Chapter 2: Journey to Truth

The images continued to confuse him, the boy squirming on the bed, panting hard. "N...No...I...No...Don't know what's going on..." Loki murmered in his sleep, before screaming. "No! If you destroy the bridge, you'll never see her again!"

Martha glanced with some concern at Loki and then leaned over to lightly touch his shoulder.

Loki woke up, screaming in alarm with wide blue eyes, tears glistening in them, panting hard. "Aghhh!"

Martha moved back immediately, eyeing him. "You have your memories back?"

"No, just images...A large golden city in the sky...A strange crystalike walkway...A rainbow bridge?"

Martha shook her head slowly. "I know of no place like what you describe."

"As...Asgard..."

Martha continued to look confused. "I have never heard of that name."

"I don't know either but a name comes to mind...Thor...Do you know a Thor?"

Martha shook her head. "Do you know your own name?"

"No, not yet."

"Perhaps the memories will return to you soon."

"I don't know, none of this makes sense to me."

"Are you hungry?"

Loki shook his head, not wishing to eat at that moment. "Nay."

"Perhaps you should try to rest more."

"Nay, the nightmares..."

"You cannot avoid sleep. All you will do is make yourself sick."

"No! I need to find Asgard!"

Martha frowned at him. "Do you believe you are well enough to stand a fighting chance against Lady Aradia?"

"I have to find a way to go home...I'm needed."

"And how do you intend to get there?"

"I don't know. Find this rainbow bridge or this Thor?"

"And how do you intend to do that?"

"Not sure...Thor! Where are you?" Loki screamed, hoping Thor heard him.

There was the sound of running feet and then a guard entered the room, panting hard. "I heard screaming... What is it?"

His mind screamed for his brother, not knowing who Thor was, hoping to be heard by someone in this Asgard. "Nothing..."

The guard frowned, looking around uneasily. From outside the castle, an inhuman screech was heard.

"Oh, no, what is that?"

"A pack of the creatures..." The guard stepped back, out of the room. "They must have been brought here. I will go and see what is happening from the battlements."

Loki looked out and gulped, feeling helpless, unable to fight back entirely. "What do we do?"

"They cannot enter the castle." Martha continued to look worried, though.

"Then why do you worry?"

"The King was captured three nights ago. I believe it may have something to do with him."

"The king? How did you allow your monarch to be taken?"

Martha frowned. "There was no 'allowance' involved. He chose to lead an attack. Many of his warriors died or were infected."

"And so you now have an infected king who knows the entire castle, the ins and out, including possible secret entrances."

"He has not been infected yet," Martha stated. "He still lives and is still capable of ruling."

"And compromised."

"There is nothing we can do. Until the King is rendered powerless, his heir cannot take full power."

"This is madness...If I were the heir, I would take the power if my father were incapacitated, just to be sure that the kingdom was safe."

"It is not that simple," Martha answered. "The magic is impossible to change. It has been attempted."

"Then how do you change it?"

"The only way for a complete transference of power is if the previous King or Queen dies. The heir is doing what she can, but she does not yet have complete control."

Loki sputtered at hearing that the heir was female, bursting into laughter. "Seriously? You expect some little Princess to rule? Is she even a warrior, or just a simple maid?"

"It seems our way of doing things is different to yours," Martha said mildly. "Here, anyone - if they prove themselves worthy - can gain positions of power."

"Only those of royal blood should rule; and if they are warriors, with the first male taking the crown."

Martha snorted softly. "The Lady Aradia is the only surviving heir - and she has proved herself more than worthy to take on the role."

"T...That girl is your heir?"

Martha frowned at him. "She also saved your life."

"Also a willow of a female."

Martha shook her head slightly and then walked to the door, opening it, revealing Aradia standing there, hand raised to knock. "I wish you'd stop doing that," the Princess said.

Loki just sat there, looking at the girl, not finding that she could command him anything - but was intrigued. "How do you think you can command when you can't command anything of me?"

Aradia glanced at Martha and raised her eyebrows. "You've been telling secrets." She stepped forward, over to the bed, looking Loki over slowly. "Who says I cannot command anything of you?"

"Well, you won't command me, woman. I am not your subject or pet."

Aradia folded her arms over her chest and, with a nod, indicated the door to the healing room. "There's the door. If you believe you can take your chances out there, then go."

Loki shrugged and got up to leave the healing chambers. "If you want, then I can very well leave."

Aradia just eyed him. "Of course, you do know how to get past the... twenty or so infected outside the castle, don't you?" she asked sweetly.

The boy swore and knew that he couldn't get past them, not even knowing what he could even do. "Fine; but only because I know not any way to defeat them, or myself."

Aradia eyed him. "You look as if you haven't eaten for a while."

"I suppose, but I don't remember when I last ate. Do you know of a place called Asgard?"

"I have not heard of it - but I can ask around and see if anyone has," Aradia answered. "Would you like to come with me to the hall for food?"

Loki nodded, feeling his hunger growing, and pouted that this woman could sway him so easily. "Do..you know of Thor?"

Aradia shook her head as she led the way from the room. "Thor is a member of your family?"

"No...I don't know, but he's family."

Aradia nodded slowly. "If we can find him, we will."

Loki looked at the girl, obviously puzzled. "Why would you help me? I am a stranger."

"You want to get home to wherever you're from. What good would it do to force you to stay here?" Aradia shrugged. "I'd rather not have any more loss of life than necessary."

"I do suppose that helping me would help get rid of me."

Aradia raised her eyebrows. "You clearly don't want to be here."

"Nay, I don't...It is not my home."

Aradia shrugged. "Then what else is there to do other than help you to return to where you came from?" She entered the Great Hall and poured them a bowl of stew each.

Loki sat down and looked at the food, using the spoon to stir it around, thinking about who he could be. A name kept coming to his mind, groaning, rubbing his forehead. "Ohhh...Who am I?"

Aradia picked up her spoon, but paused with it partway towards her mouth. "You know, struggling to remember will probably just make you sick. You should try and let the memories just come to you."

"I must remember. Something about me and my past is gnawing at me. I need to know...Need to remember."

"The memories will come back - but you need to stop pushing," Aradia said.

Loki sighed in exsperation. "Would you stop telling me what to do?"

"Start looking after yourself and I will."

"You are not my keeper, human."

Aradia frowned. "If I'd left you out there, do you really think you would have survived? You are in my debt."

"So what do you want in return if I'm in your debt?"

"Some gratitude would be nice."

"Well, then, thank you...Are you pleased now, little Princess?"

Aradia just looked at him. "How about you try it without the sarcasm?" She was still holding the spoon, but didn't eat and, with a sigh, dropped it into the bowl.

"Could we try with not ordering me about?"

Aradia looked at him. "Do you really think you've been showing good judgment? Do you really want me to let you leave here, without a weapon and with infected people running around? Tell me honestly - how long do you think you'd survive?"

"Probably not very long, but one can hope. I know I won't survive it, so I'm not going to be stupid enough to leave when you know I can't."

"You tried to leave twice already," Aradia pointed out.

"Well, then, I won't try it again."

"Are you going to eat?"

"Yes, I shall eat." Loki took a bite of the stew and was soon eating his meal, looking at her. "Aren't you?"

Aradia sighed, looking down at her food. "I should, but I don't have any appetite."

"Well, you may want to eat anyway. It is for the best that you eat and reserve your strength."

Aradia shrugged. "My strength's fine. Skipping one or two meals isn't going to have any effect."

"Mmm, are all the women in this realm all dominant?"

Aradia shrugged. "It varies. I was trained at the temples by the priestesses - which, I suppose, is where I learned many of my ideals."

"Priestesses to what God?"

"The Sky God. Only the high priestesses ever knew his name."

"Sky God? Never heard of no Sky God."

"If you are a stranger here, you may not have." Aradia paused briefly. "The temples were the first taken."

"Where does this God reside?"

"Above our world."

"How could you be at his temple and not know his name; worship him without his name known to you?"

Aradia frowned. "He has been seen... Sky God is a term of respect for him."

"You have seen your God? Have you seen other Gods?"

Aradia shook her head. "Only him. And not since the infection started."

"And how do you know you're not talking to one right now?"

Aradia studied him. "You're a god?"

"I don't know...I just don't feel right since I woke up; and it's not just the memories."

"I don't know how to help you with that. All I can do is try to get you to make it easier on yourself," Aradia said.

"How? I feel so weak...powerless; and hate this."

"Most people hate feeling powerless." Aradia sat back with a quiet sigh. "The only thing I can think of is to make contact with the Sky God from one of the temples."

"How? You said they were taken."

"They are. But perhaps it's possible to get past enemy lines to one of the temples."

Loki blinked, finishing his stew, looking at the woman. "And, again, how do we do that?"

"We can venture out in small patrols. If we cover up and don't let any skin show, we're not likely to get bitten."

"By what exactly? You say they crave blood; are they vampires?"

Aradia looked confused. "What are vampires?"

"They um drink blood...Demonic."

Aradia frowned slightly. "They don't have fangs - not like animals have."

"Hmm okay um then no idea on what they are." Loki frowned, drinking some water. "So when do we go out on patrol?"

"It's not that simple. Patrols are sent out every couple of days - but the closest temple is about a week's travel on horseback."

"Then let's go and get there."

"We should probably take a day to rest up," Aradia said. "It'll be a hard journey."

"And the longer we rest, the longer it will take to find your Sky God."

"We'll be attacked anyway. We need to be at full strength."

"What kind of God will let this happen to his people, his temples?"

Aradia shrugged. "Maybe he can't get through to us. Maybe another God is stopping him."

"What do you mean?"

"I keep wondering where he is. I've come to two conclusions - either he doesn't care; or he can't help us."

"What does this God do for you?"

Aradia stared down at her untouched bowl. "It wasn't always like this."

"How was it? If he has been seen, what does he look like?"

"Glimpses. Tall, dark hair." Aradia shrugged.

"Sounds interesting...Anything else?"

"I didn't see much. I sneaked glances as an acolyte."

Loki nodded and looked at her seriously. "We need to find this God, then, before things get worse."

Aradia gave a single nod. "Yes. But you should probably get some more rest."

"Can't; strange dreams, Aradia."

"You need to be at full strength for when we leave."

"Alright; maybe my dreams will tell me new things I need to remember."

Aradia nodded and pushed her still-full bowl of stew to one side.

"You need to eat too, you know."

"It's more difficult to eat when I'm worried."

"But you need to keep your strength up too, you know."

"My strength's fine at the moment."

"Eat anyway."

Aradia raised her eyebrows. "Now you're giving me orders?"

"Well, if you don't eat, I may need to spank you," Loki weakly teased, sipping his water, glancing at her.

Aradia's lips quirked a little. "If yesterday's any indication, you wouldn't be able to stand against me."

"I could try."

"I'm not sure why it would make a difference. You haven't exactly been pleasant."

Loki looked at the girl, smirking a little. "You find me unpleasant?"

"Not right now. You're being... better now."

"You wanted to spank me, I'm sure." Loki finished his water with a wicked look on his face. "But good to know you don't want to do that now."

Aradia shrugged. "If your attitude's anything to go by, I'll probably want to again."

"Well, then, I'm sure you will get your chance sometime," Loki said and weakly got up, looking at her. "I must get some rest if we are going to find your God." With a slight bow, Loki left the stone, cold great hall, heading to the healing rooms.

Once there, the boy climbed up onto his bed, closing blue eyes before visions washed over him. The images were rich and vibrant, unable to stop the visions coming to him.

In the visions, he saw a large stone temple with various girls in Emerald Green robes running around, some no more than five years old while others much older - young women in Emerald and Gold inside. Loki entered the hazy vision, entering the temple, watching the young women with one on a large stone altar, begging for him to take her. With a tilt of his head, Loki went to her, letting his green cloak fall along with his clothing, the pale beauty of his alabaster skin exposed, taking the girl's virginity as her offering, drinking a little bit of her blood in wine and offering his protection. "I will grant you another year of my grace, as always. I shall come again for the next two in the other two nights of the full moon." Loki smiled snapping his fingers to be dressed once more before he disappeared into the night.

The boy woke up from the vision, terrified, covered in a cold sweat, panting hard. With a groan, Loki went back to sleep, filled with visions of someone's strange existence; some from a childhood, learning magic to fight frightening creatures.

Aradia spent a couple of hours in training before she then went to get some rest. About two hours after dawn, she came to the healing room, knocking lightly on the door.

Loki woke up with a start, covered in sweat, panting, awoken by the knock. "Ah...Come in."

Aradia pushed open the door and stepped into the room. "How did you sleep?"

"Weird dreams of magic and girls on freaking altars. Not sure what is going on with me...Maybe I'm going insane?"

Aradia shrugged. "I can't tell you what might be happening." She stepped further into the room. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yes, I'm ready to go; but I won't leave my adornments behind. I will wear them under these drab clothes." Loki put on the Asgardian adornments; feeling the power in them - but not enough to help him know anything as of yet.

Aradia took her cloak from where it was hanging up, slipping it over her clothes and wrapping the hood around her face so that all that could be seen were her eyes. "Make sure there's no skin showing."

Loki made sure he was protected and followed her out of the healing rooms, gathering a sword. "Well, we must get going."

"I've got supplies already, so we can just go straight to the stables."

"Right, so let's go and find this God of yours. By the way, how did your people worship him anyway?"

Aradia shrugged. "Some of the priestesses offered themselves to him."

"Why?" Loki asked, confused, while they headed towards the stables, soon mounting a black stallion, helping her up onto one as well.

Aradia settled onto the horse, gripping the reins. "Maybe for protection," she answered. "Didn't work so well, obviously."

"Well, maybe this God hasn't been able to protect your world," Loki replied, gripping his reins as well, letting her lead the way towards the woods and the temple.

"So it seems." Aradia pushed her horse into a gentle trot. "I'm used to this - so you need to listen to me if I tell you to do something. All right?"

"I can ride too, you know."

"I'm not talking about riding."

"Whatever you say, Princess." Loki smirked, letting his horse follow hers, hoping they didn't come across the beasts.

"There's that attitude again. Listening to me and not arguing might mean the difference between life and death... infection and health."

"I'm listening, just lead us."

Aradia continued to lead the way, but then paused, tilting her head, hand going to her sword.

"What is it?"

"Some of the creatures are close."

Loki grabbed his own sword slowly, looking around carefully.

"We're on horseback. We might be able to outrun them."

"Well, then, let's do that before they come after us."

Aradia nudged her horse into a gallop. "Stay close to me," she warned.

"No need to tell me twice." Loki urged his horse at a gallop behind her, gasping when he heard the snarls of the creatures determined to eat them for lunch.

Aradia's horse raced through the trees, Aradia low over its back.

Loki followed her at the same pace, trying to escape the creatures. As he raced through the woods, the boy turned to look back with wide blue eyes, putting a hand back in alarm when one came flying at him. The creature snarled and was suddenly thrown back far into the woods, shocking both Loki and the beast.

Aradia twisted round in the saddle, not noticing a creature coming at her from in front, leaping at her with fangs and claws gleaming.

Loki gasped in alarm, reaching his hand forward to warn her. "Aradia, watch out!" The beast was about to snap its jaws into her shoulder when it went flying as well. "What the...?"

Aradia stared at the creature and then at Loki. "What was that?"

"I don't know. I reached my hand out and they just went flying."

"You have magic?" Aradia whipped her head round, drawing her sword and knocking away a creature which leapt at her.

Loki blinked, confused. "I...I don't know...I can't remember."

"Well, we can't worry about that just yet..." Aradia coaxed the horse into a faster pace, aware of how many creatures there were, now with her sword in hand.

Loki urged his horse forward as well, wanting to get out of the path of the creatures, worried that they would be attacked unawares. Loki continued to blast the creatures back, not knowing where such powers came from.

The creatures began loping off, as if giving up for now. Aradia slowed her horse, but didn't put away her sword.

"Well, I guess that was some sort of protection; but have no idea how I can do this."

"It was certainly useful," Aradia commented.

"Yeah, it was. How much further must we ride?"

"It's quite a trip. We will need to stop to make camp for the night later."

"Aye, we should; but will need to remain vigilant."

Aradia nodded. "We'll take the watches in turns once night falls."

"Sounds like a plan...I wonder how I could do such magic."

"I suppose it's linked to the memories you still can't access."

"Could very well be."

"It might be a good idea to see how well you can control those powers," Aradia suggested. She paused and then added, "Thank you. For stopping that monster from biting me."

"You are welcome; and I will hope to continue to protect you as you do me."

Aradia arched her eyebrows. "I thought you didn't like women very much."

"I don't, but you are protecting me; and I don't even know what I like until I can remember it."

"I suppose. Just make sure you keep the attitutude under control," Aradia teased gently.

"Or what? You shall spank me?"

"It's a tempting idea."

"I bet it is, Princess."

Aradia watched him. "Now I get the feeling you're testing me."

Loki smirked, looking at the girl. "Well, maybe a little bit, yes."

Aradia gave a soft laugh. "You are certainly intriguing."

"Not sure if any have called me that, but how I may be so certain?"

"Certain of what?"

"Certain on if I have been called intriguing."

Aradia shrugged. "Well, you are to me."

"Well, I shall take that as a compliment."

"You should. I believe you are the first male to catch my interest."

Loki turned to look at the girl, confused. "Have you not found others? You are rather a lovely girl; and how can you not have had suitors come for you?"

"There have been suitors - but none who I found I could spend my life with," Aradia answered.

"Oh, I see; and you find me interesting? You do not know me - and know as little as I know of myself."

"I know something of your personality," Aradia pointed out. "That hasn't been wiped away."

"And what does my personality tell you, Milady?"

Aradia shrugged. "You have noble blood, but you're clearly a warrior. You're used to having your own way - and there are times when your attitude is similar to that of a child's."

Loki looked at her, blinking. "A child's?"

"Yes. Your insistence on having things your way, for example."

"Well, what is wrong with the desire to have things my way?"

"You mean aside from the fact that, if you'd had your own way with leaving the castle alone, you would have been killed?"

"Well, that would be but a downside to getting what I desired for being killed."

Aradia tilted her head slightly. "I'm not letting you get yourself killed. I'm sure your family wouldn't like that."

"Nay, that wouldn't be a good idea. I don't desire death either."

"Good. If I catch you doing anything dangerous..." Aradia looked at him warningly.

Loki smirked again, not taking her seriously. "You'll do what? Bend me over to spank me like a little child?"

"If you act like a child, then yes. I'll treat you like one."

"You wouldn't dare - and I am bigger than you."

Aradia just looked at him. "If you think I wouldn't dare, then why don't you try it and see."

"Perhaps I may just test you upon that theory."

"Go ahead," Aradia invited.

"Right now? In the middle of riding?"

"I don't necessarily mean right now - but if you choose to test me, you'll see just how I react," Aradia said.

"You don't have the strength to bend me over your lap, Milady." Loki smirked and rode on through the woods toward the temple.

"Don't make assumptions about a person's strength without seeing it for yourself." Aradia fell silent as she continued to ride.

As they left the woods, the sky was starting to darken. Aradia looked up. "We should stop and make camp here."

Loki rode until they found a good clearing to get ready to make camp, sliding off the saddle; but when he was gathering wood, the boy heard some noises, grabbing his sword to go after the creatures, blasting at them while also slicing others up. He then returned to the camp with wood, placing it near the fire. Without saying a word, he closed his blue eyes, forming a shield around their camp for protection.

Aradia looked up from making the fire and frowned at Loki. "I heard the sounds of battle. Did you go after some on your own?"

"They would have come after us if I had not killed them whilst grabbing wood," Loki explained, not at all worried over that, having put a shield of protection over them, still uncertain how he'd done it.

Aradia frowned at him. "And how is that being careful?"

"They were but following me, so I took the sword to them. Why are you looking at me thusly?"

"I believe I warned you against endangering yourself."

"I did not endanger myself."

"How many were there?"

Loki frowned and thought on how many there had been attacking him. "Well, I suppose there were but six at least."

"It would have only taken one bite to infect you," Aradia pointed out.

"But I was not infected nor bitten."

"That doesn't mean you couldn't have been." Aradia stood up slowly.

Loki just shrugged the comment off, placing his sword back in its sheath, not taking her seriously about him endangering himself.

Aradia moved closer to him and, as he put his sword away, her hand snaked out to grab his wrist.

Loki had just put his sword back when he felt her grab his wrist, utterly confused as to what she was doing. "What are you doing?"

"You can't figure it out?" Aradia pulled him closer to her, looking around for somewhere to sit down.

The boy's blue eyes widened in alarm, trying to pull himself free. "You cannot be serious...I shall not allow this."

"Did you think I was joking?" Spotting a fallen tree log, Aradia began pulling him over to that. "I was serious about you not putting yourself in danger. If you won't care about your own safety, it looks like it falls to me."

Loki struggled when she pulled him to a log, only to find himself pulled right over her lap once she'd seated herself down. He soon was struggling to get off her lap, his clothed backside prone to her whims. "Let me up!"

"As soon as I'm good and ready." Holding him tightly with one hand, Aradia lifted her other, bringing it down hard on Loki's backside.

"Unhhh! I demand that you let me up this instant!"

"Not until you learn how reckless and stupid what you just did was." Aradia swatted him again, then shifted the cloak out of the way of his backside.

"Noooo! Let me owww up!" Loki grunted with the woman spanking his clothed bottom, the boy squirming in alarm at being punished like a small child.

Aradia shook her head and continued to spank him, making sure her swats were hard enough to be felt even with his trousers on.

"Owww!" Loki yelped and squirmed with his butt cheeks already burning; and he was pouting, trying not to let her make him cry from the spanking.

"I know you don't remember much about your family, but do you really think they would be happy with how you're risking yourself?" Aradia asked over the swats.

"Pr...Probably not...Owww!"

"I'm not letting you get yourself killed." Aradia shifted him forward slightly for better access to his sit spots and the tops of his thighs.

Loki let out a wail when she moved him forward to gain access to his tender thighs and lower bottom. "Noooo! No fair...Owww please! I beg of you!" More tears fell with his face wet from the pain of his penance.

Aradia landed a few more extra-hard smacks and then finally paused, resting her slightly stinging hand on Loki's lower back. "Don't put yourself in danger."

Loki only whimpered and pouted. "O...Okay..."

"Good." Aradia took a slight breath and then slowly loosened her grip on him.

Loki bolted from her lap with his backside smarting, along with his pride at having been spanked like a child by a woman, clearly sulking.

Aradia leaned forward slightly. "Would you prefer I just let you get yourself killed?"

"No."

"Then maybe you should feel better that someone, even in a strange world, cares enough to make sure you're safe."

"You...You spanked me."

"Which I warned you I'd do if you endangered yourself."

"But I was fine...I just...you spanked me.."

"What if it happened again?" Aradia asked bluntly. "And there'd been more? You didn't call for help. You didn't even hesitate."

Loki was clearly pouting about it with his backside hurting, not asnwering the question, knowing she had a point. "Alright, I submit. I would have been dead."

"For some reason, I care about what happens to you. I'd rather you get to your home safely."

"I realize that, but I never thought you would do it," Loki replied and looked at the fire. "We are safe. I cast a shield around us."

"You're starting to gain more control over your powers," Aradia commented.

"I guess I am. I just knew to do it; but have no idea as to how I knew nor knew how to do so."

"Just don't blast yourself in your sleep. Or me."

"I'll try not to."

"Good." Aradia paused. "Are you hungry?"

"Aye, I am. Do we have any food to quench our hunger?"

"Of course." Aradia took a saddlebag from one of the horses and shared some food between her and Loki, also taking out a waterskin. "We can't forage for food here. There's no way to tell what's safe to eat."

"Thank you; and yes, that is very much true. I just hope this God of yours can make things right again, if we ever do find him."

"He hasn't proven to be very helpful right now," Aradia commented.

"Well, perhaps he can't help for some reason."

Aradia shrugged. "I don't really know."

"Nor I; but I also don't believe your God would leave you to such a fate."

"I guess we'll find out."

"Aye; but for now, we should rest - and my backside does hurt." Loki finished his meal, looking at the girl, lying down on a bedroll to get some much needed rest.

"I'll take first watch." Aradia settled herself on the ground.

"Alright, wake me up when it is my turn," Loki replied, soon falling asleep while Aradia took the first watch, once again having dreams that made no sense to him.

Aradia waited until about halfway through the night and then leaned over to lightly touch Loki's shoulder.

Loki woke up with a start when he felt the touch, panting a little, wide-eyed. "Oh!...Um, is it my turn?"

Aradia nodded. "Are you all right?"

"Aye, I am fine." Loki sat up, groaning, with his backside protesting; but then got out of the bedding. "I'll let you rest now - but with the shield, we don't need to worry over them attacking."

"Still, it's better not to lower our guard." Aradia stretched out on her own bedroll.

"I am not arguing about that statement and shall remain vigilant."

"I know." Aradia's eyes slowly closed.

Loki sat down by the fire, adding more wood to it, watching their surroundings, waiting for the sun to rise. After hours on watch, the boy noticed the first rose-coloured rays of dawn, letting her rest a little longer, making sure the fire was still keeping them warm.

Aradia stirred as dawn's ligh drifted over her face, her eyes fluttering open.

"Morning; and yes, we are still safe."

"Mmm... no dangerous excursions while I was asleep?" Aradia teased gently.

"No, none. Do you doubt my abilities?"

"Just making sure you didn't sneak off to do anything dangerous."

"Hardly, my backside couldn't take more in one day."

"Glad to hear it." Aradia stood and stepped over to the horses, taking a small amount of food out for breakfast for them.

"But tell me, if I had left the campsite, would you deem it necessary to warm my backside once again?"

"Yes," Aradia replied bluntly, heading over to Loki and offering him some food.

Loki took the food and ate some thoughtfully. "What of gathering wood?"

"You shouldn't just disappear off. If you have to, it's better to wake me," Aradia said.

"Why? You were sleeping; and I can take care of myself for a moment."

"This place is far more dangerous than you think. You don't have full control over your powers."

Loki turned and looked at her, eating his meal. "I handled myself quite well."

Aradia frowned at him. "Did you go out again?"

The boy just looked at her, not at all pleased that she kept making him feel like such a child. Loki groaned, rolling his blue eyes. "Very well, yes. I went to gather more wood, but wasn't far from the shield. There was no trouble with therefore not needing to have risked myself."

Aradia folded her arms and stared at him. "Did my telling you to not to do anything dangerous mean nothing? You remember hardly anything about your past. You don't have full control over your powers. What if you'd been attacked and lost control of your magic? You could have hurt yourself."

"I wasn't very far from the shield. I am not a child, you know."

"But you act like a child, with no thought for your own safety or anyone else's."

"I tell you nothing happened and I am fine."

Aradia moved closer to him. "Do you think the shield might have held if you'd been knocked out and released your concentration?"

Loki frowned and shrugged. "I suppose, but it held."

"You cannot predict what happened, which is why it's so important to think things through." Aradia grabbed his wrist.

Loki felt her go for his wrist and reared back in alarm, realizing what she meant to do, shaking his head. "Nay, I shall not allow you to do so again."

"Clearly, you have still not learned. I find it hard to believe you feel that your family would be happy that you have risked yourself again and again." Aradia stepped closer to him. "Do you believe that the danger can just be ignored? Have you paid no attention to what the creatures are like?"

"Yes, I have; and you shall not guilt me into allowing you to spank me once again, Princess."

Aradia slowly shook her head. "I believe you feel this is a game - that it doesn't matter what you do, because you think you will be safe either way."

Loki just looked at her, not in the mood for being punished again with his bottom still a little tender. "The shield held up. There is no need to punish me thusly."

"Would you even care if it didn't?"

"Didn't what?"

"Didn't hold."

"The shield, you mean?" Loki blinked, looking at the girl, thinking for a moment. "Of course I would. You think me wicked as to not care?"

"I think you feel that you will be safe either way," Aradia said. "So, yes, I am starting to wonder if it would make any difference to you."

"How dare you accuse me of not having the heart to care? The shield held; but yes, I would care if you were injured or killed."

"Then perhaps you should give more thought to your actions. The infected are in great numbers. If you weren't attacked, you were very lucky."

"But I wasn't; and once we find your God, he will rectify this injustice towards your world," Loki stated and then pouted. "The moment I stand, you shall spank me, won't you?"

"Do you really think it's undeserved?"

"You think it is deserved, but I shall be sore riding once again."

"Then maybe you'll think twice the next time you decide to do something dangerous."

This left the boy pouting, obviously hoping to avoid being spanked again, but knew she was very determined. "Very well - but I am not liking this."

"That's the point of a spanking. If you liked it, it wouldn't be effective."

"It still is not fun, but I'd rather we should get this over with then. A part of me thinks you enjoy smacking my bottom."

Aradia shrugged. "I think it's important that you have consequences for your actions, but I don't enjoy it as such."

"I think you just like seeing my bare butt."

"Oh? Do you think it would be more effective if I pulled your trousers down?"

"No! I doubt that and would rather you didn't. It is unseemly for you to see that part of my anatomy when we are not even married, much less courting."

Aradia nodded. "I agree, hence why I left your trousers up last time and will this time."

Loki let her take his wrist, chewing his lower lip nervously, knowing this would hurt. "Very well; but let's be quick while my forcus is still on the shield."

Aradia led Loki towards the fallen tree log and sat down, pulling him across her lap once more.

Loki grunted a little at the pull over her lap, pouting and wishing he knew who he was or where he truly came from; but right now, he needed to concentrate on his backside.

Aradia settled Loki over her lap, lifted her hand and brought it down hard on his bottom.

"Oww...Ughh!"

Aradia didn't spank him too hard, knowing that he was still sore from last night - but she made sure the smacks were felt.

Loki sure felt the smacks and winced, not at all happy to be punished again so soon, yelping more than once with the cheeks heating up until he was squirming. "Owww!"

Aradia tipped him forward slightly so that she could swat his sit spots and the tops of his thighs before finally stopping.

"Oww. Nooo!"

Aradia gently rubbed his back. "No more acting dangerously, okay?"

"Owww...Okay! No more, please!"

"We're all done here. At least until you do it next time."

Loki just pouted, wiping his wet face, angry that she could turn him into a whimpering child, getting up once she said they were done. He was so used to obviously having things his way and she kept spanking him for it, for charging into things.

"Just please stop endangering yourself."

"I can't stop being myself, even if I don't know who I am yet."

"I just think you could stand to be a bit more careful."

Loki went to tend to the horses and made sure that the saddles were on nice and secure. "I'll try; and we should get going soon to find this temple of yours."

"Since the temples were the first attacked, there will be a lot more creatures as we get closer." Aradia let the horses drink from one of the waterskins she'd brought.

"Then I'll need to put a shield on both our horses and us on the way. Maybe they knew that you would be able to contact your God through the temple and wanted to cut that access off?"

Aradia frowned. "It's possible. I have to say, it's difficult to judge how intelligent they are."

"Well, you never know; but we should get going - and my backside will be smarting the entire way. Will we reach it today?"

"Good," Aradia replied unrepentantly. "And, no - we'll need to stop for the night at least once more."

Loki mounted his horse with a loud hiss. "Ohhh...This is intolerable." He grabbed the reins to get moving, having removed the shield along with putting out the fire so that they could get on the way.

Aradia put the rest of the supplies away and got onto her own horse. "Ready?"

"Yeah, guess so; but this is not going to be a good journey."

"Then be careful and you won't be having uncomfortable journeys."

Loki just growled with a pout, urging the horse on following hers, sticking his tongue out at her behind her back with the shield protecting them.

"I saw that," Aradia said.

"Saw what?" Loki asked innocently.

"Your attitude," Aradia said, a slight note of humour in her voice.

"I have an attitude?"

"Of course you do."

Loki shrugged and urged his horse along. "If you say so, Princess."

"And there it is again."

"Just keep leading us to the temple, will you?" Loki replied and still made a face at her, very much like a child in some ways - not afraid to have a sense of humor, obviously.

Aradia let her horse trot along as she chuckled softly. "You seem able to bring some small amount of brightness to this."

"Well, you expect me to have no sense of humor? In fact, where did my sense of humor come from?"

"I don't know - but it seems you still have your personality, even if you don't have all of your memories." Aradia sighed, staring at the path ahead. "Your attitude is a welcome distraction from what has been happening."

"Was that a compliment from you?" Loki pretended to be utterly shocked by that and rode on, watching with much mirth when the blood thirsty creatures came at the shields, getting thrown back. Loki ended up giggling.

Aradia turned in her saddle to look at him, raising her eyebrows. "Oh, you find it funny?"

"Yeah, hilarious! They keep bouncing off the shield; and it's funny to watch."

Aradia was silent for a few moments before speaking. "I wonder if there'd be a way to destroy the infection."

"Not sure, but maybe this God knows."

"I hope so. They still have my father."

"Well, we are going to get him back."

"That won't be easy."

"Why does everything have to be so hard?"

Aradia shrugged. "I don't know. Nothing could have prepared us for this."

"Well, this really does seem to be a large pain."

"It is." Aradia gave a long sigh. "This is no life - it's mere survival. Something has to change."

"It will when we find your God; and he had better have a good reason for not helping you, or he is getting a good, sound spanking."

Aradia smiled slightly at that. "What, from you?"

"Well, maybe; but if he abandoned this world for no good reason, he deserves a good butt blistering for it."

"I'll agree with you there. I've seen too many people I care about taken or killed."

"Well let's get there and kick his ass," Loki said, riding on with his backside burning as they rode through the woods, wondering why this God abandoned this world.

Aradia nodded, riding along as she glanced from side to side, on her guard.

Loki giggled again when one charged at him and went flying into the trees, cringing at the hard smack.

Aradia rode more or less in silence, but paused when the sun was fairly high in the sky. "Do you want to eat now?"

"I suppose we must eat something. Do you think anyone is looking for me?"

"I find it hard to believe no one would." Aradia slid down off her horse.

"Then why haven't they found me by now if they are?" Loki slid off his horse as well, shielding them both and the horses from harm, rubbing his sore butt.

"Perhaps it's not as simple as that." Aradia retrieved some food and water, offering some to Loki. "Sore?"

"No, I just love to rub my backside when I get off a horse."

"Well, I'm sure you'll appreciate this short rest."

"Yeah; and let's find this place soon."

Aradia nodded. "I want answers."

"Me too; and this God of yours had better have some good ones."

"I hope so." Aradia began eating. "Because it feels like he's just abandoned this world."

"Nah, I wouldn't have abandoned some world for no reason," Loki said and shrugged. "Well, if I were a God."

"I suppose we'll find out." Aradia shook her head. "But I feel betrayed."

For some reason when Aradia spoke about feeling betrayed, Loki cringed - not knowing exactly why, but hoped this God could help them.

Aradia finished eating and then took a deep breath. "Let's continue on, then."

Loki finished eating as well, getting up onto his horse with a grunt, turning the shield to protect them once again, urging them on, determined to get to the temple soon. As they rode, Loki was groaning. "Are we there yet?"

"Not until tomorrow," Aradia answered.

"Awww, can't we get there faster?"

"I'm afraid not. You'll just have to be patient."

"But this is so tedious."

Aradia shrugged. "I understand, but we can only go so fast. It would be much slower if we were on foot."

Loki nodded and they rode until it grew dark, once again stopping to make camp, the shield up again - but the boy needing to rest.

Aradia sat on the ground near the fire. "You should rest first."

"Not sure how long I can keep this up."

"You won't have to for much longer. I hope," Aradia added.

Loki crawled into the blankets and soon was sleeping, needing to rest, growing weak by keeping them protected.

Aradia let him sleep, staring up at the sky.

Hours later, the boy woke up with a start, the shield faltering. "No!"

Aradia immediately went over to him. "What is it?"

"The shield...We're not safe."

Aradia frowned, reaching for her sword as she looked around.

Loki grabbed his sword as well, sweating a little from having worked to keep the shield going for two whole days. "This is going to be a long night. We should just keep riding."

Aradia nodded. "You should lower the shield entirely."

"It is down and we are defenseless. We need to go now."

Aradia packed up quickly and then got onto her own horse.

Loki got onto his horse as well, holding his sword as they urged their horses on quickly to escape the danger, riding hard and fast so that they could flee the monsters. Once they were safe, they slowed the horses down.

Aradia sighed, looking round. "We need to be really careful from now."

"I'm sorry my magic failed us."

"It's not your fault. We should have been more careful with the shield."

"But it was the only thing keeping us safe, so had to keep it up."

"I know. But we should have realised there'd be a limit on your magical energy."

"I guess, but we need to make sure that we can get there safely."

"You need to rest if you're going to keep using your magic."

Loki continued to ride his horse. "We need to rest."

"We can't rest at the same time," Aradia pointed out.

"No, we can't; but we need to keep going, or we'll be sitting ducks."

Aradia nodded, urging her horse to continue. "We can't push the horses too far, though."

"I know...We need to rest them."

"It might help if we walk for a bit."

Loki nodded, getting off his horse to lead the male he was riding to take them further, needing to escape dangers.

Aradia got off her own horse, leading it by the reins.

Loki wandered forward with his horse, looking around, blasting at the creatures coming at them weakly, desperate, needing to rest. His blue eyes suddenly rolled in the back of his head with the boy passing out. "I...Ugnnn..."

Aradia quickly made sure that the creatures didn't come near them, wielding her sword with impeccable skill. Unfortunately, she couldn't do any more than hold their ground. There was no way to move forward with an unconscious man and two horses.

Suddenly, though, as if reacting to some kind of signal, the creatures loped off. Aradia swayed a little on her feet, blood-soaked sword held protectively in front of her.

The dark night was upon them and the creatures left them be while Loki slept deep into dawn with Aradia finally too exhausted to stay awake. Finally, both woke up having not been harmed, Loki groaning, holding his head, further than they expected to be, having been blinded by the night. "Oooohhh, my head. What happened?"

Aradia stirred, sitting up with a wince, putting a hand to her head. She looked around, a little dazed, not sure how she'd managed to fall asleep. "I... something pulled the creatures away."

"What? Where are the horses?"

Aradia looked around and frowned. "It looks like something... Wait." She stood up. "I recognise this place. We're not far from the temple."

"I thought you said we wouldn't get there this quickly."

Aradia slowly shook her head. "Someone must have moved us while we were sleeping." She frowned. "It can't mean anything good."

Loki got up, shaking his head. "Nay, it wouldn't be. We must go and find out what is going on." Gripping his sword, the boy stood up, looking around. "You alright?"

Aradia nodded. "Are you? Do you need to rest some more?"

"I am a little weak, but we need to press on. We need to find the God."

"Let me know if you need to rest." Aradia started walking. "But it's not far."

"Why would someone move us closer to the temple, but not affect us?"

"I don't know..." Aradia's voice trailed off as the forest opened up, revealing a large temple that held signs of having been beautiful once. Now, there was blood all around it and staining the walls. The once-lovely windows had been smashed.

Loki walked into the clearing, suddenly looking like he was about to swoon, seeing the stone building, hyperventiliating. "Oh...G...Gods...I know this building...In my dreams...I have been here."