Chapter four – wasn't sure I would get this far. Tales of the Wild Hunt are from a long time ago. In England the leader of the hunt was Herne with his antler crown, close kin to Cerunnos, the Celtic fertility god. However, gods like Woden, Odin and their kin were more to do with war and punishment. I had remembered Gibbs dealing with nasty Pedro Hernandez at about this point so had to come up with something to prevent Woden taking Gibbs on the Hunt. Woden is, however, about to get violently angry because Bradley hid his soul in a horcrux, using sorcery. Just as with the characters from NCIS, I do not own nor did I invent the Horcrux. One day I will get to ask J.K. Rowling if she got the idea of a horcrux from her own imagination or from some ancient folklore. Tyr, the sky father, gave us the name of the day, Tuesday. He had his hand bitten off by Loki the challenger, the shape-shifter, the joker and everyone's enemy. I don't own any of the gods – what a strange thought – they belong to memory, folklore, the past. As always, I make no money, the only profit is enjoyment. Please enjoy.
Hunter's Moon Chapter 4
At the sound of Ducky's voice the god turned to see the diminutive doctor with Jimmy and Abby trying to hide behind him. The god seemed pleased at first, recognising a clever mind; he had noted Tim and Ellie but they were both so young and the other two men – great warriors they would make but not sorcerers.
"Are you a sorcerer?"
"No of course not."
The god sighed; "how am I to capture the murderous soul now that it's former owner has locked it in a horcrux?"
"I still have no idea what is going on." Said Ducky, exasperated. "I have a body in the morgue and Abby has evidence to tell you about and the evidence locker is full of clouds of smoke and an enormous personage who appears to be some kind of god – one I cannot believe in."
"It was men like you who made us." Said the god, his voice rising in anger. "Your dreams and desires over a million or more generations
produced gods and demons, giants and dwarves, elves and fairies, goblins and gnomes and other denizens of a world unseen." The god roared. The dust clouds rose and Jimmy and Tim started coughing. There was a distant and painful sounding lowing of cattle.
"They sound like my cousin James' herd at milking time." Said Jimmy.
Abby, Tim and Ellie snorted with laughter.
"This is ridiculous." Said Ducky.
"I have no idea what is causing the confusion – this is Woden or Odin, depending on your language, he is a god, apparently and the leader of the Wild Hunt. I gather he has come seeking the soul of our murder victim, Bradley, only Bradley seems to have hidden his soul in that chest ... and I can hardly believe what I just said." Gibbs sank onto a wooden seat that hadn't been hidden by clouds of smoke and dust.
"It's OK boss. Any minute now McGee will work out who messed with technology and we can all go back to business." But Tony really wasn't confident.
"Technology not to blame, at least, I can't find a problem with it."
McGee was standing in front of a computer that appeared to be floating on air. "This computer was part of a cold case, it's old but it works."
"and no sign of anybody interfering with out techno stuff?" asked Ellie.
On a stand in a corner the chest from Bradleys quarters squatted, silent and secretive. Tim felt it watching him.
"If the chest holds a soul and the soul is seeking a new home – how does it work if we open it?"
"We haven't a key" As Ellie spoke the clouds of dust were rising, as was the temperature. They were supposed to be in the evidence locker sorting out their minds, trying to determine if the strange illusions were real or not, or if they unfunny jokes by some invisible enemy.
They area around was expanding into the heroic landscape of their dreams. The lowing of the cattle was growing ever more frantic and the lead cows appeared beyond where Tony stood, and he looked over his shoulder, meeting glaring red eyes. He yelped in shock and fled across to Ellie and Tim who had been joined by Abby and Jimmy. Gibbs sat on the bench in tired disbelief wondering when or if he'd wake up soon and Ducky faced the angry god.
A cell phone rang. Everybody froze, but at the third ring Tim put his hand in his pocked and brought out his phone.
"McGee."
Even Woden turned to stare and wait with all the others. He seemed to have grown taller and broader and angrier. Tim thanked his caller, turned off the phone and looked around for Gibbs and Tony.
Woden had reached the height of the trees.
"Boss, that was NYPD. Bradleys sister was found dead in her car late last night. From their investigations, her brother is prime suspect."
Woden reached out and picked Tim up; the startled agent yelled at the god.
"Put me down."
"PUT You Down?!" He roared. "Why Don't I Stamp you In to the Earth?"
Tim swallowed. The giant god was holding him tightly and breathing was becoming difficult.
"Do you mind if I breathe – er – what do I call you?"
Tim could feel the tremble of fury in the hand of the god. He couldn't take his eyes of this unbelievable creature. He felt embarrassed at the tremble of fear in his voice when he spoke to it – him.
"Woden, Odin, Wotan – I am one of these and all at once; I am the dreams and wishes and fears of many." His thunderous voice sent clouds scudding across the dark blue above.
McGee struggled in the grasp of the giant hand. Everybody stared in concern and Tony looked to Gibbs for direction.
Ellie saw McGee getting weaker in the giant hand and had to suspend disbelief in order to intervene.
"Please put agent McGee down." She called up to the god. Woden did not hear, his eye blazed ice blue, his face was white with rage, he lifted a mighty hand to the sky and grasped the clouds, squeezing a heavy fall of giant raindrops until Ellie and Abby protested and Gibbs cried out "Enough!"
The response was a voice from the sky.
"Odin, brother, control yourself.!" Whereupon, he did.
The sky settled into the deep blue of a hot August day, tiny, white clouds floated gently, the cattle, elves and other denizens of fantasy and folklore faded away – all but Woden and the voice of the sky father from the world of folklore and fantasy had gone. The evidence locker enclosed their world once more and the world beyond the Navy Yard returned to day and the business day made necessary.
But the chest still brooded and they still hadn't worked out what to do.
The deep, warm voice of the Sky-father came to them again.
"I can help here. "
"I'd find belief a trifle easier if I could see you. " said Ducky.
"Believe me doctor, you do not want to see the god of all the skies; and you do not need to." Said Woden.
"Bradley did not use sorcery of his own." Said Tyr. " He used Loki – how he contacted Loki I am not sure, how he did this I do not know, but Loki has been banned from making contracts with mortals, he causes far too much trouble. We can deal with him. The poor murdered sister will be laid to her rest when this is done so what is needed is to get the soul of the wicked man riding on Woden's hunt. We cannot just open that chest."
"Why not" asked Woden.
"It will look for a mortal body to make immortal, a young, healthy body with a clever mind – there are two such standing far too close."
Gibbs, alerted to the danger and realising he also had to suspend disbelief, came and took Ellie's arm whilst Tony grasped Tim's shoulder.
"Come on probys, out of the danger zone." Said Tony and Tim did not protest at being called proby.
The seven mortals made an involuntary semi circle behind Woden, trying not to get too close to the chest, not wanting an escaping soul to invade their body.
"What would happen if the soul invaded one of us?" asked Abby.
"Someone would have to kill that person woth the gods ready to catch the escaping soul."
"I was just wondering how it would feel to be immortal."
"i don't you'd be given long to find out much." Tim muttered. "How are we supposed to talk to gods?"
"You don't, McGee, in case they sense you don't believe in them."
"Ah, got it Boss."
"You OK, after being held up in the air and squeezed breathless."
"Yeah, physically – heads a bit messed up – confused – "
"Oh, here you all are!" Said Ducky's voice. "Good lord, I'm here too. What is going on – "
The world sprang into explosive action as six mortals saw two Duckys, then only one and a long shaggy fur covered shape leapt at the chest and the chest started screaming as the god laid hands on it.
... tbc...
End chapter 4
Once you begin with the Germanic, Norse and Northern gods, they all want to get their part. The moon is for Monday, Tyr is for Tuesday, Woden is for Wednesday ...
Since the mischief making shape shifter has inserted himself where he should not be, who do you expect to come and help.