The first day of winter marked the start of the festivities. The Yuletide feast was finally upon them. Gods of Asgard gathered everywhere from the streets of the town to the halls of the palace to celebrate. A portion of the log from Balder's tree stood as the center hearth and surrounding the room were meats, vegetables, and mead as far as the eye could see. It was a smorgasbord of varying items, with Thor's wild boar as the centerpiece. At the far end of the hall sat Odin, supreme ruler of Asgard, looking over the celebration. Beside him stood Thor, eyes watching over the others with a passive stare.

Spinning gracefully around the center of the room was Balder. The god of light wore a blinding smile as he swept across the hall with a nameless goddess on his arm, a common sight during such events. If he wasn't chatting with attendees and partygoers, he could often be found gliding across the dancefloor. In between, he made rotations around the room, hoping to get a word in with Loki. An endeavor that was, as usual, proving to be rather difficult.

Standing off to the side was the god of fire and mischief. His back leaned against a pillar, his eyes rolling as he saw yet another goddess requesting Balder's hand. It was always like this ever since the two of them were children. All living creatures flocked to the god of light like moths to a flame, and this was particularly troublesome during celebrations and gatherings. Growing bored of Balder's activities, Loki swept his eyes across the room, watching others enjoy themselves.

As expected, many of the other gods were bothered by his presence. Some avoided his gaze while others looked upon him with contempt. Most simply ignored him entirely. He had long grown accustomed to their treatment, and it didn't upset him as it once did in the past. Of course, being resistant to their cruelty didn't make him immune to discomfort. A frown pulled at his lips, feeling a sudden urge to cause trouble. He considered for a moment whether or not he should seek out an unsuspecting god to prank, or simply leave the party altogether. His absence would go unnoticed either way.

As Balder spun across the ballroom floor with yet another goddess, their eyes met. While no words were said, he could tell what his expression meant. I'm sorry. Please try to have some fun. Loki would love nothing more than enjoy himself on this joyous evening. The question was, doing what? No one wished to socialize with the likes of him and Thor was currently preoccupied, discussing something quietly with Odin. Balder practically had a line of goddesses trailing after him, all vying for his attention.

What exactly was he to do, mingle? With whom? No one would even acknowledge him, let alone join him for a drink or some light conversation. A dance was out of question entirely. Even if he were to fancy the idea, he had no interest in setting himself up for inevitable rejection. When Balder passed by him yet again, he subtly tilted his head in the direction of one of the windows. It was deliberate and pointed. The other god was trying to tell him something.

Loki followed the direction of Balder's gesture, and in doing so, quickly found himself confused. He saw various people of Asgard chatting and laughing merrily. Not far from the mead barrel were a pair of gods, squaring up for a drinking contest. He saw decorations and other adornments in the hall, but nothing out of the ordinary. He noticed a group of goddesses giggling amongst themselves, stopping abruptly when they made eye contact. As suspected, they whispered to one another and quickly shuffled away, presumably before he could attempt to approach them. Perplexed, Loki twirled a braid around his finger, trying to figure out what exactly Balder wanted him to see. All he found was the same as he always did. Avoidance, disdain, disgust… no one would look at him. No one ever looked at him.

As he lifted himself from his resting place, a flash of white caught his attention. Turning his head, he noticed a solitary goddess standing by a far window. She seemed a little lost and perhaps a bit out of place, certainly not one involved in the festivities. Stranger still, she was looking in his direction.

No. She was looking directly at him.

Her golden eyes regarded him not with reproach, but with curiosity and possibly even… interest? Out of reflex, Loki's eyes subconsciously drifted to his sides, assuming that perhaps she was looking at someone close by. There was no one standing in his immediate proximity and Balder was currently near the other side of the room.

When his eyes returned to the window, the goddess had disappeared. Where had she run off to? Had his painfully bored mind simply imagined her? Probably, considering her apparent interest in him. With a shrug, Loki finally decided that he had had enough of standing around. If he must remain at this insufferable gathering, then he was going to find some way to amuse himself.

Near the one of the tables, Loki casually strolled along the mountains of food. He was searching for an interesting place to lay his trap. The barrels were too obvious and the platters too noticeable. The chairs were too predictable and… oh, that looked like a good place. With a mischievous smile, he wandered inconspicuously towards his destination. Much as he hated it, there were certainly benefits to being disregarded. His arm slowly snaked forward, smoke bombs in hand. But before reaching the crevice, Loki suddenly stopped. He could feel a pair of eyes boring into him… he was being watched.

Slowly moving his gaze across the room once more, he noticed that someone was indeed observing him. It was the same goddess as before, looking at him from a different section of the hall. Somehow, she seemed even closer than before. Like a game of cat and mouse, the woman had disappeared from sight and reappeared closer to her quarry. It was as suspicious as it was curious. Turning his head back in the direction of his task, Loki kept his trained on her from his periphery. She remained still for a short time, her eyes watching his very movement. Then, after a few moments the silver head of hair slipped in between a group of goddesses and vanished. He had lost sight of her, but he knew that she hadn't left. Loki couldn't see her, but he could still feel her eyes on him. If he could only locate her.

…There!

Behind a pillar, he noticed a head of silver peeking out paired with a golden gaze. Now there was no question. She was certainly following him, and she was definitely getting closer. At this point, he was growing amused. While the allure of pranking an unwary god was tempting, the idea of another being interested in him was far more. Perhaps he would play her little game instead. Initial task forgotten; Loki made his way casually around the room. He made a show of attempting conversation, trying unsuccessfully to keep her in his line of vision. Having lost her more times than he had found her, he couldn't help but be impressed by her stealth. She had a talent for vanishing into her surroundings. Almost like…

"Evening." He greeted, addressing a pair of goddesses crossing his path. The two looked at him for a moment before stalking away, muttering insults that he could easily hear. He ignored them, unconcerned with their hurtful words. There was something far more interesting on his mind at the moment. After a few minutes of 'socializing' with other gods, he spotted her again in the corner. She was much, much closer.

She followed him as he slowly strolled to a different part of the room. He poured himself a mug of mead and drank it, appearing merry and preoccupied. Her eyes never left him. After a few moments of observation, she moved again, slowly looping around another group of goddesses. He chuckled quietly to himself, setting his mug on a nearby table. It was time to put an end to their game of hide and seek.

Moving in the surreptitious that only Loki could, he slipped behind a particularly large pillar, positioning himself to keep a close eye on the floor. From where he was standing, the goddess would have no choice but to reveal herself again if she wanted to follow him. Sure enough, he caught a glimpse of her flitting around the tables before vanishing from sight.

Minutes passed with no sign of the mystery woman, but Loki didn't mind. He was patient. Being a master of mischief, he had a penchant for sneaking about as well and he knew the tricks of the trade. The goddess couldn't hide forever. After a short while, he was proven right. Suddenly, he heard a sound, a light footstep from a few pillars away. She had followed him.

He twirled his body around the pillar in the opposite direction, slinking out of sight as she rounded the corner. The footsteps stopped after a few paces, her body going still. She was searching for him. Loki took careful steps as he rounded the large pillar. He would need to move swiftly or he was going to miss his opportunity. Quickening his pace, he looped around and emerged from the other side.

Checkmate.

Now in the open, Loki had a very clear view. Her white flowing dress was swaying gently as she moved, her silver hair falling gracefully beneath her waist. Her skin was oddly pale, almost hauntingly so, and her golden eyes were sweeping back and forth. He had finally found her… yet now he hesitated.

Despite going through so much trouble to catch her, Loki found himself a bit uncertain, although he wasn't entirely sure why. Perhaps it was because she had shown an interest in him, and he was nervous about frightening her away. Or perhaps it was because she was a relatively attractive woman in an odd sort of way. Maybe it was just his fear of rejection. Whatever the case, he needed to make a move quickly. He had only moments to act before she vanished again. It was now or never.

"Ehhh? Are you looking for someone?"

Yuna jumped, startled by the voice that she had come to know so well. When had he gotten behind her…? Had he seen her watching him?

"Perhaps I can help you find them, hmm?" His voice was practically dripping with satisfaction and amusement. He was clearly pleased with himself and her reaction.

Slowly, her body turned to face him, and her heart quickened. He was standing so close. Her mouth opened, then closed again, the words catching in her throat. Despite countless days of learning their language, she was now having a difficult time conversing. It wasn't that she didn't understand his question so much as she wasn't sure how to respond to it. While she had put a great deal of effort into her learning, she had very few opportunities to actually speak. Now, standing so close to the god of her interest, the shy goddess found herself too nervous make any attempt.

Loki eyed her carefully, taking in her expression and tense movements. Her lips twitched uncertainly, and her nose wiggled. Her hands were clasped anxiously, and her eyes shifted uneasily. It was almost as if she were afraid of him.

His red head tilted slightly as he watched her mind at work. When he took a step forward, she took a step back. His suspicions were confirmed. She was clearly uncomfortable with their interaction. And other gods were slowly starting to take notice. Loki would need to tread carefully lest he risk making a scene. The last thing his already terrible reputation needed was adding 'harassing goddesses' to the list. Erring on the side of caution, he backed away, respecting her space. When he spoke again, he made his best attempt at making his words sound friendly. They didn't. "What's your name?" It almost sounded mocking.

But that was alright. Yuna wasn't bothered by it. Over their time together, she had grown accustomed to his speech patterns. Despite his tone, she knew that Loki meant well. For the most part. At the very least, he was trying to introduce himself. Now, she would have to answer him. Otherwise, she may lose her chance to converse with him properly… and there was no guarantee that she would receive another. Steadying herself, the goddess finally spoke.

"…Yuna."

"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Yuna." He was doing his best not to sound sarcastic, but it was very, very difficult. "My name is…"

"Loki." Her voice came out as barely a whisper, but it was just loud enough to reach his ears. How did she know his name? He supposed it wasn't too unusual. He was notorious in Asgard and his reputation preceded him. It shouldn't come as a surprise that she had heard of him. Of course, the things they said about him were never good…

"Ehh? Have we met before?"

They had. Only Loki didn't realize it.

"I..." She was at a loss for words. What could she say? That she had been observing him, along with his friends, very closely over the past several weeks? That she had been thankful for the assistance he and his friend had offered, after their other friend injured her in the first place? That the two of them had actually been hunting and adventuring together, side by side, for the better half of her stay? All of those responses accurate, but they were hardly appropriate in this situation.

Growing nervous, her first instinct was to run away. But that was no longer an option. Doing so would draw attention and guarantee that she would be found out. The fact that she had even made her way to the hall was a risk that she should have been smart enough not to take. Her curiosity, it seemed, always got her into trouble in some way or another. This was a terrible idea. She should never have come here. What was she to do?

"Loki, there you are. I was wondering where you had run off too. I was worried that you may be pulling one of your pranks - hmm?"

With impeccable timing, Balder appeared to save her from her floundering. He seemed surprised to see her, though not displeased. He had spotted her looking in Loki's direction from across the hall during his one of his dances and tried to tell him in the hopes that he would notice her. It was rare for others to take an interest in the fire god and in truth, he had no idea whether or not she would actually to speak to him… but he had hoped that she would.

"Balder!" Loki exclaimed, relieved to finally see his friend. Apparently, he had managed to pull himself away from the gaggle of goddesses surrounding him. He was grateful to have someone to help with the awkward atmosphere, although another part of him was slightly disappointed. Now that he was here, Yuna would inevitably be drawn in by his heavenly aura. Loki would become invisible and be, once again, ignored. At least, that was what he expected to happen.

She surprised him.

Rather than fawn shamelessly over the god of light, she eyed him with caution. Rather than enraptured, she seemed unsettled, possibly even suspicious of him. Both Balder and Loki were startled by her reaction. Even still, Balder attempted to converse. Kindness was in his nature and he couldn't bring himself to simply ignore her.

"I don't believe we've met. As you undoubtedly heard, my name is Balder. And you are?"

"Yuna." she repeated her name for the second time that night and the second time in response to the God of Light.

"A beautiful name." His flashed his warmest smile as he approached her, gently taking her hand in his own. Her entire body tensed as blood slowly rushed to her face, turning her once pale cheeks a brilliant shade of pink. He was frightening attractive. He was far too close. And now, he was touching her. This was all too much.

Yuna began to fidget and nervously look around. The blonde god had been gone for too long and others had noticed. She could feel the angry gazes of the goddesses that eyed their linked hands with envy. The curious onlookers fascinated by the new face that had somehow, until that moment, gone almost entirely unnoticed. The worried look upon Balder's face as he looked down at her with concern. And finally, at the head of the hall, the gaze that she least wanted to see: Odin. The All-Father. Supreme ruler of the land and all who resided in it.

Overwhelmed, Yuna tore her hand from his grasp and backed away from them. Her eyes flicked back and forth between the two gods, noting their expressions. Balder looked worried, and a bit surprised at her sudden rejection. Loki looked… disappointed? Sad? She didn't know. And she wouldn't get the chance to find out. She was beyond remaining discreet. She had already been noticed. Turning, she finally made a run for it.

Yuna fled from the hall and through the large, towering doors, her dress billowing behind her with every frantic step. She leapt into the snow headed back into the town, returning the way she came. Her feet carried her all the way to the outskirts, heading for her sanctuary. Approaching the nearest tree line, she shifted. Her two legs became four as she set off at a sprint, vanishing into the night.

In the hall, the guests slowly returned to their activities. The excitement was over. Now out of sight, she was out of their minds, and many were too intoxicated to care. Thor stood beside his father, who had watched the events unfold. He knew not the identity of this goddess nor how she had come to reside in Asgard, but he would find out soon enough. For now, he watched over the banquet. Balder, no longer preoccupied with Yuna's presence conversed briefly with his friend before once again being swept away into the crowd.

Loki remained, leaning back against the pillar once more. His eyes watched the doorway through which Yuna departed, silently lamenting the loss. His conversation with Balder was brief, but more than he had honestly expected. Balder looked at him with an apologetic smile as another goddess summoned him for a dance. With a sigh, Loki lowered his eyes and made to return to his own activities. That is, until something unusual caught his attention.

As Balder was dragged away, Loki caught a glimpse of Balder's hand. Discoloration was evident against the other god's fair skin, specifically the one which once held Yuna's. The god of fire froze, his gaze following the digits as they disappeared back to the dancefloor. Stained across his fingertips was the faintest dusting of bright pink.

No. There was no way.

. . .

In the dense brush of the forest, the winter goddess lay panting in the snow. The evening had certainly gone differently than she had imagined. Her attempts to meet Loki and observe the festival had resulted in her discovery and now, she knew, she would have to move on. Of course, she wasn't sure where she was going to go. She was tired of wandering and didn't have much interest in returning to her own world. No one missed her there anyway. They probably didn't even realize she was gone.

Curling up and placing her head on her paws, she closed her eyes. For now, she would rest. She could worry about her unresolved problems in the morning. Slowly, Yuna drifted off to sleep, unaware that she was being followed. High on the branches in the trees above, a pair of ravens took flight. They would return to Odin and once again report what they had found.