The Hybrid

When I woke up, I stared at the ceiling. I have no idea what time it is.
"I need to work on getting a better sleeping schedule," And I need to learn not to get involved in stupid politics. That plan of sucking up to Hela could have gone so much better. I shouldn't have waited so long to tell Hela that I had been in contact with Thor. I wish she didn't have to hear about it through Morbius. I still don't see why they turned on me so quickly. I could have lied my ass off. It's like they made their minds up that I was choosing my father's band of misfits. Which I wasn't. I should have continued hiding out in the mountains for the rest of my life. There was plenty of wild game up there for me to feed on when I needed to. My mother taught me how to grow a decent garden, Even if winter had hit Jotunheim. I would've been fine. Why did I think that would be a good idea to get caught up in a fucking mess like this.

I looked at the bottom of the bed and saw Fandral and a black wolf lying at my feet. I instantly froze. I didn't know how to react. It's not every day a girl wakes up with a black wolf still sleeping peacefully at her feet.
"You're a fluffy one, Aren't you?" I sat up in my bed and gave him a little scratch on his head. The wolf rolled over toward me. Smiling. I gave him a quick belly rub, his back leg kicking up a storm, "well, aren't you a good boy? Yes, you are."
"Good morning, Aurora." I looked up to see Fandral rubbing his eyes. I smiled and then went back to fussing over the pup "When am I going to get attention?"
"When you turn into a floof that is as cute as this one, then I will give you the same attention," I rolled my eyes "And what is your name?"
"Just as sassy as your mother and he is called Fluff" Fandral sat at the edge of my bed.
"I never asked this but where the hell am I?"
"In my house," Fandral smirked as he shuffled up the bed and sat next to me.
"I mean what realm am I in? This is not Asgard or Jotunheim," I looked out the window at the green trees.
"Correct. This is Midgard. The one realm that Hela never bother to check when searching for Thor, Sif and myself. It wasn't worth her time," Fandral sighed.
"Midgard!" My eyes shot to the window. My jaw hung open "It looks so green out there" I smiled. I love nature. But I guess that is because I spent so long in its company. Mother once said that she would find a way to the Light Elf Realm, Alfheim, apparently, the greens are rich there and so is the fruit "Is it greener here or in Alfhiem?"
"Alfhiem used to be beautiful in the summer. And I think Aelsa Featherwine of the Fay, the queen of the Light Elves of Alfheim would have loved you." Fandral sighed.
"That's what they said about Hela," I mumbled. I then frowned "Why did you say used to be?"
"When Malekith the Accursed and his Dark Elves invaded Alfheim, Aelsa tried to negotiate with him. During a private meeting for negotiations, she was brainwashed and forced to take Malekith's hand in marriage to unify the Light and the Dark Elves. Following the marriage, Aelsa snapped out of the brainwashing and was imprisoned in her own dungeons." Fandral explained.
"What a dickhead," Everyone knew of Malekith. My favourite story is how he got flattened by his own ship. Fandral nodded.
"Indeed. Anyway, The Dark Elves proceeded to raze Afheim and consume its resources over the following months. The League of Realms tried to rescue Alesa, but they were instead walking into a trap. While the League fought off Dark Elves, Malekith set in motion his plan to burn down Alfheim after having determined the realm outlived its usefulness. Malekith attempted to murder Queen Aelsa. While she was plummeting to her death, Aelsa was saved by Thor and taken to safety. Thor subsequently cast a storm to extinguish the flames, but most of Ljosalfgard had already burned down,"
"And then he got flattened by his own ship," I grinned.
"That was fantastic to watch," Fandral chuckled "I didn't think Thor would save Alesa. Those though had a previous vendetta for each other," Fandral scratched his chin.
"What happened?"
"At some point, Thor crept upon her in her sleep in order to steal a lock of her hair. Unfortunately for him, she woke up and set him on fire, and it took him two decades to regrow his beard properly," Fandral held up two fingers while laughing.
"Oh, my god. and here I thought Loki was the mischievous one," I chuckled.
"Who do you think encourages all his behaviour?" Fandral laughed "You know, you arrived at a lovely time. It is late Spring out there. The trees have only just blossomed after a harsh winter," Fandral wrapped his arms around me "I never got to ask this last night because you pretty much passed out, but how are you feeling?" I rested my head on his shoulder.
"Quite literally lost. Again. I thought I had found purpose again. All it got me was the hope of family and the news that my father was already dead with no grave to spit on. And I know you guys told me the truth but I still hold a lot of hate for him in my heart," I pulled my knees up to my chest "I thought being amongst the Asgardians would have... made me feel like I have a place in the world but it turns out that I am not welcomed anywhere," I started sobbing again. Fluff laid his head on my lap and licked my leg. I placed a hand on his head and smiled.
"Don't do that to yourself," Fandral stopped me before I could spiral any further, He pulled my head to his chest "You didn't know Hela would have turned on you so quickly. Don't blame yourself for your ignorance. We all wish for a home or a place to belong. You learned from this. That's what matters. While I might not be a half-breed, I do understand where you are coming from,"
"Sure you do," I sniffed. Fandral pushed my hair out of my face.
"Before I joined the Warriors Three. My father wanted me to become like him. Not a soldier but I was too fast with a knife to be anything else. he thought I betrayed him by taking Odin's side."
"That is not the same thing," I scrunched my face up.
"Sweetie. I know you're lost now, but you still have a chance and a purpose. You can still fight a home. You are still you," Fandral smiled at me. I felt a tear run down my cheek.
"When I was in Asgard, It was the first time that I stopped feeling alone. And now I feel nothing but alone,"
"Even in the arms of the best hugger? I should feel insulted," he held me tight against his chest "You're not alone. I promised you and your mother that as long as there is breath in my body, you would never be alone,"
"Thank you, Uncle Fandral,"
"No worries kiddo. I'll always be your uncle," Fandral assured me, "Or as close to one as you'll ever have. And that included Thor. We are both your Godfathers," Fandral smiled "Speaking of the oaf, I expect Thor and Sif to be here soon."
"Why are they on their way?" I wondered. Am I in trouble or something? Fandral leaned back. Fluff jumped off the bed and ran out of the room. I soon heard loud splashing. he must be getting a drink.
"Because I thought he would want to know why you turned up at my door in the pissing rain,"
"I suppose that's a good reason," I sighed, looking at the bed sheets.
"Why don't you get some more rest?" Fandral insisted, pulling my blankets back over me, "You look tired," I shook my head as I pushed the blankets away.
"I've slept enough," I climbed out of bed and cracked my back by twisting.
"Well, we have some time to kill, what do you want to do?"
"I am kind of hungry."
"Aurora, Would you care for a hunt? we're low on meat," A little smirk graced Fandral's face "If you're up to it." That definitely put a spring in my step. Finally, I'd get to see some action.
"Absolutely!" I jumped out of bed. Although, that might not have been the best idea, considering it made my legs give out "Shit!" I yelled out. Thankfully, Fandral caught me before my head bounced off the dresser.
"Are you sure you can handle a hunt?"
"Pretty sure," I nodded, stumbling to get back on my feet "I need to loosen up the muscles,"
"Alright then," Fandral held me steady, "Shall we get moving?" He took my hand, his voice was soft and coaxing.
"Hell yes!" I ran out the door.
"So much like your mother," I heard Fandral mumbled. He also told Fluff to stay indoors as we were going hunting. That may have been a wise idea. I didn't want to snap his neck and think he was my prey.

Once I was out of the house, I took a deep breath. I loved going hunting. The genuine thrill of the hunt got to me every time. The quiet air, cool breeze and the sudden sound of a fluttering heartbeat from thirty meters away, Like gentle lullabies. For the last few months, food was brought to me on fancy plates. It wasn't right to me. I needed to hunt. I needed to feel my blood pump through my veins as I ran after my prey. And as gross as it sounded, I needed bloodshed.

Fandral and I walked out to a spot in the woods near a gentle stream. This spot was absolutely beautiful.
"Walk quietly," I whispered, pressing her fingers into some fresh tracks. Above them, the sunlight was quickly fading. We had only an hour or two of daylight left before the storm hit.
"I am walking quietly," he grumbled.
"You're stepping on every twig between you and our next meal," I said, casting back an amused smirk.
"Rory, this isn't my first hunting trip. I know how to hunt." Fandral looked to his right, squinting his eyes.
"And what's the biggest thing you've brought down?" I asked, raising an eyebrow "A squirrel? A rabbit?"
"Shut up. I wasn't raised in the woods like you." Fandral sighed "And if you must know, it was a deer,"
"Then perhaps I should teach you how to move quietly," I said, turning towards the trail. This was not my territory but I knew where I was going "You better follow my footsteps."

We walked on for a few more minutes. While Fandral's steps had improved, however, the occasional snap began to grate on my nerves.
"Be quiet," I hissed for the third time.
"How old were you when you started hunting?" Fandral whispered from behind me. The man is distracting me. Fandral's foot once again landed on a twig sending a cracking sound throughout the forest. Birds that had settled in the trees took flight to the sky "Opps... Sorry," Fandral gave me a sheepish smile and a shrug.
"I was five," I mumbled, pinching my nose "Brought down my first kill at seven."
"Was it your mother that taught you to hunt?" Fandral asked, snapping my focus.
"Why are you asking me these things, now? In the middle of a hunt?" I rolled my eyes "So peaceful," I could live out here comfortably. I smiled as I took off my shoe and dipped my toe in the cool water. It tickled a bit. I wanted to laugh but then the world went quiet. I knew exactly what that meant. There was something close. I could smell it. Metal. Like wet rust. Having enhanced senses via Frost Gaint blood was so bloody handy sometimes. I sniffed twice.
"Blue," Fandral looked over at me, "What do you smell?"
"Foxes," my eyes shut tight as I listened for their heartbeats, "At least three. Maybe something bigger too,"
"There's a male deer off in the distance." Fandral pointed to his right. I could just make it out. There was another moment of silence. The deer was close, I knew. I could practically smell it. There was a water hole up ahead. I suspected that's where it was headed. I crouched behind a bush, peering over it to get a look at the water hole. The deer was standing at the opposite edge, leaning gracefully down to drink.
"Dammit," I grumbled. How did I miss that thing? It's bigger than a Frost Beast "I got the foxes. You got the deer?"
"Deal. Meet back here in, five minutes?" Fandral cracked his knuckles, grinning like a school child. I couldn't really say anything, I was grinning too. I nodded, prepared to pounce.
"See you soon."
"five minutes," Fandral took off right while I went left.

Heading up the river, I stomped through the slick mud, almost falling multiple times. There is something stimulating about hunting. my mother's ancestors were hunters. I sort of knew where those foxes were hiding. It didn't matter though, They couldn't hide from me for long. I ran into the woods a little deeper, climbing up a small tree.
"Where are you my pretties?" I closed my eyes and listened carefully. Silence. I concentrated harder until I heard the tiny little thump. My head snapped to the left and I jumped off the brunch. Smirking as I landed on the small group of foxes, snapping all their little bones.

Now I ain't saying that I completely enjoyed killing them. I do feel a little remorse. But I need to release all the pent-up energy in my muscles. I bundled all the foxes together. grabbing each buy the tails.
"Their pelts were so soft. I wonder if Fandral will let me keep them," Not even as a trophy, but for practical purposes. People think that just because I'm a part Frost Giant, I don't experience cold. Hopefully, their pelts can keep me warm and break this frost fever that I got because I am not used to the climate of the realm.

I skipped back to the stream (Hunting a few rabbits along the way) and waited for Fandral to come back. I sat on a tree stump and tapped the wood between my legs. I let out a long puff of air.
"Five minutes? Someone needs to get better at time keeping," Maybe that deer was bigger than he realised. Pretty sure I could've been here and back already. The old man is getting slow. This stream was crystal clear and I was parched, how I could I even consider turning it down? I cleaned off my hands and took slow, steady sips from them. It was so satisfying. It was cold too. It oddly reminded me of Jotunheim. I smiled as I stood up. Maybe Fandral will let me live here. I looked to my right and I noticed a silhouette coming up toward me. And it wasn't a little one. I tensed up, clenching my fists.
"Easy, Blue. It's just me," Fandral waved. the sun was retreating behind the house.
"Compensating for something?" I glanced at the deer, smiling. Fandral rolled his eyes at me.
"Such cheek," Fandral threw the deer from over his shoulder down to the ground "You seem to have done well,"
"Indeed," I beamed as I showed off my hunt. Placing my foot on the deer, I rolled it over onto its back "Did you really have to slice its neck open?"
"It tried to ram me," he stood next to me. His boot on the deer.
"Sounds like a normal Saturday night for you," I chuckled. Fandral sighed loudly. he then handed me a dagger.
"Can we just get on with the gross part?"

Between us both we skinned, taking the meat off the bone. I put the guts and what blood I could into buckets. Fandral claimed it was good for fishing bait. Later, He was going to help me sew the pelts into a blanket.
"I needed this" I slid the dagger around the fox's good meat. I then started digging some small graves for the larger bones "Thank you" Fandral looked at me strangely "What?"
"Two things," He held up two fingers "One, why are you thanking the hole? and two... Make sure you put the smaller bones in a box. Bone broth is amazing in a beef stew,"
"I wasn't thanking the hole," I clarified, "I was thanking the foxes for giving their lives so we can fill our bellies,"
"And that's why you bury them?"
"Yep," I covered their makeshift graves, adding large rocks to make headstones "If give them a burial, it seems more respectful. A little more human than just leaving them eviscerated. Plus their rotting carcasses stink after a while,"
"When was the last time you hunted?"
"Urm... 3 days ago when I first went to the bar in Tonsberg," I ran my fingers over the fox pelts "She wanted to turn me into a full Asgardian at my coronation,"
"Your coronation?"
"Before she found out I was in contact with you guys, she wanted to make me the Princess of Asgard. I wasn't going to have enough power to overthrow the queen, but enough to keep me comfortable and protected."
"You should have taken the title," Fandral joked darkly.
"I was going to," I scoffed, "But my late-night drinking with Thor came and bit me on the ass. There was someone I wanted to protect but I couldn't. I promised him I would come back," I could feel my eyes welling up.
"Rory," he took my hand, "Loki will understand,"
"How did you know it was Loki," I sniffed.
"I drink and I know things," Fandral smiled.
"you sound like a book," I coughed.
"We will save him," Fandral insisted, squeezing my hand tightly. I sniffed and nodded "How did you find your way here in the pitch black?"
"the distance mirror brought me here and yes, I made sure to break it when I got here," I admitted, resting my head back on his shoulder "I miss my mother,"
"Me too, Blue. Me too," Fandral agreed, a certain melancholy washing over his face. I wrapped myself around his arm "Come on," he helped me back onto my feet, "Let's get this meat back home before things get too depressing out here. We should be meeting Thor and Sif soon anyway."
"Okay," I threw the crate of deer meat on my shoulder "A heavy fucker, aren't you?"
"Can you manage?" Fandral spoke as he picked up the two lighter crates and the two buckets.
"I can manage," I snapped as I grunted, "admit it, You just didn't want to carry this back yourself, did you?"
"Absolutely not. I was going to go get a wagon," Fandral backed off, "you're more than welcome to it."
"It's the least I can do. I had the smaller hunt. The least I could do was carry the bigger one back. It's not like it was a problem," I smiled and walked back to the house. This strength thing was one of the few things I liked about being half Frost Gaint. I had more upper body strength than I knew what to do with. At least Fandral's house wasn't too far of a walk. I did know one thing for sure. I am going for a nap when we get back. For at least an hour.

I dropped the deer on the front doorstep and climbed onto Fandral's back.
"Never let me do that again."
"What's the matter?" Fandral teased "Are we tired, little one,"
"Fuck off."
"Oh, you and your father are definitely cut from the same cloth. How will I cope?" he brought me upstairs and into the bedroom, "Your eyes are red, Rory."
"Frosty's tired" I yawned.
"Now, will you listen to reason and get some more sleep?"
"If you insist," I could already feel my eyes closing.
"Good," Fandral then whistle for Fluff and the wolf came and laid back at the foot of my bed. happily curling up to my side.
"Such a good boy," I scratched at his belly again.
"Aurora," Fandral used my full name.
"Alright. Alright," I shut my eyes, "I'll go to sleep,"

And I did. I slept like a log. The hunting had a lovely effect on me. Like a sedative. And that's why I loved it. And it helped that I had a warm body making sure I was safe. Fluff was a good boy. But that was Fandral's way of keeping me safe from myself. And I didn't have that kind of energy where I could take on Fandral and win. Maybe in the morning.

A little while later, I could have sworn I felt Fluff move. I didn't open my eyes, but I was awake. A gentle voice broke the silence. Someone tried speaking to me. Whoever it was, Fluff growled at them.
"Oh shut up. You stupid mutt," Thor growled. Of course, he's here already.
"Do not speak about my dog like that," Fandral snapped.
"Well he's a flea-bitten rat," Thor growled. I tense Fluff tense up. I heard more swearing and Sif trying to break the boys up. Before things broke out into a fight, I opened my eyes.
"Hello, Thor" Thor backed off, "What's wrong?"
"Your eyes... Why the hell are they so red?"
"Something's up with her other half." Fandral sighed "Her eyes are going to be red until then,"
"Give it time. It will go away soon," I sighed, laying on my stomach, flat on the bed. Fluff laid down and licked my hand. I smiled as I scratched his ear. Thor took a step towards me. Fluff tensed up again, growling at Thor "Easy, boy."
"Will you tell that thing to stop growling at me?" Thor asked. Well, more like he demanded. I then looked at Fluff.
"Less of your shit please," I scratch Fluff's ear. He panted happily. I then looked at Thor "I make no promises but don't be a dick to the dog."
"I make no promises," Thor came closer, Fluff tensed up but didn't growl "You and I need to talk. Whenever you're ready, We will be downstairs."
"Why?" I got off the bed and stretched.
"I have something I want to show you," Thor stood by my bedside with hesitation in his eyes "Your eyes are not going to infect me or something are you?"
"Thor?" Sif snapped at him.
"It's a perfectly legitimate question!" Thor whined, "Sorry but her eyes freak me out."
"He's already told you it's her other half of genes that are causing this" Sif sighed.
"You are such an idiot," I swore, "I'm not going to infect you."
"Blue," Fandral offered, shooting quick glances at my uncle, "Are you sure that you are ready for this? Do you need to rest more?"
"I've done enough sleeping," I shot him down.
"Are you sure you will be alright on your own with him?" I could see it all over Fandral's face. He didn't like the thought of Thor and me alone together. He should be worried, the two of us have shared a drink on multiple occasions without bloodshed. We fought side by side outside a pub in the town of Tonsberg and asked me if I was okay afterwards.
"I think we'll be fine."
"If you are sure," Fandral smiled before scowling at Thor "Thor, You harm one hair on this girl's head-"
"You will have my head on a platter," Thor rolled his eyes, "Or would you rather it on a pike in the front yard? Maybe on the mantle?"
"Thor... Don't make me hit you," Sif stopped him.
"Do you really think I would hurt the only thing left of both my best friends?" Thor argued, looking me over, "I have seen what she is capable of. She is terrifying!"
"Oh, I'm a thing now?! Charming," I rolled my eyes.
"If you don't mind. I would like to show her what I came here to show her," Thor bowed and held out his arms "Now, Aurora. Follow me,"
"Thor," Fandral shot him one last look, "Promise me you will bring her back in one piece."
"Will you lay off?" Thor waved him off, "I think I can care for my own Goddaughter."
"Fine." Fandral backed down.

We walked down the stairs into the woods to another house.
"Thor, I have to ask. where the fuck are you taking me?" I asked, sweat matting my hair to my temples. I did not know this land.
"I'm taking you home," Thor sighed. My heart dropped to my feet. I had no home. unless you count Fandral's house.
"What do you mean? I don't think Kirkjufell is standing anymore" Not if Hela had anything to do with it. Thor took my hand in his, smiling.
"Oh, you silly Midget," Thor held my hand a little tighter, "I am taking you to your father's home,"