Summary: Just to remember you all this is an Alternate universe story. It will posses some elements of Loud House show, but it will also have some OC of my own creation.
Chapter #2
Stan is all business, immediately using his telekinesis to hurl the wolves into the night sky, while I ignite the ring of fire around the cave entrance. The flames leap and roar, cutting us off from the pack. They stumble back, barely avoiding incinerating themselves, and growl. I can feel their frustration, even through the barrier blocking me from their thoughts.
I stand back behind the wall of fire, illuminating the night. I spread my hands and the glow from my Pyrox lights up the entire clearing, revealing even more wolves. I'm not sure where they came from, but there's easily over a hundred. The flames flicker, reflecting in their dark eyes. All of them deadly predators, focused only on tearing us to shreds.
Stan and I continue to blast the pack with telekinetic bursts, sending them skidding across the ground, but more and more keep on pouring out from the forest. I know Stan and I won't be able to keep this up forever, and soon enough the fire will go out, putting us in danger of a wild charge. But there's no way out except…
I put a hand on Stan's arm and he turns towards me, not even pausing in his motionless assault on the pack, "There's too many to fight."
He shrugs, "Why not? We can take 'em." Another wolf goes flying through the dark.
"Stan," I say tersely, "There's at least a hundred wolves out there, more pouring in by the second. We fought maybe fifteen earlier. I won't be able to keep this fire up forever. Eventually they're going overwhelm us. We can't win against these odds without getting some kind of serious injury, and as soon as we turn our backs for our healing stones it'll all be over."
Stan frowns, "But if we grab them now, while they're held at bay?"
I shake my head, "And then what happens we lose them dodging through this mess and have to leave them behind? I don't know about you, but I'd rather not run through the forest with a broken leg."
Stan deflates, momentarily forgetting his attack on the wolves, and throws his arms out, "Then what are we supposed to do?" he cries out, "Look around you! There's no way out of this except ripping every single last one of them to shreds! Come on, man! There's no other option here except fight or lie down and die!"
I smile and point up at the rocky wall hanging above the cave entrance, "Yes, there is. Climb.
Stan slowly breaks into an awed smile and gives a wild laugh, "You crazy son of a bitch. I told you you were sneaky! I told you!"
My smile widens and I run inside to grab our Chests. When I come back out the flames are slowly starting to die out, withering to the ground. I know we won't have long before they're gone completely and the pack is on us.
I give Stan his Chest and hold my fist out, "For luck."
He smiles and bumps it, "We won't need it. See you at the top."
I nod and put my Chest under my bad arm, then take a running leap and hurl myself up at the wall. Stan does the same. It's difficult to climb with only one hand, and the Chest under my arm only makes it harder. I'm just starting to doubt whether this will work after all, when I hear Stan laugh and grab my shoulder. I turn to see him standing on the wall as easily as it was the floor. I'd completely forgotten about his antigravity Vanir. He extends a hand, which I gratefully accept, and he pulls me up next to him, transferring his power to me.
"You idiot," he smiles, "Did you actually think we'd do this the hard way?"
I'm about to reply when a wolf gives a flying leap and snaps at our feet, missing us by less than an inch. Stan and I both yelp, and he pulls us farther up the wall. I look down to see that the flames have dwindled down to slowly dying embers and the wolves have gathered at the base of the cliff, eagerly waiting for us to fall. A group of fifty or so is tearing away from the clearing, heading off into the forest. I grab Stan's arm and point, and he nods grimly.
"They're gonna try to cut us off."
I pull at him, "Then we're going to have to get there first."
We run up the cave wall, going as fast as we can. It's a bit disorienting at first, but eventually I get used to the feeling. Thanks to Stan's antigravity Vanir we're standing at the top within less than a minute. I turn and look back over at the rising suns lighting up the vast expanse of forests, then at the ground we have to cover. Up ahead Mount Krios looms against the horizon, with the Temple of Providence balancing precariously on the summit side. It is there that Lupa had arranged for us to meet, where we could finally end this exercise.
I point ahead to the mountain, "First one to the finish line?"
Stan gives me daring smile, "You're on."
We take off at a sprint, racing to put as much distance as possible between us and the pack. We go fast, dodging in between the pillars of trees, but it still feels too slow to me. Stan's fast, faster than most of the other Aesir I know, but nowhere near as fast as me with my Super Speed. It was only when he used the Xianxi stone that he could keep pace with me at my best. The same stone - now depleted of power - is stuck inside my Chest, which I can't even open without Brandon.
"Keep running." I tell him, then zoom ahead.
I dash through the forest to the edge of the cliff, and then run alongside the wall until I spot the wolf pack pounding along in the ravine below us. At the pace they're going, they might reach the mountain pass before us. I'm about to race away when something catches my eye, and I pause. I squint and peer closer, struggling to see clearly through the glare of the sun. I slow myself down as much as possible so that the wolves are basically walking, granting me an unobstructed view. Then I recognize it: every single one of the wolves in the valley below me is an exact replica of the pack leader from yesterday. The broad shoulders, ash coat, they're all the same. This is no natural wolf pack.
I race back to tell Stan, startling him when I seemingly appear out of the middle of nowhere, "We've got a problem."
"What?" he pants as we run.
"At the pace we're going, they're going to reach the pass first. We have to speed up. And that's not all. I think Lupa's messing with us, Stan. Every single one of those wolves down there is the exact same. Remember the pack leader yesterday?"
"No," Stan snorts, picking up the pace, "I just forgot about the crazy beast that mauled me half to shreds. Why would I remember him?"
"Seriously. They're all him. Every single one. This can't be natural."
"No duh. Put it on the record that Lupa is officially messing with us."
We continue plowing forward, Stan moving at a much faster pace, but still frustratingly slow to me. We race past fallen trees and short hills, both aware of the pack following hungrily. We have a very short window; the pack could easily reach the mountain before us and block us off from the pass, trapping us. Even if we do manage to get there first it's sure to be close.
The ground is starting to climb and Mount Krios is practically looming on top of us when Stan breaks the silence, "How did you know the wolves were coming?"
I pause. A part of me is reluctant to share the details of my dream, especially to someone like Stan, who scoffs at anything that doesn't fit into his view of life. I can already picture his reaction: doubling over with laughter and asking if I needed mommy to tuck me in next time. Or maybe he'd suggest I sleep with a night light. In the end, I simply decide to shrug it off.
"I just woke up with this feeling. You know, when the hair on your back just stands at an edge?"
Luckily Stan accepts my explanation and doesn't press me further, instead simply saying, "Well it's damn lucky you woke up when you did. I wouldn't have seen them until they were on top of me, and by then we'd both be breakfast."
I nod and duck as a low-hanging tree branch Stan swiped aside comes flinging back at me with full force. It had been easy to forget the details of the dream earlier this morning with all the excitement, but now that Stan's unknowingly brought it up again it occupies my mind, a massive elephant bellowing to be heard and focused on. There's simply too many strange things about for me to make sense of though. I have no idea who the man was, or even where I was. He was obviously trying to tell me something important, but he'd never made it exactly clear what it was, only that I was in danger. I briefly indulged myself in a fantasy where he simply explained everything up front, starting with his name. Hi Lincoln, I'm Bennie, and I'm here to tell you all about this big bad thing coming your way. I know I look all scary and all with this knife and coat, but don't worry! I'm harmless! I smile to myself and picture my reaction if things had actually gone that way. I probably wouldn't have believed a word of it.
We're close to the entrance now. Snow lightly starts to cover the frosted ground and tall walls of rock tower up around us on both sides, boxing us in on our narrow path to the mountain. A handful of Chimæra drinking from a small stream look up at us as we pass by, tearing up a drift of snow in our wake. Seeing them reminds me of Hadley, waiting for me back at home, and I'm filled with a sudden determination to beat Lupa at her own little game. Struck by the sudden impulse, I turn and throw Stan over my shoulders, and he gives out a surprised yelp. It's awkward with one of my hands occupied with holding my Chest, but I manage. He says something, but it's lost in the noise of the wind as I race forward with my Vanir, breaking the sound barrier within seconds. The ice is slippery under my bare feet and the cold air stings my skin, but I plow forward. I'm so focused on getting to the pass that I don't even notice when Stan pries himself from my grasp. He hits the bank of snow beneath us, letting out a small oof. I run alone for a small moment when I realize what's happened, but then I circle back and pick him up again before he's even made it to his feet.
He pounds my back as we run, demanding to be let go, but I can't even hear his cries above the roar of the wind whipping past my ears, flattening my white hair to my head. I can't hear Stan, but I can imagine the string of insults he's hurling at me. I smile to myself; I know he's only acting this way since he's embarrassed. It only takes a few short minutes until we reach the large clearing near the mountain, where I put Stan down, where's he clutching his Chest tightly. I gaze across the frozen expanse to the narrow pass on the other side, just a short sprint away.
Stan glares at me, "You didn't have to do that. We still might've made it."
I smirk at him, "I know we wouldn't have made it."
A sharp reply is already rolling off his tongue when we catch sight of a lone wolf emerging from the forest to our right, running towards the gap between the mountains, swiftly followed by a hundred so or more. I look pointedly in Stan's direction, but he just rolls his eyes. Stan and I sprint toward the entrance, mirrored by the wolves on the other side of the clearing. Their tongues are hanging out of their mouths and spit flies from their jaws. We're both just at the mouth of the pass, and I'm about to grab Stan and dart forward with my speed again, But Stan throws his arm out at the wolves first. A massive telekinetic wave smashes into the wolves' front line sending several skidding backwards across the ice and several more crumpling to their feet. The wolves directly behind them stumble and fall over the flailing front-runners, causing even more confusion. I watch as Stan hurls one more wave at them for good measure and then we've darted into the chilly mountain pass, still pursued by fifty or so wolves.
The ground starts to incline sharply and the wind bites at our frozen skin as we emerge from the narrow mountains onto the exposed summit slope. I look up and see the path zigzagging across the mountain side, ending far above with a shattered stone bridge extending out to the Temple of Providence. The structure looks old and withered against the mountain slope, it's dark gray stone standing out against the dazzling white reflection emitting from the summit as the sun beats down overhead. The ice is slick beneath our feet, and at one point several of the wolves behind us slip and fall over the edge into the abyss below. I don't dare use my Vanir for fear that I'll slip and skid off the edge. I can tell Stan's thinking the same thing, unwilling to take his chances against the icy wall beside us with his antigravity Vanir. It wouldn't do well to run up the side only to slip and fall back down to the hungry wolves waiting below.
I can hear the pack's whines behind us, dangerously close, and I occasionally see them, down below us on some of the path's sharper turns as we ascend the mountain. At one point I even make the mistake of looking back over my shoulder. My bare feet slide against the smooth ice, desperately seeking traction, but before I can fall to the ground Stan's at my side, grabbing my arm and pulling me up. I stumble for a step or two, then resume by breakneck pace from before. I shiver at the thought of what would have happened if Stan hadn't caught me, and I picture myself falling behind only to be assaulted by the wolves, alone on the icy mountain slope. All of my thoughts come to a close when we circle the final twist in the path, exposing a clear view straight ahead to the shattered, rocky bridge built into the mountain side, littered with holes that reveal a long, icy gap between us and the temple. One final sprint, a last-ditch effort straight ahead. Stan and I lock eyes for a second, both heightened by the prospect of the finish line, then race ahead, the pack hot on our heels.
They whine and also put on an extra burst of speed, perhaps sensing that this is their last chance to catch us. But I'm confident that if we can clear the bridge, littered with gaps that surely only Stan and I could cross, then we'll finally be safe. We could go home. Everything we need to accomplish is here, within reach. Stan and I both give our all, unwilling to submit on this final obstacle. The pack tries their hardest as well; I can literally feel their breath on my the back of my neck as I dodge the crumbled sections of the bridge, leaping across small gaps in mid-sprint.
The final challenge lies ahead: a wide gap between the bridge and the last section that leads up to the temple. It's a far jump, and if Stan and I are going to cross it then we'll need all of our momentum. I shift into slow-time, then dash ahead of Stan and launch myself into the air. I feel a strong sense of vertigo as I look down the gap, echoing far down into the valley below. Then my feet hit the hard, unyielding stone and I'm rolling forward, trying to keep a grip on my Chest. I switch back to normal time and spin around just in time to see Stan racing toward me.
He has enough momentum, but on the final step, when he hurls himself forward, a wolf latches its jaw into his ankle. He cries out in pain and desperately reaches for a grip at the edge, pulling the wolf with him through the air. I shove my Chest aside and dive forward, my fingers just barely clasping around Stan's slick wrist. My muscles strain, and have to keep my grip iron tight on his arm, or else it will slide right through my grasp. Stan just barely manages to keep a hold on his Chest, then looks down at the wolf clamped onto his leg, its eyes staring hungrily up at Stan. He rips it jaws apart with telekinesis, letting it fall into the abyss, while I struggle to pull him up.
I pant as I shakily start to haul Stan over the edge, his weight almost sliding both of us into the dizzying drop below. Stan throws his Chest up beside mine and then starts to push himself up with his now free hand. Finally he's safe, and we both lay on the floor, panting.
Stan props himself up to his feet and looks over at me, "Thanks."
"No problem," I wheeze, "it would have gotten pretty boring around here without you."
"I can imagine."
We both shakily stand and grab our Chests then turn to look at the Temple, completely oblivious to the wolves' howls of frustration behind us. The Temple is built into the side of the summit, and while it looked tiny from afar, here it's huge, rivaling some of the buildings back in London. Wide domes crop up from most of the buildings, but they are all dominated by the sight of the observatory, with its massive curved ceiling and strong arches. Stan and I walk to the entrance and then stop, drinking in our success.
"We made it."
I nod wearily, "I knew we would. You ready to go inside?"
Stan smirks and holds out his arms in a sweeping gesture, "Ladies first."
"After you, then."
INSIDE TEMPLE
We stand in a long hallway, stretching all the way down to the observatory doors. Several side passageways branch off into the other areas of the Temple, accented by sweeping arches mad of cold, gray stone. The ceiling is round, like half of a cylinder, gives the place a majestic feel, like we're standing in the court of some king of old. Several ancient carvings and mosaics are plastered into the walls, depicting our planet's history. But the hallway is really dominated by the massive statues of the ten Elders, each guarding an entrance. They're so lifelike, managing to capture each Elder's personality so perfectly, that I almost expect them to step down from their pedestals and walk with us the rest of the way. I'm particularly captivated by the statue of Pittacus Lore, and I swear I could feel his eyes on me as we walked down the hall, our steps making loud thumps as they pounded against the silent stone.
Stan and I pause before the double doors that tower up to the ceiling, guarding the entrance to the observatory, flanked by the statues of the first Aesir, man and woman, Adan and Vakars. We look at each other, and I see my own experiences reflected in Stan's eyes. This trip has been hard as hell, but I've never felt so in touch with the nature of Earth. In a weird way, I feel like I've finally seen the other side of my home, as if it had been split into two separate entities long ago: the raw, untamed wilderness that I've just experienced, and the home I know so well. I take a deep breath, then push open the large, bronzed doors.
The room is dark, devoid of any sunlight. It's only lamination comes from the glow of a modular galaxy floating around us, millions of stars cluster about in mid-air. The model fills the entire structure, reaching far beyond my head to the ceiling above. Miniature planets and constellations float lazily by, passing through our bodies as if we weren't even there. Below us, a two dimensional image of Earth glows a faint green against the dark, barely outlining the dark stone around it. And in the center of the room, in the Void, the uncharted field of energy that holds the universe together, sits Lupa.
Her posture is rigid, and yet she gives every sense of ease, though her eyes tell you that she could be at your throat in an instant. She lets her auburn hair flow loosely down her back, and wears a simple, yet elegant robe, giving her a majestic look about her. With her high cheekbones and regal pose, she appears ageless, like the planet itself. She's beautiful, yet her most striking feature is her eyes: dark gray and stormy, they seem to stare right through me, analyzing my every move, every weakness. Her mouth is slightly turned in half-smile, as if she already knows what my next move will be.
I have heard many things about this woman, while I had once doubted some of them, I know that every single one of them must be true. Everyone knows of this Elder, the one who had lived longer than any other, she lived in ancient Greece. She had stayed, and raised two men that would eventually raise humanity's greatest empire: Rome. I'm told that even now they speak of her in their myths. I've heard all about her power, and know that she holds some of the strongest Vanirs among us. Teleportation, shape-shifting, and many others - the tools of a warrior. I involuntarily shudder, her very presence affecting me. Before me stands an Elder, a leader of our race since the dawn of the Aesir. Every single instinct in my body is screaming at me to bend down and bow before her, but I struggle forward, refusing to submit to her aura. Stan, after a conflicted moment of hesitation, mutely follows my lead.
She tilts her head and gazes at me, studying me, "So. You do have some fight in you."
It's a compliment, but I can't help feel as if it's more of a threat. For the first time, it occurs to me that I'm very glad that we're on the same side.
She stands and sweeps her hand out, letting her fingers drift slowly through the rotating stars, "Welcome. It is unusual for the Elders to send some as young as you. You must have been strong to escape my pack."
She shifts her gaze into my eyes, and I'm struck by how much power even her stare holds, "Or clever."
"So it was you." Stan says slowly. It's not an accusation, but more as if he's asking for confirmation.
"Of course," she answers without hesitation, "I must first test my pups before they become wolves. Only the strong may survive. I can only set you on your path, you must forge your own way. But you have proven your strength, and even now stand before me without cowering. That is a rare trait."
"Thank you." I say stiffly, not sure how to respond.
She slowly walks toward us, her every movement graceful and coordinated. As she circles us, studying us again, I'm once more struck by how beautiful she is. By the way Stan's eyes are wide open, drinking in every sight of her, I can tell he's just as captivated as me, perhaps more so. She comes back around, and gently lifts a hand to trace my cheek, her eyes calculating me coldly. I unconsciously move away, and her eyes flash dangerously. Then her posture is rigid once more, and she's sweeping back to the center of the observatory.
Stan turns to me, his eyes wide, "Why'd you piss her off?" he whispers.
I don't bother responding, and instead watch Lupa. She's standing still, her fingers silently grazing a model of the planet as it tumbles along. Though her face is turned from me, I can detect a certain tenderness about her, as though a mother comforting her child. But when she spins around, there is no trace of it.
She stands still and elegantly reaches her hands out to us, "Come. It is time to return."
Stan steps forward hesitantly, "You want us to take your hands?"
She narrows her eyes, as if she's reevaluating her opinion of him, "Obviously."
I step forward cautiously, and then grab her ice cold hand. She cups her palm lightly in mine, and then smiles just as everything starts to fade to black. For just an instant the observatory swims in and out of focus, and then, after a strong sense of vertigo, I feel as if I'm being pushed forward. Suddenly, dazzling sunlight hits my eyes, and I lift a hand to cover my face. After the dim glow of the observatory it's blinding, forcing me to squint. The hard stone is replaced with grass under my feet, and my bare back glows with warmth from the sun. London's skyline appears nearby, and I realize we're standing right next to the base of the forest. We're home.
I hear voices, and turn to see Brandon and my grandparents rushing towards us, shouting and pointing. Sandor and Stan's grandparents follow them, their faces awash in a happy glow. And there's Ronnie-ann and all the other kids chosen for this exercise. She's beaming at me, coming forward with the others, and I smile stupidly back at her.
My attention shifts when Lupa releases our hands and steps back. She bows her head and looks deep into our eyes once more, "This is where I take my leave. May fate light your paths, and luck be with you."
I can tell Stan's about to protest, but he freezes, his mouth hanging wide open, when she steps forward and hugs him. She then steps back and does the same to me.
As we embrace, her lips brush my ear, and I can her silently murmur, "Prove me wrong."
And then she takes another step back and disappears, gone before I can even ask what she meant.
Stan lets out a sigh and low whistle, gazing longingly at where she disappeared, "I'm gonna miss her."
"Dude," I say, disgusted, though I understand the appeal, "She's like, ten thousand years older than you."
"So?"
Whatever reply I might I have made is crushed by Brandon's massive hug. He's laughing as he reaches me, and I smile into his shoulder, dropping my Chest to the ground. My grandparents are beside me, chattering excitedly, wanting to know everything that's happened in the week I've been away. Stan's grandparents are doing the same, his uncle Sandor literally having to push them away so he can hug his Nephew. My grandfather pats me on the back, and I hug my grandmother. Then I turn to Ronnie.
She's striking, beautiful without even trying. With dark tan skin, black hair worn in a ponytail, freckles on her cheeks, and two buck teeth that stick out of her mouth. She wears a purple hooded sweatshirt, jean shorts, a white tank top, and purple shoes with light pink socks worn high, and her eyes sparkle at me with joy. Looking at her, I'm reminded how much I missed her, which leads me to remembering Stan's teasing, and a small heat floods into my cheeks. My breath constricts in my throat, and I smile weakly.
"Hey."
She smiles at me, shaking her head, "Really? You're gone for a week, the first thing you think to say is, hey? Get over here, you big idiot."
I laugh and pull her into my arms, her head resting against my bare chest. I drink in every sensation, marveling at how small her frame is, yet how powerful she is in the field. I focus on how warm her body is against mine, and stare at the smooth, silky, raven hair on top of her head. I decide with certainty that Lupa has nothing on her. She pulls back, her arms still around me, and wrinkles her nose.
"You smell."
"Seriously?" I ask, somewhat surprised.
She rolls her eyes, "Lincoln, you're a shirtless, teenaged guy who's spent a week in the woods. You smell. You probably didn't even take a shower, did you?"
"Stan and I had to cross a river at one point." I mumble, but she just smiles patronizingly at me.
Brandon puts a hand on my shoulder, causing Ronnie to pull away, and smiles. He's shaved since I've last seen him, getting rid of the short beard he used to wear. I decide I like him better without it; it makes him look younger.
"So how was it?" he asks.
"Good." I reply.
He tilts his head mockingly, "I was hoping for a few more details than just 'good.'"
I laugh, "Okay. Well, uh…it was really different. You had to do everything yourself. There's was no easy way out. You either did it the hard way, or it didn't get done at all. But it was beautiful out there. I mean, it's beautiful here, but deep out there, in the real wilderness, not just these borders, it's really something else. It's so…open. Free."
Brandon smiles, "I understand completely."
My grandmother tugs at my shoulder, pulling me in for another hug, "Was the food any good?"
I smile at her, with her warm eyes and curved mouth. Since the average Aesir lifespan is around two hundred years, her brown hair is just starting to gray. She has it pulled up in a bun, with a pin sticking halfway out. My grandfather stands beside her, strong and sturdy with his cropped blond hair and muscular arms.
"It had nothing on your cooking, Grandma."
Brandon snorts, and Ronnie calls me a kiss-up, but everyone's smiling. I smile too, relieved to at last be among the people I love and belong with. Stan comes over and I turn to give him a high five, but Ronnie gasps and points at my now exposed back with fearful eyes.
"Lincoln! What happened?" Her voice is almost a wail, grinding against my ears.
My grandmother rushes forward, tutting and checking me over and gasping again when she sees the bite on my forearm. Ronnie walks up to me and puts a hand on my shoulder, demanding answers, while Brandon and my grandfather watch on worriedly. I shrug, trying to blow it off.
"Stan thought I'd make a good doggie treat."
Ronnie-ann shoots an accusatory glance at him where he stands guiltily, and I hurriedly try to defuse the situation. We just got back, and I have no interest in starting a fight. And above all, Stan is like my brother, perhaps my closest friend. I'm not angry at him, and I don't want the others to be either. I know he wouldn't have tripped me if he'd known that I'd get hurt, and I'm already past this issue. What's done is done.
"It's fine, really. He saved my ass, like a million times, on the trip anyways."
"But you caught me when I fell off that bridge." He says, uncomfortable with being praised after his actions.
"Hey," I say, looking deep into his eyes so he knows that I'm not mad, "We're even, bro."
He smiles, and Ronnie and my grandmother reluctantly back off.
"You should at least have Svay heal that up for you." Ronnie-ann mumbles.
"Marina now." I say, reminding her.
Twoy, who's totally obsessed with other cultures and books of any kind, had recently gotten the idea to give herself a different name, and had persuaded Svay and Allen to go along with her. She had become Maggie, while Svay and Allen became Marina and Hannu. She even got Ten to change her name to Ella. I like that one, though. It seems to capture her sweet personality. She'd been pestering me and Stan all day before we left to join in, but we, along with the rest of us, had politely refused. We were happy with our names, proud to be recognized as the possible Twelve prophesized to save Earth in its darkest hour.
I look up at Brandon, "So what's next?"
He smiles and exchanges a look with Sandor, "You've both done well. I think we can give you a week off till the Games start up."
Stan and I express our thanks, and Sandor winks at Ronnie-ann, "Don't worry, hon. Katarina may not have told you yet, but the rest of you will get the week off as well, starting day after tomorrow. We just though these two deserved a bit more rest."
Ronnie-ann smiles, "Oh, no, it's fine. I'll take as much free time as I can get. I won't waste it like these two will," she pokes me in the stomach, "You'll probably spend the entire extra day sleeping."
"I'm tired!" I protest, but everyone just laughs at me and Stan.
We slowly start to walk back to the city, everyone still chattering excitedly, but I'm kind of out of it. I've just remembered my dream last night, and it's now that I realize that this is what I could lose. My home, friends, family ...and Ronnie. I frown, and wish that I could simply make sense of what he had said, not double guess everything.
Ronnie takes my hand, "You okay? You don't seem very happy to be home all of a sudden."
"It's just so different here. I realize that now." I lie quickly.
"You have a new perspective now. It's not weird at all."
I smile at her cheekily, "I like it here better though."
She laughs and shoves me at Brandon. I smile for real as Brandon puts his arm around me. These people are my family. And I won't let anything hurt them, no matter what the dream might have said or meant. Besides, what could be strong enough to destroy our world?
END OF CHAPTER 2
NEW CHARACTERS
Brandon - In this universe Brandon is Ritas little brother, before Rita left to hone her Vanirs she asked him to watch over her kids. He's one of the few members who are not Aesir.
Katarina - In this universe she is Ronnie's older sister.
Lupa - She's a very powerful Elder. Vanirs: Unknown.
Stan - He's the 16 year old Aesir that was put as Lincoln's partner in this exercise. Vanirs: Telekinesis, Super strength, Super Speed, Animal telepathy, Super Senses, Anti-gravity, Super Hearing and Vanir Transference. Appearance: He's 16 years old, tall, muscular, has broad shoulders, long black hair and wears a black shirt with blue jeans.
The Exercise - It's a test planed by Lupa to locate the Aesir's that will one-day take the position of the present elders. It's yet unknown if any of the kids passed the test.
