Ratatoskr

"Drill-tooth." The squirrel that carries messages from the eagle living in the upper branches of the giant ash Yggdrasil to the serpent Níðhöggr living at its roots.

Ratatösk is the squirrel named,

which has to run

in Yggdrasil's ash;

he from above

the eagle's words must carry,

and beneath to Nidhögg repeat.

Snorri Sturluson adds that the squirrel runs in both directions, bearing envious words between the eagle and the serpent.

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