The Son of Artemis and Fenrir

Chapter 9 - The Spark

The sun was slowly approaching the centre of the clear blue sky As Me, Sparks and Kratos were continuing to drag Gideon back to our hideout. I was battling with feelings that were so confusing that they almost ended up conflicting with one another. I could not make heads nor tails of this dilemma. These feelings just didn't make sense, they were so wrong. All I could think about was him, the way the light reflected off of his polar white scales or the way the moonlight radiated off of his pristine, alabaster fur. AARGH! I had never felt these feelings before. Why? Why was my world turned upside down whenever I thought of him.

He was large but soft. Fierce yet kind. Violent but caring. He only ever fought as a last resort. He did not intentionally seek to harm others, he only wanted to protect his family. These thoughts plagued my waking hours and chased me into the night, these past days. I could tell Sparks was suspicious. He could always tell if something was wrong.

As we paused for a break in a small grove of apple trees I spoke, "Kratos can I ask you something personal without you judging me?" I nervously asked.
"Of course Robyn," He started as he sat next to me on the log, "what is it that is troubling you?"
"If you like someone, like really like them. How would you know?" I asked, it felt as if I was treading on thin ice.
"Well... that person would be at the forefront of your thoughts. They would turn your entire world upside down. Why is there someone that does this to you?" He asked.
"No, I was just curious." I hastily answered.
I failed miserably to hide a blush.
"I can tell that you are lying, now I promise not to tell anyone. Alright, it can be our little secret." He bargained.

I sighed, "Alright. It's Stephen. Since we met and spoke, he is constantly changing my perspectives, he is always surprising me and just thinking about him makes me lightheaded."
"Goodness didn't think you two would ever be attracted to one another. But good for you, it is good to feel love. I am sure he must feel the same way about you." Kratos said as a shocked expression slowly retreated off of his face.
"Were you ever in love?" I asked.
"Yes, along time ago now. But yes I once was enthralled to the feelings of love." Kratos explained
"Who were they?" I asked
"Saraswati. She was the love of my life. She meant the world to me." Kratos said as he began to tear up.
"I am sorry that this is making you cry." I apologised.
"It is not your fault, you did not know. We had a child. We were gifted a little girl. She was my little tulip, my little Tia. I was once the happiest Fae alive. But then... in one moment... I lost everything... I had been trapped... by the time I broke free... they had been scorched..." Kratos explained before breaking down onto a full on sob.

"Love sounds so painful. I almost don't want it if it will make me feel this much pain." I sighed as I hugged into Kratos's side.
"No. There is no greater gift then love, sure sometimes it hurts but that is all just part of the deal. In the end though it is worth it. If you love someone you should seize the opportunity before it gets taken away from you forever." Kratos said as he pulled himself together and stood up. He then made his way over to where Gideon was tied up.
"I'm starting to wonder how hard Stephen hit him. He's been out cold now for almost three days." I said as I got up and remounted Sparks.
"He should hopefully be out cold just long enough for us to make it back home though. At least there Freya can keep him contained, if he regained consciousness now he'd probably want to go back and kill Stephen." Kratos chuckled as he hoisted Gideon over his shoulder.

The remaining day it took for us to return was eerily uneventful. As we reached the edge of the snake's run, I was shocked to see no wildlife. I could not hear nor see any critter. "What happened here. Last time I was here it was so full of life and noise." I asked. Kratos just looked down upon the empty expanse and down into the gorge.
"This is one of the reasons my nephew fights. This is the work of humans." Kratos said bitterly, "three days after you left a swarm of angels fell upon this land hunting an endangered species. Almost slaying the last of its noble kind."
"What were they hunting?" I asked
"They were hunting the spirit elks. We managed to save a few hundred but we fear they may be the last of their kin." Kratos explained as we slowly made our way down the viper's neck.
"I thought that they were infinite in number. I thought that they had links to Celtic spirit warriors?" I questioned.