"What?" Thor alternated between sending Loki glances of thanks and confusion-for the snack and the creature's trap. "Thank you, Brother. You are being unusually helpful today."
Loki cocked his head in acknowledgement. "You're welcome, Thor. I may have had another reason to halt him in his tracks; however, your thanks make it worthwh—"
"Please remove your spell, gentlemen!" The Doctor broke in. "Your prey would like to stand."
"How do you know that?" Thor wondered.
"I speak animals' languages fairly well, among other things. You, Prince Loki, did the right thing in giving the horses a breather, for that was their only request. This 'Bildgersnoop' beasty thing wants… His family. He is young, frightened, and alone. He says, 'I want to run free. To prance, and feel my scales soften with age. Do not separate me from my-'
'My home and herd. I want to go back.'" He stopped translating and looked from man to man. "Please, Your Highnesses, let this one go free? Already I have seen many lost alien creatures as they die in their old age from wounds. This one is young and fresh as a new day in comparison. He is not feeble."
Loki stepped up, sympathy drawing the smile from his face.
"You have convinced me, Doctor. Though, truth be told, I encouraged him to run as fast as he did."
He waved his hand in the beast's direction. The young animal quickly rose to its feet and rubbed its forehead on a tree, scratching its budding antlers. Loki glanced back at the pair of travelers. "As usual, Thor was far too eager to let the chase be challenging, had I not stepped in."
Thor looked at Loki with renewed interest. "Truly? I wondered at its stamina as it kept evading me. No matter their age, the Bilgesnipes are a stubby race. They smell like fish and bound away into the air. That is, for a short jump each time." Thor shook his head.
Loki tutted. "At any rate, Thor, you know that a short, quick kill would have been no fun for you. This one is unneeded. After all, the boars are being roasted for dinner. Your favorite. That is what the cook told me when she handed me those cookies."
"True. Doubtless, there was some fun in this arrangement for you as well, Loki."
Loki said nothing; he held Thor's gaze until the taller prince looked away.
Thor smirked. "You have also made your point; I will yield to the request. After all, I prefer to hunt a proper, grown Bilgesnipe rather than their young." He pushed aside his cape, drew his sword, and hacked at the tree limbs that blocked the way into the rest of the forest. The beast wasted no time in slipping free.
The Doctor beamed. "Thank you for this merciful choice. Another first for me! One is saved before any deaths happen. This is a good day."
Thor smiled, sheathing his blade. "Then I am glad of its release, for your sake." He moved away and slid Mjölnir out of a loop in his saddle.
Loki studied both the hammer and Thor before sighing. "Just do not think of using me as your target, and we are fine."
The Doctor took great interest in the hammer. "What do you have there, Prince Thor?"
He whipped out a long, narrow silver device with a rounded head out of his jacket pocket and aimed it at the hammer.
Thor studied the item in his visitor's hand with equal curiosity. "My hammer, but what is your device?"
The Doctor glanced between the items and chuckled. "Well, this is my screwdriver. It is very useful to identify stuff when I use the sonic capability, just like I'm going to do." He motioned his hand toward the hammer. "May I?"
"Of course," Thor answered. "However, I doubt you would be able to lift her. This is Mjölnir, and I have found it very useful for—"
"Smacking in very large nails?" The Doctor suggested. "Let me see." He pointed the sonic screwdriver at it. He buzzed it a few times to get a reading, then stepped back. He glanced from prince to prince. "Ah. Well, as you said, your highness, that is Mjölnir. She was forged from the heart of an old star, and put together with mountain ore. I find most interesting that it came from the hand of the 'Three-in-One.' It bears the mark, as well. And it only belongs to the person who can use it. Classic. It really is wonderful."
Thor studied their guests with new interest. "Doctor, how did you come here? Did you travel by Bifrost?" At the guest's confused look, Thor clarified. "It can be seen just there, over your shoulder."
The Doctor twisted his torso to look where the prince gestured. The glittering line hanging in space stopped at a dome with a sharp cone aiming at the sky above. He raised an eyebrow before turning back. "That is an ingenious way to get around, your Highness. No, I did not use traditional pathways you would normally use. I flew in from inside my box."
Thor opened his mouth then shut it before speaking. "Might I see this box of flight?"
The Doctor readily agreed. In no time, they reached the area where the picnic was laid out.
Loki had hung back with River as the others had pressed forward, but now he hurried at the sight of the TARDIS. "Is that blue box yours?"
"Mmm. Ah, yes. Well, sort of."
Loki pressed forward, studying the TARDIS from every angle. He laid his hand out, palm up. He studied the box, noting each detail. "It wears travel well. It seems to be a sturdy little device."
He snapped his fingers. The door opened, and he laughed in wonder. "That is incredible! I have never seen anything like this magic." He crept forward and looked inside.
His jaw dropped. "Doctor! Do you study the wonders of your box often? This space boggles my mind."
The visitor noted his interest with delight. "Yes, it easily startles those not used to seeing a Tardis. It's known for being special."
Thor glanced at the box. He stepped forward, beside Loki. He was satisfied with a cursory study from where he stood by the doorway. "I could see why. Are there many more like it where you came from?"
The Doctor coughed, shaking his head. "No. No, I'm afraid there are no others like it. I'm just the madman with the box that flies around Earth."
The princes kept looking. Thor circled the box, while Loki stepped inside and studied the first level.
"Come have a sandwich when you're done poking around the TARDIS, Thor. You too, Loki." The self-proclaimed Madman just sat down, looked into space, and ate a cookie.
Loki continued to pry around corners. Finally, he ran out, spread his arms wide, and declared, "This box is marvelous! Are you certain you have never been to Asgard before?"
"Yes. I am quite certain of that. It is a pity, since the area looks delightful."
On River's insistence, Thor took a sandwich. He ate it in four bites and asked, "Is the box your home, as well as ship, Doctor?"
"Sometimes, yes. Though I often spend nights outside her." He took in the young man and his ankle-length cape. "I even explore other times. Do you like besting animals, Prince Thor?"
"Yes. I like besting their strength and seeing their challenge be their downfall."
"Only after they are nearly yours," Loki muttered. When Thor looked at him, Loki smiled quickly and cocked his head to the side. He meant nothing harmful by his words.
The Doctor stood up. "Prince Loki, are you truly taken with my box?"
The young man nodded, his black hair falling into his face. He swiped it back where it belonged.
"Then how do you feel about taking a trip yourselves?"
Loki slid his eyes to the side and back. "I am for a trip, but I think Thor will find it not quite to his tastes."
"Really?" The Doctor clapped his hands. "We shall see about that! Prince Thor."
"Yes?" He faced the other man.
"Since you like hunting and the like, how would you feel about seeing the place known for fighting bulls on Earth?"
"Oh! Of course. This ought to be entertaining."
The Doctor and River cleaned up their area and food before they followed the running princes inside.
He debated good places to go. "Would the 17th century work? No, make it older. Ah-hah! I have it. Let's be off!"
The foursome eagerly crowded around the hub as the Doctor pushed buttons. Loki asked permission to roam and soon discovered the closet and library on adjoining sides. To him, it felt like no time had passed before they had landed.
He ran up to the main deck. "Where are we? Did we leave home?"
"Yes, yes. It's back there quite a ways. Hopefully we should return sometime before dinner. We made it to... Seville. In Spain." The Doctor spun on the balls of his feet then gestured at the door. "Shall we go?"
Thor grabbed the knob and burst outside. "This place appears like home. The houses are tiled like those that surround the palace. Where can we get some food?"
"Again?" Loki sighed. "Your stomach knows no bounds."
He stepped out, then waited for River and the Doctor to follow. The last man out of the box shut the door and clapped his hands.
"Now, what ought we to do, Your Highnesses?"
A bellow caught his ear and he spun to see a charging beast head straight for Thor's back.