Revenge| Book 6| A novel in the Blue Moon series| An Avengers fan fiction series |

26- Prime Opportunity

WHOOOOOO I GOT ONE DONE FINALLY!!

I'm so sorry for not being around... I was in writer's doldrums. It's quite unfortunate. I missed updating :( But I needed a break because my writing was starting to suck, so this chapter was written with a breath of fresh air. 

Hope you like it!

Please VOTE and COMMENT!

xoxo Sierra

Chapter 26:

The next morning, I'm woken up by Klaka's wet nose rubbing against my cheek. Sitting up groggily, I look around the small cave floor. Everyone else is still sleeping, evidently except for Videl, who's gone. I stretch like a cat and then get to my feet, fasten my sheath to my waist, and then walk out of the room, Klaka following me silently.

The sun is barely starting to peek over the horizon, but most of the men and women are already up, tending to fires, eating breakfast, or practicing with their swords and spears and arrows. I spot Loki standing near the edge of one of the cliff faces with Fandral, and I run over the pebbly ground to join them.

"Good morning," says Loki. His shoulder is still bandaged, but he doesn't look to be in pain.

"Hey," I say, catching my balance on the uneven dirt. "What's up?"

"Nothing, which is relieving," he replies. "Are you the only one awake?"

"Yep."

"Have you always woken up before the sun?" Fandral inquires. "If I recall, you used to do that quite often, Thea."

I appreciate that he's calling me Thea instead of "princess", and grin at him. "Trust me. Sometimes I can sleep forever."

"It's true," comments Loki. "It'd be easier and far less dangerous to wake a hibernating bear."

"Seriously?" I ask.

"With cubs," he adds for good measure.

"You don't like starting the morning off well."

Chuckling, he looks away from the plains and turns to me. "Whatever the reason, I'm glad you're awake. You're going to be working very hard today. You and your friends."

"In that case, I know why Videl snuck off already," I say.

"And you're going to help me teach them."

"And in that case, I'm really glad Videl snuck off already."

Like he usually does when I make my Shakespeare-worthy asides, Loki continues like I hadn't been talking, "They know how to fight fairly well, particularly Jack– I believe he gets it from his uncle– but fighting with steel and strength is different than fighting with pistols."

"Jack's also really good with arrows," I remind him. "Much better than I ever will be."

"Be that as it probably is true," says Loki, ignoring my insulted expression, "They all need to improve if they're going to be of any use to us whatsoever."

"This is my boyfriend and my best friends you're talking about," I say, trying to defend them.

"And that should change my opinions why?"

"Fine," I grumble. "I'll get them up. But they're not as lousy as you think."

"They can hardly get a hit on you of all people. Of course they're lousy fighters."

"Might I remind you that you can hardly get a hit on me anymore, of all people?" I shrug. "I'm telling you, you're still sore about it."

"Oh, be on your way," says Loki with a small smile.