Kitsune of the Blue Sun

[Keeno POV]

Three weeks since we set out from the last city we reached the first city I saw after getting out of Falheim. We stayed there a few days to rest and resupply before moving onto getting to Falheim. We were now standing at the edge of the No-man’s-land. Starring at the place that acted like a corridor to the place I hate was making many feelings I didn’t realize I still held for the place come to the surface.

 

“Keeno, calm down.” (Pram)

 

{Please Keeno, save your anger for those that deserve it.}

 

I closed my eyes for a second and took a deep breath.

 

“Let’s go, we have a long way to go.” (Keeno)

 

We started to move once more, taking my first steps into no-man’s-land for a second time.

 

“So, you were telling the truth about being from Falheim.” (Freya)

 

“I’m from Solheim, Falheim is just where I was born.  Aside from two,, I have no love for the country or its people.” (Keeno)

 

My voice contained more venom than I meant it to and Freya flinched back from my words.

 

“Sorry.” (Keeno)

 

“It’s fine. I get it.” (Freya)

 

Another week passed after we entered the no-man’s-land with very little happening.

 

“It’s just as boring and empty as I remember it.” (Keeno)

 

We were sitting at a campfire while I cooked up some bird meat Huginn and Muninn brought us. They had been very proactive in fighting other birds recently and their language has been getting fowler every time they bring one down.

 

“Hey Ama, do they have something to prove, or are they just bored as well?” (Keeno)

 

{Probably just bored.}

 

“Hmm.” (Keeno)

 

“Keeno, how did you manage your boredom the first time you came through this way?” (Pram)

 

“Mostly learning stuff from Fia and Ama. I was five the first time I went this way, so I had a lot of stuff to ask and talk about.” (Keeno)

 

{Those were surprisingly fun days for me, though I guess it’s because I was getting to spend my time talking to Keeno after years of it being able to.}

 

“That makes it sound like it’s boring to talk to me now.” (Keeno)

 

{I’m insulted you even thought of that.}

 

“Well, then, what are you going to do to make me apologize for that insult?” (Keeno)

 

{Hmmm…Heh.  Many, many things.}

 

“Then I shall do them once we see each other again.” (Keeno)

 

“…” (Pram)

 

“…” (Freya)

 

“Don’t stare at me like that, don’t think I don’t know you two sneakily kiss when you think I’m asleep.” (Keeno)

 

“…!” (Freya)

 

“…” (Pram)

 

Seeing the two blush like that was really good for my mental health.  I spent a few more minutes playfully teasing the two before handing out our supper.  After a decent meal, we decided on a watch and went to bed for the night.  After another week, we were around the middle of the no-man’s-land.  We were passing through a forest of dead trees that would be a star actor in a Halloween movie.  It was complete with trees with branches that looked like hands, owl-like birds that shrieked at night, random flashes of lightning and roaring of thunder even though there was no rain, the works.  It was currently early evening, the suns setting, making the trees cast long, creepy shadows on the ground.

 

“A-are we sure we need to go through here?” (Pram)

 

{It’s the fastest way to your destination.}

 

“I get that, but is this REALLY the best route?” (Pram)

 

“…Oh yeah, I forgot you aren’t good with these kinds of things.  Sorry Pram.” (Keeno)

 

“…Wait, what?” (Freya)

 

“Pram isn’t good with things that can be considered ‘scary.’  Ask her for the reasons though.” (Keeno)

 

“How is…I mean…what?” (Freya)

 

“Yeah, I’m not good with spooky places.  I can handle things that would be considered scary like undead and their like since I can actually do something about them, but places with spooky atmospheres and stuff like scary stories I can’t handle.” (Pram)

 

Just then another random roar of thunder sounded making Pram jump up.  Freya caught her in a princess carry and Pram wrapped her tail around Freya’s waist while she buried her head in the crook of Freya’s neck.

 

“…” (Freya)

 

I smiled a little and gave Freya a small thumbs up before we continued on a little further.

 

‘Ama.’ (Keeno)

 

{This IS the quickest route, but I thought I’d also at least get Pram and Freya to have some intimate moments like this since, once you reach Falheim, they won’t be able to really, truly get close like this for a while.  And small bits of magic like this don’t count as me interfering too much, so I’ve been helping set the mood, in a sense.}

 

‘Hehehe.  Good work, Ama.  Now if only we could make it a little colder so that they could snuggle closer at night.’ (Keeno)

 

{It really is a shame, isn’t it, though I guess this ‘spooky’ forest will have the same effect.}

 

‘True…Huginn, Muninn, I’m going to need your help later to.  It’s time for project get Pram and Freya even closer.’ (Keeno)

 

‘Caw.’ (Muninn)

 

‘Kaw!’ (Huginn)

 

{You genius, Keeno!  Only nightbirds are rivals to steelfeather ravens when it comes to spooky!}

 

‘So, that’s what those owl things are.’ (Keeno)

 

{What’s an owl?}

 

‘Tell you later, plan now.’

 

{Right.}

 

We set up camp shortly after the four of us started to plan our operation.  Huginn and Muninn flew off to do bird things while Pram, who has been sticking close to Freya since she was let down earlier, was setting up the tents and I was prepping the fire and what we were going to eat.  A little later, we had a campfire going and an assortment of meat and vegetables on sticks in our hands.

 

“Now, to pass the time while we eat.  I shall regale you all of a tale.” (Keeno)

 

I made the fire die down a little, making the lighting in the area fit for the mood.

 

“…” (Pram)

 

“Keeno…” (Freya)

 

“It is a tale of another land, world even.  Tis a dark night, a snowstorm billowing.  A giant and his son, both masters of craft, speak of their works.  The father, tall and muscular and brilliant, but wary with age and experience, the son, tall, though still shorter than his father, and of the same build as his father, excitable and wanting to prove to his father that he has mastered their craft even more than his father, argue.  Now, the father was a very loving man, gentle and kind to a fault.  He had never raised his hand against his son, though on this stormy night, things were different.  They had been arguing worse than normal, for there was a monster out, hunting giants.  The son, full of youthful fire and a thirst to prove his worth, wanted to build something grand and prove himself, wanted to venture out into the worlds, while his father wanted him to stay and remain safe.  In the heat of the argument and fueled by drink, the father had enough and, for the first time ever, raised his hand against his son.  The son, shocked by this, ran out the door into the blizzard.  After realizing what he had done, the father made chase.  The blizzard, however, only worsened and the father could not even see his hand when held to his eyes.  He searched and searched.” (Keeno)

 

At this point in the story, Pram was enraptured.  She was also hugging Freya’s arm to her chest and had her tail wrapped around Freya again.  Freya, for her part, was also looking at me with an interested look, though she was also paying rapt attention to where her arm was in relation to Pram.  I sent a mental signal to Huginn and Muninn.

 

“After a while of searching, the father couldn’t find his son.  The storm had worsened even more, and it became very late.  Filled with worry for his son as well as guilt for causing him to flee, the father continued until his beard froze and he could no longer feel.  Above him, thunder rang from the snowclouds, and flashes of lightning slightly lit the night.  This allowed the father to see a shape in the snow.  Thinking it was his son, he ran in that direction.” (Keeno)

 

Huginn and Muninn rustled some branches overhead and Ama made some thunder sound.

 

“Once the father reached the silhouette, he grabbed its shoulder.  Lightning flashed again, and the father was shocked for what he found wasn’t his son, but the giant hunting monster.  The monster raised its hammer of thunder and swung it with the speed of lightning until the father fell to the ground, dead.  With his final breath, the father breathed out a breath colder than the blizzard that had doomed him, causing the place and the town nearby to fall into an eternal winter.” (Keeno)

 

At the point of the story where the giant met Thor, Huginn and Muninn shrilly cawed and the loudest thunder of the night rang out.  Pram screamed and she fell off the log she was sitting on, dragging Freya with her.  When I got up to see if they were alright, I found Freya on her back while Pram was curled up and hugging her close.  Pram was shaking while Freya held her tightly.

 

“And that concludes Keeno’s story time for the night.  I’ll leave Pram in your capable hands, Freya.” (Keeno)

 

With that, I went to my tent for the night.  The next day I faced the Wrath of Pram and was poked and prodded and my tails forcefully hugged for the next three days.  Of course, I didn’t really mind all this since Freya had an extremely happy expression throughout all of this because Pram has been clinging to her just as much.  Not much more of note happened as we made our way onward until finally, they came into sight.  The three forts that guarded Falheim’s border.  Seeing them, my feelings once again started to bubble into a difficult to control mess, causing the temperature to increase.

 

“…Keeno, do you hear that?” (Freya)

 

“What?” (Keeno)

 

I strained my ears to see if I could hear whatever it was Freya was hearing.  Though it was faint, I could just barely hear the sound of what I think was fighting.

 

“Huginn, Muninn, fly up and see what’s going on!” (Keeno)

 

Heeding my words, the two flew high into the sky and toward the forts.  They circled around for a few minutes before coming back and landing on my shoulders.

 

“Cawcaw!” (Huginn)

 

“Caaaaaaaaw!” (Muninn)

 

“Pram, Freya, pick up the pace!” (Keeno)

 

Leaving it at that, I started to run toward the middle fort followed closely by the other two.

 

Chaos Realm:

Luna: Oooo.  A montage.

Isn’t it fun?  Though nobody got stronger in the physical sense.

Order: Well, Pram and Freya’s relationship got better, so that counts as bonds growing stronger, right?

That is…acceptable.

Luna: Payto, you aren’t a sith lord, so don’t make your voice do that.

Order: No, no, that was cute, so it’s fine.

I was going for menacing, but if my wife says it’s cute, it’s cute.

Luna: Lovebirds.

Payto and Order: Takes one to know one.

Luna: Damn straight, not that I am!

All: Hahahahahaha!