It was a bright, sunny morning. Ylva was running across an open field, prancing around and chasing buttlerflies, when suddenly, she heard two familiar voices calling her.
“Ylva!”
“Here we are, Ylva!”
When she turned to look, she couldn’t believe her eyes. It was her parents!
“…Mum?! Dad?!”
Breathing rapidly, she ran towards them. When she got to them, she leaned her head toward their chests, sobbing.
“I… I missed you! A lot!”
“There, there. Everything is okay.” Ylva’s mom said. “We’re here.”
“Mum, dad… Sorry I couldn’t save you from that quake, during the pirate attack. It’s just…”
Ylva began crying.
“It’s okay, Ylva.” Ylva’s dad said. “We wanted you to live because we knew there was great potential inside of you.”
“Aren’t you offended because I’m in a team with dragons?”
“Ylva, the only thing that matters to us is to see you happy, and if that makes you happy, it makes us happy, too.” Ylva’s mom said.
“Besides, you’re a heroine! We’re so proud of you.” Ylva’s dad said.
“I want to be with you again!”
“You will, Ylva… someday. But for now, your team needs you.”
“What? What are you…?”
“Remember, Ylva.” Ylva’s mom said. “We will always be with you, even if you can’t see us.”
“Because...” Ylva’s dad said.
“We love you.” both said at the same time.
“Wait! Mum, dad!” Ylva said.
“Wake up, Ylva… Wake up…” her parents said.
Suddenly, as the scene lit up intensely, their voices morphed into the ones of Winger and Summer. When the light dissipated, they were in front of her, saying:
“Wake up, Ylva!”
“Rise and shine!”
Ylva scratched her eyes, realizing it was all a dream.
“Winger? Summer?” she said, then yawned. “What’s this all about?”
“Your birthday, silly girl!” Winger said.
“We got lots of fun stuff planned just for you!” Summer said.
“Oh! Uh… Thank you, guys! I guess…”
While summer went with the others to prepare everything for Ylva’s birthday party, but Winger stayed behind. He noticed Ylva wasn’t so happy. She had a grimace.
“Ylva… What’s going on?” he asked. “It’s your birthday! You should be extra happy!”
“I know. It’s just… I had a dream. And my parents were on it.”
“Oh…” Winger said. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Ylva slowly walked toward Winger and leaned her head against his chest. Winger embraced her.
“Sometimes I miss them so much.” she said, between sobs.
“I know what it feels like, Ylva.” Winger said. “Sometimes, I remember mom. She was sweet and kind… she always fed I, Dak and Leyla the best fish, and every night, she sang us a beautiful lullaby to sleep.”
Ylva sniffled and said:
“My mom used to do the same things.”
“I’m sure your mom is proud of how far you have come, and she and your dad are always watching over you.”
“Thank you, Winger. If your mom was here, she’d be proud of you, too.”
“Thank you, Ylva.” Winger said. “Hey, today, we’re going to make you sure you have the best birthday ever! Our friends have lots of surprises waiting for you, why don’t you go check on them?”
“Oh, yeah!”
Ylva went to have fun with the rest of her friends.
“Have fun, Ylva! And Happy Birthday!” Winger said to her.
First, Ylva went with Dak and Leyla, who greeted her with a surprise!
“Happy Birthday, Ylva!” Dak said.
“We prepared you your favorite breakfast for this special day!” Leyla said. “Puppy kibbles with chunks of your favorite Huttsgalorian sheep cheese!”
A big smile drew upon Ylva’s face, and she proceeded to howl excitedly.
“Thank you, Leyla! Thank you, Dak! What a great start for my birthday!”
“Bon appetite!” Dak said.
Ylva began to gobble up the bowl of kibbles. When she finished, she licked her lips and panted happily.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it!” Leyla said.
“Yeah, you literally wolfed it down!” Dak said.
“Oh, I can’t wait what other surprises await me for my birthday!”
Next, she went with her closest friends, Summer and Aggro.
“Hey, birthday girl!” Summer said. “Ready to have fun with your BFFs?”
“Sure thing!” Ylva said.
“We prepared something really special for you!” Aggro said. “A sauna!”
“Whoa!” Ylva said. “You built a sauna?”
“Not really.” Aggro said. “Dragon paws. Not made for building. Dak and Leyla handled it.”
“Wow, this is amazing!” Ylva said. “Let’s go inside, already!”
Summer, Aggro and Ylva entered the sauna. Once inside, Ylva asked:
“So, uh… where is the steam?”
“Watch this!” Summer said.
Aggro and Summer spit fire and water at the same time, creating a big cloud of vapor that heated the entire room. The three girls sighed in relaxation.
“You girls thought about everything!” Ylva said.
“We wanted to make sure the birthday pup has the best birthday ever!” Summer said.
“And you’re doing a great job!” Ylva said.
“Thank you, Ylva.” Aggro said. “Now, feel the heat!”
Summer and Aggro spit a couple more of their blasts, creating another cloud of vapor. The three girls sighed again. When they finished relaxing in the sauna, Aggro suggested Ylva:
“Well, I think you should go visit Cutter now. He has one big special surprise for you.”
“Will do! Thank you, girls! You’re amazing!”
“You’re welcome, Ylva!” Summer said. “Have fun!”
Ylva went to visit Cutter. He was sharpening his spikes.
“Hey, Cutter!”
“Oh! Hi, Ylva!” Cutter said. “I’m glad you’re here. You’re just in time.”
“For what?”
“Just take your seat, get comfortable and enjoy the show.”
“Um… okay.”
In front of Ylva, there was a log.
“Why is that log there?” she asked.
“Just wait and see.” Cutter said.
Cutter nimbly flew all over the log, slicing it with his spikes and blades. Ylva closed her eyes not to catch any woodchip in her eyes.
“Now, open your eyes!”
Ylva did so, and she was amazed when she found a wood statue of herself!
“Whoa!”
“Ta-da!” Cutter said. “Do you like it!”
“Yeah! It’s beautiful! Thank you, Cutter!”
“You’re welcome! Now, I think you should go with Burple. He has something fun for you.”
“Okay, Cutter.”
Ylva went with Burple, who was practicing his rolling attacks.
“Oh, hi, Ylva!” Burple said.
“Hey, Burps!”
“I got a great surprise for you.”
“Really? What is it?”
“A bowling game!”
Burple showed Ylva some practice targets lined up like bowling pins. Then he curled himself into a ball.
“All you need to do is pat me, then let it rip!”
“Okie dokie!”
Ylva moved Burple toward the targets and patted him. Burple rolled toward the targets and knocked down a few.
“Aw, I didn’t knock them all down!” Ylva said.
“Give it another go, Ylva! You can do it!” Burple said.
Burple curled up into a ball again, and Ylva pointed him at the realigned targets. When she was ready, she patted Burple so he rolled toward the targets… and scored!
“Score!” she cried.
“Great work, Ylva!” Burple said.
“That was fun!”
“Whoa, I feel a bit dizzy. I think that’s enough bowling for now.”
“Okay, Burps! Take some rest. I’ll check on Winger now.”
Ylva went to see Winger. He was waiting for her.
“Hey, Winger.” she said.
“Hey, Ylva.” Winger said. “Ready for a ride?”
“A ride?”
“Yes! A special ride for out birthday girl!”
“Wow, I’d love to!”
“Jump in!”
Ylva jumped on Winger’s saddle.
“Now relax and enjoy the ride!” Winger said.
“Here we go!” Ylva said.
Winger took flight with Ylva in her back. Both flew over the ocean, up to the sky, and high above the clouds. Ylva was astonished by the beautiful sight! Then, they dived back toward the surface of the sea, and flew through natural rock arches that emerged from it, a cave, trees, and finally arrived home.
“That was the best flight ever!” Ylva said. “Thank you, Winger!”
“You’re welcome, birthday girl.” Winger said.
“Ylva, Winger!” Dak said.
“You arrived just in time. Everything’s set for the party!” Leyla said.
“All right!” Ylva said.
Outside the Roost, there were already tables, chairs, balloons, fish and chips. Burple, Cutter, Summer and Aggro were already waiting for them.
“All of this… is just for me?”
“Just for you, Ylva!” Summer said.
“Awww, thank you, guys!”
The team sat at a table to eat.
“Will other people come to the party?” Ylva asked.
“Yes!” Dak said. “They shouldn’t take long in arriving.”
“Hey, here they come!” Leyla said.
One by one, people arrived. Chief Duggard, Elbone, Hannahr, and Finngard!
“Hey, everyone!” Leyla said. “It’s great to have you here.”
“Why of course!” Duggard said. “We would never miss the birthday of the wolf heroine of Huttsgalor!”
“What a perfect beginning for my baking business!” Elbone said, bringing a dragon paw shaped cake.
“Huh. For a wolf pup’s birthday party.” said Marena, appearing out of nowhere. “I remember when I baked my first pizza for my pet snapping turtle!”
“Ylva is gonna love my present.” Hannahr said. “I forged it with love for her!”
“I brought her a present too!” Finngard said.
“Look at all these presents, Ylva!” Winger said. “Looks like you will have the best birthday party after all!”
“It’s true!” Ylva said.
Suddenly, however, a flock of chickens headed running toward the Roost!
“Come back here, you bunch of feather sacks!” Magnus said, running after them.
He was pushing a new machine of his.
“Get over here right now so I can roast you all!”
“Uh oh.” Dak said. “Looks like we’ll have to save this birthday party! Come on!”
The Rescue Riders and Marena joined forces to stop the chickens. Winger, Aggro and Summer flew to catch some falling chickens. Marena rounded up the chickens swinging her staff. Burple spat out some chicken seeds so they could eat them and stop running. Cutter threw some of his spikes to trap a group of chickens in a spike circle!
“And that’s how you round up chickens the Razorwing way!” Cutter said.
Aggro giggled. Ylva ran barking after the chickens to scare them away from the cliff and assist Marena in her chicken round-up. In the end, all chickens were safe!
“Wow, that was the best fowl play ever!” Ylva said.
“You mean your birthday party wasn’t ruined?” Summer asked.
“Not at all! This was so much fun! A birthday party for a member of the Rescue Riders needs a rescue!”
“I guess you’re right.” Burple said.
Magnus arrived pushing his invention and stopped to pant.
“I’m terribly sorry for all that ruckus.” Magnus said. “I wanted to try my new Magnus Chicken Roaster.”
“Huh, no wonder they were so scared.” Aggro said.
Ylva jumped into Leyla’s arms and whispered in her ear.
“Ylva says it’s okay and that she enjoyed this.” Leyla said.
Ylva whispered in her ear again.
“She says that you didn’t have to bother catching chickens to make food, because…”
“We got fish?” Dak asked.
“Not exactly. Marena cooked some pizzas for us to eat!”
The guests clapped.
“Hmph. Why would they rather crusty pizzas instead of juicy chicken?”
“Just give it a try, Magnus boy.” Marena said.
Marena handed Magnus a slice of pizza, to which he reluctantly gave a bite. However, a smile instantly drew upon his face!
“Mmmm!”
“Looks like Waldondo was right.” Dak said. “Marena IS a good cook!”
After everyone ate pizza, it was time for Ylva to blow out the candles of her cake! Dak, Leyla, Winger, Summer, Cutter, Aggro and all of their Huttsgalor friends gathered to sing:
“Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday, dear Ylva, Happy Birthday to you!”
Ylva blew out the candles and everyone clapped. Then, everyone had a slice of cake. Afterward, it was time for Ylva to open the presents from her Huttsgalor friends! Duggard gave her a medal, Elbone gave her a fishing spear, Hannahr gave her an armor, Finngard gave her a dragon plushie, and Magnus gave her a second, upgraded version of mechanical dragon wings! Ylva was thrilled to have all of these presents!
“So, what do you reckon, Ylva?” Winger asked.
“Oh, my gosh! This really was my best birthday ever!” Ylva said.
“Only the best for my little wolf sister.” Winger said.
Ylva smiled and said:
“My team… my friends… my family… thank you.”
The Rescue Riders did a group hug. Then, the guests joined in! And that was Ylva’s awoo-some birthday party.

THE END