Warriors | Thor: Ragnarok [4]

NINE

CHAPTER NINE
"All I know is that it is called Sakaar"

ANIMALIA LOOKED AROUND THE CLEARING WITH wide eyes, not recognising where she was. The walls were tall, white with small amounts of dirt and dust on it, cobwebs littering the corners of the old looking building.

"Hey, Lia, you're alright," a deeper voice reassured making Animalia snap her attention to Thor who had a hand resting on her shoulder.

It felt weird to her hearing the demigod say 'Lia', considering Valkyrie was the only person that called her that. She shook it off and nodded. "Where-where are we?"

"I see you but you're far away-" Animalia's hand shot up to her charm, expecting the voice to belong to an enemy when Thor forced her hand back down.

She looked at the demigod before back down the hall to see a tall, dark-skinned man with ragged clothing looking back at the pair. He had dark hair that dangled past his shoulder whilst a dark short beard accompanying his face. His eyes were a unique colour, instantly attracting Animalia's attention due to the bright gold they were.

"Who's your friend?" he asked, motioning to the Zelean.

Animalia looked back at Thor, noticing the blue his eyes were originally gone, replaced by a similar gold color.

"She's trustworthy, she's gonna help me get back here," Thor reassured his friend, letting go of her shoulder finally. "What's going on here?"

The tall man sighed before motioning for them to follow. "Come see for yourself."

He spun and walked the opposite direction to the pair. Thor was quick to follow but Animalia was slightly hesitant. She didn't know this person and she was supposed to just trust him?

Thor noticed her hesitance. "He's trustworthy too, come," he outstretched his hand to the Zelean and with herself feeling slightly more safe with Thor, Animalia took his gesture and followed him down one of the halls.

"I'm providing refuge in a stronghold built by our ancestors but if the garrison, our only escape is Bifrost," Thor's friend explained.

Animalia squeezed through the two men, taking in the scenery. Asgard wasn't as golden and gorgeous as Thor once described it. Smoke filled the once clean air and from where she was standing, Animalia could see that the forest below was lit on fire.

"You're talking about evacuating Asgard-" a snarl disrupted the pair, making Animalia snap her head to look behind them. She ducked to the side, hiding next to one of the white pillars as the two Asgardians continued their conversation.

"We won't last long if we stay. She draws her power from Asgard and grows stronger everyday, come on," the tall man urged the citizens to follow and looking out to the city once more, Animalia swallowed past the lump that was forming in her throat.

Due to how Thor described his home, Asgard sounded it'd be made of gold, practically shinning but it was reduce to evil due to some type of threat.

Thor grabbed the Zelean's forearm, dragging her away from the scene. He dragged her around a corner, following some of the other innocent Asgardians.

"Hela grows ravenous. If I let her leave, she'll consume Nine Realms and all the cosmos," The tall man explained to the pair as they watched helplessly. Approaching them again, he emphasized: "we need you" and when he met the sad eyes of Animalia, he noticed the silver wolf charm that hung around her neck. "You're the Animalian?"

Animalia's eyes widened as the man instantly recognised the necklace and what significance it does hold.

"If you are able to, Asgard could use your help as well," his breath quickened as he looked between the two. He knew about Zelea and how the Animalian was an ancient warrior that was thought to protect the planet. He knew that ' The Animalian' would be a good ally.

"We're working on it," Animalia tried to reassure but she didn't know if she could. She didn't know if her strength could help the city that was being destroyed.

"I don't even know where the hell I am exactly," Thor added, glancing down at the Zelean.

"All I know is that it is called Sakaar," Animalia threw her hands up in a defensive and surrendering way.

"You're both on a planet surrounded by doorways," Thor's friend said in a serious tone. "Go through one."

"What-which one?"

"The big one," The tall Asgardian drew the large sword from behind his back. He stepped towards the two before slicing it threw them.

Animalia stumbled again, reaching out to grab something as she tried to calm her breathing. She gasped slightly, feeling like it was the first breath of fresh air she could have in a long time.

She had never had to experience anything like that, being able to be transported to another area but still be in the original place.

"Hey, you're alright," Thor tried reassuring, gripping onto Animalia's shoulders again. The Zelean had a tight grip on his arm, it being the thing that she was able to grab as urgently as she did.

She could still see the destruction that was happening in Asgard. "That-that's your home?" the destruction was undeniably the worse Animalia had seen. She thought it was on the levels of what her own home looked like when she left.

"Yeah... Now at least-"

"I'm getting you to Asgard," Animalia interrupted, rubbing her temples as she tried to straighten her thoughts. "No one should have to experience anything remotely like this."

"Like you shouldn't have," Thor murmured, knowing the destruction Zelea went through. "When we get off this planet and hopefully save Asgard... I'm gonna find somewhere for you that is like Zelea, whether it be on Asgard or somewhere like Earth," The demigod continued, move his hands to hold onto Animalia's arms. His eyes never left the Zelean, who stared at him with a form of shock in her expression. "I'll find somewhere, where you can live, somewhere that is like Zelea, Animalia."

The woman smiled gratefully, taking a small shuffled step back when she realised how close they were. The God of Thunder's arms dropped abruptly to his sides. She was surprised at the fact Thor was now determined to give her a home that resembled Zelea, she knew that she was going to be forever grateful that she met him.

"Thank you," she smiled, showing him her gratefulness.

No words could explain how happy Animalia was to be given an opportunity to escape Sakaar.