Following Our Own Script

Chapter Four

"We'll hunt for furs tomorrow," Heimdall said. "Get you more materials for arrows, use one more night to recover, then we go."

"We should restore our armor, too. Your bracer could use an upgrade."

Heimdall looked up from the kills. "And why do I need armor?"

"We don't know what's out here. Can't have you getting hurt anymore."

"I recall my injuries being caused by your shortcomings. I will not be saving you again."

Loki reached for the animals that were ready to cook. "Not asking you to save me. We're even, right?"

Heimdall eyed his bracer. The golden threads woven into the leather was the last piece of himself tied to Asgard. Maybe it was time for a change. "Focus on yourself, half-breed."

"Stop calling me that."

"Nope."

The trees covered the night sky. Stars peaked between the leaves. The cloudless night left no trace of the storm that nearly killed them. The breeze had cooled, humidity lacing their skin as an undershirt. Heimdall's hair clung to the side of his face. As he moved it behind his ear, Loki handed him something.

"Here."

A weed had been tied into a small band. Heimdall took it, tying his hair back. Loki didn't have enough hair to knot, using splintered twigs as a clip to keep it from his face.

Heimdall lowered his head to feel the breeze on the back of his neck. His hair had never been this long before. He didn't mind it, unlike his beard. Crafting a blade to rid him of it might be another task for tomorrow.

"Can I have a thanks?" Loki asked.

"No. I read you. You made it for yourself and decided to give it to me when you couldn't use it. Not exactly a gift."

"I still put effort into making it."

"Do you want it back?"
"No."

"Then drop it."

As their meat cooked, Loki continued fiddling with grass. He made several more ties. Some were small, which he tucked into his bag. Others he used to secure the plants he had woven together to hold their fruits. Heimdall, knife still in hand, grabbed some of the loose wood to carve canisters for water. They crafted to the sounds of the fire crackling.

Heimdall glanced to the sky as Huginn's presence approached. Loki's eyes followed with his usual stupid grin.

The raven perched on the roof of their hut. It pecked at the wooden pillars that supported their leaf roof. The shelter was just tall enough to sit upright under. Structurally, Loki was confident it could handle mild winds and light rain. Heimdall wasn't as optimistic, but he couldn't hear any more thunder.

Huginn silently informed Loki of his patrol before turning to Heimdall and giving an obligatory squawk.

"Huginn said he found a few spots where it looked like something big pushed its way through the grass. He didn't see anything besides where things might have been, though."

"How tremendously helpful."

"Hey, he was mostly getting an idea of where we were. Knowing there might be something bigger out there with us isn't not useful."

Hugin bobbed his head at Loki. More telepathic talking. The brat frowned. "Seems like this is just an island. We'll need to sail a bit further before reaching the continent."

"Of course we will," Heimdall groaned.

"But Huginn said we're close! He could see more land not far from here. We're just on one the surrounding islands. Bet it's no more than two or three days of travel."

Heimdall was done with the sea, but if the raven was correct, then they could burn their new boat in triumph upon landing. Probably wouldn't need anything bigger than a raft. He leaned back on his arm, staring up into the trees. "Our traveling days might be coming to a close, sunshine." Heimdall felt a tinge of sadness from Loki. "You've actually been enjoying my company?"

"We just got to the fun part of our journey, is all. I'm excited to start exploring actual places."

There was a part of Loki that wasn't ready to be completely on his own. Asking Heimdall to join him was mostly selfish, he knew. Having a traveling companion that wasn't his father was also somethin Loki was still learning to enjoy. Even with the teasing, Heimdall's company was appreciated.

He wasn't sure how to take that. The times the All-Father had required Heimdall's company were brief. Dismissal would follow immediately after a report. Interactions always had a purpose. Up until his time with Loki, Heimdall couldn't think of when he had sat next to someone for companionship. Even forced companionship, at that. When was the last time someone wanted him to be in the same space?

Under a faraway sky, the two took in the night. They ate, tossing bits of food to Huginn. The raven tried to steal their skewers and fly off. Loki found this amusing. Heimdall threatened to smother the creature. Their voices drifted with the smoke into the new world, one final night oblivious to the creatures that awaited them.