Dad was worried about money again.
It seemed he always was.
He had been trying to convince Eitri Junior that the rope holding the mighty Fenris Wolf needed replacing but Junior had scoffed at the idea and accused my father Billi of trying to ruin his reputation.
In return he had ruined my family's reputation.
No one would buy Billi's ropes anymore.
Dad didn't want me to worry about money. He said that was his job.
I did anyway.
I gave him every cent I managed to save up no matter how much he protested saying I had earned it.
He didn't know that I hadn't earned it for myself.
I used to be popular at school because I was a svartalf.
People would compliment my outfits and ask to sit at my table at lunch.
Not anymore.
Now the other dwarfs mocked me in the halls for my unorthodox clothing and knock my bag from my arms.
I was lucky if I made it home in one piece most days.
Despite everything I managed to keep a cheerful outlook.
I knew dad needed that.
Every night he would sit me beside him and tell me about his day and I would tell him about mine although I left out the bad parts.
I had a feeling he did too.
Today he is leaving to check the bonds of Fenris himself.
I want to come with him but he won't let me.
My fourteenth birthday is in two days. He vows to be back by then.
"Goodbye Blitzen. I'll see you soon." Dad promises. He leaves.
Two days pass.
It's my birthday.
He isn't back.
I'm worried.
Where is he?
Where is he?
Where is he?
Five days pass.
I've been fourteen for three days.
He still isn't back.
I worry all the time.
Why isn't he back?
He should be back.
I've been sewing a lot.
I don't what else to do.
I make a scarf.
I don't know why.
It's red and white.
I don't know why.
It just felt like the right thing to do.
It's been a week.
A dwarf in uniform knocks on my door.
I answer and he says he was patrolling the coast.
He found ripped up clothes.
They're my dad's clothes.
I can't hold back my tears.
I feel empty.
Like a cup with all the liquid drained out.
Everything is gone.
My life has no meaning without dad.
My mother Freya shows up.
She's says words of comfort that I don't quite process.
I eventually fall asleep.
I dream of my father and the evil wolf I've only ever heard stories of.
Eventually my dreams shift.
To a pair of cool gray eyes.
It comforts me.
Who do they belong to?
Not a dwarf. Most dwarfs have brown eyes.
Could it maybe be a human? Or an elf?
But they're myths... right?
Those eyes hold such a perpetual sadness.
How can any one person experience so much pain?
I need to find who these eyes go with.
I need to.
Thought on this?
I'm going to do the same with Hearth but I though I'd start with Blitz because he's way to underrated and I love him and if you can disagree you can fight me.
