Jaak shakes his head at her. "It's alright. But I don't think we can stay here, not anymore. He'll come back."

"So then what do you want to do?"

Jaak frowns. "Well, you wanted to meet the other deities, correct?"

"Yes . . ."

"Now that my father knows about you, you're going to be safer if I'm there to stop him from doing anything, at least until you gain your immortality. My family is going to have the most expertise in how to handle my father, so let's go to them. You'll get to meet the Norse pantheon and we'll find answers too."

"It sounds like a good plan. I'd like to not get my throat slashed again, even with the strange speed of healing I apparently have now."

Jaak nods somberly, but there is a tiny hint of a smile on his face at the joking tone of her voice. "So it's a plan."

"When do we go?"

Jaak grins. "Now. Get your things."

Hika quickly grabs her bag, slipping a hand inside to make sure everything is inside it. There is a faint nudge against her hand and Hika smiles, running a finger down Moana's shelled back. The turtle has made a nest in there and she's been quite comfy for most of the trip. Hika follows Jaak outside, watching as he turns back with the staff in his hand. He stares at the hill and his home inside with sad eyes. Hika touches his shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

Jaak shakes his head. "No. I've had this place for over a century. It's a part of me, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to come back."

He swallows and turns to look away from the hill-house, staff clutched in his hand with a white-knuckled grip. Hika squeezes Jaak's shoulder, her voice soft.

"It's okay to miss it."

"I know, but it'll hurt all the same."

Jaak looks up at the sky, clouds swirling in to cover the stars. Snow begins to fall, drifting softly down to land on his shoulders. He brushes the snow from his clothing and reaches back for Hika's hand. She takes it and steps forward with him, through the snow. Between one blink and the next, the landscape changes.

The new forest is full of more open spaces, the trees farther apart. There are more spruce trees in this forest, along with birch. Jaak sighs, spreading his arms and looking up at the sky. Hika smiles at the unfettered joy in his face. Jaak is home and he loves it. Hika turns to look around and frowns.

There is open space behind them, a plateau, but it isn't like they're on the edge of the forest. Where they are standing, it's the split between two worlds. But it isn't just two climates that just shift from one to the next, there is an iridescent film between them, shining like a rainbow. She frowns at it, reaching out to touch the divide. Nothing feels different, just the play of colors.

"Jaak?"

He turns. "What is it?"

Hika gestures at the two environments. "What is happening here?"

Jaak laughs, his face lighting up in understanding. "We're standing on the border between the mortal and immortal realms. My family stands apart from the humans more than yours, we have a pocket of the word just for those with magical blood. This forest marks the border between the human world and one of my people. Once we step through the Bifrost and onto the plateau we will be in the immortal realm, in Asgard." At her faintly confused look, he elaborates. "The Bifrost is called the rainbow bridge. This shimmering barrier you see here is an offshoot of it. Are you ready to step through?"

Hika beams at him. "Perfectly, although we might need a bit more light."

Her night vision might be good, but if she's traipsing off into an unfamiliar environment she is going to make sure she has enough light. A star slips into being, taking its power from the slips of starlight peaking through the falling snow and the clouds high above. There isn't much starlight making its way through, but what there is provides just enough light for her to sustain the star without drawing from her pendant.

Jaak grins at her. "Smart, although now everyone will know we're coming?"

Hika feels her smile falter. "Is that a bad thing?"

Jaak shrugs. "I don't know, I haven't seen my family for a century. Does anyone have a grudge against you?"

"Why would they have a grudge against me? I've never met your family." She pauses. "With the exception of your father but I don't think he counts in this situation and besides, he just decided to kill me out of the blue."

Jaak tilts his head. "Fair. Shall we?"

He extends an arm to her and she playfully slings her arm through the crook of his. They walk onto the plateau together and when they step from the trees to the flat expanse of snow, a wall comes into view and behind it she can see a city shining in the starlight, white stone buildings gleaming from tall cliffs. Jaak's eyes light up in more than they did at the sight of the forest and she can see him holding himself back from breaking into a run. Hika laughs.

"Go on, you."

Jaak shakes his head. "I'm not leaving you, and it won't take long. Look."

A dark shape is hurtling towards them across the snow and as the two young gods keep walking forward, the shape separates into two, one taller than the other. Jaak squeezes Hika's arm and she stops walking, taking the hint.

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Iwakālua kūmālima = twenty-five, when counting

Who do you think is coming to meet them? What will be the reaction to Jaak's return? What's going to happen next? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~ Goddess of Fate, signing out