So sorry for the delay in updating, I was away on Spring Break, as I assume many of you were too! Did you guys go anywhere for your break?
We are nearly out of Hel's realm when the patter of paws emerges behind us. Garm's violent red irises flash in my memory, and panic snatches my breath. I turn slowly, seeing the nasty wolf charging at us from miles away. His blood stained fur flashes in the shadows.
But he's not alone.
Three other beastly dogs race with him, one of them noticeably larger than the others and pitch black in fur. The howls protruding from their throats are guttural and blood-thirsty. They are tiny specks in the distance but the thunder of their feet rumbles against the ground.
Loki, Jane, and Thor all stop and turn with me. I can hear Jane gasp. Her breath is trembling.
"That deceiving bitch," Thor growls. "I should have known never to trust Hel to give us her word. There is Silvertongue always present in her blood." His piercing gaze flicks over to Loki.
"She lied to us about a safe passage back?" I ask.
"I assume she never planned on us leaving from the start," Thor says gravely, confirming my fears. Loki huffs, "Damn."
"Uh," Jane starts to back away slowly. "Are we gonna run, or what? Because I really think we should run..."
Simultaneously we run, the pumping of our legs driven by the terrible fear that we will never make it out alive. I think of Thor's mighty hammer. Could these beasts overpower the weapon forged from the heart of a dying star?
My feet get caught on my dress and I stumble. The material snags on a bone and rips. One last glance behind me before I continue on and I see the wolves gaining on us with incredible speed.
We will never make it out of here alive.
"Hurry Auz!" Loki shoves me forward and we move faster. I grope for his fingers and squeeze his hand tightly. We should have never come down here.
As we scramble up a slope of bones I hear a chilling growl and feel hot, moist breath against my back. Loki stops and freezes, looking at me with wide eyes before turning to face the snarling dog behind us.
Garm's eyes, ruby jewels from the pit of hell itself, churn with monstrous violence and narrow at Loki. His matted and blood-stained fur rises, making his appearance seem even larger than he is. In fear, I backup, my weight shifting several bones beneath me. They clatter and rattle and Garm's head snaps towards me. It's hard to find the strength to breathe. Then Loki pulls his arm back and I see the glint of his dagger.
"I have always despised you," He drawls before swiping at Hel's pet. There's a spurt of crimson and Garm howls; a bloody hole left in the place where one of his eyes once was. The monster whines, lowering his head and casting a hateful look at Loki that glistens with the promise of revenge. Thereupon Loki sheaths his dagger and pulls me by the arms to the top of the slope where we continue our fearful flight. There are still three other beasts that could rip our throats out. And I seriously don't wanna die today.
Thor and Jane are up ahead, where the two smaller wolves snap at their heels and Thor continuously brings his hammer down upon their heads. I feel my stomach clench.
"Loki... where is the last wolf?"
On cue, the gigantic hound leaps from a ledge above us and lands facing us with a bone rattling thump. Loki steps in front of me, shielding me from the animal, but not before I get a good look of the wolf's shaggy black fur, shimmering gold eyes, long steel claws and threatening fangs. I can smell the danger off of his fur. He begins to circle Loki and Loki begins to circle him, while keeping me hidden in the process. My creator steps carefully on the ground, each black boot placed softly in front of me. His long, pale face is calm, lips pressed firmly together. Strings of his black hair (which desperately needs a trim) stick to his forehead and cheeks.
"I know who you are." Says Loki. "They call you Moongarm, and say that you are filled with blood of all those who had died. Shall we test that theory?"
He flashes a stream of green light at the hound and and uses the distraction to slip out his dagger and lunge at him. Moongarm jumps and they collide in midair. Loki falls and hits his head. My instincts tell me to run, to run and save myself and leave this realm of darkness. But my heart wants nothing but to rush to his side and make sure he's alright.
I can't do either.
Moongarm is looking at me now, prowling slowly in my direction. Panicked, I look all around for any sign of Thor and Jane. I see them immediately, but they are too far away to hear me. The realization that I will die now hits me hard and almost knocks me off my feet. I take a deep breath, letting oxygen flow through my dizzy body. Then I let it out, and stand taller as I stare into the eyes of death.
Loki and I should have never come here. We should have never bargained with Hel. Should have never left Asgard. Everything could have been fine if Loki never exposed himself, or taken Odin's throne. I could have been safe if hadn't fallen in love with such a deranged man. I should have never trusted him. I should never had been created.
Moongarm lunges, jaw opening. I close my eyes and prepare myself.
But the bite never comes.
I'm pulled to the side by a familiar set of hands, and Moongarm howls at his failed attempt. Loki's body on the ground fades away and I smile up at the real one in front of me, shaking my head.
"I don't think I'll ever not fall for that."
"Let's move," He whispers firmly, ushering me into the shadows beneath a ledge. Moongarm growls at our absence, taking a moment to sniff the air. Evidently he catches our scent because seconds later he's only yards away from us. My body tenses.
"Run."
At Loki's command I sprint out of the shadows. Moongarm jumps towards me but is cut off as Loki emits another blast of green light. The giant dog snaps and snarls. It's all I can hear as Loki pushes me inside a cave. We move faster and faster, and the cave begins to narrow until Moongarm can pursue us no father and Loki and I are forced to squirm between the walls. Though his angry howls still echo along the cavern walls for some time.
"Thor... Jane..."
"Forget them."
"But..."
"I said forget them!" His harsh, stony voice startles me. I lower my voice and try a softer tone.
"He is your brother."
Loki whips around in the cramped tunnel. His face is close and I can feel the heat in his breath and see the bitterness in his eyes. His voice is stone cold.
"Do not argue with me, girl."
I clench my teeth, biting back the tears that burn on the edges of my eyes. Satisfied with my surrender, Loki continues to move forward. I'm not sure how long we inch along through the passage. Soon my feet begin to ache and my muscles cramp up. As soon as I feel that Loki has calmed down from his sudden outburst, I try to speak again.
"What is this place?"
I hear Loki huff. He struggles a few more steps forward in the tight space before saying sharply, "One of the hidden passageways. We will enter soon in Midgard."
Evidently he is not totally calm. I shut my mouth again and we walk in silence and in darkness.
Thor takes Jane's hand and together they run, Jane being half dragged behind the able-bodied god. Though Thor is careful not to push too hard, conscious of his lover's weaker, mortal form. The snaps at their heels from the two wolves are too close to comfort. Thor glances beside him, meeting the reassuring gaze of Jane before turning his neck all the way around to catch a glimpse of Loki and the girl catching up. A flicker of relief washes over him. Though he is way beyond pissed off at his brother, losing him is not something he is quite ready for. Even if he did murder their own father in cold blood, and start the end of the worlds.
A snarl near Thor's ear pulls him back into focus. The silver wolf bares it's glowing teeth and lunges. Adrenaline rushing, he tosses Jane aside - gently, of course - and whams the beast in the face with the glorious head of Mjolnir. Several fangs fly in the air like birds.
"Keep running!" He orders Jane, then spins his weapon around and around before releases another deadly strike. The hound wails.
Though these dogs of death threaten to kill Thor and his companions, he cannot bring himself to kill them. He knows these wolves: Skoll and Hati. He has crossed paths with them before. Though why would they attack him?
"Damn Hel," He mutters. Then he turns from the limping Hati and calls out, "Next!"
Skoll rushes at him, only to be tossed back by a mighty swing of the hammer. Thor laughs at the strength of his own power. Skoll growls.
Through the corner of his eye, he sees Loki and the girl, Auzreha, scurrying over to Jane. They all look frightened beyond belief. He turns his attention back to the wolf.
"Do you surrender?" He taunts.
The giant wolf growls again, the guttural sound ending in a throaty howl as the beast lowers into a crouch, readying itself to pounce.
"I accept," Thor smirks.
"Thor, we must leave now!" Loki calls, beckoning with his hands.
Thor grunts, swinging his hammer one last bone-shattering time before running over to Jane. The wolves limp away defeated. Thor wraps his arms around her small body and calls up to the obscure sky.
"Heimdall, if you can hear me, open the Bifrost now. We are in need of immediate escape!"
There's a moment of complete silence, broken only by the ominous thumping of giant paws. Confused, Thor turns. Surely the two wolves could not be returning? He had been thorough enough in their injuries. Jane gasps, squeezing his shoulder. And then he too sees the dark shape loping along the rocks.
The giant black wolf. Moongarm.
"I thought you took care of this one?" Thor snaps at Loki. His breath escapes him as he whips toward the younger god:
Loki and Auzreha are shimmering away. Fading into the darkness like flames burning out. The Trickster wears a sadistic grin on his face that seems to linger in the shadows even after his body disappears.
"Why, brother?" Thor growls under his breath knowing full well that wherever Loki really is, he cannot hear this resentful question. Though perhaps Loki can sense the last few strands of trust that ever stood a chance, shattering between the two brothers.
Moongarm's massive claws click against the hard ground as he nears, and Thor feels a moment of complete and utter hopelessness. Where is Heimdall? Is this his legacy - to die, wrapped up in the arms of his lover, in this dark misty abode of the dead, betrayed by his brother and left to be remembered as the god who could not save the world?
Jane's arms tighten around Thor's waste. He pushes himself into her.
In the last second, a bright and magnificent stream of light branches down from the sky and claims Thor and Jane as it's own, pulling them back up to where they belong. Shock and relief beam through Thor.
He was safe, and so was his beloved Jane.
They land in the Observatory and immediately he wraps Jane in a tight embrace, inhaling her scent. Violets. She smelled of violets. He let the scent cover him and it wasn't until he heard the deep voice of Heimdall that he remembered where he was.
"Where are the other two?"
Thor backs away from Jane, letting his hand fall from hers as a bubbling resentment gurgles in the pit of his stomach. It hurt him to feel this way about his brother, but he could not help it. The mischievous and bitter man had crossed too many lines. The image of Loki's sardonic smirk fading into the shadows surfaces to Thor's memory.
"Loki has fled after failing to retrieve Balder's soul. Call on the troops. We must find him now. Loki must face his punishment."
Thank you for reading:) Review if you like it!
Just a heads up: there will be some more love-y scenes real soon. Don't lose hope;) And I hope Thor's pov was not too terrible?