Jötunheimr
A biting wind swept through the fields of Jötunheimr as a hulking man made his way to its borders. For years he wandered alone through the lands, fighting any giant or creature that dared to cross his path. It was the only thing Einar could do from going insane from the mind numbing solitude. It was that, and his driving vengeance towards the woman he once called his own. A defiant, fiery warrior who did not deserve to hold the title of Alpha. That was his and his alone he told himself over and over again. It was Odin who made the mistake of choosing Torunn over him, and her mistake for accepting it. His fingers ran over the scar that marred his face, as Einar shuddered in rage at the mere thought of her.
It was a mistake that Einar tried to rectify. He tried to show that old bastard who was worthy of being his favored warrior. Einar knew that he was strong, almost unimaginably so, and on that fateful day - the day that he lost everything because of that cursed woman - Einar had shown the All-Father his formidable power by cutting her down.
But Odin had seen that act of his pure, unbridled strength as one of utter defiance and shame. And for that transgression, Einar was banished from the place that he had known as home, from Valhalla. He gritted teeth in a seething anger, fueling him further for what he sought out to do. He was going to prove himself to Odin, to the rest of the pack of the Úlfhéðnar and most importantly to Torunn, that he alone deserved that title. Einar let out a long howl that echoed on the wind, a song of bitterness and of hatred. Of power and of strength.
It was also a how that had gotten the attention of a peculiar black bird that hovered over his head. He had of course noticed it before but now it seemed to obsessively and endlessly circle Einar. His keen, green eyes glanced upward at the circling bird, and small smirk crept along his scarred and weathered face. He let out a little chuckle.
"Loki Lyesmith- what are you doing flying all the way out here in Jötunheimr?" Einar called up to the creature above him. The bird in question began his descent, gracefully changing and dropping to the ground in front of the disgraced warrior.
"Einar, it's so good to see you," the Trickster God said sweetly, "How long has it been, hmm?" A devious smile began stretching from ear to ear on Loki. Einar's own grin turned downward at the reminder.
"Too long," he gritted out, "Now tell me, are you only here to provoke me or do you have anything of use for me?" Loki let out a warm sort of chortle, shaking his head, his raven hair dancing in the brisk wind.
"A little bird told me that Odin's Alpha has gone to Midgard to get herself a brand new toy to play with," he replied.
"Hn," Einar grunted out, "And what does that have to do with me?" Loki tsked him as though he was child.
"It means she will be all alone - in a place that she is unaccustomed to. She will be vulnerable, Einar."
"And why are you telling me this? Aren't you Blood Brothers with Odin?"
"Yes," replied Loki, "But I thought you might need some help. Consider this a gift from me." Einar let out a roar of laughter.
"You're just bored, aren't you?" The Úlfheðinn accused of the Trickster God who feigned ignorance.
"No, no," Loki said, "You've got it wrong - Well, maybe you don't." Another sinister smile formed on his own scarred his face, "Well, what do you say? Want to have some fun?"
"I want nothing more than that, Loki," Einar said, already feeling the power of the Úlfheðar swell within him, "But how can I get to Midgard? I was banished from Asgard and Valhalla, remembered? I won't be able to get to the Beifrost Bridge."
"Hmm, that does pose a problem," replied Loki with a sly smile, "But I'm sure you can manage it, Alpha."
Valhalla
The sun shone bright over the field of warriors battling one another since the early afternoon. Swords and axes were swung as shields and bodies a like took the brunt of the blows. Growls and yells echoed below the blue summer skies as a pair of ravens soared above the carnage. Their beady eyes surveyed all around them, showing their leader just how valiantly they all fought for him. Odin sat back in his seat in the mead hall, waiting for them all to be finished for the day so that they celebrate him and their victories once again.
Even though it was another normal day in Valhalla, something sat uneasy with Odin. Visions other than the impending doom that was Ragnarök started to plague the old God. Visions of a man he long since had forgotten and his favored warrior fighting once again, but not in Asgard, but on Midgard. At first, they seemed just like a passing fever dream to Odin - old memories being stirred up but then they became more frequent. He swore he could hear Torunn's cries and Einar's heinous laughter. Their fight becoming more and more deadly and vivid with each coming vision. He began to fear the worst.
There was something else he saw, though, that gave him pause. Odin swore he thought he saw someone he once regarded as a dear friend and ally, but couldn't believe it at first. The Great Dog General had been dead for quite sometime, and Odin doubted that Torunn would have run into him on her journey. As time moved on and the visions spurred, though, he remembered Toga's young son. A serious boy with his father's sword and his mother's personality, both which were cold and unfeeling.
He wracked his mind for the name of the young pup when a vision of Heimdallr, the Watchmen of the Gods, raced through his mind. His bloody and unconscious body on the floor of the room that protected the Bifrost Bridge. The Gjallarhorn hadn't been blown so they were safe from the end of times for now, the All-Father thought to himself as the visions passed.
The All-Father didn't have ask who the culprit was when he made his way through the chamber that housed the bridge, seeing Heimdallr's figure on the ground. He was not surprised, nor was he angry with the Watchman of the Gods. Heimdallr lied on the floor of the Great Bifrost Chamber, blood trickling down his face, groaning slightly as he tried to sit up. He was barely able to prop himself on one elbow before Odin was next to him, helping him to his feet.
Alas, I was too late, the King of the Gods thought to himself but so many other questions began to race through his mind as he steadied Heimdallr. The All-Father knew that he would recover - he could tell that Heimdallr's pride was hurt worse than his body.
Did Einar know some how know that Torunn was no longer in Asgard but on Midgard? Was he going to follow her and extract his vengeance? Even if he had answers for the questions, it did not matter why in the long run - Einar was never one to think so far ahead. Odin sighed deeply. Perhaps Einar merely felt like this was the best moment, while she was away from her home like he had been for so very long.
"I'm sorry, Lord Odin," Heimdallr said through clenched teeth, his eyes casting downwards in embarrassment, "It was like Einar came out of thin air and had gotten the best of me. He has escaped to Midgard." The All-Father sighed in a resigned way.
"It couldn't be helped, so it seems," Odin replied solemnly, then suddenly said, "I must go now." Using his ancient rune magic, Odin was swept up in a whirlwind. Once it had died down, there was a diminutive old, one eyed man, hunched over in a dark cloak and large brimmed hat. After a moment, a gnarled walk staff grew from the ground and into his hand. Slowly, Odin made his way towards the entrance of the Rainbow Bridge that connected Asgard to mortal realm of Midgard.
"You're going after him?" The All-Father shook his head.
"Not quite, but I am going to go find Torunn. She deserves to know that he is coming for her. I wish I had left sooner when the visions had started," he replied turning away from Heimdallr, "I trust you'll be able to continue to keep watch, yes?" Before Heimdallr could give a reply to caustic remark, Odin stepped through the portal and was gone before the other God's eyes. He sighed wearily but a small smile remained on his face.
"May the Norns look after you and Torunn, Odin," he called after the old man, and then continued his watch.
Midgard
The sun began to dip as Torunn slowly made her way back to the cave. She had no intentions getting there quickly at the moment - her heart felt heavy in her chest. She hated the fact that he that sort of sway on her, but Torunn was more frustrated with herself for letting him have that sway. Had she learned nothing from the last time? From Einar. She bristled slightly at the thought of his name but then let out a deep breath that she hadn't realize that she was holding.
Torunn knew that she was eventually going to have to say goodbye to Rin and to Jaken. And to Sesshomaru, but she wanted to leave on good terms, of promises to come back and visit the veracious little girl, and to share all the stories Torunn could think of. She wanted to leave with a good feelings, but then she laughed at the notion. Torunn was a viking, there was no room for being soft she had tried to convince herself time and time again.
She had been growing soft but then again, Torunn was a fierce warrior and she wore her heart on her sleeve for all to see. All her hopes, emotions, dreams and desires, and if she didn't hold back herself or emotions, that didn't mean that she wasn't a good leader. Hel, it had made her a strong and capable leader for her pack and for Odin. Her pack of warriors would always have her loyalty because of it, which made it all the more ironic that Torunn had grown attached to yet another being who was incapable of showing such emotions, much less being able to share them, either. She almost had to laugh at the absurdity of it but instead bit back lump that began to form in her throat and swallowed her own growing sadness.
That Demon Lord, she thought to herself as she grew closer to the end of her journey, eying the mouth of the cave where she and Sesshomaru had left his wards, 'I'm Lord Sesshomaru and I'm afraid of attachment and showing my emotions'. Pfft - What a fool.
But Torunn knew that it was not her job to try to force him show an ounce of emotion, nor could she make the incorrigible demon open up. It's not that she hadn't wanted to try - she did try - but she knew that it wasn't her objective to do that. Torunn's objective was find Totosai, get her weapon and go home, but of course, Torunn had strayed off the path a little too much and found herself distracted by a pretty demon boy. She finally did laugh, though it held no warmth nor humor - just bitterness and regret, and that same frustrations at herself.
As she saw the cave growing closer, Torunn took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders and stood tall and proud. Rin didn't need to know her and Sesshomaru's quarrels, not did Jaken for that matter. Whatever was between Torunn and Sesshomaru was going to stay that way. Torunn could hear the young girl singing to herself as Jaken squawked at her to be quiet. A small smile grew on Torunn's face.
"Well, I like your singing," the wolf warrior said as she made her way into the cave. Rin's big, brown eyes lit up at the sight of the female warrior as she rushed over to her and threw her tiny arms around the lower half of the warrior.
"Torunn! You're back!" The little girl exclaimed gleefully, "I was worried since you and Lord Sesshomaru weren't here when I woke up. I mean that happens with Lord Sesshomaru a lot but not with you." Rin looked up at Torunn and then cocked her head quizzically and looked around, "Are you okay?" Torunn's own eyes blinked in astonishment. She thought she was able to appear calm, happy even, but apparently the child was far more perceptive than Torunn gave her credit for.
The warrior's rough hand ruffled the little girl's brown hair and then picked her, placing Rin on her hip as she walked towards the midafternoon sun. "I'll be alright, Little One but I am afraid I do have some troubling news. I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave you, Rin."
There was a small "Finally!" that was exclaimed in the back of the cave but Rin's eyes that were so full of joy only held disappointment at Torunn's news. "Do you really have to go, Torunn?" The wolf warrior nodded solemnly as she continued to walk, carrying the small child in her arms.
"As much as I have enjoyed you and your world, I have to go back home," Torunn replied, again swallowing the sadness that threatened to consume her as she looked into Rin's brown eyes.
"Are you going to wait at least until Lord Sesshomaru comes back?" The question made the warrior woman go stiff. Rin continued, "I think he would be sad if you left without saying good bye." Torunn stiffened at the question, but then something caught the attention of the warrior woman. She wanted to feel relief that she didn't have to answer her question, but Torunn could not find it.
Something did not feel right to Torunn. Something was headed their way and it did not take a genius to understand whatever it was, was not friendly. There was a sickly scent of death that wafted through the air, but not because whatever it was dead, no, but because it was covered in the death of so many others. Torunn was familiar with that stench but this just felt wrong. As whatever it was came closer, Torunn could have sworn she had heard the sound of a persistent buzzing. Then after a few minutes more, she felt the same kind of energy that idiot Koga exuded - the false power.
It's those jewel shards Naraku had on him, she thought to herself, gritting her teeth - she wasn't done here yet. She turned back to Jaken in the cave with Rin in her arms when a loud crashing sound echoed from not too far away. The little imp demon shrieked and darted towards the warrior woman.
"What was that?!" Jaken said as Torunn placed Rin back on the ground as the buzzing grew louder and louder. The imp's eyes went large, and exclaimed, "Naraku's saimyōshōs? But what are they doing here?" Torunn let out a low growl, expecting to see that coward, but as the heavy sounds of footsteps came closer, she realized that Naraku wouldn't be here. He had sent someone else do his dirty work. Quickly she went in the cave to grab her shield, preparing herself for anything.
As the swarm of large demon insects came into view, a large red creature with a barreled chest came emerging out in front. Its' horrid tusked face was twisted into a devious smile as it tilted its' head back to let out a gurgled laugh. Torunn looked the demon up and down, trying to size it up - it wasn't as big as the Frost Giants but it certainly was no small being, either. It must have stood at least double the height of Torunn. Reflexisively her claws grew as she took a step in front of Rin and Jaken, who quaked with fear, the strange two headed staff in his tiny clawed hands. "An oni? Why on earth is there an oni here?!" The wolf warrior knew though. She let a sizeable wave of her aura go out in front of her, the creature seeming to now onnly be focused on her.
"Hey handsome," Torunn called out to him, "Come around here often?" The gruesome monster chuckled darkly.
"My name is Chiyu-Ryoku and I have been tasked to collect you, Strange Warrior Woman," the red oni called out, the saimyōshōs buzzing all around him, "By any means necessary." Torunn barked back a mirthless laugh.
"Yeah, well good luck with that. As I already told Naraku, I don't want anything to do with him, so I guess this was a waste of time for you," Torunn said, gripping the boss of her shield tighter, taking more of a defensive stance, "And if you want to live to tell him that, I would suggest you walk away." The oni, Chiyu-Ryoku, laughed again.
"Now, now Strange One. Wouldn't it be easier if you just -!" But a strong throw of Torunn's shield into his face quickly shut him up. There was a sickening crack of bones on impact. She smiled smugly as the oni faltered a little bit but her smiled faded as she noticed him still standing tall and unmoved. Her wooden shield dropped to the ground, covered in blood, then quickly reduced to splinters underneath Chiyu-Ryoku's large foot. A manic smile grew on the oni's face as Torunn's rage began to build. "That was a nice trick, Strange One. That almost hurt, but you're going to have to try harder."
A roar ripped from Torunn's throat as she launched herself at the lumbering creature, her claws digging into the flesh of the creature as she threw punches and landed blows at a blinding speed. She hacked and tore at Chiyu-Ryoku as he tried to keep up with her movements, but it seemed like every time she landed a hit, the oni's skin would heal itself at incredibly fast rate. Again and again, Torunn tried to rip the monster apart, from limb from limb but no matter what she did or how hard she hit, Chiyu-Ryoku would just heal himself. What he lacked in speed he made up in patience.
The warrior woman's stomach was in knots, looking around at Jaken who was suprisingly holding his own against the horrid insects, the mouth of his staff opening up and releasing a fearsome shot of fire, disintegrating them on sight. Rin cowered at the entrance of the cave, near the wall. Torunn's eyes locked onto Rin and then back to Chiyu-Ryoku, who merely stood there, arms crossed over his massive bare chest. He hadn't even attacked her yet. She could begin to feel the fatigue setting in, realizing that no matter how fast she was, his healing rate was faster.
A sick thought ran through her head. He wasn't here to fight necessarily, he was just waiting until she exhausted herself, and then just take her back to Odin knows where. Chiyu-Ryoku had the advantage.
Well, that wasn't fully true.
With her breathing heavy and labored, Torunn's blue eyes held on the little girl as she made her way to Rin into the cave. Torunn softly put a hand her tiny, fragile shoulder, wishing that she didn't have to do what needed to be done. Torunn swallowed hard, her other hand gripping at her pelt. "Rin, I need you to be brave for me." The little girl in question looked up to Torunn, tears swimming in her brown eyes. "I need you to take Jaken far away from here." Rin vehemently shook her head no.
"But what if we can't find you again? I didn't get a proper goodbye from you, Torunn - Lord Sesshomaru didn't get to say goodbye!" She said, latching her arms around the warrior's neck. Torunn stroked her head but peeled the child off of her.
"Little One, remember when you told me that Lord Sesshomaru always finds his way back to you?" Rin nodded her head, "Well, I can do the same thing. I'll always be able to find you. I promise." Torunn drew Rin into a hug, holding her for what seemed like forever. "Now, take Jaken and run. I promise I'll come back to you to say goodbye." Rin reluctantly agreed, nodding her small head yes. Torunn then stood up and looked to Jaken who was still fighting off the saimyōshōs.
"Jaken!" The imp in question jumped at the sound of his own name and came running to Torunn. "I need you to take Rin far away from here. Try and find Lord Sesshomaru if you can, but most importantly, keep Rin safe." Jaken nodded solemnly at the warrior woman who stood up proudly, ready to do what needed to be done.
He took Rin by the wrist and began to run with her, but before leaving, Jaken turned back and said, "Please don't die, Torunn." He then ran with Rin, far, far away from what was going to happen. Torunn almost had to smile at Jaken's comment. It was probably the nicest thing he had said to her since she joined them on their travels. Slowly and with trembling hands, Torunn tightened the pelt that hung about her, already feeling a strong energy beginning to course through her very soul. She tried hard to remind herself of her humanity, to think of Rin's smiling face, of Jaken's grumble. About a pair of thoughtful, amber eyes.
And then her mind began to quiet as she pulled the remainder of the wolf pelt over her head, and a deep, low primordial growl began to echo from the cave.
Chiyu-Ryoku stood outside of the cave. "Have you rested long enough, Strange One? I am getting tired of waiting. I was told to keep you in one piece." Chiyu-Ryoku chortled again, "But I need to speed things up. If you're a little banged up, I'm sure Naraku would not mind, human." He let out another dark laugh but it was soon drowned out by a louder, manic laughter from the cave where Torunn had emerged, her blue eyes wild and feral.
"There are no men here - Only beasts."
Sesshomaru had been travelling for what felt like hours, trying to put as much distance between himself and that incorrigible woman when the skies had suddenly turned grey and felt a buzz of electricity that ran through the air. He lowered himself to the ground as a rainbow appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
The daiyokai's eyes narrowed on the ethereal colors as they disappeared into thin air. Something did not feel right to Sesshomaru. It was similar to when Torunn had first appeared from wherever she came from. It felt almost as powerful but this aura was dark and malevolent. It was so different, and yet the same. Sesshomaru tried to ignore the tug towards it, or back to Torunn for that matter. He told himself that he was done with her. He had fulfilled his end of the bargain and wanted nothing more to do with the insufferable woman. Even her scent that clung on the wind made his skin crawl with annoyance.
Maybe not annoyance but disappointment. There was a part of Sesshomaru that wished that Torunn would have been different from everyone else he had run into in his long life but he knew deep down, that she was just the same - shallow. Deceitful.
Except she wasn't. Sesshomaru couldn't bring himself to admit that he was only trying to run away from the feelings of attachment for her, a sense of dependency. That he knew she wasn't using him, that he only said those things because he needed an excuse to leave her, and for her to leave him. Sesshomaru let out a low growl, hating that he was getting so swept up in his own emotions. He was the Great Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands - his subjects depended on him. Sesshomaru depended on no one, or at least he kept trying to force himself to believe that but thanks to that warrior woman, Sesshomaru's head swam in confusion, wanting to follow her rugged scent back to her. He scoffed at the notion.
Sesshomaru made it clear that he did not want anything to do with her - crawling back to Torunn was not an option. His pride was already too bruised by her that he thought he could not bear anymore that what he had endured.
CRACK!
A large branch crashing down to the ground woke the daiyokai from his thoughts. Birds, animals and small demons a like began to scatter about as a large man with wild red hair emerged from the trees. He stood almost a head taller than Sesshomaru and emitted the malevolent aura from before, wearing a famliar wolf pelt, dark woolen trousers and knee high leather boots. He had a fearsome sword that was strapped to his back as his green eyes caught Sesshomaru's gaze.
The two of them merely stared at one another with intrigue. Then, the other one took a deep inhalation and his intrigue turned into something darker on his scarred face, a sickening grin that gnarled and twisted in spiteful delight. He let out a thunderous laughter that held no mirth.
"It seems I should be able to find that damnedable woman easier than I thought," the mysterious man said. Sesshomaru did not show it but his need to protect what was not his was beginning to grow deep inside him. He felt himself wanting to growl at who he assumed as the man that cut Torunn down, but swallowed it.
"You," the man called out to Sesshomaru, "Where is she?" The daiyokai turned his back on the arrogant creature but that seemed to be the wrong answer because the man now stood in front of Sesshomaru, a large hand at the demon lord's throat, his feet above the ground but Sesshomaru did not do anything to stop him. The hulking man took a deep breath, "You smell like her. I will ask one last time. Where is Tor-!" But as he tried to finish saying her name, Sesshomaru whipped out his poison whip and wrapped it around the man's thick neck and brought both them to the ground.
"You would do best to learn your place," Sesshomaru calmly said, looking at the man sprawled on the ground, gasping for air. His green eyes lit up with anger looking at the daiyokai. Slowly he made his way up from the ground, chuckling darkly to himself.
"I am Einar of Asgard - Do not toy with me. I know that you have been around Torunn," Einar said through gritted teeth, "Now tell me where she is. Her and I have unfinished business."
Sesshomaru bristled slightly at his name, feeling the same distaste that he felt when she first talked about him. It crept back into him, but kept a indifferent demeanor. He looked up wolf berserker up and down.
"I'm the Lord of these Western Lands. I will not repeat myself." Sesshomaru brushed himself off and turned away from him. Again, the large warrior was in front of him. He was fast, but not as fast as Torunn, and that thought almost made him smirk. He idly wondered why Torunn feared him so much. From the way he kept himself open and by his sheer arrogance alone she could tear the man down without even batting an eyelash.
Then he realized it.
She couldn't have because of her bleeding heart, her loyalty to those she held dear to her. And Sesshomaru had just hours ago insulted her by telling her that she had no loyalty, no honor. No trust.
The proud Demon Lord would never admit it aloud but he was a fool.
Seeing an opening, Einar went to grab at Sesshomaru's hakama but the Demon Lord's hand was swifter, grabbing the warrior's wrist. His amber eyes caught Einar's green eyes that were filled with confusion and rage at what was happening to him in that moment. Einar could not believe that Sesshomaru held his wrist in a vice like grip and began to squeeze even harder than before. After a few moments, Einar succumbed to the pain, practically kneeling on the ground, groveling to the daiyokai. Then, Sesshomaru merely with a flick of his own wrist, tossed the utterly confused warrior to the side as though he weighed nothing. Einar landed with a large THUD against a tree. Sesshomaru stood for a few moments but then turned to walk away, not wishing to deal with the cretin.
He thought about just leaving it to Torunn to take care of. After all, it was her problem not his to deal with, but there was a nagging at the back of his mind that suggested otherwise. Sesshomaru took to the air and flew, back from where he came.