Chapter 6:

The snake and the wolf

NOTES:

Hi everyone,

It sure has been a while (maybe writing three stories at the same time was not one of my brightest ideas…) but hey, I'm finally back with another chapter for "All I did for you".

Hope you will enjoy!

'Loki! Come on, hurry up!'

'Yes, yes, easy.' The raven sighed, only barely avoiding a branch to the face which his brother had pushed aside.

It had been six hours since they'd left Asgard behind and wandered through the Northern Forests. It was a sunny day, the young green leaves moving gently in a cool breeze.

'I can hardly believe tomorrow will be mother's birthday again.' Thor spoke enthusiastically as he dropped his backpack and stretched his limbs.

'Yes, well, that is the thing with birthdays, they tend to repeat themselves every year.' Loki smirked. He dropped his heavy backpack with a loud sigh, bending his back till he heard a soft cracking sound.

'You are working up quite a sweat there.' Thor laughed.

'Yes, I know.' The trickster half growled, watching his ever cheerful brother from the corner of his eye. 'You know what would be marvelous? If you could keep your own belongings in your own backpack instead of shoving them in mine.' He rummaged through his backpack, taking out a few of his brother's items. 'I mean honestly, who brings a flail on a search through the forest?'

'Well, I do, I brought it for you so you would have something to defend yourself with in case of an attack. I mean, I know your Seiðr is getting better by the day but maybe you should not rely on it all that much.'

'You know I do not use such weapons and I am perfectly fine with relying on my Seiðr only.' Loki quickly responded, his voice tainted with irritation.

Thor looked at his brother with a sigh.

'Yes, however,' he continued carefully. 'maybe you could, I don't know, stop using it? You know father does n-'

'Look at the amounts of food you brought! Look at this,' Loki quickly interrupted his brother and held up a hand full of snacks, ranging from bread and cookies to fruits and walnuts. 'is this, is this mead? Just how long were you planning on staying out?'

'Well,' Thor sighed, giving up on the subject of Seiðr. 'you said our hunt could take quite some time so I thought I sh-'

'What in the name of the Norns? Thor. Seriously?' Loki interrupted again, anger ringing his voice as he pulled out two heavy weights. 'No wonder my backpack is so extremely heavy! Why did you bring these? In what scenario could we possibly be in need of weights?'

'… when I get bored?' Thor carefully replied, watching as his brother was readying his aim to throw the heavy objects at his head.

'W-well, the heaviness is not only caused by my items, you brought books. What good are they for? Are you planning on boring our enemies to death?' Thor defended himself.

'Books are knowledge, knowledge is power.' Loki simply stated, crossing his arms.

'First, that does not make any sense, second, you are wrong,' Thor disagreed and held out a beautifully engraved hammer. It was a weapon, his weapon that was gifted by his father on his eighteenth birthday. 'This is power.'

'Yes, well, I suppose you don't have a free hand to carry your own items, given the fact that you carry your "power" in one and your massive ego in the other.' Loki spoke in his iconic unimpressed tone as he emptied his bag further in search of one of his books.

'I always enjoy our little arguments brother,' Thor smiled, oblivious to the snarl the raven just gave him. 'It is fun!'

'Hm.' Was Loki's only response to that, though he was unable to hide a quiet smile.

'Tell me again, Loki,' Thor said as he started to climb a tree. 'What is it we are searching for?'

'The silver night howler.' Loki said, holding up one of his books.

Thor sat down on one of the branches, letting his feet dangle. He looked down and raised a questioning brow at a picture of a simple green plant his brother was showing him. 'So we have been walking around for hours in search of a weed to give to our mother as a birthday present?'

'Wha-? Weed?' Loki took a glance at his book and then showed the picture to his brother again. 'This is not a weed, you dolt. This is a refined, delicate and beautiful flower, though I believe those three adjectives are nowhere to be found in your dictionary so I guess it must be hard for you to understand.'

'… it is a weed.' Thor eventually repeated after taking another long stare at the picture.

Loki let out a deep sigh as he lowered his book. 'It may look simple now but this plant blossoms only during the night. It is one of the few plants mother does not have in her private garden thus making it the perfect gift.'

'… We are giving mother a plant?'

'You think of a proper birthday gift, Thor!' Loki nearly shouted as he closed his book. 'I would like to hear your suggestions for next year.'

'Hmm… how about a dress?'

'You gave her a dress last year!'

'… a scarf?'

'You gave that for last mother's day,' Loki sighed, rubbing his eyes. 'honestly, is there nothing else you could think of?'

'It will be fine, brother.' the blond smiled as he let himself fall from the tree, landing perfectly on his feet. 'I will think of a suited present next year. For now, let's just focus on finding this flower. I am sure mother will like it.'

Loki looked up and stared at his eighteen-year-old brother who, although he hated to admit it, seemed to have grown even taller. 'Of course she will,' He muttered. 'it is my idea, after all.' He packed his bag, leaving the heavy weights and flail behind. 'Just promise me to tell no one that we went into the Northern forests. Mother will surely kill me if she finds out.'

'Which I could understand, this forest nearly killed you once when you were little, it could do so again.'

'It is only dangerous for youngsters and those who have no gist of what they are doing. I have changed since then. My Seiðr is more powerful than ever and I have studied every dangerous creature that lives here so there will be no surprises.'

'…You are still a youngster, though.'

'I most certainly am not!'

'Well, whatever happens, I want you to stay close to me.' Thor said, placing his hand on his brother's shoulder. 'I am the oldest and me and Mjolnir will protect you from all harm.'

'One year Thor,' Loki sighed in irritation. 'we only differ in age by one year.'

'And that one year makes a lot of difference. Listen, Loki, I will never let anything happen to you again, ever. You can count on me and I will always be here for you.' The blond spoke with a warm and reassuring smile.

Loki looked at his brother, yet again unable to hide a smile. The blonde's constant worrying and overprotectiveness drove him mad from time to time, though he had to be honest, it did felt… comforting knowing that there would always be someone who would look after him. Someone who he could turn to would he ever need it.

Loki's smile widened as he looked into the blonde's determent ocean blue eyes. 'I appreciate your consideration brother. I will think of your kind words when I protect you from the certain trouble you will put yourself into.'

'Trouble? Me?' Thor chuckled, slamming his hand hard against the raven's back. 'Always the joker, Loki.'

The two continued their way deeper into the forest, crossing rivers by jumping from one timeworn stone to the next. Climbing hills, using the dangling lianas as ropes and trudging down seemingly endless sand paths.

'Are we nearly done yet?' Thor complained after another 2 hours of strolling as he sat down on a rock. He took off his shoe and held it upside down, letting the sand escape. 'I am hungry, cold, tired and we are starting to lose daylight pretty fast.'

'Stop your whining,' Loki responded while studying a map. 'it should be around here, somewhere…'

He looked up and scanned his surroundings. Thor was right, the journey had taken longer than he had calculated which caused them to reach their destination at a much later hour. The sun was starting to set, the trees casting long shadows through the already dim lighted forest. They had to find this plant soon or they would not make it back before nightfall and although Loki spoke in such confidence of his Seiðr, he did not like the idea of actually having to use it. He always practiced the arts in complete solitude, never getting the change to put it to practice thus never really knowing how skilled he would be during an actual battle.

'Brother, I think I found our weed!' Thor shouted in excitement as he put his shoe back on. 'Over there!'

He pointed at a small plant which stood firm at the end of a long, dark and narrow pathway, bathing in the last remaining light of the day.

'Brilliant Thor!' Loki smiled brightly, dropping his backpack to the ground. 'Now, to get it home safely,' he mumbled as he walked down the shadowy path, crouching down a little to avoid the low hanging branches.

'Careful brother, I do not trust these paths.' Thor spoke firmly, a slight undertone of worry ringing in his voice. 'Maybe you should return, I will retrieve the plant for you.'

'Nonsense!' Loki spoke as he crouched down even more, now moving further from his brother's sight on his hands and knees. 'You would just damage the flower with your brute strength, most likely beyond repair.'

Thor watched with care as he saw his brother crawling down the narrow path. His entire body instantly tensed as the raven moved down further, leaving him completely out of sight. How was he going to help his brother now if something were to happen? How was he supposed to protect him if he could not see him?

'Loki, are you nearly done?' He asked impatiently.

'Yes, yes, I've almost got it!' Loki responded with a cough, clearing his path from some cobwebs. His attention was then drawn to his hands as he felt a soft texture under the tip of his fingers. He looked down and saw the small path was littered with short silver hairs.

'Fur…?' Loki wondered to himself as he picked some up, studying it closely.

Maybe it was of a rabbit or a silver hare. He then picked up another tuft of fur, this one was dripping… red?

Loki swallowed as he looked up, he squinted his eyes, trying to follow the trail of fur and blood drops but as the trees and its branches blocked almost all sunlight, he could hardly see where it was leading him. He inhaled deeply through his nose and exhaled slowly through his mouth to keep himself calm.

Just a little further.

He could see the flower at the end of the dark path, standing in a small ray of sunlight. He reached out, trying to touch its leaves.

Just a little more.

Thor restlessly phased back and forth, constantly considering whether he should follow his baby brother or not. But what good would it do if he did? The path was small and narrow, chances were he wouldn't even fit through and even if he did, there would be not all that much he could do in such a cramped position.

He then raised his gaze in alarm as he heard his brother shriek.

'R-RUN!' He heard his brother scream.

'Loki?! What is the matter?!' Thor shouted, watching as the trees and bushes started to shake heavily.

'WOLF! RUN!' Loki shouted as he came crawling out of the narrow path, nearly stumbling back on all fours again as he tried to get on his feet as fast as possible.

Thor looked at his brother, quickly running towards him to offer his hand and help him regain his balance. He then stood still as the thundering sound of falling trees ringed in his ears, the ground shaking heavily as the large trees fell.

He nearly gasped as he saw his brother being hunted by a great white wolf who nearly bit the raven's foot off as he tried to run away. The beast was much taller than Loki, standing almost ten feet tall. Its massive head covered in scars and old wounds. Its mouth filled with razor sharp teeth, growling and barking at the young god as it chased him with bright yellow eyes.

'What are you waiting for, you oaf?!' He heard the raven scream. 'Run! Just run!' Loki let himself crash into his brother's chest, planning on grabbing him by his wrist and run off together. As he did, however, he noticed that his brother did not move an inch.

'Thor?!'

'We have searched for hours,' Thor spoke in a low voice, ignoring his brother's warnings. 'I will not leave without mother's present!' he said, taking a confident step forward.

'Wha-?! Have you gone mad?!' Loki screamed in desperation. 'We are not here to fight Thor! We do not kill sacred creatures now move!' He turned around as he heard the wolf closing in, looking at the creature through fear tainted emerald eyes.

'Listen, beast,' Thor spoke in a loud voice, walking towards the creature with confident steps. 'you either move and let us pass or suffer the consequences of standing against the princes of Asgard!' he stood still, firmly placed his feet in the dirt and raised Mjolnir. 'What shall it be?'

The great wolf stopped for a second, tilting its head slightly as it watched the young god of thunder.

Loki looked at the beast with pounding heart and then at his brother. 'Thor!' he harshly whispered. 'Walk back, slowly, now!' he commanded, keeping his voice as soft as possible as he took a few slow and careful steps backwards.

'The god of thunder runs for no one!' Thor roared, making Loki press the palm of his hand against his face.

At this, the wolf took a defensive stance. It lowered its head, baring its white teeth and let out a deep, low growl.

'You idiotic arrogant fool!' Loki hissed.

The wolf then dug a paw into the dirt, staring at the blond with ferocious eyes. After releasing another growl in warning, it charged towards the god, aiming for his throat.

'Thor! Watch out!' Loki screamed, hardly daring to watch. His brother, on the other end, smirked confidently and raised Mjolnir towards the sky.

Loki looked up in awe as dark clouds instantly covered the skies, the roaring sound of thunder echoing through the forest. He turned his attention back to his brother, watching as small sparks came from the weapon he was holding.

A blinding lightning came down from the sky, hitting the young god of thunder. Thor conjured all the strength he had to keep his body from collapsing under the sheer pressure. He let out a loud roar, as he tried to aim Mjolnir at the beast.

But he failed.

Loki quickly crouched down, making himself as small as possible as lightning came crashing down all around him, destroying the trees and burning the grass. He opened his eyes and stared in disbelieve as he saw his brother fallen to one knee and panting heavily.

'Brother!' the raven stood up and came running for the blond, pushing him aside just before the wolf could sink its teeth into his flesh.

'What was that?! You nearly killed me!'

'I, I,' Thor stammered as he tried to catch his breath. 'I may have to practice a little more…' he shamefully admitted.

'You mean you can't control your powers yet?!' Loki turned his gaze towards the wolf and saw it standing still, panting for half a minute before turning around. Its bright yellow eyes locked on his emerald's.

It came running towards them again as Loki and Thor sat on their knees, both not fast enough to get back on their feet in time. The wolf opened its mouth, baring its white fangs and, with tremendous force, bit down straight through Loki's chest.

The creature then looked up in silent bewilderment, taking a few unsteady steps back as the two brothers had suddenly disappeared in a green glow. It first tilted its head and then raised it to scan its surroundings. As it did not see its pray, it pressed its nose close against the ground, sniffing for even the slightest hint of Asgardian god.

'You were able to fool the creature! You are amazing Loki!' Thor spoke while panting as he and his brother laid completely still in nearby bushes. He opened his mouth to speak again but a pale hand quickly found its way to shut it again.

'Hush!' Loki whispered as he kept his eyes on the great wolf, watching it walk by closely.

'I am ready to fight again, brother.' Thor whispered with a smile after pushing the trickster's hand of his mouth. 'Come on, we can do this. Together.'

His smile soon faded as his enthusiastic gaze was answered with rage burning emerald eyes.

Loki glared at his brother, nearly baring his teeth.

'You imbecile!' He whispered though Thor could clearly hear the fury ringing in his voice. 'What were you thinking?! You could have killed a sacred creature! You could have killed me! You could have set this entire forest ablaze!'

'I, I,' Thor stammered, his gaze immediately directed towards the ground in shame and guilt.

'I do not want to see you raise that hammer one more time!' Loki continued. 'We. Do not. Kill. Sacred. Creatures. Thor!' He spelled out. 'Norns know how much damage you could have caused, now move before the bea-' But Loki stopped his sentence as he heard a deep growling sound, feeling the low frequency vibrate in his chest. He turned around and saw the massive beast hanging over them.

Both brothers slowly stood up, walking backwards in small steps as the beast bared its teeth again.

'Thor,' Loki began, keeping his eyes locked with that of the creature in front of him. 'I will create a distraction and I want you to run, am I clear?'

'I am not leaving you!'

'You run!' Loki repeated, not tolerating any form of contradiction. He let his Seiðr run over his body, changing himself into a tremendous pitch-black snake, gaining the wolfs attention as their eyes met.

'Brother, I-' But Thor had no chance of getting his brother's attention. The massive snake hissed loudly at the wolf, baring its long fangs and slithered from the bushes into the open, lightning-damaged field.

Thor watched in terror as he saw the two creatures dancing around each other, the air filled with stifling tension.

The black snake graciously evaded all the attacks the wolf threw at him, crawling behind rocks and trees for protection, relying on the upcoming darkness of the night for coverage.

Although this display of destruction hardly lasted more than a few minutes, Thor felt like watching the ordeal for hours on end. He nearly screamed as he watched the wolf successfully take hold of the snake in the iron lock of its jaws. A violent shiver ran down his spine as he heard the black creature hiss in pain.

The snake moved quickly, wrapping its body around that of the white creature, it opened its mouth and bit down on the wolf's shoulder. The wolf opened its mouth and let out a loud cry in pain.

The entire body of the snake emitted a green glow and then changed back into that of a raven-haired, pale young man who found himself lying on top of the beasts back.

'BROTHER!' Thor screamed as he did not saw Loki moving, gaining the attention of the wounded wolf.

'Thor?' Loki looked up while holding on tight to the wolf's soft coat. He tried to move further, to stand up tall and get a clearer view, but as he tried to do so, he noticed he could hardly move his left leg. He looked at it, only now feeling a sharp pain traveling through his body as he saw the deep bite wound the wolf had left on him. He gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the pain and looked at his brother again.

'I told you to run, you idiot!' he screamed as he saw his brother facing the creature he so desperately tried to distract. A panic hit him as the wolf started to move, its gaze now locked on the god of thunder.

Loki cursed as his mind was racing on what to do. He felt the wolf's body tense and nearly fell of its back as it took a limp step towards the older god, its teeth bared in rage and pain.

'No… no, no, no, no,' Loki uttered as he heard a growl coming from the creature underneath him. He looked at his brother who merely stood there, not moving a muscle.

He froze.

The mighty god of thunder, his role model brother, froze. For the first time in his life, Loki saw his brother trembling, insecure and scared.

'Thor…?' he said, hardly audible over the creature's growling. 'THOR! RUN!' He screamed at his brother but the blond, still, did not move.

Loki's eyes then widened as the wolf started to move for his brother, first in slow, unsteady steps but it quickly turned into a sprint. 'THOR! MOVE!' he tried, hoping the blond would respond but he didn't.

He needed to stop the creature for if not, his brother would surely find his death between the beast's jaws. Loki then finally thought of something.

He quickly conjured his trusted dagger and leaned a little to the side, hovering over the wound in the beast's shoulder that he created as a snake. He raised his dagger and, with all his strength, stabbed it deep in the existing wound. He held on to the handle with both hands and let himself fall off, slicing the dagger downwards through the beast's leg, cutting straight down its artery.

Thor and Loki then both covered their ears as the wolf let out a loud cry in pain. It stumbled and fell down, its leg completely open.

The blond stared at the display in front of him as the creature's fall finally snapped him out of his frozen state. He looked at the wolf as it lay on the ground, squirming, crying. Then, he looked at his blood covered brother who was almost in the exact same state.

'Loki!' he quickly ran to his side and helped him to get up, hearing the raven let out a loud hiss as he tried to stand on both legs. He panted heavily, leaning against the god of thunder as he could hardly stand on his own feet.

'What have I done…?' Loki softly spoke as he looked at the crying creature next to him. 'What have I done...?!' He placed his hands in front of his mouth, only then noticing the blood soaking his clothes, skin and hair. 'wha- what-?!' He barely uttered, staring at his quivering hands.

'Loki,' Thor firmly grabbed his brother's shoulders and made him face him 'it is okay, brother. You did well, you saved me.'

'I killed a sacred creature.' Loki whispered in shock. 'I, I killed… oh Norns, what have I done?'

'No, you saved me.' Thor replied, forcing his brother to keep looking at him. 'You, you were true to your word. You promised to protect me from the certain trouble I would put myself… us into and you did.'

Thor saw a tear trickling down his brother's cheek as the wolf let out its final cry. He wrapped his arms around his trembling brother, only now noticing how much smaller Loki really was compared to himself. He held him tight against his body as he heard faint sobs coming from the trickster.

'It is okay brother, you did very well,' Thor praised him, his voice soft and caring. 'there is no one who would blame you.' He placed a gentle kiss on his brother's temple and rubbed his back.

They stood still for at least 15 minutes. The blood which covered the raven now slowly draining the blonde's clothes as well, leaving them both to shiver as a cold evening breeze passed by.

'Let us go home, Loki,' He finally spoke as the sound of his brother's sobbing softened. 'mother and father must be worried.'

Notes:

And that's it for this chapter, thank you so so much for showing your support by reading this, it really means a lot to me! Next chapter I'll post will be for "A Tale of the Trickster and the Spider" and "Sing me one last song". Next chapter for this story will be up in about 2 weeks!

This was a first for me to write a battle like this so please leave a review and let me know what you think! feedback is always welcome, I want to learn as much as possible to make my stories better and more enjoyable for you to read!