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 Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 12:06 pm
Evan shook his head. He had heard perfectly well Karasu's mutterring, but said nothing in response. What was there to be said? Nothing. This storm could last a while- It would most likely be all day at best, a week at worst. The mountains were as unpredictable as the Northernlands.
But perhaps this storm would give them the advantage of cover from whoever was watching them. If so, it would be a rather good position to plan their next move or two. If not, then only talk would take place and questions of various sorts.
Not like he had anything to talk about. And he couldn't remotely understand Freki and Geri- only other ravens and crows. The only ones that he would/could talk to either had nothing to say, or weren't trusted to be truthful in what they said.
Still, Evan had to talk to Hakan. It wasn't like he had anything else to do, and besides- he needed to know if he could trust the boy. Melissa would probably be out of sorts for a while, but that was expected. And then there was the tower that Karasu had seen.
They would have to cross an almost impassable route in order to get there in a few days... otherwise, it would take much longer on an alternate route. A route that would lead them to their original destination of the dwarven caverns, where they could get more information, or perhaps a better route.
One was faster, the other safer. Evan was almost certain that everyone wanted this overwith as soon as possible, but they needed to know about what the other options were. Just as soon as he picked one...
Thoughtfully, Evan retrieved the blank tarot card that he had kept with him. His eyes scanned the surface, as if it held some sort of hidden message. Indeed, the card had decided not to reveal itself during the reading that had taken place earlier that day. As he considered what it could mean, something else came to mind...
The Tower.
He had made his decision. Or rather, that card had done so for him. If chaos was going to happen, that tower that had been spotted would most likely be the place. And this was just looking for Idunn- they still had to find Loki and get Thrud back. They were headed up the moutain the quick and dirty way, it seemed.
With that out of the way, Evan made his way over to Hakan.
"...I would like to ask you a few questions. Rather simple ones at that. I'm sure you can guess what they are, but do humor me for a moment."
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:21 pm
Hakan shrugged as he looked up at Hugin, "I was going to cook dinner when Geri got back. I'm a fair hand at it even in this ridicoulous body."
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:33 pm
Evan nodded. "It's not so rediculous when you think about it. I mean, consider Melissa... she's stuck as an eight-year-old girl due to what happened several months ago. She's been given a second life, so to speak. But I can understand being stuck in a form for so long, you forget what it's like to be who you once were."
He didn't bother asking him who he was- he already had a decent guess. The only question he would ask was...
"So... how did you survive?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 5:15 pm
Hugin the Raven
You seem quite happy to see me. Are you all right?
He wouldn't ask whether he did anything to her- of course he did. He had warned that something would happen, and it did. It would probably have several adverse effects, but it wasn't like there was another choice. Hopefully, she could understand his thoughts.
She backed away from Evan and sat down, drooling at the thought of a cheeseburger, no, a well done steak, or maybe medium, actually, skip the cooking and go for raw, raw meat. Saliva was dripping on the ground as she fought the urge to gnaw on something, on someone. I don't feel good in the stomach, I'm afraid I'm going to bite somebody. I want meat. I want meat now!She looked at Evan pleadingly, her newly yellow eyes glowing as she retreated into the shadows.
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 5:27 pm
There was a loud howl outside, one that Melissa would now recognize as Geri, her partner. It was his signal that he'd found game and would be back with it shortly. All of this would be instinctive to Freki-Melissa.
As for Hakan, he was working on building a fire within the confines of the cave. "If you could be so kind as to convince the smoke to go up and out?" He asked of Evan.
"As for how I survived, it was Freki and Geri's fault." He sounded almost as if he resented it, but continued working on the cooking, grabbing a pile of sticks from the back of the room, with a quick little waddle. Apparently he'd used this cave before, or Geri and Freki had.
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:28 pm
The entrance of the cave might have kept things out, but it certainly didn't keep things in. The wind that still seemed to circulate around the cave could be used to great effect without snuffing out the fire. So with a controlled stream of air, the smoke was guided towards the cave entrance, since there was no way out of the top of the cave.
Evan nodded as Hakan briefly explained. With a sigh as his suspicions were confirmed, he started ticking off the trail of clues.
"The first clue was your first appearance. Your sudden arrival at the exact same time that the wolves died, and your healing of said same wolves. Not to mention your familiarity with them.
"The second was your name. Old Son... It was the same name given to several legendary norse kings. The name I thought of however, was different... much different. I didn't know which name you could possibly have until the third clue- the Runes. No one, save for a select few, knows those anymore.
"The last clue, obviously, was Odin's hunting wolves. There were only two who could command them, and one of those two is dead... I'm sure you get the rest.
"If they are alive, and if you are alive, I'm starting to wonder exactly how many of us are still here. The biggest question is how you escaped from the guard dog of the damned. That should be quite the story, and since we have a storm approaching..."
He could feel it coming. The wind outside was harsher. They were all right, however.
"You'll have plenty of time."
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:33 pm
"I didn't." Hakan chuckled at Evan's name for Garm. "Just because something ends, doesn't mean it doesn't begin again. Life is nothing more than a cycle." He sobered as he listened to Geri howl again.
"Sometimes though....things go wrong."
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 6:50 pm
Evan nodded again.
"So... some of us still met our fate. We're all fortunate though that you sent him to the same place he was guarding. Otherwise he would still be running loose. Unfortunately, this means that our enemies are still alive, just in different bodies... Including Loki, the Betrayer.
"I've noticed also that Balder has not risen. Months ago, I found his treasure horde within the Guldor Tundra, including shards of, for some odd reason, Balmung... the Sword of the Hero."
It was then that he withdrew the broadsword on his back, all three feet of it. The four inch wide blade had a total of six runes inscribed on the center riser, placed by Evan during its re-forging. It had an eerie sheen to it as it glowed in the light of the fire.
"I managed to make a few... modifications."
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 7:14 pm
Hakan snickered. "Then that is no true Balmung then, my friend."For just a moment, his vistage shimmered, and his kindly older smile could be seen on the cherbic face. "Gram has already become in this cycle. It has been forged from the pieces of Balmung. Someone seeks to trick you."
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 7:24 pm
Evan didn't entirely like that. He stared at the blade for a moment, as if trying to will it to go away. Then, he sheathed the blade, making the sharp click from the re-entry of the weapon echo around the room. His face was still expressionless. His actions denoted someone who was pissed.
"Then I have to find it. Simple as that. Though I don't entirely know where exactly it is... I'm sure I can find out. And since you know that it's reforged, you could possibly know... where it is?"
If he didn't, this train of thought would come to an end.
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 8:11 pm
"I do." Hakan toddled out to the front of the cave and waited. Geri soon came in, carrying a large haunch of a deer behind him. Hakan yanked on the meat with both hands, and with Geri's assistance pulled off a large hunk meat and Geri dragged it over to Freki Melissa to eat, and Hakan began draggin the rest towards the spit he had set up.
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 8:36 pm
Evan nodded as Hakan walked away. So when one planned things out, they went just as well if they simply forged ahead. And some things even came about that were beneficial to one's mission. Besides, if he found Balmung, he might be able to keep it instead of this imitation.
It made sense that this wasn't the real one. Gram couldn't be imprinted with anything. The blade was virtually unbreakable and unscratchable as far as mortal terms went. Even during forging, it could not be scratched. The metal was of divine origin- thus, it could not be marred.
Still, it would work until he found the real thing. Evan had a feeling that he'd need it for what was going to happen. With that thought in mind, he rose to help Hakan out with preparing the meal. He wouldn't ask where the sword was until later. Right now, it was time for food.
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Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 5:04 am
o.0 *Not Balmung? Well that was interesting, Hugin had been so sure that he had found the great sword... but everything was starting to stink like it had Loki's hand in it... would be just like him too, enjoying himself over the discomfort and pain of his little play things*
*Karasu shook her head and thought about the tangled web metafore again*
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Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 3:34 pm
Melissa couldn't stand devouring raw meat, but Freki's hunger was in control and she found it wasn't so bad. She didn't think about the poor animal that had given its life to feed her, she may have looked young, but she was never a vegetarian, and she knew that life required sacrifice, that things had to die in order to give others life.
As Melissa lost control, Freki spoke, much like Evan had the ability to speak with his mind because of Hugin. Melissa and Evan would suddenly find themselves with a lot more in common. Both were answerable to Odin, and since the All Father was dead and had not reappeared, Tyr, or at least Freki was, as the wolf of Odin had accepted Tyr as a second master for ages before.
After downing the meat and pawing for more, Freki spoke telepathically for all those who could understand. She could hear Ymirs thoughts from the sealed void, though Ymir could not hear her, quite a one sided arrangement.
Ymir has been collecting some 'Things' as well. More meat, please.
Freki continued pawing the ground, looking to the fell deer.
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Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 4:09 pm
Evan could understand thoughts, sure enough. Still, he kept his own thoughts silent. He didn't exactly want any other thoughts to be heard. He did however, make a request. Just one request, and he was silent again. The thoughts were directed at Freki alone, as such a concentrated transmission was easier to conceal instead of a widespread one.
I know. However, if you would be so kind to explain to those who are just tuning in, I would appreciate it.
Silence from him again.
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