–  K Á R A  –

The fire elemental always did feel hungry.

I sensed it as Tayah drew her palm upward and watched trees become consumed by the energy's wrath. Odin could replenish the nature in Valhalla with the flick of a hand but watching this was... interesting.

Her power was still raw. Untrained and sloppy. I often saw the traits of her losing control of it only to hold it in place once more.

After some time I closed my fist and the flames ceased like a put out candle.

Tayah whirled on me with a brow raised and her eyes bright silver.

"Am I deflating your ego?" She probed with a slow smirk.

I snorted. "Lets not get ahead of ourselves just yet."

This only made her eyes spark in challenge. She flung a quick ember at my head and I let it come close to heat me before dismissing it with a wave. I took a step towards her leisurely and she rose both hands to draw a ring of flames around me.

"Now you are starting to shape it. Good." I noted, unbothered by the heat.

I continued watching her as the flames closed in around me. Untouched and unconcerned. I parted them before her and took a charge into my own hands. She watched it anxiously and I smiled now.

"Don't even think about it–" She growled.

I pounced and she rolled away. I sometimes forgot her speed now matched my own... Now it was about skill and smarts.

"Come immortal, I won't bite." I murmured as I drew slowly to full height and she tried to draw a weapon only to forget that she had none on this realm. Only a black tunic.

She let out a puff of frustration.

"I'll be borrowing your weapons soon enough–"

"You shall be earning them." I corrected her calmly.

She threw two quick balls of fire at my head and I absorbed them into my own hands before converting them into Odin's lightening and throwing it back. She tried to mirror the move but was knocked off her feet by the force.

She groaned in a mess of ferns and twigs and rolled onto her side.

I was slightly shocked. I drew out of my aggressive stance and jogged over to her quickly.

"Tayah, I'm sorry I did not mean–"

Then she moved far too quickly and kicked my legs away from me and rolled on top of me to pin her forearm against my neck and bring a burning hand inches from my face. The shear shock on my face made her killer instinct melt away and she laughed, dipping her face into my chest.

I frowned and claimed her shoulders drawing her back.

"Do not deceive me like that." I hissed as she grinned down at me beautifully. "I thought I had truly hurt you, Tayah."

She controlled her breathing and shook her head slowly. "Merely using your weakness for me against you."

This made me pause.

"Smart girl indeed." I grumbled.

This made her close the distance I held her at and capture my lips with her own. I forgot the reason I even felt betrayed and kissed her back. My hands fell to her waist and drew her closer. That was when I noticed a lack of weight at my hip a second too late once again.

The cool blade pressed against my throat and I sighed.

"I have created a monster." I muttered between her mouth.

She smiled into the kiss continuing to hold my damandium blade at my throat.

"That's okay. You can keep this one. I am so clearly unworthy to wield such a thing." She said dripping irony.

I took her face in my hands and held her back a few more inches.

"Your time will come. I  do not doubt when it does you will do more than enough to prove your worth on this realm." I told her seriously as she watched me a bit more closely. She nodded in my hands and set one of hers on my own.

"It's merely old pride dying hard."

This made me chuckle. "You are immortal now. Have some honour."

She scoffed. "You are such a hypocrit–"

I shut her sentence off with my lips and dragged her into the ferns with me. She did not object now and I heard rather than saw the blade thrown into the trees. We always seemed to escalate things away from training. With a surplus of time and stamina... who wouldn't choose what we did. Odin's call had not yet come–

My thoughts fell away when I felt Tayah's hands roam down my body and graze my breasts. Even beneath the tunic I felt my skin heat. I made a low sound in my throat and it only encouraged her to torture me more. She drew her leg between my own and dipped her head to the side to whisper in my ear.

What she said did nothing good for my heart. 

She pressed her thigh between my legs and let her body drag slowly against me as she kissed me. I groaned into her deep kiss and she answered by letting her tongue run against my own. I lowered my hands so that I could slip them under her tunic and run up her back. She shivered above me as I let my nails drag down her.

She bit my lower lip making me want to tear her clothes away. Slightly harder considering what they were made of now...

"I want–" she kissed me again, "–the taste of..." her tongue grazed my lip, "–your lips for eternity." She finished in a thick voice filled with desire.

I freed my mouth from her kisses for a breath. "You have me for eternity."

We smiled into the kiss again. But Tayah was as hungry as her newly found power. She moved her leg away from its torturous spot only to replace it with her hand. I couldn't stop the moan that slipped past my lips in response. She left us clothed on purpose. In no hurry to stop her slow movements. Her fingers circling aginst me right there. My hips moved against her hand and I was moments from taking off the clothes by force when I heard and felt the familiar pulse of energy before a portal fused a few feet away.

I tore my mouth from Tayah's and stared over her shoulder as Revna appeared through it and cast her eyes around.

They landed on us.

Then the smirk fell into place on her features. Her eyes took on a new level of amusement and curiosity. I glared back. Tayah froze over me before rolling to the side and taking in my oldest companion with embarrassment coating her cheeks. 

"Oh, do not let me stop you." Revna got out between a dark chuckle. "If it were not important, I would join you..."

"I would sooner take off your hand if you touched her." I growled back as I got to my feet. Tayah remained watching the midnight haired woman from the safety of the ferns below as if she could crawl into them.

She laughed lightly and it bounced off the burnt trees.

"I should know your temper better." She mused as she flicked her eyes down to Tayah and back to me. I clenched a fist in response and she raised her hands innocently. "I come as a messenger. Odin has plans in place that involve the mortal realm. If you would make yourself presentable I will go with you."

I hesitated. "Only my presence was requested?"

"Myself and yours." She returned with implication in her star-like eyes. Whatever it was Odin wanted. It did not involve Tayah and that frustrated me slightly. Not that I could reveal this openly to the other Valkyrie. I dropped her a simple nod without checking Tayah's response.

"Come to the prism bridge when you are... ready." She smirked before she stepped through her portal and the light vanished.

I stared at the space she had vanished before dropping my eyes to Tayah and seeing that she had a thoughtful expression.

"The mortal realm?" She asked before catching my eyes.

I dropped her a nod and crouched beside her. I brushed a few strands of her brunette hair past her ear. "When he beckons we must go."

"I understand." She said simply. "I am curious none the less."

"If it concerns John or Kaden I will let you know. But if it concerns that hideous creature that slipped out of my grasp..." I took a breath and flicked my eyes to the skies.

I felt Tayah's hand brush my cheek.

"I would still want to know."

I nodded. "If I am called to the mortal realm I will do everything I can to take you with me–"

She covered my mouth with her hand shutting off my words. "I am no petulant child." She smirked as I raised my eyebrows. "I make no demands if I am not in his plans. I only ask that if you are to go back, you make sure they are still alive." She finished quietly.

"I swear to you, Tayah." I breathed. "But it remains. If it comes to it, I want you at my side."

She nodded and we rose from the forest floor. I turned a hand and fused a portal back to my home. For now, the duties of a Valkyrie must be upheld.