"Move faster!"

The repetitive sound of Munnin's voice was once again yelling at you.

You lost your slip-on shoes a while back, rendering you barefoot, and as you stumble through the thorny vines that surround the woodland floor, your feet become bloodied, making you slow.

The fabric of your torn dress continues to get caught on sharp branches and bristly shrubs, exposing your legs to the harsh elements. Tears stream down your cheeks as the stinging sensation in your lower extremities never lets up, making you feel increasingly weakened.

For the past hour, you've been slogging through the dense forest. The long chain that connects to your shackled wrists continuously being pulled on by Munnin. His increasing irritation at your slow pace made him snap his head around and look at you with a threatening glare.

"If I have to look back in anger one more time, I'll at least make it worth my while." Munnin declares while picking up a large thin branch.

He lifted it high above his head and then whacked it against a tree, sending shards of bark flying in every direction, narrowly missing you and inciting more fear.

"Imagine the tree is your face, do not make me disfigure your pretty looks, peaches."

Urgh, stop calling me fucking peaches.

Ever since you touched down in the forest, Munnin clung on to your body and inhaled deeply, admitting that he had missed you and your peachy aroma.

"Peaches, I've never been one for sweet fruits, but you smell of peaches and now it's my favourite scent, I've missed it, missed you, and craved you ever since you left me." Munnin's adoration for you, made you so very disgusted and confused. 

You wondered how he could miss you. Before dragging you here against your will, he'd only seen you at church and at the Odin meeting. Since then, he's been substituting "Peaches" for your given name whenever he talks to you.

You remind yourself never to use the bottle of peach scented shampoo again. You suddenly detest peaches.

You quickly pick up your feet and make every effort to keep from falling. Pain was becoming intolerable, but you knew he meant business when he threatened to lash your face if you fell too far behind.

"Where are we going?" you ask out of breath.

"We are going to her." Munnin kept his answers deliberately vague, leaving you to speculate. You also noticed that the word "her" was used in a way that seemed to suggest dislike.

It gave you hope that perhaps she was someone who didn't tolerate Munnin much either, and maybe she would help you.

Your footing faltered and the chain tugged, however, you quickly straighten yourself up and ask, "But where are we?"

Your question was a panicked attempt to divert his attention from the fact that you just slipped, pulling the chain taut in his hold.

Munnin surprisingly didn't react to the obvious slip up, and unexpectedly engaged in conversation, responding to your location inquiry. This frightened you and made you suspicious—was he planning to take your life? Hence why he had no reservations about disclosing the location.

With his back still facing you as he walked slightly ahead, he replied, "We are in East Asgard—Ironwood forest, known for it's unliveable conditions. The vines have a life of their own, stay still long enough and they'll grow right through you."

He suddenly stilled his movements, and turned around to face you, a dark grin spread on his face.

"Hmm...now that's an idea, trouble me further and I'll tie you to a tree and allow the vines to find its way inside your body. I give it half a day before you're filled with so much thorny vine that it's sprouting from all orifices." His face lit up, finding something amusing at the idea.

The look on your horrified face made him even more amused; he let out a sinister chuckle before turning back around and pulling harshly on the your leash. You screamed in agony as Munnin pulled you forward; a vine that had wrapped itself around your ankle while you were idle ripped into your skin.

You didn't believe him when he said they had a mind of their own, but you were standing still for only a minute before one coiled its way around your leg. You bit through the pain and hurried along, feeling more frightened by the vines than Munnin at this moment.

You took a closer look around and observed that there was no wildlife. No birds singing, and no sounds other than the rustle of dry leaves. The crunch was not emanating from under your feet, so you pondered its origin.

You turned around and saw the ground behind you shifting. Particularly the writhing snake-like motion of the vines as you walked through them. You gasped in awe at such a marvel, yet your stomach dropped with terror.

As you continued to peep behind you and observe the vines move after each nervous step you took, Munnin watched you intently, enjoying your combined wonderment and fearful expression. He's never met anyone who showed curiosity to something so deadly. 

"They move because they taste your blood, your bloody foot trail makes them come alive. They seek more, relishing your life essence." He answered the burning question that had been plaguing you: why did they they move more after you walked, but not Munnin. The answer, your blood.

Munnin slashed through a vine with a swift protraction of his massive claws. You watch in horror as a shocking outburst of red blood erupts, the shower of red liquid appearing as if an artery had been severed.

As its blood drained out, the vine began to wilt and darken before eventually breaking away from the rest of the branch. The severing of the inured limb from the healthy portion prevented the haemorrhage from spreading to the much more robust vine.

"Fascinating" you murmur, completely absorbed in watching its survival mechanisms kick in.

You examine it more closely and begin to speculate that the thicker vine that is protected by smaller weeds, is the vital organ supporting the entire plant. It was akin to a fast spreading invasive plant on earth, and the only method to stop its expansion, is to destroy its source.

"No wonder it rules the forest." You mutter under your breath, your eyes unable to move away from looking behind you as you walk blindly forward. Distracted, you didn't notice the curved root in front of you, your foot caught it and your body tumbled downwards heading towards sharp thorns.

Accepting the inevitable, you squint your eyes to brace for impact, but Munnin who had been watching your curiosity towards the vines, quickly reacted and caught you within his arms just in time.

"You clumsy girl!" He yelled, raising you up and setting you firmly on the ground. "Do you see this?" He pointed to the sharp piece of wood sticking up from the ground, "you would have been instantly killed had you landed on it!"

Shaking from your near death experience, you unwittingly reacted by yelling, "Oh, what do you care. You're going to kill me anyway, at least a wooden stake through the chest would be quick." You heave, breathing fast.

He glared at you intently before strutting up and pressing his face against yours, claiming, "If I wanted you dead, I wouldn't be putting myself through this dreadful torment of having to constantly drag you around."

"Then if I'm too much trouble, leave me go!"

While taking two steps back, he laughs, "You are only trouble now, but later, you'll be a bit more subservient. I am well-versed in the art of dispiriting even the most stubborn individuals, such as yourself—at some point, you will give in." His repugnant grin had returned. "Now you better keep moving, another vine has already started winding around your leg."

You followed his eyes downwards and looked at your legs, sure enough a creeping vine had began making its way around your ankle.

You let out a groan of irritation and kicked it away, picking up the pace and quickly catching up to Munnin, who had already begun to walk away.

Munnin grins, feeling satisfied that he made you move faster. But you only kept up with him as the vines were moving increasingly faster, seemingly enjoying the tasty treat of your blood. You also knew that something as astounding as a free-thinking plant likely has the smart ability to lure and trap their prey. And now with the knowledge that Munnin intends to keep you alive, you reluctantly realise that you require his protection. At this time, the plants were more dangerous than he was.

Seeing as Munnin didn't seem to to mind talking with you and answering your curious questions, you continued.

"Why would a place as scary as this exist in Asgard? Nothing but killer weeds can survive here, so it makes me wonder, for what purpose does Odin have to allow such a death trap to remain?"

Munnin looks at you quizzically, while arching a brow.

"What?" You exclaim.

"How very inquisitive of you," he grinned, "for a mere mortal girl who was ripped from the only world she knows and into the shitshow that is Asgard, you have more inkling into his mind than his council members, even his sons— well done, I'm rather impressed."

"Isn't it common sense to assume such a question?"

"Apparently not," he chortled. "No one comes to the region of Idavoll as the ironwood forest consumes the majority of it. There is a reason Odin allowed it to remain, and that is because she, the person we seek, is banished within it. The vines were summoned by the order of Odin to devour her, should she so much as step a toe within it."

A sly smirk appeared on his face, and again, you get the impression that Munnin didn't particularly like this she.

You shudder; the thought that she might have been a good person who could help you has been overshadowed by the realisation that the king has ordered her exile. You can only imagine what a dreadful person she must be if this is her punishment, and the fact that Munnin always turns to her in times of crisis further proves that both are bad individuals.

"Now stop with the chatter, we must keep moving, and you only grow slower when you talk."

You tightened your lips, taking his terse tone seriously, and pushed forth until you were even weaker. All over your body hurt from the hours of arduous travel that had left you covered in scratches, bruises, and filth. You were in excruciating pain all throughout and could no longer pinpoint which part hurt you more.

"I can't go anymore, please" you beg, on the verge of collapsing.

He released a growl of frustration and spun around, but his hardened face turned to shock when he saw you looking so weak and deathly pale. Immediately he scanned your body and caught sight of the sneaky vine that had attached itself to the unseen part of your leg, getting fat from sucking your blood.

He snarled, furious, as he dashed forward and scooped you up, becoming even angrier when you released a pained whine as he did so.

Weakly you say, "I'm sorry." Hoping your apology for involuntarily groaning would make him less angry.

"Do not apologise, I am not angry with you, my fury lies with these forsaken vines!"

To your surprise he holds you gently and gazes into your glassy eyes, his voice tender, "Usually I'd not forewarn about the inevitable hurt that is about to come, but I feel somewhat responsible for missing the crafty vine that has taken hold of you."

Your eyes widened in terror at the mention of pain, more unrelenting pain.

"Please, no more."

"Now, now, peaches, don't be so hopeless, I know you are resilient, I sensed it the very moment I met you." He took hold of the barbed vine that had almost burrowed into your calf, but quickly let go to turn your head away when you tried to sneak a peak. "Ah, Ah,...looking will only make you pass out, and with heavy blood loss like this, falling asleep generally results in not waking up."

Your heart rate accelerated upon hearing his claim, and you nodded profusely, a nervous response.

"In situations like these, the best method is to be quick, so on the count of three, I am going to rip it away. Indeed, the pain will be unimaginable, but it will only last for a brief moment. Got it?"

Tears formed, and as you blinked, the tears ran down your cheeks, leaving a clear line where they had been.

"Im r-r-ready" you tremble.

You feel him take hold of the vine—the slight pressure of his grip already making you wince from the pain—and closing your eyes, you begin hearing him count.

"One.........tw—"

You let out a death scream so piercingly loud that it echoed throughout the entire forest, causing even the vines to freeze in place.

"You said on the count of three, arsehole!!" You yelled.

He chuckled while discarding the bloodsucking vine and placing you back down. Oddly, he didn't react to the profanity you aimed at him. But as soon as your feet touched the ground, your knees buckled, and you began to fall. Munnin once again scooped you up and decided to carry your listless body the rest of the way.

"It's a known tactic of distraction; the element of surprise always helps with the pain." He said.

"It still fucking hurts!"

He stared down at you in his arms, his brow arched once again, "The vulgarities that come out of such a pretty mouth are alarming. I thought perhaps the earlier use of obscenities was a mere reaction to the sudden pain, but now I actually think you like using such filth."

"You know what else is alarming—the fact that you display a softness on occasion and a truly wickedness the next, volatile much?"

"I am not soft!" He snapped, a darkness clouding the gentleness that was briefly displayed in his eyes.

You suddenly remember from the meeting with Odin that he hated the term "soft." He shoved you back to the ground and forcibly yanked on your chain, and as you fell to your knees from his harsh tug, he merely snickered in evil delight at seeing you on all fours.

"You better get up, peaches. They are coming for you" his eyes drifted to behind you, and meekly you turned to look, but quickly darted up when you saw the plants rushing at lightening speeds towards your fallen body.

You forced yourself to walk while you tried to understand Munnin. One second, he appeared to be a cold and cunning kidnapper; the next, he was nearly like a normal, considerate person, tending to your wounds.

You recalled Huggin's assertion that Munnin wasn't always evil and that, as a consequence of losing his entire raven species to an unknown enemy, coupled with his years of service to Odin, his heart had grown dark.

You questioned whether his aggressive behaviour was the result of his good nature struggling to overcome the evil that had taken up residence in him. It was impossible to relax your vigilance. To this point, you had seen more bad than good.

You were relieved when, after a short time of more walking, a clearing finally came into view.

You sprinted forward, seeking the warmth of the sunlight that lay just beyond the next set of trees. But Munnin gripped you by the arm and held you close. He breathed you in, yet at this point you imagine you smell nothing but sweat, blood and dirt. However, after he inhaled, he began to shudder all over, and a sickening lust lit up his eyes.

You were just a step away from leaving the dense woodland, but he lingered on the edge, not wanting the mysteriously woman to see his inappropriate interest in you.

"If it were not for the vines peaches, we would've had fun rolling around the dirt together" his good nature had been completely eradicated and only dark hunger for you remained.

You turn away, sickened by his lustful demeanour. But he drew your face in close and licked the full length of it. You squirmed, disgusted by the sensation of his moist, rubbery tongue.

You charge forward and launch yourself out of the woods, landing on soft earth and grass instead of sharp thorns and bushes.

You sighed with contentment as your tired feet found relief in the soft grass. Enjoying the soothing effects of the cold on your wounds. But, Munnin jerked on the chain fiercely, causing you to fall flat on your back and almost knock out a lung. You gaped for breath as he loomed over you and glared.

"Next time, you do not move unless I say so!" He scorned.

You flop your head back against the grass, weary and exhausted, your body stiff. As you close your eyes and feel the warmth of the sun on your damaged body, you wonder if you'll be able to get up.

"No time for naps peaches!" His sudden bark causing you to jump out of your little moment of peace.

Munnin pulled on the chains, which brought you to your feet. He shoved you in front of him and forced you to walk. In an exhausted stupor, you hazily look ahead and finally take in your surroundings.

You gasp, suddenly recoiling in shock towards the safety of Munnin, as fear made your heart race. You try to process what you're seeing, but you're struggling to believe your own eyes.

In your frightened and astonished state, you didn't realise the arms of Munnin slowly snake around your waist or his breathy whisper in your ear: "I like that you ran to me for protection, peaches. It pleases me immensely."

It was only when the tip of his tongue licked your earlobe and the nausea it instantly caused woke you from your shock. You stepped away from him and shot him a glare, much to his disapproval.

You went back to staring ahead were you could see a giant beast bound by chains, the restraints clearly made stronger with magic as they had an luminescent glow to them. No animal that size could be contained with simple shackles.

The large black wolf's paws were enslaved together, preventing him from doing anything other than standing or lying still, but it was the wolf's mouth that truly gave you the willies. A massive blade was buried beneath his chin, holding his jaw open with brute power.

The swords tip was almost touching the roof of his mouth, that should he clamp his jaw shut, the blade would slice through his skull and lodge in his brain.

The weapon appeared to be positioned this way on purpose to restrict his movements; there was no doubt the animal knew closing his jaws would result in death. You questioned who could be so cruel as to commit such atrocities. It was truly barbaric.

While the wolf laid on his side, his mouth stayed open, causing drool to trickle down in bucket loads like a stream. You glanced where the saliva flow was going, and saw it was travelling to a patch of green. Amidst the produce, you can see a woman leaning down and collecting crops. You were astounded to find that this massive beast was providing the water for her vegetable garden. It was disgusting yet curiously brilliant.

You surmised that no stream or other water sources were around in the forest, and that rain didn't come enough. She had cleverly, however sick and cruel it was, to find a way to survive Odin's banishment.

The huge wolf detected another presence within the small clearing and began staring in your direction, his eyes narrowing as he studied you, turning his head to track your approaching footsteps. You were terrified by his gaping mouth that displayed his sharp teeth. But his massive stature and keen gaze on you were equally as terrifying.

"Get back to your job, dog" the women spat, in an irate tone. She didn't like that the wolf moved his stream away from watering her plants as he followed your movements.

It was impossible to feel anything but compassion for the mythological beast before you. Much like you, he was restrained against his will and in agony.

The wolf snapped his head back in place, yet you still piqued his curiosity, and so to avoid further angering the cruel gardener, he only used his eyes to follow you this time. He witnessed Munnin yank on your chains, sending you tumbling down again.

In an effort to cushion the blow to your head, you stretched out your arms, only to have your entire weight land squarely on your wrist. You fall to the floor and hear a snap that causes you to yell out in agony.

Every tree in the woods must have heard your agonised wail, and while tears ran down your face, you clutched your wrist. Yet, Munnin did nothing but hover over you, smiling smugly.

Immediately, you take back ever thinking he had an ounce of compassion. He was too far gone; now he was evil, right through to the bone.

"Oh, peaches, did you fall? Here, let me kiss it better." Munnin leans downwards, and takes hold of your wrist to kiss it. But you immediately pull your hand away, biting down the pain as you did so.

"Don't touch me!" You yell in disgust.

As his finger follows the contour of your jaw, Munnin grins and says, "I will do more than touch you, peaches." His grin deepens as his finger travels down your chest, following the natural crease of your ample breasts.

You try to wriggle out of his grasp, but he made the chain so short that it had you firmly anchored in place. As his lust for you grew, his finger began tracing your nipple over the fabric of your clothing. Your stomach turns as he begins to drool while touching you.

Suddenly, you feel a cold grasp on the nape of your neck before being violently jerked backwards. You land harshly on your back, sending clouds of dry dirt into the air and causing you to cough and sputter as you inhale the tiny particles.

A woman stands above you, her long, slanted face a deathly shade of grey. She looked like a broken porcelain doll that had been crudely put back together, with large fissures in her skin. Her blue eyes were like lasers of furious wrath as she stared at you in a jealous rage.

"Touch my raven again you dirty whore, and I will cut off every finger."

You were stunned by her appearance, and found it hard to piece together a reply.

"I- I ... didn't, I don't want to touch him, but he touched me," you exclaim, hoping you can explain that you don't want Munnin to look at you, never mind touch you.

"Shut your filthy mouth, whore; I don't take kindly to liars. My Munnin is faithful to me only; he wouldn't want you. Carry on with your attempts at seducing him, and I will feed you to my mutt!"

Suddenly, it all clicked into place: she was every bit as evil as Munnin, if not worse. It makes sense that Odin would exile her to this bleak habitat, and it explains why Munnin always sounded so displeased whenever he mentioned the mysterious "she"—he secretly detested her.