Hoo boy! I'm going to get my wisdom teeth taken out tomorrow, so I wanted to give you guys a nice, juicy update before I'm out for the next few days. Enjoy!

/

Loki felt guilty.

Norns above, he felt terrible.

Sleep evaded him after he'd tried to ignore the rising swell of misgiving in the aftermath of his fight with Thor. Yes, his brother was insufferable at times and far too stubborn for his own good, but he had sought him out to mend things over. He had tried to be at least a bit more responsible for his part, even if he hadn't actually apologized or shown remorse.

But Thor rarely did that anyway. Why should he expect anything different now?

The guard's reaction had more than demonstrated that maybe, perhaps he had been in the wrong. That he shouldn't have kept goading his brother after he was trying to smooth everything over. Thor remained the only individual he knew, save perhaps his parents, that made him feel like a child when he was cross with him. Yes they had their differences and had not been getting along terribly well as of late...but the dunce had wanted him to come along. And honestly they had gotten along better after this whole situation came to light, teaming up as they were to investigate it. Together.

And his brother had, after all, swooped in to save him from embarrassment when the crowd had laughed in his face.

Perhaps he did want him here, despite his parting words the night before.

He did not doubt the love of his brother. He was just a fool in the ways he communicated it, especially when it concerned his practice of magic. Loki feared his brother's arrogance would one day be his downfall, if he allowed it to keep mounting in his heart.

Just as his own pride might one day be his.

It was the reason he was up before the sun, silently packing his belongings in the quiet of the early morning. He darted quickly about his quarters, long having given up on sleeping, and slipped his hunting boots on near soundlessly. This was probably a completely stupid idea and one father would be enraged at once he found out, but Thor would love it.

Or at least he would if he wasn't still mad at him. It was impossible to say.

Loki spared only a moment to peek out the slit of the tent's flaps, carefully eyeing the guard situation. His line of vision was not ideal, but it was obvious there were at least five paroling their campsite. Not that it mattered anyway. He ducked back in only to grab his pack, which contained a few knives and other basic weapons. He sincerely doubted he would need anything at all, but it was good to take a few precautions. Uttering a few short words, he was briefly surrounded in a light green glow until he disappeared from sight completely.

As he walked through the camp unseen, his eyes darted back and forth for Thor's tent. Though he wasn't sure precisely where his brother had made camp, it was never difficult to figure it out: the cluster of surrounding guards was a good indication, but the size and appearance of the crown prince's tent was even better. Loki walked quickly, noting the very first rays of the sun in the sky, and whispered a few words that none else heard, casting one hand towards Thor's tent and the other at a copse of trees but a few yards away. The gust of his magic sent the leaves shaking and two of the guards instantly darted over to see what the disturbance was, leaving Loki a perfect opening into his brother's quarters. Moving swiftly, he ducked inside without anyone seeing the flaps shift.

Thor was sleeping like a log as usual. Loki crept over, suddenly hesitant, wondering if Thor was going to start yelling and ranting again at being woken by him. It was not until his snore cut through the quiet of the still-dark morning that Loki rolled his eyes at his own cowardice and bent down at his brother's side, his form taking shape as he cast off the spell. "Thor," he whispered. He poked the oaf in the shoulder but he reacted not at all. "Thor," he said, a little louder. He had cast a silence spell around them so that only his brother could hear, but now he was wondering if he hadn't done it correctly. Thor snored on, completely oblivious, a thin line of drool pooling on his pillow. Loki chuckled softly at the sight, then pressed both hands upon his brother's shoulder and began to shake him. "Thor, awaken at once. We have very little time."

"Wha...?" Said brother muttered, lifting a lazy hand.

"It's me Thor," Loki whispered without meaning to. "Wake up."

"L...Loki?" Thor blinked blearily, eyes unclear for a moment, before he yawned and rubbed the heels of his palms against them. "What...what do you want?"

"I've a proposition for you brother, but it requires your full attention. Now get up." Loki yanked the covers off of him and Thor protested, sitting up.

"What are you talking about?" he said, irritated now. His still-sleepy eyes stared at him warily, and Loki knew he had but a few precious seconds to garner Thor's attention before his memory caught up with him.

"You and I. Let's go. I tire of the guards' constant watch like we are children and they our nursemaids. This was supposed to just be you and I, yes? Questing and searching and slaying the mysterious beast." Loki leaned down then, never breaking eye contact with Thor. "So get up and get dressed. I am going regardless, but would very much enjoy your company. The choice is yours." The sleep had quickly drained from Thor's eyes and he shot out of bed, suddenly frantic.

"Keep your voice down then!" he hissed. "They will hear you!" Loki could not stop his eyes from rolling heavenward.

"Honestly Thor," he shouted, enjoying the sight of his brother leaping backwards in surprise. "It is like you do not know me at all." Thor blinked, frozen, and the realization that dawned in his eyes was nothing short of comical. Loki started laughing as his face crumpled, but his brother wasn't as slow as he often accused him of being. Thor began getting dressed immediately, yanking his sleep shirt off with one swift motion, grumbling under his breath about tricks. Loki watched him for a only a moment before turning and eyeing out the flap once more. The guards had returned and were as silent as ever, but they were quickly losing time. He figured they would panic when they found they had both disappeared, but by the Norns - they were old enough to do this alone. They did not need to be flanked on all sides, loud and lacking in any type of covert activity.

Then again, none of it was much to concern himself over. He doubted they would find even a stray wolf, much less the mysterious beast.

"Should I take this to mean you have come to your senses?" Thor suddenly asked. Loki glanced over his shoulder, watching Thor quickly throw his boots on and finish packing up his own weaponry.

"I do not recall ever being without them," he said dryly and Thor barked out a laugh. He turned back to watch the guards.

"Despite what you said a few moments ago," Thor said behind him, "I do know you quite well. And I'm glad for it, brother. I did not truly want to do this without you." Without his permission, warmth flared in his chest and he smiled, but only because his brother could not see.

"As if you could," he scoffed. "If you'd had it your way, you would not even be leaving for another hour with twelve lumbering guards at your back. You'd scare off half the creatures in a moment and give the beast fair warning of your coming."

"Oh and I suppose we'd be lost without your guiding hand, eh?" Thor's voice was suddenly much closer, right behind his back in fact, and he turned with a frown. His brother was beaming, his voice teasing, and he was surprised at the relief he felt at it.

"Undoubtedly," he replied. Thor clapped him on the shoulder, laughing outright, and made to exit the tent. Loki held out a restraining hand and Thor groaned.

"Loki - "

"Thor." He turned fully towards his brother. "I am...I am sorry."

"Obviously." Thor's perfect teeth flashed in a thrilled smile and Loki couldn't help the grin that made its way to his own face. "Now enough of this. Didn't you say we had to hurry?"

"Indeed." Muttering under his breath once more, Loki shot his hand out towards the same copse of trees as before. When they caught on fire and the guards rushed towards it, both brothers dashed from the tent and disappeared.

"Maybe we should be concerned. That is all I am saying."

"Be concerned over what? I hid us from their sight, Thor. Just as I did at the palace."

"Precisely. What is the point of keeping watch if one as young as you can so easily dodge their senses?" Thor's voice was anything but unkind, merely...pensive. Loki visibly relaxed and nudged his horse to come alongside his brother's. The golden rays of the sun were now lilting through the treetops above and it was beautiful out here, despite the cold of the early morning. The forest about them was dense and thick with still-green foliage, but some of it was already starting to turn with the first indications of autumn color. His breath escaped his lungs in a white, foggy cloud as he sighed. He was grateful for both his keen study of this place and fairly adept navigation skills; the trees stretched on for miles and it looked very easy to get lost in the expanse of the endless woodlands.

"I must admit," Loki said with a wry smile, "I'm quite tempted to take what you just said as a compliment."

"Interpret it as you please," Thor replied. He had chosen to take along the cape mother had gifted him and he sat regal and proud atop his horse, looking more and more each day like the king he would one day be. "But the issue remains."

"Worry not, dearest brother. Such types of subterfuge have not yet harmed Asgard in the many millennia of her existence. Between Father and Heimdall we are well protected from any devious mage who may try to sneak in with malicious intent undetected." The only sound for a moment was the clopping of their horses hooves against the soft earth below. Loki cleared his throat and sat up straighter. "And when you sit upon the throne, I've no doubts as to your watchful eye. Asgard will be well protected with you as her king."

"I would be severely lacking without you by my side," Thor said suddenly, as if he'd been anticipating the commendation. He turned and looked at him then, eyes serious. "I do hope you know that. I plan on you ruling alongside me as my head adviser. I've even spoken of it with father. We are in full agreeance on it." Thor's words sent shocks of warm thrill into his chest, and for a moment he was rendered utterly speechless.

He'd had no idea, prior to this moment, that his brother held him in such a high regard.

"I would be..." he finally said after a moment had passed. He exhaled quickly and shook his head, fighting a smile. "I would be honored to serve you in that way."

"Perhaps then your magic will be put to better use, instead of using it as you do towards your sneaking about so constantly." Thor's voice held a laugh, but it did not stop Loki from swatting him swiftly across the arm.

"I have not yet heard a complaint from your lips about us sneaking about!" he shot back, but smiled as Thor burst into joyful laughter. Oh, thank the Norns. This silly squabble was behind them, at least for now.

"Nay, brother, you have redeemed yourself this day. This idea of yours was near brilliance. I hate being watched so by the guards."

"To be honest," Loki said, plucking a brown leaf from an overhanging branch, "I am surprised you did not think of it yourself."

"It is a bore to go off by one's self," Thor said lowly. He turned towards him with a gigantic grin and shoved Loki harshly, nearly knocking him off his horse. "Then there is no one around to claim witness to my glory!"

"Thor!" Loki shouted, even as his elder brother took off into the woods with another chortle. He gave chase immediately, an exasperated laugh slipping through his teeth as he readjusted himself in the saddle. "I thought you always told me only cowards run!" he shouted, dodging lazy branches that flew by in a whir.

"There is a difference between cowardice and wits, brother!" Thor shouted back. "Though I suppose..." He stopped abruptly as he entered a clearing, and Loki yanked the reins of his own horse in incredibly fast. The action nearly lurched him straight from his horse and into an innocent oak and he snapped his head at his brother, face flushed.

"Gods, Thor...!"

"Flustered, are we?" Thor chuckled again, gently nudging his steed to walk about Loki's in a slow circle. Loki's eyes did not follow his brother but instead watched the treeline, head slightly tilted. He stiffened. "Do not tell me I am not allowed a bit of fun. That is hardly fair."

"Thor?" Loki said softly, eyes suddenly sharp and still unmoving on the treeline. "Thor, do you...do you smell that?" He leaned forward, sniffing the air.

It smelled suddenly of lilac, and quite strongly too.

"What?" came his reply. "Smell what?"

"Thor," he said again, quickly, his head snapping towards the right. Inexplicably there was a swell of something thick and heavy in the air that he could feel, down to his bones. He swore suddenly that there was a presence near, something...something lurking in the darkness, as a predator watches his prey. His eyes darted quickly to his left, then his right again but he could see nothing.

The hairs on his neck stood up and his grip tightened on the reins. From out of nowhere, a strong breeze tickled his scalp and he swallowed.

They were being watched.

"Thor stop," he commanded, voice harsh. His brother chuckled, coming alongside his left flank as he completed his walk-about.

"Do you really think me stupid enough to fall for -"

His voice cut off unexpectedly and Loki turned in time to see something positively gigantic fly from the bushes and knock his brother straight off of his horse.

"Thor!"he screamed. In the mere seconds it took to turn, his eyes quickly scanning the space behind him for his brother, some almighty force collided with his own body. He fell, his head snapping against the forest floor below with a harsh crack before he could so much as process any sort of defensive thought. He lay dazed for a moment blinking up at the sky as everything quieted. For a moment. Only a moment.

And then all at once, all hell broke loose.

As if emerging from underwater, Loki snapped harshly back into the present at the frantic sound of his horse, whinnying in panic. The sight of hooves, large and pawing at the sky above, kick-started his frazzled mind into action but it was only due to his natural agility that he had the presence of mind to roll out of the way in time. He used the momentum to get to his feet, head pounding, watching in detached horror as both of their horses screamed one last time before taking off into the forest. The breeze from earlier had transformed itself into an impossible and sudden tempest, and the wind now whipped around him with gale-like force. He barely focused on the inexplicable phenomenon, even as everything shifted and darkened around him. Dizzy and confused, he lurched forward with a singular thought thrumming in his head.

Thor Thor where is Thor

"Brother!" he called out, raising his hands against the debris spinning endlessly around him. He sputtered as he inhaled dirt and leaves, cringing as rocks the size of grapes mercilessly pelted his skin. Somehow in the midst of the insanity, he suddenly spotted it: the tell-tale bloodred of his brother's cape, not ten yards to his left. He ran towards it, attempting to call a protective shield around him. The words had barely left his lips when another invisible force smashed against his body, sending him toppling head over heels in the opposite direction. When he came to a stop, blood dribbling lazily from his mouth, a bolt of terrifying realization stabbed him straight through the heart.

This wind, this violence. This was no ordinary storm.

The feel of it was dark, laden as it was with some foreign and sinister magic, pressing heavily upon his own supply and sucking it dry in mere seconds.

The thought had only just crystallized in the recesses of his confused panic when a thunderous roar cut through the space, sending vibrations straight through his skull.

And when he opened his eyes, unaware that he had even closed them, he saw the beast standing before him, emerging quickly from the trees.

It towered high above on its hind legs, a good twelve feet at least. Its matted fur was brown and filthy and it smelled awful, of decay and rotted flesh. The beast snorted, a great exhale of misted breath and roared again in his direction revealing two rows of razor-sharp and deadly fangs. Like the fires of Muspelheim, its eyes glowed orange and black and for a halted moment, Loki found himself transfixed by their unearthly glow. It was not until it took a step towards him, and then another, that his frozen heart beat afresh with unmitigated terror. He had only his throwing knives on his person. His other weapons, they'd been tucked in the satchel attached to his horse and now all he had was two blades against this gigantic monster –

"Gods, but you are ugly!" The sound of his brother's voice ripped a gasp of relief from his lips and he turned, standing quickly, to watch his brother rise from the ground in an unsteady lurch. Inexplicably, the storm swirled to a brimming halt, the violent wind now quieted to a slumbering stir. Loki's lungs heaved as he took a few shaky steps towards his brother.

"Thor!" he choked out, but he ignored him entirely, his eyes never wavering from the monstrosity before him.

We were not supposed to find anything, we were not we were not we were

"Stupid, mindless beast," Thor spat. He unsheathed the sword from his side and it glinted powerfully against the rising sunlight overhead. "I will end you this day!" The beast straightened to its full height, teeth bared in a snarl, its eyes shifting between colors of blue and yellow and red.

Loki could feel the pit of his stomach clench painfully, the familiarity of the sight sending his nerves into a frenzy. He had seen this before, but only in the realm's more powerful sorcerers.

A beast...a beast with seidr...?

And then the thing roared again but it was no longer a howl of warning, no – this was a shriek of fury, of wild and petrifying challenge that they would dare to tread upon its territory. The sound of it was crushing and sent Loki to his knees, hands slammed against his ears in a useless attempt to drown out the deafening keel of this furious monster.

And then it charged.

Thor sprang instantly to action, a battle cry tearing loudly from his own lips as he leaped into the air to meet the beast head on. Loki was close to follow, shouting out a warning that came far too late. The beast swung a mighty arm directly at Thor's head and he went flying backwards, smashing into a tree that splintered at the impact. Fear and desperate panic gripped Loki's heart as he advanced on the thing, his body shaking badly. Stupid stupid stupid, his mind thrummed. He had not thought – he had not thought they would encounter anything, not after Tyr had been so unsuccessful, not after no one in the village had even seen the beast...!

Knives left his hands swiftly, aimed straight for the beast's throat. It ducked, what seemed impossibly fast, and the knives sunk harmlessly into the bark of a tree behind. A startled cry escaped his lips and he sprung deftly out of the way as the beast came charging. He ran with all his might to the tree and snatched the blades from it, angrily willing himself to stop shaking stop stop stop.

He could not touch his magic. It was trapped or vanished within him and he could not conjure a weapon and the rapid rise of fear was making him clumsy, uncoordinated. Oh gods above, he had been so stupid, not preparing for this in his assurance that nothing would happen!

His hands slipped from the blade's handles and it took half a second too long to pull the last knife from the tree, wedged deeply as it was in the meaty bark. He had only just done so, half-formed elation shoving against his cluttered thoughts, when jagged claws swiped deep and agonizing across his back, tearing the flesh asunder as a knife through butter.

Loki screamed.

Blind with pain but desperate to survive, instinct took over without his active permission. He turned and ducked, narrowly missing what would have been a perfectly-delivered death blow. He could see the dagger-like claw in his periphery but he forced himself to roll into the dense thicket for a moment of reprieve. His back was throbbing in agony but he had to stand, to move, to run.

If he was rendered immobile he would die. And so would Thor.

He could not allow that to happen. Not because of his own shortsightedness, not because of his own assurance that this mission would be met with failure.

The thoughts flitted through his mind in rapid succession and once the determination was set, he made his decision. He threw one precious weapon into the beast's back, knowing full well it would do naught but anger it, but he needed a distraction. Gasping, he dove from the brush and half-crawled, half-ran away from the creature and back out into the clearing. In the blurred sideline of his vision, he could see his brother scrambling back to his feet, blood-smeared hair matted flat against his temple. "Loki!" he hollered, but his voice seemed far, far away.

"Brother," he mumbled. He could hear the beast behind him, wailing hideously once again, turning quickly to make a mad dash for his exposed backside. His vision swam sickeningly and distantly he realized the suppression of his magic was taking an unexpected toll on the rest of his body. The dawning awareness of his quickly-plummeting condition did nothing to stop his knees from buckling uselessly and down he went to the frozen earth. Everything was spinning but he forced himself to keep moving, crawling like a serpent on its belly, driven by the already-established formula that movement equaled life. Yet another useless notion, he pondered dimly – his arms were shaking uncontrollably and already he could hear the beast's rapid approach, feel the warm mist of its snorted breath. He was suddenly unwilling to die with his face in the dirt – damn it all, he would face the thing – and so he inhaled against the painful tremors in his lungs and rolled onto his back. A hiss of pain escaped despite himself as his torn flesh made contact with the rocks and ice underneath. He came nearly face to face with the beast, its eyes now glowing a furious sunset red – but they were quickly hidden by the rows of glinting teeth as the mouth opened, ready to snap shut over his throat. His eyes narrowed in pain, hand still gripping his remaining knife, wondering if he could drive it between the beast's eyes before it killed him. It was inches away now, and he braced himself for the blow.

But it never came.

Instead he heard the familiar thunk of a weapon sinking deep and true into ready and pliant flesh.

A startled cry slipped past his teeth and he turned his head to see Thor, still frozen in his forward momentum, hands wrapped securely around the sword's handle. Relief swarmed and time stilled as his eyes shifted and noted various things in succession: the blade pierced through to the hilt in the belly of the beast. Thor's face, twisted in obvious pain and fury alike as he drove his weapon deeper still, the beast, it seemed, stunned into a listless stupor. And it was only then that Loki's wandering gaze found the angry spurt of blood, pouring forth from a wound in Thor's abdomen – an injury he knew not the origin of. The icy grip of fear wrapped thin tendrils around his heart and their eyes met briefly; Thor's gaze was heavy with regret.

But only for an instant.

Time resumed and seemed to quicken to make up for lost moments; the beast reared back once more to straighten to its full height, fully enraged now, its mighty arm already swinging in an arc to strike his brother. Loki saw it coming and forced himself to stand, a scream of agony tearing from his lips as he threw his blade. It hit its mark, burying deep in the beast's throat and it served as a perfectly-timed disruption. The beast stumbled back, its swing missing Thor entirely, but it swiveled quickly to strike with the opposite arm.

Hitting Loki direct with the full force of its power.

The blow landed across his face and through the angry snarls and horrified cries of his brother, an audible crack filled his ears. And then he was soaring backwards, at least twenty feet, landing brutally amongst a pile of rocks situated near a babbling brook. Caught in the momentum of his flight, he went crashing down the embankment in a violent tumble, coming to a stop right at the water's edge amidst entangled roots. He could taste blood in his teeth and distantly, as if he were hovering outside his body and looking down upon it, he knew his nose had been broken. On one side of his twisted head he could hear the noise of a river, rustling in his ears like a dog's growl. And before him he could actually still see Thor in the distance, his awful scream echoing in the little valley.

This is it brother. But that I could save you –

The world spun in dizzying circles and the horrid pain quieted to a dull ache. Through his black-spotted vision he could see his brother swinging his sword up, even as the beast slashed at his neck with a curved, deadly claw.

An agonizing howl pierced the air.

And then Loki knew no more.