Chapter 8 – Family
"What do you mean we have to ask your dad?" Chase asked with surprise and anger. "You must remember that I meant to not help you in this endeavor." Thor reminded the angry little kit. The five of them were now sailing through the air, Mjolnir put in front of the human god as the kits held onto his now attached cape. "I'm not complaining about that!" Chase said, anger still in his voice. "Yes you are!" the two twins said in unison. They turned to each other in surprise, just as Chase turned to them both in frustration, "My question is, how?" the speedy little kit said as he turned back to Thor, "Odin got us frozen last time! I doubt he'll hand it over just because we say 'please'!"
Thor had to agree, he knew his father would be stubborn, and probably want to scold Thor for the little stunt he pulled freeing the kits, "True!" he said, "However I am not about to just remove it from his home without permission. That would bring the Einherjar upon us in mere seconds!"
"Ein-Hair-E-Are?" Crash asked as he sounded out the word. "My father's personal guard!" Thor explained. "So, we really don't have a choice!" Crash said as defeat settled into his mind. Thor simply nodded, and Crash groaned in exasperation, "Alright!" he said, "Let's go!" Thor nodded gently, turning to the sky as he flew through the air.
Inside of the city of Azguard, the largest house near the back came into view. Around the perimeter of the building, stood several frost giants, each one turning their head as if watching for something. At some distance, Thor set down, keeping out of sight from the giants as he poked his head around the corner, "Drat!" he said, "The Councilors must have my father under watch." Chase quickly flipped his hood up, disappearing from view as he raced forward, dodging the legs of the giants as he made his way into the house of Odin. "You must understand!" he heard a familiar voice say, and peeked around the corner. What he was something he wasn't sure of, Shiva stood there, no other Councilors around with Odin sitting in his chair, a stern glare on the old man's face, "They are to be considered enemies of our world, they must be caught and…" Shiva began and was quickly silenced when Odin stood from his large arm chair. The man stood taller than Shiva, his one good eye glaring at the four armed Councilor, "My son is not an enemy!" he said, the power coming from his voice called for obedience and respect. Shiva took a step back, his nerves shaking with fear, "Whatever you have accused him of will be brought before the council in its fullest. The trial will determine his fate, not thee alone Shiva!" The four armed man took several more steps back, the power given from Odin's voice alone was enough to shake the ground Chase stood upon. "Now get out of my house!" Odin commanded. "I am one of the highest of authorities!" Shiva argued as he once again took a few steps back, "I'll not take orders from an old retired man with no authority!"
"The authority I still hold is even greater than that you have now! The honor I have earned is proof enough of that! BEGONE!" Odin commanded, and a group of heavily armed men marched in, each of them with hand on sword and winged helmets upon their heads, "Master Odin! Is this rabble troubling you?" one of them asked. "RABBLE?" Shiva nearly screamed, "I am one of your councilors!"
"I know not of you Azure, be gone!" the warrior said, and each of them drew his sword. "Your authority is of little use without the honor to withhold it, Shiva." Odin said as he glared at the azure, "These are my Einherjar, the finest warriors in the land, finer even than your frost giants!"
'Wow!' Chase thought to himself as Shiva backed up. The four armed man growled again, and turned, "Fine, but if Thor arrives, you must tell the Council of his return, otherwise your honor will be brought into question!" Shiva said as he left, "And I will not let what happened with Loki repeat itself, I'll make sure your punishment is worse than Thor's!" With that, Shiva left, taking each of his giants with him as they disappeared. "Whew!" Chase sighed and turned; only to be grabbed by the back of his cloak, "Who goes there!" one of the Einherjar asked as he picked the kit up. "EEP!" the little kit squeaked. "Ye have nothing to fear little one!" Odin said as he walked up to the Einherjar. Smoothly, he removed the hood from Chase, making him appear to all. "You know this animal master?" the Einherjar asked. "That I do! You may go now! My son cannot be far away!" Odin said. "NO!" Chase said, trying to show confidence, "I won't let you turn him in!" Odin simply glanced at the kit, and then laughed, "I'll not, 'turn him in' as you say! I only wish to speak with him!" he said happily. "Yah!" Chase growled, "Like you promised not to stop us from rescuing our parents!"
"My lord?" the Einherjar asked. Odin sighed, "It is a hasty decision I had made before I made that promise! If you can accept my apology, then perhaps I can abide by your terms, let me speak to my son, at a place and time of your own choosing, then I can show you how sincere I am!" Chase thought a moment, "No Einherjar?" he asked. "Master! You cannot agree to be without your guard!" the warrior said. "If it is to see my son again, then I am willing to agree." Odin said as he lowered his head. "But master…" the solder began. "And no Frost Giants!" Chase finished, "All we want is to ask you a question anyway!"
"Curious!" Odin said, "I accept your proposal!" Odin said, "You may leave guard! Fetch my gear and my robes!" The Einherjar dropped the kit, slamming his fist to his breast plate, right where his heart would be, "Not now!" Chase said as the warrior disappeared around the corner, "Tonight at the bar we found Thor at! It's the one at the front of town!"
"Yes, I know it well!" Odin said. "We'll see you at sun down!" the kit said, and quickly slipped the hood over his head, turning and running before anyone else had the chance to grab him by the fabric, slipping out the first open window he saw.
Beowulf snarled as paced, trotting back and forth as he growled, "Why do I even hesitate?" he asked himself, "We all know what the oracle has said!"
"The urge to change fate has always haunted the minds of others!" a hissy female voice said as she dropped down to the ground. "And what is it you want…" the giant wolf asked as he turned his head. He saw a female cat woman, her armor shining in the sun as it covered her chest and torso. Brown fabric, torn at places, connected the two pieces together in the middle, covering her belly. On her head, right below her ears, her helmet bore what looked to be bird wings made from feathers and metal. Her clawed hands were covered by gauntlets that guarded the backs of her hands, letting her have free range to use her deadly natural weapons. The brown fur on her lower legs were guarded by metal leggings, her feet bear with sharp nails from her toes. "…Fate Cutter!" The cat girl growled at him as she flexed her clawed fingers, "My name is Valkyrie!"
"And you are a fabled Fate Cutter, a legend almost as dead as your race!" he snarled, and quickly dodged a swipe from her deadly looking claws, "Do not tempt me last of the Fate Cutters!"
"My race is not to be mocked!" she countered, "We kept the Fate Weavers from abusing their power!"
"And yet there are no Fate Weavers left to worry about!" Beowulf growled, his snarl turning into a smile, one that showed that he thought of his hunger, and how she might sedate it. With a quick jump, she dodged his lunge, perching herself atop a nearby building, "It's a shame you haven't lost to anyone yet Beowulf! Your anger and pride need to be extinguished! You will lead us to Ragnarok, not the hero dog!" Valkyrie said, and with one powerful leap, vanished into the night. Beowulf shook his head, his hunger subsiding as he questioned the events, "What was that about?" he asked, and turned to continue whatever journey he was on before.
End Chapter 8
