Thor sighed as he walked, oblivious to the fact that his red cape continuously caught upon the thick thickets that dotted the woods of Vanaheim.
He winced as Sif punched him on the arm.
"What troubles you Thor?" Sif asked in annoyance, "You're usually in a better mood than this after a fight. Is it Jane?"
Thor bit back another sigh.
"It is the All-Father," Thor finally replied, "I do not think he have forgiven Loki."
Sif quieted at the mention of Loki. Thor glanced back at her. Her expression was thoughtful.
"What? " Thor asked.
"Do you really think Loki is dead, Thor?" Sif asked softly.
"I saw my brother die, " Thor answered quietly, remembering his heart drop at the sight of Loki looking so helpless as death took him. He blinked, clearing his throat and blocked out the memory of that day.
"I keep on thinking that Loki will suddenly appear, " Sif commented, "He was always good at escaping."
Thor said nothing. Sometimes he thought he glimpsed Loki in the corners of his eyes and his heart would race. He would turn, a rebuke ready on his tongue to tell his brother off for scaring him. But only an empty scenery awaited. Thor had thought he could save Loki; felt a spark of connection between them before death tore his brother away.
"I do not think I have forgiven Loki yet," Sif said, biting down her lips. There was a shadow behind her eyes.
"He did try to destroy Midgard," Thor sighed.
"...He did, " Sif agreed slowly. There was a moment of silence.
"Try to forgive Loki," Thor finally said, "He changed at the very end…and he is my brother."
Sif gave him an unconvincing look.
It would be hard for Sif to forgive Loki. He could still feel his own anger and frustration at Loki's stubbornness. But what had frightened him most was the numbing indifference that had begun to gnaw away at his heart.
Sif opened her mouth to speak but was abruptly interrupted by a bright stream of light that thundered down from the heavens a short distance away. Thor heard the cracking of trees as they were trampled by the sudden influx of energy.
" What is happening?" Sif shouted as they ran toward the direction of the commotion.
The stream of energy disappeared as suddenly as it came. The uneasy silence seemed to buzz with apprehension. Thor tightened his grip on his hammer as they slowed and quietly maneuvered their way through the greenery, his eyes darting from place to place. He held his breath.
A twig snapped. Thor whirled around, but Sif was faster, her sword already finding its mark—embedded in the throat of a blue skeletal creature. It gurgled as it died, clawing at her sword. But countless more appeared in its place, pouring out from behind trees and bushes.
Back to back, Thor and Sif turned slowly, weary of any sudden attacks. The creatures chattered amongst themselves, baring their teeth, their black irises glittering.
Thor whirled his hammer, letting go of his emotions until only a void was left. The metallic clang of weapons and the soft footsteps on the soil-he could hear them all. He attacked; Mjolnir scattering the creatures like leaves on a windy day. Yet the creatures continued to throw themselves upon the two Asgrdians.
Thor panted, flowing in and out among the creatures, feeling their skulls crack and blood run.
An arrow wheezed by and he snatched it out of the air before it could hit Sif.
"Thor duck! "
Thor threw himself on the ground just as a soldier flew over his head from the force of Sif 's blow, it's ax neatly taking off an inch of hair. Thor growled in annoyance.
"There is too many of them! Fall back! " Thor shouted. He could hear Sif breathing heavily behind him, the ring of her sword, and the snap of bones.
With a roar Thor threw himself on the creatures with renewed strength, curving out a path for Sif and himself. They ran through the woods, the creatures' guttural cries trailing closely behind them.
Thor was nearly blinded by the sudden sunlight as they busted into a clearing. The creatures grunted discontentedly, hovering near the shadowy edges.
"It seems they fear the sun," Thor commented smugly.
The creatures whined and shed away deeper into the woods. Thor saw Sif stiffen and his eyes followed hers. A large purple brute stepped out from among the trees, heavily armored with silver plates glided with gold. Yet it was not the extravagantly decorated armor that caught Thor's attention, but the golden gauntlet he wore on his right hand-crested with jewels, catching the light in a mesmerizing pattern.
"Thor be careful," Sif whispered.
Thor blinked, having unconsciously stepped forward toward the newcomer.
" Who are you and what qualms do you have with Vanaheim?" Thor asked loudly.
"I am Thanos," the stranger said in a gravelly voice, baring is teeth in a wide unpleasant smile, "and you are Loki's bratty brother."
"What do you know of Loki?!" Thor thundered, narrowing his eyes. Thanos ignored him and chuckled to himself.
"That runt did like to babble for you when he was with me. Hmm...What was it that he liked to scream..."Thanos paused, looking thoughtful.
Thor's heart thudded painfully in his chest. He realized his hands were shaking.
"Ah! How can I forget?" Thanos's eyes lit up. "Help me brother! Please...I can't...no more! Why won't you come?" Thanos mocked in a high-pitched voice.
Then Thor was hurtling toward Thanos. Anger boiled through him until he could only see Thanos's smirking face. He raised Mjolnir high above his head, intent on smashing it through Thanos's skull.
Thanos's smile widened and Thor barely had time to register that something was wrong before he was smacked face down onto the dirt. The force of the blow reverberated through the clearing, knocking everyone off his or her feet.
Thor shook his head, trying to rid of the buzz in his ears, and groaned as he rolled forward onto his arms. His breath was completely driven out of him. As Thor reached for Mjolnir, he realized that Thanos stood above him.
Get up and fight, Thor growled to himself. His vision fizzled in reply and only Thanos's leery smile was clear.
A sliver of fear wormed through him and he became aware of the low hum of power emitting from Thanos's gauntlet, hidden from him by his own anger.
He could dimly hear Sif shouting his name in the distance. But it was to late to run.
With a desperate burst of energy, Thor pushed himself off the ground and attacked.
But Thanos was ready and Thor was consumed by darkness.