Chapter Text
You watched with ragged breath and burning eyes as your once long lived home was turned unrecognizable. Debri of unknown origin had desecrated your lands, your home, your very livelihood in the frozen hellscape that became of Midgard. The situation was so incredibly bizarre it left you in a state of shock.
One moment you were in your routine, looking for some prey to return home. The next thing you know you heard an other worldly thud from your home, a weird warped effect clouding the skies that surrounded it, bringing you to where you were now. Grief stricken and boiling with anger.
The rabbit you had just caught slipped from your grasps, the freezing snow welcoming your knees from below. You wanted to scream, to danm all the gods for this twisted fate bestowed upon you. But the approaching footsteps halted your cry for rage. Quick to your feet and even quicker to your bow, you turned towards the woods surrounding your home, eyes batting away tears to clear your vision.
“Show yourself!” You spat with disgust, ready to shoot on sight…
And you did.
The bow struck true in the chest of the creature that emerged from the tree line, yet it continued toward you unflinching. Their skin a palish blue, nothing you've seen before with a black streak painted across their eyes. They looked human, but not at all like it at the exact same time.
You volleyed arrows more in it’s direction, backing away with each step it made toward you. ‘What the hell?!’ You muttered lowly, ready to go for another arrow before you felt the slash at your right side from behind. The pain is excruciating and bleeding instantaneous.
Another being same as before had rounded behind you. A hand instinctively going to your bleeding side to stop it while the other pulled out a small dagger. Your bow falling to ground as the defensive option had been voided. They continued towards you steps unwavering as you cursed them away. You had no enemies to your knowledge, you lived alone and they were unlike any raider you've seen before.
None of it mattered to them, just your inevitable death as it seemed. Soon your backward steps were stopped by a tree behind you. The two had you cornered, but you held your ground, if they were to have you it certainly wasn’t going to be easy.
Once close they raised their blades in tandem, aiming to slash you to bits before an axe came from behind one of them. Forcing it’s head forward and into the tree just behind you, fear stricken you watched the now even more lifeless corpse bleed just inches above you.
A warrior’s howl filling your ears as the corpse fell completely onto you, weighing you to the floor, the axe above had flown away?
The questions never ceased as a winged woman came into view to take care of the other assailant, a golden sword finding it’s way into their pale blue chest. She was utterly beautiful, a head full of messy, feathered, and braided hair. Her expression disgusted at the creature but fell onto you with intrigue and relief. “There is a survivor!” She announced to a man who approached from behind her. He was extremely muscled and held a full beard, carrying a severed head at his side.
It was all becoming so much. Their words were gelling into one another and a feeling colder than normal was overtaking you. Oh right, the wound. It began dying the snow crimson around where you sat. Vision blurred as you watched the woman kneel before you, wings suddenly disappearing in a gust of gold light and feathers.
A pink glow transferring from her palms and onto your skin, mending the wound with such ease and no medical material to begin with. The relief is spontaneous and feeling euphoric.
Words were lost to you as you tried to speak, the corners of your vision fading into black. The world and everything else followed along with it.
-
The next thing you heard was the barking of wolves, and the incoherent chatter of people. It stopped promptly as they became aware of your now conscious state. “You're awake.” The woman said with relief “Don't make any sudden moves, we will reach a camp shortly to provide you with supplies and shelter.”
“Thank you.” You said between labored breaths, while the wound was mostly mended yes, it couldn’t replace the amount of blood you had lost before that time, making you feel rather nauseous. “I didn’t catch your names so I can thank you properly.”
“I’m Freya, here is Kratos.”
A third voice. You noticed coming from the severed head at Kratos’s side. “Forgetting someone?”
“And Mimir” Freya quickly added, taking your hand to sooth the visibly sickness as you just saw a severed head speak. “We will get you somewhere safe. Did you have any family to be with?”
“No… I was the last.”
“That was your home?” Kratos questioned.
“Yes.” You answered painfully, questions of what was happening became buried under the grief of the place you called home being washed away in a instant.
The woman looked to him then at you, a sympathetic expression painting her features. Suddenly her eyes were alight, holding your gaze with a soft smile. “I know just the place you could stay! If you would be interested in relocating. There is a nice quiet place similar to your own with someone who could use your help and companionship- We should talk.”
“I would like that.”
-
What passed in the next few hours was a relative blur. You had been met up with a group of other survivors and had become caught up to speed with the whole of the situation. First was that the two who rescued you were gods, which made sense of their speed and power. Freya, queen and leader of the valkyries, and Kratos the god of war. Swallowing down your embarrassment, you had been so casual with them, never did you show the proper respect to such royalty.
Another was explaining the situation of sudden frost covering the land, Fimbulwinter. With Ragnarok as well that followed after. It explained alot of the situation that changed your home so drastically in the last few years.
It was comforting finding people who were of similar situation to your own. Looking to rebuild on the new beginnings they were about to embark on, making a new home. Speaking of, you heard the familiar voice of Freya call you to a more isolated location from the slew of tents and Valkyries.
“I would like to check the wound. May I see?”
You lifted up the right side of your shirt, just enough so she could see the skin and wound that is– was there. Only the dried blood along the outside of the wound indicated one was even there. Much to the Goddess’s approval. “It healed well, you should still take it easy for the next day or so, while the top is healed the seam can reopen if you're too reckless.”
She said while the pink glow to her hand returned, placing it over the skin for good measure. The touch was warm and brief, nonetheless had you choked up that a literal goddess was attending to your mere mortal wounds so vigilantly.
“Thank you so much! I will be sure to do just that.” Quickly you recovered. Lowering the shirt once her touch had pulled away.
“It is the least I could do.” She continued on after she gestured for you to take a seat. “I wanted to talk to you about earlier.”—
“I’m so sorry queen.” You blurted out, in time you bowed your head thereafter.
The sentence Freya was about to say dissipated to the wind as a cloud of confusion took it’s place. Replying with only a simple. “Pardon?”
“I had not known of your status, I apologize for such casual behavior-”
“No no it is alright, It is nice to not have to hear it. The casualness is welcomed among all the superficial formalities.” Freya replied with an chuckle.
“Oh… Oh!” You quickly snapped your back straight, immediately regretting the whole situation once more as embarrassment flooded you. “I'm sorry again Qu- Freya.” You corrected with a tight lip.
She shook her head softly with a curled lip in amusement. You were truly becoming more and more confusing to her by the minute. It was sweet seeing such a caring attitude among the more stoic beings around her, utterly refreshing. “You have nothing to apologize for truly. Anyway, I wanted to talk with you about a place to stay… It is probably better I show you.”
-
You took note of her mention of a companion. Imagining what type she’d posses, a wolf perhaps? Bird? Either way, no guess would strike accurate to the site that would be seen before you.
The earth shook briefly as the tortoise rose. Remains of fallen snow sliding down from its face as it turned toward you two.
“Hey there big girl!” Your surprised expression was one of utter delight.
A bellow vibrated from within the beasts throat, much to your embarrassment.
“Big guy… I’ll make sure to get it right for next time. You’re name?” The question leaving your lips as the creature lowered his head to you. The feel of the cold smooth scales filled your heart with a heaviness, left alone for so long in the freezing cold.
Another sound echoed within his throat in response, you smiled sweetly. “Well hello Chaurli. I’m (Y/N). Glad to meet you, I was told to stay here if that is alright with you.”
He turned his head to the side, allowing one of his eyes to get a clear full view of you. Eventually he let out a soft snort in approval.
“Excellent! I promise to stay in good company. Now first let’s get you warmed up.” You said while looking to Freya for approval also. She nodded and remained outside for the moment.
You on the other hand was tending to the new fire as promised. Getting a good look at the place. It was abandoned, but looked cozy if given the right amount of care. The view towards the inside of the house was beautiful to see without the snow ruining it.
This would be your new home. It was certainly different but could be given some adjustments and be made into your own.
Freya watched with held breath as you walked inside. Not truly feeling earned up to being able to do so herself for the moment. Looking up to the giant tortoise apologetically.
“I’m so sorry Chaurli. I know this doesn’t make up for what I did. But now you’ll have someone here to be with, you won’t be alone… She has a good heart, I can see it.” She said while patting the head of the creature.
She would make sure of it that you treated him well. Not like she had much say but in the few interactions you had it proved you were courageous and incredibly sincere in your concern for others. You’d truly be a worthy addition to him indeed.
Meanwhile you continued to poked at the fire with a near metal rod. Lost in the flames as you thought of your current gameplan now. The companion being a tortoise and built in home was a win in your book. The most companion you had back home was a chicken before raiders had gotten to it.
Pulled away from the thoughts as your heard a soft knock at the doors entrance. Freya leaned at the doorway. “I’ll be leaving now but will return with food and supplies to help you start this place up again.”
“Thanks again Freya, I know you’re probably tired of hearing it but… yeah”
“You’re welcome. I’ll be sure to see you again.”
“Till then.” You said with a soft wave.
And just like that, in a poof of gold sparks and feathers she was flying off to other things. Leaving you to be with Chaurli. “So tell me Chaurli, how did you and being as big as/ becoming a house come to be..”
—
The euphoria of feeling the wind sail under her wings never left her. Utterly weightless and free… but she was far from it. There was still much work to be done; getting rid of asgard remnants, any remaining favors to do, as well as dealing with the aesir and rehoming. But something that Freya would make at the top of the list was your safety and care with Chaurli. It irked her to a degree in confusion.
Freya was perplexed by you, and more importantly at why she would feel so warmed by the thought of seeing you again.