brynjar couldn’t risk them running with humans following and just killing them when his people got tired. No, this was his last stand. His final fight. He only wished he had done more with his time, spent it with the friends and loved ones he had made over the months he had been living on Islimore. He sounded the horn once more, using Medelwr best he could to hold back the human horde that was trying to slaughter his people. Looking back, he could see the faces of everyone he grew close with, and had gotten to know.

“Go, run as fast as you can. I will hold them back and meet up with you later.” He gave a weak yet brave smile. He knew this was his end but he didn’t want his friends to stay behind and try to save him. He had caused this war and he needed to pay the consequences of his actions. It was time for him to pay with his life. Protecting those that he loved.

He could hear their screams and pleas to come with them. Some wanting to stay behind, others realising the situation and dragging everyone to safety. Dropping the horn, Brynjar held Medelwr in both hands and gave a prayer to the Gods. He thanked them for all that they had done and begged them to protect his people and help them rebuild from this bloody war that he made. Then his eyes snapped open and Brynjar roared into battle. Medelwr was swinging wildly and slicing through any human that got close to him. Brynjar fought hard, killing dozens and dozens of humans, barely getting a scratch in return. He could picture his story being told to his descendants of the great Brynjar, unscathed and unbreakable, able to take down hundreds of human warriors with Medelwr in his hands. However, descendants of Clan Threist weren’t going to exist sadly, Brynjar knew that much, his axe swung and got stuck in the chest of a human. As Brynjar went to rip it out, he watched as his hand was sliced off cleanly. Howling in pain and anger, Brynjar shifted into a wolf and started tearing through the humans as a wolf, clawing, biting and ripping any and all humans that he could.

However, without Medelwr to block attacks, Brynjar was vulnerable and could feel swords and other blades being buried into him. It took several to slow him down, several more before he stopped moving. Panting, losing blood and barely able to think, the wolf looked up and saw a human dressed fully armoured as a member of the Fayth, hatred in their eyes as they stabbed their sword straight through his head without saying a word. Death came swiftly to Brynjar and he was in the darkness again.

Sharply waking from the trance, Brynjar looked around and checked himself, he was fully dressed and standing in the cavern, it was empty now save for an old man standing opposite Brynjar. He smiled warmly and hugged the confused and lost Lupo, where was he now? Was this still part of the vision? Or something different? Was what he saw the future?

“I shall answer all your questions and more Brynjar, this grave is meant to bring answers to you.” The voice was croaky and dry as if not used to talking. “What you saw, it was not THE future, just one of many possibilities. Guided by your actions and the consequences that come with that.”

“So, if I become Anasi, then our people are doomed?” Brynjar asked, his voice with deep concern and confusion.

There was a chuckle and a shake from the old man’s head, “no. No. There are futures where you are successful. This vision only showed you the consequences of your actions if you maintained the current path Brynjar. There is a lot of questioning and uncertainty inside you, but if you continue the path that your parents guided you to, then this will most likely come to pass.” The old man placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it firmly. “However, nothing is guaranteed. Gods only showed what they thought was necessary to show you.”

“Are you one of the Gods? Who are you and why should I ignore my parents’ teachings? They made me the man that I am today. I got here only because of their teachings!” Brynjar felt his shoulders tense as he got defensive of his family.

“I am Glwyn. Founder of Clan Threist, First Alpha of Clan Threist, Owner of Medelwr and Protector of Clan Svard. I am not saying everything your parents taught you was bad, but you got here not because of them. You got here because there is something special inside you Brynjar. You are the first member of Clan Threist to find my grave, the first in several generations to search for and restore Medelwr, the first Alpha of our clan in several generations that is focused on restoring honour to our name, returning us to the old ways.” There was a sadness, a loss in Glwyn’s eyes as Brynjar looked back. “You are our last hope, my last hope, for Clan Threist to stand strong and have a second golden age.”

Brynjar paused and swallowed hard, he never saw those things in himself and to come from Glwyn, it was too much. “I… I can only fail you. I am not the man you think I am.” Brynjar whispered in a quiet, defeated voice.

“My boy, you are all that and more. You can do great things, become a legend within your own right. All you have to do is find out who Brynjar Threist is!” Glwyn held Brynjar’s head in both his hands and looked at him.
“What if I fail?”

“You would only fail if you never tried to figure out who you are.”

“And what if who I am isn’t the man you see…?”

“That doesn’t matter, all that matters is that the man who you are is the man you want to be.” Glwyn smiled and nodded his head to Brynjar. “In my crypt, there is scripture, Goddess Cérmæ gave me this when we forged Medelwr together. It shall teach you how to bestow all the gifts we gave Medelwr long ago. The gift was a skill called Force Imbuement. It is a power the Gods held and Medelwr was nearly indestructible with it. Take it and learn it. Use it and force Medelwr in your own image.”

“I… I will. Thank you for this.” Brynjar felt hot tears running down his cheeks as he talked with Glwyn. He knew what he needed to do and had the backing of his ancestor.

One blink and reality came. He was alone, naked, human in the cavern with the crypt. Pushing the crypt open slightly, Brynjar spotted the scripture and snatched it carefully out before restoring the lid back in place. He bound the scripture into a safe bundle that he could carry in his mouth without destroying it as a wolf. Shifting back into a wolf, Brynjar carried the scripture out of the tight, claustrophobic tunnels. Heading back to the surface.

He had it. Everything he needed to rebuild Medelwr. He also knew that he needed to reflect on himself and figure out what Brynjar Threist was as a person. Otherwise, how could he lead his clan yet alone all clans if he truly wanted to be Anasi. He couldn’t just do what his parents wanted anymore, that much was clear. The vision of that future had terrified him, he could still feel the pain, the death that he faced. The fear that he doomed everyone. That future couldn’t come to pass, he wouldn’t allow it.

For now, he had to focus on restoring Medelwr with this scripture. That was his next goal.