To Know You're Alive: Chapter 20

Loki remained still. He did not know how to respond for h did not even know what he felt. He turned and faced Sif, slowly and hesitantly. He solemnly looked at Sif.
"Sif...." He whispered, his voice catching slightly.
Sif studied his eyes, looking for answers.
Loki gently placed his hands on her shoulders. He looked down at her, his face still solemn. He then closed his eyes and leaned down. Loki gently kissed Sif's soft forehead.
Sif closed her eyes and absorbed the kiss, locking away the moment in her soul.
Loki pulled away then turned and mounted his horse.
Sif looked up and watched as he disappeared into the forest.
With a heavy heart, Sif turned and tacked her mare. She managed to ignore the loud uproar caused by the others as they too began tacking their horses.
"Tell me, dear Sif, where has my brother, Loki, run off too?!" Thor yelled through his laughter.
Sif waited for a few seconds before she replied. "He went out to scout."
"Well then, I think we shall join him." Thor added with a smile as he mounted.
The others mounted then followed Thor into the forest, leaving Sif to her thoughts.
Sif watched them leave, pondering everything that had transpired. She sighed then mounted and followed the others.

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Loki kept the pace at a trot as he studied the ground. He looked everywhere for a sign that animals were passing through. He sighed and stopped his horse when he couldn't find anything. He dismounted then led his stallion towards a pond for a drink. He sat down on a rock and looked over the water. Loki jumped when he heard his name being called. It was definitely Thor. He sighed then stood. "If there is any game, he is going to scare it all away." He mumbled to himself as he grabbed his horse's reigns and walked back the way they came.
Loki suddenly froze in his tracks. A loud grunting arose from in front of him. Loki grasped a knife then quietly walked towards the foliage. The grunting continued and he knew he was on top of this kill. He fingered his knife then peeked over the tall bushes. Loki held his breath then pulled the bushes back at released his knife, hitting his target.
The boar fell over, stiff with death. The knife penetrated it's skull in a swift blow. It never knew what hit it.
Loki smiled at his prize but quickly dropped his happiness. The boar was tiny. A sow. His heart throbbed as he looked around the body. Sure enough, a tiny piglet laid in the luscious grass. Only a few days old at the least.
It screamed in horror, unsure of what was happening as it stared at the carcass of its mother.
Loki sighed and slumped his shoulders. "Son of Odin." He grumbled then climbed over the bushes.

The piglet squealed and ran to its mother.
Loki bent down and looked at the piglet then slowly reached for it. He grasped the wirey body and held on tightly as the piglet began to squeal and thrash. The piglet could fit in his hand but he needed both of them to keep his grasp on the young pig.
"Calm down now, you will be fine." He reassured. He held the piglet away from his body until it tired and had no choice but to calm down.
Loki stood and brought the tiny body closer to his chest. He gently stroked the piglet and soothed it with calming words of apology. The two jumped when Thor's voice rang out again, this time only feet away.
Thor appeared before the site.
"Brother! Congratulations on our first kill!" He laughed as he threw his arms in the air.
"What are you holding, Loki?" Volstagg asked, pointing at the piglet.
"This is the offspring of my kill. I was unaware of its existence until after I had taken down the mother." He replied with regret.
"What will you do with it?" Sif shot back.
Loki shrugged then looked at the tiny piglet. "I have no other choice but to keep it and raise it."
Everyone broke out into thunderous laughter. Everyone, except for Sif. She just looked at Loki and the piglet, deep in thought.
"Loki, you can not raise a wild boar in the palace!" Thor managed to say through his laughter. Everyone laughed even harder at Thor's remarks.
Loki ignored them. He kept his focus on the piglet that had fallen asleep in his arms. He smiled as she grunted and twitched her ears and tail.
Sif walked towards Loki, quietly, so she wouldn't wake the sleeping piglet.
Loki looked up at her, his long black hair falling onto his shoulders.
Sif smiled at the piglet, then looked up at Loki. "Congratulations." She whispered.
Loki smiled widely. "Thank you."