This is chapter 9, posted right after chapter 8 as promised! There is a little bit of Loki revenge in this chapter! As always, Review/Favorite/Follow!
All of you stood at the entrance to the forest with your groups peering into the wooded area, trying your best to see as far as you could. Glancing at each person in your team, you figured that your team was probably going to lose when compared to the other two teams. Ivar had his bow slung on his back and looked ready to go, but Ingrid cancelled his preparedness out because she just looked bored and annoyed. Ragnvald was a strategist and you had given the map to him to look over. You knew how anxious you felt, and glancing over at Loki who looked about as unreadable as ever, you decided to only focus on getting in and out of the forest in one piece and not on the probability of emerging as the winner. You were sure that the other teams, Thor's in particular, would refuse to come out of the forest as anything but the top team.
"Stand at the ready everyone, I will count down from three and then you will go into the forest and plan to do this however you wish. I should mention that you won't be judged based only on who wins, but I will be monitoring you all to see how you each perform. Once the winning team has found the object, you will hear a horn and that will be your signal to return to this spot. Remember that I said no real harm will come to you, but that doesn't mean you won't have to fend off some of the creatures. Is that clear?" Vali asked as he finished giving the full explanation.
Everyone nodded in confirmation as Vali began the countdown, "Best of luck to you all then. Three, two, one, go!" Vali yelled as everyone immediately broke into a run.
You hated running at full speed for a prolonged period of time, but you kept up with the rest of your team as you reached the base. The other two bases were not very far away, but they were not within earshot. Once you all entered the base you all sat down to catch your breath for a few moments as Ragnvald took out the map and smoothed it out on the small wooden table that was present.
"Okay, so Vali said the object we have to locate is in the center of the forest. That's quite a bit of a trek from here, and while it is in the center of the forest, that doesn't mean it has to be in the dead center, so we should branch out some once we reach the center. I think we should make our way there as a group though, since we only have one map and we're stronger together rather than separated." Ragnvald said looking up at everyone from the map.
You nodded in agreement with Ragnvald because you particularly liked the idea of remaining as a group for the duration of the mission.
Ragnvald then continued, "When we reach the center of the forest where the lake is, then we'll divide up and look around the area trying to find whatever this object may be. Since we don't know exactly what we're looking for, keep in mind that Vali said it's something that looks out of place in a forest. Hopefully we won't have to fend off any of the other teams, but if we do, don't hold back. We want to win this, but so do they so keep in mind that they'll do whatever it takes to win."
"Could I just sit this one out, Ragnvald? I can just stay here in the base and-"
"No, Ingrid! We need you as part of this team. We'd really be at a disadvantage if we were one person short." Ragnvald cut her off.
Ingrid sighed in frustration, "Fine, but this better be over quick."
Ragnvald ignored her comment as he looked around the base, "Does anyone have any questions?"
We all shook our heads as he picked up the map and got on his feet, "Let's start moving then."
As your group made their way out of the base you could see the shadows of the other teams shifting in their bases which meant that your group had finished discussing the strategy for the mission first because of Ragnvald's excellent planning skills. If nothing else, at least your team would have a head start.
Your team had made it halfway through the forest without any major problems. A few creatures had emerged from the shadows, but they were usually eradicated fairly quickly. Even you had succeeded in killing a few of them with your sword. After you had taken one down that had lunged at you, leaving a scratch on your arm, Loki put away the dagger he had been wielding and congratulated you, "Great job, Aurora! I told you that you were not useless here."
You smiled at Loki as you caught your breath and replied, "Thank you, Loki. I just hope I don't have to do that again."
"We shall see." Loki chuckled as he pulled you along with him to catch up with the rest of the group.
Ragnvald was at the front of the group calling out directions as everyone else followed him, constantly looking around for creatures or other teams. Ragnvald also held a weapon incase he needed to use it. Ivar kept him bow strung, looking around for any target that he needed to shoot. Ingrid walked alongside him, clutching a long golden staff. You and Loki brought up the rear as you kept your sword drawn and Loki simply walked with his hands in his pockets as if he didn't have a care in all the nine realms.
You found this odd and were about to ask Loki why he didn't have a weapon ready when your thoughts were interrupted by Ingrid's petulant voice whining, "There are blood, dirt, and grime all over me! This is absolutely disgusting! If I ever run into another dreaded beast in here, I might just scream because I don't think I can handle getting any dirtier in here."
"Relax, Ingrid." Ragnvald said gruffly.
"Relax?" Ingrid asked wide-eyed as she stopped in her tracks. "How can you expect me to relax when I'm stuck in the woods with you lot and I am covered in dirt?"
Ragnvald turned around to see Ingrid staring at him with her hands out at her sides gesturing to her mud-caked skin and the blood from a slain creature on her clothing.
"It'll wash off. Now, c'mon, we don't have time to waste. The longer you stand still the more likely you are to be attacked anyway." Ragnvald said as he turned around to continue walking.
As if on cue, a creature jumped out of a nearby tree and went straight for Ingrid. Ingrid did just as she said she would; she stood there and screamed. Ivar reacted quickly by drawing his bow and shooting an arrow at the rodent-like creature.
"It's dead, now start moving." Ivar said roughly as he followed Ragnvald with Ingrid quickly doing the same.
"Is it wrong that I found that slightly humorous?" you turned to Loki with a small grin on your face.
"Not at all." Loki shook his head with a small smile as well.
A few moments later, you came to a clearing in the forest and saw water shimmering in the distance from sunlight that broke through the clouds. It was the brightest scene you had seen so far in the woods and you were thankful for the brighter atmosphere. You assumed that this was the center of the forest.
"Everyone split up! This is where we need to start looking everywhere for the object. We'll cover more ground if we each look somewhere different. I suspect that the other teams will be arriving soon or are already searching, so if they look like they're onto something, don't hesitate to play dirty and try to meddle in whatever they're doing." Ragnvald instructed.
With that, everyone split up and started scouring the perimeter for the unknown object. Sure enough, you saw the Warriors Three was overturning some boulders together in the direction you were headed. You decided to change your course in order to avoid Fandral. Finally, you decided to climb up a tree and survey the area. Perched atop the tree you had chosen, you saw that the Warriors Three had not found what they were looking for and that Sif had just brushed past Ingrid. Thor was walking to the left of the lake by himself and Liv had apparently given up because she was sitting at the water's edge with her feet in the lake. Loki was standing in the clearing talking to Ivar when he pointed in the direction of the Warriors Three who were standing in front of a tree. The next thing you saw was Ivar shooting somewhere into the tree causing a beehive to fall to the ground in front of the Warriors Three. Hogun and Volstagg had immediately run away, but were still followed by the bees as they frantically ran around swatting the air. You steadied yourself in your tree as you laughed at the scene. Fandral was the last to react and therefore, was the easiest target for the angry swarm. Fandral, however, was not stupid, and decided to run into the lake plunging himself under the water to evade the swarm. Loki walked away from Ivar who continued to search the grounds and discreetly positioned himself near the side of the lake that Fandral was in, on the opposite side of where Liv was sitting.
Loki's POV
I decided to enlist the help of Ivar when I saw that the Warriors Three had unknowingly perfectly positioned themselves under a hive of bees. Ivar was all too happy to shoot the hive down when I pointed it out to him because it would distract the three of them from the mission. It was not until after Ivar had struck down the hive that I remembered Vali and Heimdall could see everything we were doing. Ivar shooting down the hive would undoubtedly look sneaky and could be considered as foul play, but it was strategy after all, was it not? I decided, however, that for what I was going to do next that I would ensure that Vali and Heimdall could not know this was my doing.
I had quietly walked over to where Fandral had jumped into the lake and hid myself behind a large rock. Peering out from behind it, I saw that Fandral had resurfaced and that the bees were gone. Fandral smoothed his hair over on his head and sighed heavily. Glancing around, I saw that no one seemed to be paying attention to him. I smiled at my luck and planning. I had used my magic to conjure a double at the same time and in the same place that I had been standing when I decided to conceal myself from the watchful eyes of Heimdall and Vali as well. My double was taking part in the search effort while the real me carefully watched Fandral. This seemed like the perfect opportunity for me to play a prank on Fandral, a little bit of payback for what he had done to me.
"This is for earlier." I hissed as I flicked my wrist to the side and sent a huge snake straight for Fandral.
The snake wrapped itself around Fandral bringing him down to his knees in the water. I could see Fandral writhing in the snake's vice grip as he tried to break free. The snake was hissing as Fandral was trying to find enough air in his lungs to yell. I smiled darkly from my hiding place at Fandral's display of fear. I wanted to see Fandral struggle for once and to feel as helpless as I did. There was no way that Fandral would be able to escape on his own, but I wouldn't let the snake kill him. I still had morals. I just wanted to watch him squirm for a little while.
My entertainment was cut short, however, because Hogun had spotted Fandral's predicament and sliced the snake off him with his mace. Fandral collapsed in the water gasping for breath which only caused water to enter his mouth, making him gag and spit it out. I had to laugh at Fandral's blunder in deciding to breathe while his mouth was under the water. Hogun lifted Fandral up to support him and dragged him out to the lake's edge.
"I don-n-n't li-i-ike sna-a-akes." Fandral sputtered.
"Understandable." Hogun said as he eyed Fandral curiously.
"I thin-n-k I shoul-l-d jus-s-t sta-a-ay her-r-e." Fandral choked out.
"Let me at least bring you to the other side of the lake where you'll at least be in clearer sight."Hogun said as he wrapped Fandral's arm over his shoulder and carried him around the side of the lake.
I ducked behind the rock when they passed by me because if they saw me, surely they would be suspicious that I had done something, which I had of course, but I still didn't want to get caught. I decided to direct my double to an unpopulated area in the area of the forest we were in to relinquish him and emerge by myself. It was only then that I noticed no one had been successful in finding the object yet, but I had seen everyone look almost everywhere…everywhere but the bottom of the lake.
I walked to the edge of the lake again and peered out. I could barely make out something shimmering at the bottom of the lake. My eyes widened as I realized that whatever was shining from the bottom of the lake must be the object.
"Lucky me." I thought to myself as I dove into the lake.
Aurora's POV
"It looks like Loki's found something!" I yelled from my position in the tree.
Ragnvald, Ivar, and a few people from the other teams turned to look up at me. I started climbing down from the tree and pointed out at the lake where the splash Loki had made from diving into the lake was starting to shrink. Their eyes grew wide as we all ran to the lake. Everyone but Ivar and I decided to go into the lake, but Loki had already resurfaced with his hair slicked back from his face from the water. Droplets of water cascaded down Loki's face from his hair and eyelashes as his emerald eyes looked unexpressive. Then, a smile formed on his face as his eyes brightened and he raised his hand in the air holding what looked like to be a trophy of some kind which seemed quite fitting since this was really a competition.
"Yes! Yes, Loki!" you started yelling as you jumped up and down.
Ragnvald raised his fist in the air from the water as Ivar high fived me. The people from the other two teams that were in the water expressed their disappointment as the others made their way over.
"What happened?" Ingrid asked.
"Group two won. Loki found it." Liv said unenthusiastically from her position on the ground.
Honestly, I had forgotten that she was even there.
"Really? Great! My team won and now we can leave!" Ingrid clapped happily.
"That's my brother!" Thor yelled as Loki came out of the water receiving a pat on the back from Ragnvald.
Thor also gave Loki a congratulatory pat on the back, but gave it much more force than Ragnvald did.
"Eh, thanks brother." Loki said, wincing slightly.
"Mother and father would be most proud!" Thor exclaimed.
Loki's face seemed to light up at that. "You think so?"
"Definitely!" Thor said with a smile as Loki smiled back and walked over to join you and the rest of your group.
"I didn't know you had it in you, Loki, but thank the gods you found it so now we can get out of here." Ingrid huffed.
"Ignore her. I knew you could do it!" You said brightly as you hugged Loki, not caring that he was soaking wet from his dive into the lake.
Loki laughed, "You're all wet now too."
"I don't care." You said pulling away as the horn sounded, signaling the end of the mission.
The next thing you knew, you were all right back at the entrance to the forest.