In the end, no one chose to stay behind when the choice was offered. Sigyn stood on the island that they had made their own with one hand in Loki's and the other sharing the scepter grip. Magic throbbed between them as the spell split the barriers between the worlds. Behind them, Sleipnir, Fenrir, and the rest of the packs regarded the workings of magic as the portal warped around itself until the energies crackled and lipped at the casters until it stabilized and became nothing more than a something that shivered in the air before them. More than a few ears flicked back as they considered it, but when Fenrir and Sleipnir walked through it at Loki and Sigyn's nod no one had a second thought as to whether or not it was safe.
There was only the briefest of moment of disorientation before the packs found themselves once again standing on the soils of their homeland. The familiar sights and scents washed through their senses, clouded by the sounds of battle and the smell of blood spilt.
Fenrir howled and the packs took his cry and echoed the anger. Their people that Dame and Sire would fight for. Theirs to protect. The ones hurting them were to be hunted and shown no mercy. It was right, finally, that the Alpha and his Dame would fight for theirs. They charged into the battle at hand and were gone before Loki and Sigyn stepped foot to the other side of their portal.
The attack had been unexpected, unprecedented. There had been no gathering of forces to have tipped the Marauders' hands, no light raiding of the borders to test Vanaheim's defenses and strength. The Marauders had simply appeared and the attack had begun, murdering and pillaging as they never had before as the Vanir were forced to defend themselves and their families. Marauders had spread across the planet like a plague and were picking at their defenses even as an equal number were slaughtered on both sides.
The largest attack of all, however, had centered on the palace and their Queen. Their armies hadn't quiet recovered from the attack on Asgard and the restrictions they had been placed under by Asgard's interim Council hadn't allowed them to recruit openly from their own people. They were weakened and the Marauders knew it. Still, it did not keep them from fighting. They knew what death and honor looked like, knew what it was to keep fighting even when outnumbered and unprepared. The Vanir put up one hell of a fight in the first wave.
It was the second wave that broke them and the third in which Malekith and the Dark Elves joined the fight that shattered their defenses and sent Cypress running for the only help they knew would come. And come she did, with all the force and power that she could bring with her.
They were separated from the packs before they set foot onto Vanaheim's soil, but it didn't stop them-couldn't. The location where they emerged was the interment site of Sigyn's father and it seemed to only fuel Sigyn's movements to see the shattered remains of that funeral ground as they were engaged and forced into combat as the portal dissipated. Around and around, slash, parry, and slice. Blood flowed freely, power rising to their call as they fought and defended. It didn't matter-couldn't-that the Vanir had been their enemies before. Sometimes, bonds ran deeper than recent experiences could provide.
There was a cluster of warriors fighting, almost overwhelmed. Behind them there were a number of smaller forms that clustered together. Their enemies were a mix of the Dark Elves and the remnants of the Marauder forces that had not yet given up their slaughter.
A crack of thunder filled the air and the Dark Elves flinched, knowing what usually followed that sound, but there was no Heir of Asgard, there was only Vanaheim's. Magic crackled and opened the ground beneath their feet, swallowing some whole. Daggers and scepter sliced deep into skin. Screams and blood lust fell before them and the Vanir rallied to their Princess.
It was a hard push, slicing through the forces that stood between them and the scattered Vanir forces, but they earned every step they gained and where Vanir blood had been spilt, the blood of their foes splashed across it. Inch by inch and step by step, Loki and Sigyn led her people through it until they were pushing back against the invading forces.
And then a howl shattered the air around them, making her vision double for a moment.
So much blood and still brother trampled and fought and dashed at those that threatened him…he wouldn't last much more…Dame!
Then her scream joined the howl in a two part harmony of heart ache and disbelief.
Not again!