As per agreement, Loki continued close observation of the mysterious wolf, now named Runa. He followed her movements and behavioral patterns, treading lightly to avoid anything that could make her run off. As lightly as was possible for a troublemaking trickster.

One thing the fire god learned quickly about Runa was that she was a rather sensitive creature. She was cautious and wary of everything around her, even those she considered allies. It was easy to press her buttons and get a rise out of her, but it was just as easy to push her too far. Crossing a line would upset her and send her into a state of avoidance. Once that occurred, she would withdraw and remain missing for days, ignoring his calls and all but falling off the face of the realm.

The key to working with Runa was to be persistent, but patient also gentle. Two things that required tremendous effort on Loki's part. Thus, he had taken to summoning her every few days for a routine hunt and some relaxation, leaving plenty of opportunities to play his tricks in between. Doing so proved highly effective and over time, the god of fire slowly earned her trust. Eventually, the pair came to enjoy their outings; Runa coming to his side with or without his calling.

It was one such day that Loki found himself strolling casually toward his cottage, a large rabbit in hand. Runa trotted alongside him, carrying a hare of her own.

In the previous weeks, the pair had taken to expanding their hunting routine. While they frequently enjoyed a roast with one another, the two had now started working together to aid in Loki's preparations. As per Balder's request, the fire god had gotten dragged into assisting with the upcoming feast, gathering food items, and hunting game for the massive event. Of course, doing so was far more effort than the lackadaisical god was willing to exert.

Thus, he had enlisted Runa's assistance in the matter, gathering and transporting items as necessary. He wasn't certain how it had come to this, the entire situation seeming far beyond bizarre. In truth, he hadn't expected her to help at all. In the worst case, he thought she may even be offended by his request. Yet surprisingly, she didn't seem to mind, simply enjoying his company and having something to do with her boring days. And even more strangely… Loki was beginning to appreciate their time together as well.

Having spent so much of his life alone, it was nice to have someone… or something around that didn't reject him. Balder and Thor had always been there since his youth, but they couldn't be around all of the time. As Odin's sons, they had responsibilities that often drew them away from him, leaving him to brood by his lonesome on the forest's edge. Sure, he could venture into town if he wished, and often did so to break the tedium of everyday routine. But such action was almost always met with negative response as he was effectively loathed by all who resided there. It was true that their treatment no longer bothered him as it once had in the past, but it was still very tiresome.

"You've been a busy puppy today, haven't you?" Loki smirked, strolling along beside his furry companion.

The companion in question snorted, huffing a puff of air through her nostrils in warning. Hairs along her tail and scruff bristled with mild irritation, their owner unappreciative of his playful jab. This had become the routine between the two of them. While Loki was generally respectful of the wolf and her boundaries, he occasionally poked fun at her with nicknames and backhanded comments.

Truthfully, Yuna didn't entirely mind it. She had for a while, assuming his words to be blatant insults as she had become so accustomed. But over time, the goddess came to learn that that was simply his way. It was his nature to tease, no matter the target. Jests and tricks were interwoven into his personality. One that she was, despite herself, slowly growing fond of. Even still, it was still incredibly rude.

"Hmm?" Loki lifted a crimson eyebrow. "You don't like the nickname… Ylwa?" He continued, curling his lips into a smile at the sight of her growing annoyance. He chuckled silently, taking careful note of the way she rolled her golden eyes. Then… it was the last thing he saw before looking to the sky.

Turning, Yuna pivoted on her front paws and twirled her body in violent spin. Her tail swept beneath legs, knocking them out from under him and sending him flopping in the snow. Loki had to pause for a moment to get his bearings, trying to register what had just happened in his mind. The sound of rough panting drew his eyes to her and her curled black lips. She was laughing at him. Oh, she was going to pay for this one.

"Loki?"

"Eh?" Sitting up in the snow, the god turned at the sound of a familiar voice. Two figures approached from them from the tree line, wandering forward from the opposite trail. It seemed he wasn't the only one arriving at his homestead.

Balder's expression quickly shifted to one of curiosity as his eyes trailed sideways, noticing the large white canine standing by his side. "Oh… this must be Runa." He commented, offering his gentlest of smiles. Beside him, Thor lifted an eyebrow, a bit surprised to see the two of them interacting so casually. It was true that Loki was currently in charge of tracking her movements, and he was well aware of their activities. But to actually see the two together was strange to say the least.

Unfortunately, the wolf in question didn't appreciate the visitors as much as they did her.

The moment Yuna laid eyes on Thor, her fur bristled in alarm. Her gaze sharpened, immediately recognizing him as her original aggressor. She stepped backward, her gentle grip on the rabbit tightening ever so slightly as she bared her teeth. She would not be caught off guard a second time.

Noticing the shift in atmosphere, Loki hopped to his feet to mitigate them. Even he knew it would be unwise to let the situation escalate. Especially since, thanks to his own teasing, she was already irritated. "Relax, Runa…" He cooed, tuning his gaze towards the nervous canid. "There is nothing to be worried about. These are friends, see?"

Yuna flicked her eyes in Loki's direction, her brow furrowing in an expression that could only be described as exasperated. Your friends, perhaps.

Loki shook his head, strolling forward towards his two companions as they approached him. "Ah, you're not still mad about Thor, are you?" Yuna's twitching mouth gave him his answer. "Aw, don't worry! He won't hurt you. Sure, he can be a real brute sometimes, but I'm sure he didn't mean it, riiight?" He turned his attention to his green-haired friend, waggling his eyebrows in his direction. The other god would understand his intentions, he knew. Thor always understood.

The two brothers looked at one another, exchanging a look as Loki sharpened his gaze. The wolf behind him did the same, eyes zoning in on the larger god. More specifically, the massive hammer strapped behind his back. She had already ended up on the business end of his thunderous mallet once. She had no intention of doing it again.

The god of light muttered something to his brother, taking careful note of Yuna's body language. She was growing impatient. Thor exchanged yet another look with Balder, then turned towards his redheaded companion. Hadn't Loki himself refused to apologize only weeks ago? Yet, he clearly expected him to. Of course, he did… he was Loki.

Narrowing his eyes, he slowly turned towards the wolf. "Apologies." He said, dawning his signature passive expression. While Thor was typically a man of few words in general, in this case, he didn't entirely see the point. Loki had certainly woven tales of their quarry's capabilities, but he was a well-known scoundrel. He took great joy in misleading others, and it was entirely possible that he was, at least to some degree, exaggerating his descriptions.

He was quickly proven wrong.

The wolf regarded him for a few moments, sizing up whether or not he still posed a threat. He made no motion and offered nothing further… and she got the feeling that was the best she was going to get. Regardless of whether or not he actually meant his apology, he clearly had no intention of clobbering her. Determining there was no concern, Yuna shrugged and shook her head, in the most comprehending display he had ever seen. What's done is done.

Thor blinked, a bit surprised by her reaction. His eyes drifted momentarily to Loki's taking note of his smug expression. There was no way this was an ordinary forest creature.

"Excellent!" Loki exclaimed, dancing further toward his friends. Yuna trailed slowly behind him, eyeing the other two with caution. The god of fire paid it little mind, all but throwing his arm around his blonde-haired friend. "Forgiveness all around! With that worked out, I'll introduce you to another friend. This is Balder. You probably remember him, right?"

Yuna nodded knowingly. She remembered this god very well. Although her understanding of their language had been nonexistent at that time, she had been able to, at the very least, discern their names. Unfortunately, that was where her knowledge ended. Compiling all she had learned over the past few weeks, she only knew two things about this particular god. He was overly friendly, and he was very, very clumsy.

Unlike Thor's stoic response, Balder looked absolutely delighted. "I am so very happy to - uwagh!" His words immediately faltered as he stepped forward, crashing into the snow in the most glorious way imaginable. Yuna blinked at him as he climbed slowly to his feet, dusting snow and ice from his white robes. What the heck was wrong with him? After removing the last of the ice, he resumed almost as though nothing had happened. "I am relieved to see that you are doing well."

Yuna watched him carefully, growing uneasy at his approach. Something about him was bothering her. Something unusual that she couldn't entirely describe. The winter goddess didn't know what it was about him that agitated her, but it set her senses on fire. When he drew too close, she backed away from him, making her feelings known.

The god of light paused, looking slightly hurt by her rejection once again. Her aversion to Thor was understandable, considering the circumstances of their first meeting. But Balder couldn't imagine what he could have done to earn her scorn. Perhaps she was simply skittish. It wasn't entirely surprising. Smiling once more, he backed away and gave her space, looking slowly to Loki for direction. He had spent the most time around her, so surely, he would know what to do about the situation.

Frowning slightly, Loki wandered forward, returning to his wolf companion. The rabbit dangled lifelessly in his hands as he leaned forward, regarding her carefully. "Ehh? What's this? You're nervous?" He asked, a playful lilt entering his tone.

Yuna didn't react to his spirited jab, instead narrowing her eyes and pulling her lips into a frown. Her eyes darted momentarily to the god behind him before returning to Loki. A hard stare was his answer. I don't trust him.

"Aw, don't worry about Balder! He's the god of light, the very definition of kindness and love!" He exclaimed, making a grand show of his introduction. Yuna didn't budge. "Come on, it'll be fine, I promise. " He tried again, looking carefully into her eyes. "Balder is nice. Come say hello." His golden irises bore into her own, his gaze drawing hers. If reassurance was ineffective, then perhaps his power of suggestion would convince her.

It didn't.

Yuna looked into his eyes, listening closely to his every syllable. Was he trying to persuade her? No… he was trying to trick her. Something within his hypnotic gaze told her that he was up to something, and she didn't like it. Stomping her paw into the snow, she snapped her jaws together, letting her unhappiness be known.

Loki blinked, backing away at the sound. A curious brow lifted at her aggressive reaction. It would seem she was resistant to his own influence as well… and possibly even aware of it. Her quiet snarl was a warning. I don't know what you're up to, but don't do it again.

With a sigh, the god of fire relented. It would seem there was no way to alleviate her concerns with Balder, at least for the time being. For now, perhaps it would be better to ease the tension between them. The two had been spending a great deal of time together. Maybe she would warm up to the others if they did the same. "Okay, okay, never mind it. Come on, let's go, it's cold! Let's get inside, hmm?" Loki suggested, dancing towards his cottage door and leaving Yuna behind. The others followed him, glancing briefly in her direction as they passed. It didn't seem they had any intention of waiting for her answer.

Loki tripped the latch and opened his door, spinning around with a flourish. His lips parted to begin a grand welcome… but it died on his lips. By the time he had turned around, Yuna was already gone.

. . .

After the goddess fled, the trio of gods went on about their business. They didn't have much of a choice. Locating her wasn't an option and trying to do so would only serve to agitate her, since she was clearly feeling evasive. Instead, they would leave her alone for the time being, allowing her to come back to them in her own time.

Gathering around the warmth of the flame, the gods once again spoke amongst themselves, the topic of discussion their canine companion. Following her unusual display, it had become obvious that something was amiss. The wolf posed no threat by her residence alone, but this most recent encounter confirmed their suspicions: there was far more to Runa than meets the eye. Her presence in Asgard could no longer be ignored.

"It seems that our forest friend is hiding more than she lets on." Balder murmured, watching Loki toy with a flickering flame.

"Looks that way. She's immune to your influence. Not to mention the fact that she survived Thor's hammer in the first place. That's strange enough on its own, isn't it?"

Balder and Thor paused for a moment, taking into consideration Loki's suggestion. Neither one of them had given it much thought at the time. Thor had never intended to fatally wound the animal in the first place. But it couldn't be denied that the situation was highly unusual. Yes, he had held back tremendously on his swing… but he was still the god of thunder, and Runa was still a wolf. Although at this point, they were certain that wasn't the case.

"She resisted your power of as well." Balder mentioned, having noticed Loki's earlier attempts at hypnosis.

"It's settled. We inform Odin." Thor stated, staring blankly into the fire. Always a man of few words, he said his piece, vocalizing what they were all thinking.

Balder slowly nodded, a pensive expression rising on his gentle features. "Yes. I believe that would be best."

Loki looked silently between them, lazily twirling a flame between his fingers. He knew the All-Father would want to be apprised of Runa's presence at this point. She possessed far too many oddities to be disregarded as a forest animal. He wasn't sure what would happen once the supreme ruler made note of her residence. Probably nothing, as Odin tended to dismiss what he deemed to be trivial matters. At most, he would call upon Huginn and Muninn, his eyes in the skies, to keep an eye on her. Hopefully, that would be his only course of action.

After all, the alternatives would be highly disappointing.