At Einmal, pending at Singularity.

[sorcerous]

Must you?

Yes; I have borne a monster. This does not mean that every child I have will be a monster, nor that you may twist such a thing into a menagerie of possible children.

Sloths? A half-boy, half-scorpion? A golden eagle? A litter of momongas? And a girl-sorcerer with too much mind and too little heart.

As for the rest: patience, if you will. Keep your focus to the faith healer, to the admiral, to the telepath. I tire.

Comments

[sorcerous]

When I am with child, I weaken. So much of me is taken in keeping them alive...

[ And then he uses his remaining strength to hide, for he does not have enough to defend. ]

[vanagandr]

It must be more difficult, if you're having litters or they're in different forms.

[ He wouldn't know; that particular gift wasn't passed down to him. At least he isn't calling them monsters. That would be a bit hypocritical. ]

[sorcerous]

The scorpion-boy... he will be a trial. For the others, the true trouble comes in nursing.

[ sigh sigh sigh. There is a reason wild animals tend to have more than two nipples, after all. ]

[vanagandr]

There are alternatives, you know.

[ Though he's not certain his father will like any of them, especially if they're of human origin. ]

[sorcerous]

And you, one who has paid the price for my failing, must know that I can never murder a child of mine, birthed or not.

[vanagandr]

[ There's a low growl, though it's not really directed at Loki. ]

I didn't mean that sort of alternative. Just that some Midgardian women feed their children from bottles instead of at the breast.

[sorcerous]

[ A flicker of shame, then, at his presumption, and he nods, slow. ]

That, I will consider.

[vanagandr]

[ Fenrir tilts his head, ears slightly pricked. ]

I could always sit on them for you.

[sorcerous]

[ Oh; and here, he touches, soothes the fur at the ruff of Fenrir's neck, long fingers brushing away burrs and mats and tangles. Kneeling, sitting back on his heels so that, tall as he is, he looks up to his son. ]

You will ruin them, you know. They would be afraid of wolves, but their fondness for you will be too great.

[vanagandr]

[ His tail wags, head dipping into his father's shoulder as a cold nose brushes against Loki's face. ]

Any wolf who tries to eat them will have to answer to me. As it is, you and I will just have to inform them that not all wolves will be as gentle as their big brother.

[sorcerous]

And there is no wolf in the Nine Worlds who may escape your jaws, who may run from you unscathed.

[ Finest, fastest, strongest, best. ]

[vanagandr]

[ His tail wags harder, muzzle pressing into Loki's neck and nuzzling. He knows he is strong, but there is something special about hearing it from his father. ]

They would be foolish to try.

[sorcerous]

It has been so long since I've seen you fight. I think I've forgotten the sight of a true wolf's grace and speed.

[ An arm curls around Fenrir's neck, and his cheek brushes against the rough, dark fur. ]

[vanagandr]

Your children are royalty among their others.

[ Best of wolves, best of serpents, best of corpses, best of horses. There's another nuzzle and the slide of his nose. ]

But if you wish to see it, all you have to do is ask.

[sorcerous]

[ One last touch to Fenrir's fur, and then Loki moves to his feet. ]

Then we will hunt. In-between worlds, where none may bind us.