Well the humidity and heat has finally let up and allowed me to write...or type really. Writer's block and sadness combined with such weather are even worse. Its not too good but I will make a better effort the next time around. I hope you are all having a good day and staying cool in this damned summer heat :)
A scream shattered the night's stillness. It was several hours before they would begin making the short journey home and thus an unwelcome awakening.
Loki wiped the sleep from his eyes, grabbed his cloak and left his tent with a sigh. This should be interesting.
The darkness of the forest whipped past Alina's eyes as she ran, hoping that the cool night air would dispel the remnants of her nightmare. To wake up as a prisoner of war didn't help. She knew she couldn't outrun any member of the Asgardian army by a long shot. That was probably why she hadn't any restraints or shackles. Alina simply wanted a few moments to herself in the dark.
The phantom burning on her back was at once assuaged as she took a step too far and crashed into the icy river. Cold shot through her limbs, currents carried her underneath, the only abandon she wanted, floating, encased in darkness. Soon the only burning was within her lungs and not from the ghosts of her past. Alina held on for as long as she could before bursting to the surface, digging her boots into the soft mud below her to stop the current from taking her further downstream.
She hauled herself onto one of the many rocks dotting the river, heaving as she laid on her stomach, on the stony flat surface. Shivering, Alina remained still, ignoring the faint shouts behind, closing her eyes. At this point, she no longer cared what happened. It wasn't her desire to die. It was her desire to be alone, even for a few moments.
It had taken a while to calm things down, to convince Thor that a search party was not necessary, and to reiterate the fact that Loki had been the one to find Alina in the first place, making her his responsibility. Loki would be damned if he let Thor play the white knight for the umpteenth time. Not that Loki had any intention of winning Alina's loyalty or whatever one wanted to call it.
Fortunately, Loki was well equipped to see in the dark. Her hasty trail of footprints was easy enough to follow until he came to the edge of the river. Loki moved swiftly and silently as a hunter stalks its prey as opposed to Thor's noisy gait. Sure enough, he could make out the pale skin of Alina's arms, against her dark clothing on a rock in the middle of the rushing water.
Slowly Loki breathed out. The rushing cascade of the water suddenly quieted and it seemed to still. He raised a boot against the dark surface. Instantly, under Loki's step, the water solidified until he was walking on a path of unseasonable ice like it was a garden path. Soon enough, he was standing over Alina's sleeping form. How she could sleep after plunging into the cold water was a strange feat for a mortal.
"Well aren't you an odd one...Do you generally cause such disruption?" he murmured. Alina didn't stir until he placed two fingers to her neck, feeling for a pulse. She shifted slightly away from his touch.
"Mmmf" was her soft response. It was a while before Loki spoke again.
"I have a feeling you're going to be quite amusing" he chuckled softly.
Alina shifted until she was on the very edge of the rock which wasn't much. Loki sighed, unbuttoning the cloak from around his shoulders.
"You'll catch your death" he draped it over her before picking Alina up in his arms as easily as he had the first time. Only this time he had no need of magic to silence her. She was silent all on her own, eyes closed, head on his shoulder. The mortal must have forgone sleep for days.
"Back to bed with you"
"Not yours" Alina grumbled suddenly, fingers gripping his shoulder. Loki merely chuckled again.
"Not to worry" he replied. Alina's grip loosened gradually until her even breathing was enough to tell Loki she'd gone right back to sleep.
