Dreamer
He was running again this time through the shadows and dark spaces meant for sneaking. He could hear them still thrashing about behind him but none of them were fast enough his father had made sure of that. Vali remembered how odd The All-Father had thought it to see him run the same paths over and over again. Now though he would understand, Father had always worried about them. The All-Father had declared the children of Loki monsters, only three of them had been allowed to live on Asgard and poor Sleipnir was stuck as their grandfather's mount. Other Asgardians had considered he and his brother, Narfi, lucky but luck had nothing to do with it. Vali had always been wary of the others and had tried to make Narfi understand that he had to be careful. If only he had known that it was him that would bring about their downfall.
In a way he supposed it was a familiar tale to the members of his family who paid attention. A magical brother and a warrior brother running about the palace always brought comments of how like Father and Uncle Thor they were from Grandmother. She would draw them close and hug them tight so tight it felt like she was trying to memorize them. In a way Vali supposed she was, Father had been so good for so long she must have known that he would do something to anger the All-Father soon. He and Narfi had been having their lessons when a guard had arrived to take them to see their Grandfather. Narfi had been confused by all the people that were there and at seeing Father in chains but Vali understood. Today was the day when their fates would be met.
Poor Mother had been crying, her arms held back so she could not go to them. Vali had missed much of what the All-Father had said as he looked around the crowded room. He recognized one of the women standing next to his Grandmother, she advised the court on matters of magic. He could feel it when the magic began to swirl around her and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Vali had learned quite a bit of basic magic but what she was doing was far beyond his skills. As she moved forward focusing her magic toward them Vali snapped into action diving in front of his younger brother. He couldn't describe the pain with any real words. He could feel things shifting and moving in ways he'd never felt before.
Vali had to choke back tears as he thought of what came next. He had turned on his brother, his precious little brother, and had torn into him. No matter what he did he could not stop this wolf like form from draining the life of the person who had always been at his side. As Narfi took his last breath Vali could feel himself changing back and turned his blood covered face toward his father. His father had been silenced but Vali understood him well when he jerked his head toward the doors. He shoved himself to his feet and took off through the doors a chorus of voices echoing behind him.
"Run," his father had always said,"Run to Midgard and never look back."