Valkyrie in the Making - The Preparation

She approached the hut after the long climb down from the cliff. The sun was beginning to set and the door to the hut gaped open, challenging her to enter. He hopped out of the hut into the doorway and looked at her in an impaitent sort of way.

"Not yet, let me dig first."

He made a series of short caws, indicating his frustration with her, cocked his head a few times, turned and disappeared into the darkness of the hut, leaving her to her own folly.

She grabbed the small shovel from the side of the hut, found an open space of ground a few yards behind the structure and began to dig. It was hard work, as the ground had just begun to thaw after the long winter. She sweated as she worked, but refused to take off any of the layers of fur, or wool that she wore. She felt the sweat that was dripping off of her was the despair coming out, cleansing her body of all she had felt for the past four months.

By the time she finished digging she had a two foot deep hole that was long enough to fit a person in. The sun had set and she could barely make out the hand in front of her face, the moon was dark. She felt her way around until she found the pile of firewood and kindling, she grabbed a handful of sage and manged to get it lit with the small piece of flint she kept dangling on her belt. After lighting the lamp that was kept outside the hut she began to fill the hole with wood, leaves and twigs.

Nausea swept over her once she realized she was finished with this step. She stared at the hut considering what had to be done next.

"No way to avoid it anymore." She said aloud, trying to convince herself. She took the lamp and walked to the front of the hut and gazed at the challenging doorway inside.

He cawed loudly from the darkness, daring her to enter.

"Well, I'm not going to let some dirty raven proven he's more courageous than me." She announced loud enough so he could hear. He answered in turn by flying out and landing square on her shoulder. Cawed so loudly in her ear it made her head buzz more than it already was.

"Fine, we will go together." she said and they approached the darkness as one.