A/N: Haha, yes, some interesting things come to light in this chapter as Loki spends the night as a wolf...with Tasha by his side, of course. Oh, and remember that vengeful she-wolf from a few chapters ago? Yeah, she's here too. Have fun! Also: Reminder that "Обманщик" means "Trickster" and "Громовержец" means "Thunderer," just in case any of you forgot. I'm not going to put in the translations for those.
Disclaimer: Do I even have to put this anymore? Marvel/Disney's. Not mine.
13. It Seems To Ease My Mind
She'd get him tonight.
This is what the she-wolf thought as she transformed and set out to let herself blend into the others at Central Park, where she was sure the alpha and his beta would be tonight. It would be tonight that she finally got her revenge.
It would be tonight that Loki Laufeyson paid for his crimes.
Tasha all but dragged him out the front door tonight. "No more jumping off ledges halfway up the Tower," she had insisted. "You're coming with me, the normal way."
Loki hadn't objected to his beta's demands, just left with her. They transformed on the run, so that one moment they were two human figures and the next it was wolf silhouettes that raced across the snow-covered ground.
Tonight, they'd decided to try out Central Park, maybe see if they could find other lone wolves interested in forming a pack there. Loki still wasn't entirely sure this pack thing was a good idea, but he was going along with it - for now.
Are you sure about this? Loki asked, hesitating at the edge of the park. Tasha paced back to him and licked his ear comfortingly.
Yes, Обманщик, I'm sure, Tasha said. You'll be fine. You're an alpha. No one will question you.
Yes, but I'm also an alpha with ice-colored fur and bright green eyes, Loki reminded her. Not exactly a normal wolf.
This is New York, Обманщик. There is no such thing as "normal."
Point taken. Loki flicked his tail slightly. Alright. Let's go.
The pair of wolves entered the park to find it overrun with other wolves, humans nowhere in sight. Loki's ears angled forward, listening to the other wolves, wary as ever.
Would you relax? Tasha scolded. The others can sense your anxiety.
What happened to the humans? Loki asked. It's New York. The city never sleeps. I would have thought that included Central Park.
Humans tend to stay away from Central Park at night, maybe because it gets so cold. Or maybe it's some weird werewolf magic at work that keeps the humans away. Whatever it is, they don't bother us, and we don't bother them.
You sound like you've been here before.
Yeah, I've talked to a few other wolves. I used to come here a lot, but since you showed up I've found going to our clearing in Jersey is better. It's quieter, anyway.
Yeah. I know. That's why I chose it rather than here.
Cheer up, Обманщик. It's almost Christmas.
Had Loki been in his usual form, he would have rolled his eyes; as it was, Tasha seemed to get the gist, because she halted and swatted playfully at him with her paw. Loki took that as a challenge, and jumped at her; she was prepared and rolled out of the way. The two wolves tumbled around the park, oblivious to the attention they were getting until a new mind-voice halted them.
You're new, the voice said.
Loki and Tasha both stopped their playing at once. They looked up to find a large gray wolf, an alpha by the looks of him, watching them.
She's not. I am, Loki replied. And who are you?
Another alpha. The voice sounded surprised. We don't get very many new alphas around here.
Loki noticed he'd dodged the question. As I said. Who are you?
Name's Brock. The gray wolf lowered his head in a sign of respect and good faith. And you?
You don't get to know that yet.
Ah, a stubborn one. No matter. I'll ifnd out your name eventually.
Oh, you will, will you? That was Tasha, joining the conversation. Not likely. My alpha is good at keeping secrets.
And who might you be? Brock asked, and Loki was sure he could detect a smirking tone to his voice.
That information is also not something you get to know, Loki said, a hint of a snarl beginning in the back of his throat.
Easy, easy. I'll back off. For now. Brock bowed his head at Loki once more. Until we meet again, Alpha of the Ice.
Before Loki could respond to the title, Brock had barked an order at the pack that had gathered around him and the wolves left. Tasha and Loki were alone again.
Was it just me, or did something seem familiar about that wolf? Loki asked.
It wasn't just you, Обманщик, Tasha replied. I feel like we know him.
Question is, who is he? If he'd given us a surname, that would've been helpful.
Keep in mind, there aren't many people named "Brock" around.
Unless that was just what he calls himself as a wolf. Loki's ears went back in dismay. This could take some figuring out.
He started to pad away, needing a little space. Where are you going? Tasha called after him.
Just to the edge of the trees, Loki called back. I need to think for a inute. You can handle yourself?
Обманщик, have you met me?
If Loki had been in his usual form, he would have chuckled, but he instead settled for a short bark of laughter and headed for the trees. Away from all the other wolves, it was very quiet, and a relief for Loki.
He heard something crack and tensed, ears angled forward. Silently, he crept towards the source of the noise, and watched from behind a bush as the source came into view.
It was Thor.
What? Loki thought to himself, watching in confusion as Thor, wrapped in about five Asgardian furs, wandered closer. Thor hates the cold. What is he doing out here?
Loki must have made an inadvertent noise, because Thor stopped and looked around warily. Mentally cursing himself, Loki crept foward again, figuring that since he'd already made himself known he might as well reveal himself. There was little chance of Thor recognizing him, but the bright green eyes were a dead giveaway to someone who knew them. Loki just hoped he'd be more focused on the fur than the eyes.
Loki stepped softly into Thor's line of sight. Thor stepped back a few paces in shock, which Loki could understand; he was a rather large wolf, after all. Loki stopped once his tail was free of the bush and sat down, staring at Thor and waiting to see what he'd do.
Thor had been unable to sleep, which was why he'd found himself outside. For once, he hadn't noticed the cold all that much, and had ended up in the trees surrounding Central Park.
Which was where he found the large white wolf with fur that looked like it was tipped with ice and startling, curious green eyes.
Thor had to say, the wolf was beautiful. The way the moonlight hit its fur made it seem like it was made of ice, breakable and fragile but still strong and unforgiving. The way the wolf looked at him, expectantly, as if it was waiting for him to do something, was almost as unnerving; it was as if the wolf knew who he was.
Without knowing quite what made him do it, Thor cautiously approached the wolf, which still watched him expectantly, almost daring him to come closer.
"You're beautiful," Thor murmured, not quite knowing if the wolf could understand him or not.
All the wolf did was blink at him in response and twitch an ear. Thor stopped as close to the wolf as he dared, and, again driven by some instinct, reached out a hand.
Loki was still as Thor approached, wondering what he was going to do. When he stopped and reach out a hand, Loki instinctively let him, despite knowing that if he was a true wolf this would not be happening right now.
Thor's hand hesitated a moment. It was close enough to his head that, when Loki flicked an ear again, it brushed against Thor's palm. Thor apparently took this as a sign to continue, because his hand came down gently on Loki's head.
As a wolf, the only person Loki had ever let pet him was Tasha, and that had been a one-time thing. But now he let Thor run his hand through Loki's fur, enjoying the feeling. Warmth seemed to spread through him at Thor's touch, despite the fact that he couldn't feel the cold in the first place because his pelt was so thick.
Thor's hand came back towards his head, and when it was close enough Loki decided to do something a little bold and gave the hand a quick lick. In any other case that would have been extremely strange, but given that at the moment Loki was a wolf, it didn't seem to bother Thor; in fact, the Thunderer chuckled a little.
"You're not like any wolf I've ever seen," Thor murmured. "Which doesn't amount to much, since you're the only wolf I've ever actually encountered, but..."
Had Loki been in his usual form, he would have laughed at Thor's musings, but as he was he could merely bark softly, causing Thor to jump. He relaxed when he realized that Loki had been laughing.
"I didn't know wolves could laugh," Thor said. "That's new."
Loki would have done soemthing to show he understood, had a howl not split the night and made Loki look sharply over his shoulder, back the way he'd come. Ears pricked, nose in the air, he caught a scent of who was howling -
Tasha.
Thor had obviously heard the howl, too, for he looked with Loki, though Loki knew he couldn't see anything. Loki looked back to the Thunderer, bowed his head the way Brock had done to him earlier, and then turned and raced away, back through the trees to find out who had made Tasha howl like that.
And to give them hell.
Thor was left in the clearing, watching the wolf run to help its friend and wondering over the strange encounter he'd just had.
Loki skidded to a halt back with the other wolves to find that a crowd of them had gathered. Loki, ears flat against his head, snarled and growled at them as she shoved his way through to the center, where Tasha was facing off with a dark brown she-wolf. There was murder in her eyes, and Loki had to say that for once, he was afraid for Tasha's life. This she-wolf didn't look like she was going to let up.
So Loki jumped into the middle of the fight, knocking the she-wolf off of Tasha. Tasha scrambled to her paws, and she and Loki both faced the murderous she-wolf.
So, the she-wolf growled. There you are at last.
Who are you and what do you want?! Loki demanded, ears flat and lips drawn back in a snarl, teeth bared. His stance was one of defense, but he was fast and could quickly change if she decided to attack.
You don't know who I am? the she-wolf taunted. After everything you did to me?
Everything I did to you? Loki had to admit he was confused now. I don't even know who you are!
The she-wolf growled at him. I'm the one whose head you forced yourself into. I'm the one whose past you made me relive just to find out my fucking name.
Loki twitched an ear forward slightly. You're the Valkyrie, he realized.
Good job, Trickster, you figured it out, Valkyrie drawled.
It doesn't explain why you're mad at me. I've never met you before in my life, Loki said.
Valkyrie growled. Bullshit.
What could I possibly have done to you? Loki asked, genuinely confused.
London, 1800s.
What, that thing with Amora?
You and that bitch are responsible for the death of my girlfriend and the destruction of my home.
Loki kept himself tensed, but shook his head, both shaking off the light snow that had started to fall and denying Valkyrie's statement.
Look, Valkyrie, I was trying to stop Amora, and I'm sorry about your girlfriend, but that was centuries ago. Why can't you move on?
Valkyrie seemed about to respond when a howl split the night. Loki, Tasha, and Valkyrie all abandoned their snarling match and looked over. There, prowling out of the trees by the half-frozen-over lake, was a massive wolf with fur that looked somewhat like Loki's, only more blue.
Loki recognized the Jotunwolf at once.
No, Loki thought.
You know him?! Tasha asked, apparently overhearing his thought.
Gods, I should have known you'd bring death and destruction here too! Valkyrie cursed at him.
Rally the packs! Brock's command rang out through the wolves' heads, and he barked the order as well for those few who hadn't yet mastered the mind-speak. We can take this intruder out!
No! Loki whipped his head around to growl at Brock. That's no ordinary wolf! That's a Jotunwolf, like me, except he's worse!
How do you know him?! demanded Valkyrie.
I was just a baby when we met, Loki growled. But this is Remiend, the Jotunwolf that bit me.
Loki didn't know how he knew the Jotunwolf's name.
Stay back, Loki warned the others. I need to approach him alone.
Slowly, Loki stalked towards the snarling blue wolf.
I shouldn't remember you, Loki told him. Yet I do.
Turned you, grunted Remiend. Loki was forcibly reminded that Jotuns didn't really have a huge vocabulary and would have sighed had he been in his usual form. This conversation was going to be interesting.
Yes, you Turned me, Loki said. I was a baby. Why me?
Different, Remiend said. You different.
I'm Laufey's son! Loki exclaimed, ears flattening against his head again. Of course I'm different!
No. Not different because son of king. Remiend relaxed slightly, as if realizing that Loki wasn't looking for a fight. Different other way.
What other way?! Loki demanded.
You special, the Jotunwolf told him. You seidhr.
Yes, I am a sorcerer with Asgardian seidhr, what's your point? asked Loki.
Seidhr make you different, Remiend insisted.
Why are you here? asked Loki, growing annoyed at the conversation but trying not to let it show lest the wolf take it as a challenge and attack.
Warn you, Remiend said.
Of what, exactly? Loki questioned.
Danger. Power. Betrayal. Loki was slightly surprised Remiend even knew the word "betrayal," and didn't like the way he'd said it. You be careful. Bad wolf here. Betray you. Betray all you. Danger coming.
Thank you for the warning, Loki told him. But I'm used to danger.
Not this, Remiend insisted. Not this danger.
Loki was about to reply when he was, yet again, interrupted, this time by a very surprised Thor, whom Loki had guessed had followed him here.
"Gods...that's a lot of wolves," Thor said, most likely before he could stop himself.
As one, all the wolves in the area turned their heads to look at the Thunderer. Had Loki been in his usual form, he would have face-palmed; Thor was so clueless. As it was, the most he could do was gaze levelly at his brother, who looked rather uncomfortable about the gazes of so many wolves all trained on him.
And then, a rather amazing feat happened, one Loki would remember for the rest of his life.
He barked once, a simple order: Look away. And to his amazement, all the wolves - even other alphas like Brock - obeyed his order, their gazes leaving Thor and returning to Remiend, who didn't seem to mind the attention.
Loki's gaze, however, remained fixed on Thor, who held the eyes of the strange white wolf with ice-tipped fur steadily. Loki blinked once at him, and Thor seemed to understand, for he turned away, muttering to himself, and left the park.
Loki turned back to Remiend. Thank you again for the warning, Loki said, bowing his head to the wolf that had Turned him. You may go back to your own world now.
Don't know how, Remiend said sadly.
Loki thought a moment, then tilted his head to the sky and howled, thinking as loudly as he could: HEIMDALL! THIS WOLF NEEDS TO GO BACK TO JOTUNHEIM! HEIMDALL!
Heimdall must have heard him, for next second the Bifrost had opened over Remiend, who bowed his head in turn at Loki before being sucked back to his home planet.
Loki turned back to Tasha and Valkyrie. Valkyrie seemed to be considering him with a new respect.
Maybe you're not such an ass, after all, Valkyrie said, which Loki was coming to realize was high praise from her.
I'll take that as a compliment, Loki told her.
She nodded her head at him as Remiend had done. See you around, Trickster. And Valkyrie disappeared into the night.
Loki turned to Brock. Stand down.
After a moment, Brock barked the order at his wolves, then looked back to Loki.
I underestimated you, Alpha of the Ice, Brock said. I won't make that mistake again.
Good, Loki told him. I don't like being underestimated.
Brock surveyed him. Until we meet again, Alpha of the Ice. He studied Loki a moment more, then barked at his pack and peeled off. The other wolf packs that had gathered dispersed as well, leaving Loki and Tasha alone again.
Nice going, Обманщик, Tasha told him, lightly bumping into him. I didn't realize you could be so powerful. Or diplomatic.
Shut up, Убийца, Loki told her, calling her "Assassin" in Russian.
That going to be your new nickname for me, Обманщик? Tasha asked playfully.
Why yes, Убийца, I think it will, Loki teased back.
Tasha barked out a laugh. Come on, Обманщик. Let's go home. You might want to stop Thor from telling anyone about tonight.
Oh, that shouldn't be a problem. After all, who would believe him anyway?
The two wolves padded away. And the next day, New Yorkers were left wondering what had happened to leave such an intricate, huge circle burned into the ground of Central Park.
How's that for an interesting chapter? Things are getting more exciting now...what with Remiend's warning and the mysterious alpha Brock...please leave your guesses as to who Brock is as a human in reviews! And I know you'll all be mad at me, but the next chapter isn't going to be posted until Christmas - so just hang in there! Again, please review!