ephemeral ━━ 𝘓. 𝘓𝘈𝘜𝘍𝘌𝘠𝘚𝘖𝘕 ✔

□ danger

The sun was now on the horizon, spreading its beautiful morning colors. It was breathtaking to see how the sun rose here.

They kept on walking, with Loraine secretly admiring the sunrise. None of them knew where they were heading, but at least they weren't staying in one place. Loki had said, it was much safer to be on foot than resting.

Loki stopped and looked around the woods. "The scream might have come from around here," he said. "There's a village near here."

She looked at him worriedly. "Something might have happened in the village."

"I supposed so," he started walking again and Loraine followed.

"Loki," she started. "I saw something awhile ago."

"Mmm?" He pursed his lips and swatted away a vine.

"I saw a dying soldier in the woods."

Loki waved a hand. "Well I doubt father would have wanted his soldiers toddling around. They are always doing his bidding. It's not strange if you found a soldier unsuccessful in his assignment."

"But Loki," she held his arm to look at him. "Something about it was odd. It does not look like Asgardian at all."

He looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Its skin," she furrowed her eyebrows, trying to remember exactly the complexion of the creature she saw awhile ago. "It was blue."

For a second, Loki's heart beat seemed to stop. He thought of the Frost Giants attempting to get inside Asgard. "Was it tall?"

Loraine shook her head. "No. I think he was the size of a regular Asgardian."

He inhaled a sharp breath. "Kree."

"Okay? What is that?"

Loki urged her to walk again and so they did. "They aren't supposed to be here," he whispered. Something in his voice was anxious.

"Are they from another realm?"

He turned to look at her. "No. They are from another planet."

"Right," she replied. "I can't technically differentiate realms from planets, but okay, let's go with that. So why are they here?"

"That, is something I would've asked myself as well," he said, eyeing the forest for possible threats. "Apparently, they couldn't have possibly entered Asgard. Odin despised their race. If they've come here in battle," he chuckled. "Odin may have a little fun."

"Well, the thing is, it seemed alone," she stepped on a dried branch. "And, war? No, it's not fun, at all. We both know it isn't something we look forward to."

Realization dropped on Loki. He stopped and paled for a moment. Of course, he couldn't risk anything drastic for the time being. Not with all the dreams they were having.

She softly laid a hand to his chest. Feeling the beats of his heart was her favorite. It reminded het that Loki was a person and he wasn't a monster ---that still, he had a heart, a room for someone he loves.

"I'm sorry, we shouldn't have thought about that. But...I don't think I can leave you Loki. There are a lot of things I still need you to know."

He stared longingly at her. "Me too, but you will not leave me," he held her hand, and tried to smile for her.

Both of them walked again. "I'm just worried - not for me, but for you," she said. "If I would be gone... Loki... Would you - would you be mad again?"