Ineffable- A Loki Fanfic

15

Clara, breathing deeply but silently as she continued to run, began to come back into herself. Her breath turned ragged and her footfalls heavier. Still, she didn't stop until she was knee deep in cool water. The creatures around her in the forest went silent, still. They leered at her through the shadows and whispered distrust between one another, watching her fall to her knees in the small pond, and anticipated any amount of danger she might pose.

Bracing herself, Clara used the little strength she had left to break the tip off the arrow still branching from her shoulder. With one swift motion she stretched to grab the back of it and pulled.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHGGH"

Raw pain ripped from her ribcage, destroying her from the inside. The echo, a song of sadness being played back to her, swam between the trees and water, more than a scream, but not enough to kill her. There was so much anger, fear and torment held within that single sound that it sent all of the wild things from the safety of their hidden places fleeing into the night. Clara was left completely alone, just, not for very long.

She had no idea how far or long she had run for, there had been a complete absence of thought and feeling as she had done so. It was as if something else had been driving her deeper and deeper into the woods, another force or energy guiding her breath and her feet.

Everything came back to her in such a rush she was unable to hear or see anything else except Loki, the hurt in his voice, ordering her to run, being beaten and tortured, who she was, what she had done, what she hadn't told him.

It was too much, clawing at the rocks and sand beneath the surface, she forced herself deeper into the water, clutching at her chest as if her very soul was burning. Somehow hoping that the water would hold her together while she fell apart, Clara went under.

*******************

"Keep him alive, but only just. She will come for him."

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Coming out of a void can be peaceful, until your reality catches back up with you.

The first thing she felt was calm and warmth, the second.... Wet? A vague memory tickled the edges of her brain, walking into the pool, going under.

"Shit, I drowned."

Someone nearby giggled and it made her laugh too. Clara tried to sit up, eyes still closed, and realized she must have never left the water. There was nothing to prop herself up on. There was more soft laughter all around her now, how beautiful. The sound of it, like delicate bells tinking in the wind before a summer storm, made her smile. As she opened her eyes she was greeted by the moon and gentle faces all around. They helped her stand up and she realized she was still in a body of water, but her clothes were... different. Clara couldn't exactly figure out why they were different, though. In fact, she had trouble thinking about anything at all other than the comfort of the water and the void before.

"Thank you."

"You must be hungry." A young woman stepped forward, holding out her hand. This woman's voice was honey, terribly sweet and lazily thick. Clara swallowed her words, and wondered if she was actually young, she seemed childish and ancient simultaneously. Her long, sable hair dancing around her in the water, reminding Clara of the peacefulness of the dark place she had just woken up from. Her eyes though, were morning sunlight dancing on a snowy mountain, fierce and golden.

'And what you've not to do is this: bite no bit, and drink no drop, however hungry or thirsty you be'

Clara shook her head, the thought forming in her mind but she didn't really understand the words or where they even came from. She took her hand and let this woman lead her back into the woods.