Chapter 31: Girl in Training

"Welcome to my home away from home." Leamen took Hope's hand and welcomed her into a beautiful realm. Hope couldn't believe her eyes; this land was twice as beautiful as the forests in heaven. The trees reached to the sky, the lake waters were crystal blue. Hope felt as though she could count every star in the galaxy, the stars gleamed through the night unlike they did on Earth. This realm was truly untouched by man.

"Where… are we?" Hope gasped.

Leamen winked. "Family secret."

"But I'm your sister aren't I?" Hope asked jokingly.

"Of course, but here it's all about the blood." She said as she sniffed intently. "Gramps forbids us against ever telling the location of our safe haven. This is where the lupi-jin pack gathers to raise their pups, we work together as a family to stay strong and ensure the strength of the generations to come. So that's why we keep this location secret…"

"I've seen the discovery channel before so I think I understand." Hope scratched the back of her head.

Leamen laughed. "This isn't anything like the discovery channel… by the way…" She focused hard. "Did gramps mention that he'd be sending anyone else to the den with us?"

"No, why?"

"Oh, well… never mind then." Leamen looked around and took in a deep breath of fresh air. "Aahh… it's been a while." She folded her arms behind her head as her tail raised up. "Follow me."

Hope covered her mouth and tried not to giggle. "That was so cute!"

Leamen stared at her blankly for a moment then blushed. "I can't help it this tail has a mind of its own, I sure don't see you raising your tail to lead!"

"That's because I don't have one." Hope spun around. "Your lupi-jin side has been showing itself a lot more lately."

Leamen smiled then gestured for Hope to follow her as she led the way down a rocky path. "I think it's because Gramps and the pack have been around Nekomi these past few weeks, it's nice, I hardly ever see them because I'm so busy with work and being the goddess of time and all." She laughed. "How ironic, the goddess of time is short on time."

The two sisters laughed, though Hope's was with effort. "How can I laugh at a time like this? Considering all that has happened…"

"Hold it." Leamen stopped Hope and put two fingers on the right side of her nose. "Hmm…" she sniffed intently, and smiled. "I smell… sweat and roses…"

"Sweat and roses?" Hope asked. "Tyr!?"

"GRAAAAAAAAAGGH!!" From the earth emerged the fire king, scanning the area with his wild glare. "Where's that damn wolf!? He thinks he can come around and force authority on…"

"Tyr?" Hope and Leamen stared at him blankly.

"H-Hope!" He grabbed her in his arms when he saw all of her bandages. "Thank the almighty you're alright! Did that wench Hel do this to you?!"

Hope blushed, especially when she noticed Leamen staring at the two with an interested look.

"Ho ho ho?" Leamen grinned and pried the two apart. "I'll have you know there will only be lupi-jin breeding here, so cool down fire boy!"

The young couple turned bright red.

"ONEE-SAMA!!" Hope yelped.

"LEAMEN!!" Tyr growled and tried to eye her down.

"I'm just kidding, it's nice to see you Tyr, but did you mention something about a wolf brining you here?" Leamen asked.

"More like forced me here, I'm trying to find a way to get to Earth to help Hope and next thing I know that old cook Ulric threw me into a portal leading me here!" Tyr said in an exhausted tone.

"I wonder why he brought you here too. Maybe you'll assist Hope in her training in some way?"

"Assist? Training?" Tyr looked at her then at Hope. "Am I missing something?"

"It's a long story…" Hope waved it off.

"Let's get to the den." Leamen said and began marching. "Follow me kiddies!"

"Let's go." Hope looked up at Tyr, he gave her a nod and followed. He couldn't help but notice all the bandages that were wrapped around her arms, forehead, and her chest.

"Hel… I'll make sure you burn for this…" He growled to himself.

Meanwhile back in Nekomi…

"AAAH! That felt SO good!!" Aura opened the door to her apartment and stretched out.

"Again… my wallet is a home to moths." Kira grumbled as he toted in five bags full of clothes.

"Oh don't worry about it Kira, I'll make it up to you." She winked.

Kira sweat dropped, he knew full well how she was intending on paying him back; after all they did just get back from Victoria's Secret. "She emptied my wallet and now she's planning on emptying…."

"I know! First dinner! Then a bath! And then I'm all yours!" Aura drew circles on his chest with her index finger.

"Uhm… how about a kiss instead…" He sweat dropped, hoping that would be his scapegoat from her nightly plan.

Aura stood on her toes and put her arms around his neck. "Oh fine!" she smiled before he kissed her. "Mmm!"

"Kira you genius you just earned yourself an out of jail free card!" He thought to himself until he noticed the extremely hungry look in his wife's eyes. "On second thought… good thing I bought a box of pocky…"

"I'll start cooking dinner." She twirled around and floated off to the kitchen. "Oh ho ho ho…"

Kira plopped down on the ground and reached into one of the bags, pulling out the red box filled with the chocolate biscuit sticks of energy he craved. "I'm exhausted… if things go as planned I don't think I'll survive the night…" He thought as he munched on three sticks.

"Kira, god of Ruin." Ulric bellowed.

"Hrm?" Kira looked up at the white wolf glaring down at him. "…mnch, mnch"

"You will come with me, I require your assistance." He raked his claws on the floor and tore open a portal.

"Who the hell are-" before he could finish Ulric pushed him through the portal.

"Demons…" He grumbled.

"Kira?" Aura opened the kitchen door and stared at Ulric. "Ah…?"

"I have taken your mate to assist in the training of your niece." He stated. "During the day the young girl was attacked by a fallen goddess of extreme hate."

"Wha!? Is she okay!?" Aura asked in a startled tone.

"She is fine, but she must train, farewell." He dove into the portal just before it sealed.

Aura stood there with a ladle in her hand and stared down at Kira's box of Pocky. "Hmm… maybe I should have asked him how long they'll be gone…" She started to sweat. "Er…Ehehe, come on now Aura! It's not like you're already missing him or anything…" She started to sweat even more. "I need to clean something!"

"Lupin! You stay close to the den now!" A woman with fluffy grey wolf ears and a tail called out to her rebellious pup.

"OKAY Mom!" He called back then grumbled to himself. "Why does she always call on me like I'm a pup! I'm a grown wolf now I can take care of myself-"

Suddenly a tanned man towered over him, his eyes were intense and he reeked of hell.

"ARR!! ARR ARR ARR!!" Lupin's tail went in-between his legs as he scampered back to the den. "MOMMY! MOMMY!! It's a mountain lion!!" he howled.

"A WHAT!?" She growled, several wolves gathered themselves and curled their lips back from their fangs and growled fiercely.

Tyr jumped out into the open and folded his arms across his chest. "Nice welcome…"

"Everyone calm down!" Leamen jumped into the open with Hope and waved her arms. "He's not a mountain lion!"

"It's Leamen!" The wolves chattered happily and lowered their defenses and their lips.

"Big SIS!!" Pups tackled the wolf goddess to the ground and licked at her face happily.

"YAAAH HAHAHA! Stop, STOP!! That tickles!" Leamen laughed as she kicked her feet in the air frantically.

Hope and Tyr stood close to together since they felt out of place here, any one does at a friend's family reunion.

"Okay, now that's enough! Seriously!" Leamen giggled as she sat up and rubbed the saliva off her face with her sleeves.

"What brings you home so suddenly sister? Did you leave that demon man?" one of the lupi-jin males asked.

"No, we are very much in love and happy in our little home in Japan." She announced happily then looked around. "Where's gramps?"

"Grandfather Ulric has been away for quite some time, he mentioned that he required the services of two demons…" Another male answered.

"That so? Well that would explain Tyr, but who could be the other one?"

"WHAARRGH!!"

BKOOOOOOOOM!

"What the!?" Hope looked into the forest as birds flied away in panic from the figure that had crash landed through the trees.

"…oww…" Kira slowly emerged from the forest, covered in dirt.

"Uncle Kira!" Hope smiled, then noticed the shape he was in. "Oh my god! Are you okay!?" She ran over to him.

"I've had worse… what the?" He looked her up and down, then gruffly asked. "Who did this to you?"

"Do you know of a fallen goddess named Hel?" She asked humbly and held her arms.

Kira's eyes seemed wild, for an instant. "So… I guess she's not full of empty threats… don't worry." He grinned. "I'll make sure she pays for what she has done, give me the details, I'll evaluate how much I should make her suffer before I chop off her head."

"Uncle Kira…" Hope sweat dropped.

"Hey bud, if anyone is getting vengeance for her it's gonna be me!" Tyr interrupted.

Kira sighed. "Hope, why are you still with this… brat?"

"Uncle Kira!" Hope hushed him.

"Hey! You've never met me and you're already judging me!?" Tyr snapped and got in the half demon's face. "Want to see how much of a brat I can be old man?"

"Apparently he doesn't remember our first encounter." Kira smirked.
"What?" Tyr growled.

"Nothing!" Hope interrupted.

Ulric appeared through a portal and watched as the group rambled on. "Ahem." He coughed.

"Ah? Ulric!" Hope gasped.

The others looked over at the white wolf.

"I hope that you two will forgive me for bringing you here in such a rushed manner, but I assure you that what you do in Hope's training will be of lasting importance." He walked by them both.

"Uh… right." Kira coughed.

"Hope, are you ready to begin?" Ulric asked.

"I am." Hope nodded, though she was startled though when the wolf came to her and glared her in the eyes.

"Are you sure?" He asked, in a tone that unnerved her.

"Y-yes."

His eyes narrowed, slightly. "Everyone, you may retire for the night. Granddaughter, lead them to the den if you will."

"Okay gramps, but what about Hope?" She asked.

"I must speak with her in private." He looked back to the hybrid goddess, then led her down a path that formed in front of him.

"What is so important that he can't talk about in front of us?" Tyr asked.

"Don't blow it out of proportion Tyr." Leamen eased his nerves. "Gramps just wants to help her, that's all. Oh, where are my manners? I need to introduce you two to the pack!"

Ulric led Hope for a while, until they came to a coastline. He sat down and gazed out over the bay as Hope stood next to him. "Your waves are tainted with stress." Ulric stated.

"I'm sorry, I just…"

"No, do not apologize to me but apologize to yourself. Young one, why is it you allow such pain to claim your body, mind, heart, and soul?" Ulric asked.

"I don't want anyone else to suffer." Hope quickly responded.

"Is that so?" He asked.

"Yes, no one should have to involve themselves in my troubles." Hope touched at her scar. "This is my sin."

Ulric growled. "It is such thinking that has made you so weak!"

Hope backed from him in shock as Ulric rose to all fours and growled at her through his bare fangs.

"Remember the night that you dueled with the demon Queen Hild? Had not Tyr interfered by setting that forest ablaze and incurring your power as goddess of revolution you would have become her slave! I came upon you that very night and knew then that you had much to learn. Your training begins… but first." His eyes flashed, five gold bindings appeared around Hope's neck, arms, and ankles.

Suddenly Hope felt heavy; she felt as though all of her power had been drained from her body, all of the spells she had learned vanished from her mind.

"Now you are nothing more than a human girl." He stated.

Hope looked up at him.

"Your feet are bound to the ground, your strength is only that of what you have gained, and you cannot speak the words of a goddess. Hope Morisato, you will learn to overcome your weaknesses, or you will save everyone the trouble you think you burden them with and die here." He stopped growling at her then began his way back to the den. "Let us return… or do you wish to stop now?" He asked.

Hope straightened herself out, then walked after him.

"Very good, let's pray that you will hold such enthusiasm through the duration of your stay."

Leamen drew to a finish in introducing the ENTIRE pack to Tyr and Kira, Tyr tried to keep hospitable and shook hands and paws with all the members, Kira was just growing annoyed.

"And this is Jura, don't mind her attitude, she wants to take place as the Alpha Female of our pack." Leamen said as she came to a black wolf girl.

Her ears folded back and she lightly growled at the blue wolf goddess. "Leamen, don't speak so lightly of me, I don't care IF you are the grandchild of Grandfather Ulric… that doesn't mean I won't show you any mercy."
Kira raised his brow in interest.

Leamen smiled nonchalantly at Jura and patted her right shoulder. "I don't know why you feel so threatened by me, but please try to save our family squabbles for when we don't have guests. You're being a very rude hostess."

The lupi-jin growled and hit Leamen's hand off of her. "Joke about it as you may, cross me and I will be most unforgiving!" She warned, they both exchanged direct eye contact, and Jura was the first to look away as she marched off into the den cave.

"I'm impressed Leamen." Tyr smiled. "I used to have a rival like that, words such as those would have earned him a fist in the mouth."

"I don't consider Jura a rival; she was just born with a leader instinct. Of course she should know by now I have no intention of becoming alpha female!"

"I'd say it's more of a strength contest." Kira thought aloud. "What better way of attaining status of alpha female than taking down Ulric's half goddess grandchild?"

"That's how I see it." Tyr agreed.

Leamen shrugged. "Maybe that's why she's always trying to pounce me?" she said in a joking tone.

Tyr laughed a bit, until he saw Hope walking out of the forest behind Ulric. "They're back, why didn't I sense Hope's waves?"

"Her power is gone." Kira's eyes narrowed as he stomped towards the white wolf. "Old mutt, what did you do to her?" He growled.

"Ah!" Hope grabbed Kira's hands, and shook her head.

"What's wrong?" He looked at her throat and saw a faint shimmer of gold. "A magical bind?"

"It would appear that the young one has only spoken words of a goddess for the past five years." Ulric sighed.

"What does that mean?" Tyr was quick to confront the wolf as well.

"To help her in her training, I have sealed off her goddess powers and abilities." Ulric stated clearly.

"Are you sure that's for the best?" Leamen asked, trying to ease the two angered demons.

"Yes, and she agrees." He looked back at Hope.

She nodded and looked to the ground in shame.

"I believe that is enough matter for this night, let us all retire." Ulric howled in a yawn.

"That sorta threw off the image…" Tyr grimaced at him.

"I'm not sure what you mean, oh well, a good night to you all." He said as he walked off into the forest.

"Where's he going?" Kira asked.

"Gramps never sleeps, he stays awake to protect his family and his domain." Leamen said as she looked to her sister. "Hope?"

She looked up at her then to the side.

"Don't feel shameful, you've been pressured into being a goddess these past years, it's no wonder that you have lost your human voice." Leamen pulled her into a hug. "It'll come back to you eventually, you'll see."

Hope had difficulty sleeping that night, she couldn't stop thinking about what had happened that day. "I could have prevented it all, I could have stopped her from hurting Kioshi…but why didn't I? Maybe Ulric is right, I couldn't have done anything to stop it, not the way I am now." She sighed to herself in her half asleep state, it was cold in this realm, she had a chill every now and then, but suddenly she felt warm. "It's nice… roses and…sweat?" Hope's eyes snapped open, she was tucked into Tyr's coat and resting against him with her cheek on his chest, or rather held against him with his arm in a protective way. "Oh my gahd!!" She screamed in her head. "Calm down Hope! Calm down! He just noticed you were cold and is just sharing some of his body heat…" She tried to keep her eyes closed but her right eye took a peak. "Buh, body… six pack!" She shook her head. "Calm down you pervert!! Oh Grandfather why me!?"

"Hrmm…" Tyr yawned and held her closer.

"Resist all temptation! Thou art a good little goddess… and yet…" She was starting to sweat. "And yet… you are SUCH a BAD little girl!"

"No Hope! You must resist your carnal needs and reserve yourself!" A chibi Belldandy angel appeared on her right shoulder.

"MOM!?! Ohmigod!! This isn't what it looks like!!" She panicked.

"No my dear, I'm not your mother, I am merely a projection of what you see as your ultimate good." She waved off Hope's worries. "Though do not think that means you can still go about doing what you are resisting."

"Forget that!" A chibi demon Urd appeared on her left shoulder. "How can you resist that stud muffin? His perfectly toned body and OH LORD look at that BUTT! MMPH!"

Hope looked down but quickly averted her eyes. "NO! I can't!"

"Resist Hope!"

"You have GOT to be joking! The butt child! You know you wanna grab it." Urd taunted her.

"No…. NO!!" Hope could feel her hands tensing up. "Oh my god I do!!"

"Hope! Think of his reaction if you do!" Belldandy pleaded.

"The guy sleeps like a rock! He'll never know! Besides he kissed you after your battle with Hild!" Urd pointed out.

"She has a point." Hope thought in a fiendish manner.

"Hope, I'm so disappointed." Chibi Belldandy said in a tone VERY much like her mother's.

"Ah…" Hope felt complete shame. "I…"

"DON'T LISTEN! GRAB THOSE CHEEKS!"

"YOU MUSN'T!"

Hope couldn't stand it anymore, she grabbed the nearest rock with her free hand and struck herself in the head with it. "GUH!! Goo' ight…"

"… Young one…."

"Muggh…"

"Hope, rise, it is time for you to begin your training." Ulric said in a hushed tone.

"Train…that's right!" Hope shook off her fatigue and jumped to her feet. "Why do I feel so light?" She asked before looking down on herself. "…"

"That is one of my old furs I have given you, it will keep you warmer than any of those cotton cloths you were wearing before." Ulric sat down, this would take some time.

Hope had Ulric's pelt draped around her like a robe, leather clothing, boots, and gloves made from buffalo hide. "Uhm… how did you get me in these clothes… wait… I can talk!!" She grabbed at her throat.

"Wrong, I am speaking to your mind; it seems that you still have not found your human voice." He sighed.

Hope blushed in embarrassment.

"Awaken your lover, he will assist you in this part of your training."

"Lo-LOVER!?!" Hope turned even redder.

"Do not deny fact, though I can see you two have not yet…"
Hope held his muzzle shut with her arms to quiet him.

"I am speaking with you mentally… remember?" He asked.

"R-right…" Hope let him go and quietly went back to Tyr. "Tyr… wake up." She gently shook his shoulder.

"Hrnn…" Tyr grumbled.

"Tyr, wake up, Ulric is waiting on us." She nudged his shoulder again then tapped him on the forhead.

"GRAAAH!"

"AIIEEE!!" Hope yelped as Tyr fell on top of her. "Oh my gahd!"

Ulric glared down at them both and jokingly added. "I do hope that my granddaughter told you that there will only be lupi-jin breeding here."

"WAKE UP!!" Hope tried to force Tyr off of her but she was too weak.

"Hrrmm… huh?" Tyr's eyes squinted then bulged wide. "I'M SORMPPH!!" He was silenced when Hope put her hands over his mouth.

"Now then that Lord Tyr is finally awake, let us take leave." Ulric turned around and walked towards the den cave's exit.

Tyr quickly got off of Hope, blushing just as furiously as she was. "I'm sorry; you should have hit me or something!" He said in a hushed tone.

Hope shook her head no.

"Still can't talk?" He asked, and received a nod. "That's okay." He stood up then held his hand out to her to help her up. Together they tip toed around the sleeping lupi-jins. They had all turned to their wolf forms that night so they would be warmed by their thick coats, and for good reason. When the two came to the cave's entrance, they saw that the world had been covered in snow.

"The sun hasn't risen yet…" Hope could see a few stars through the breaks in the clouds.

"Your first lesson; begins tonight." Ulric blended in with the snow, all she could really see were his two intense golden eyes staring at her. "At this hour the den mothers head out to bring fresh kill for our pups to eat, this job has been handed down to you this day."
Hope was startled.

"Fifteen small mouths are depending on you, now go." Ulric walked by her and Tyr and back into the cave.

"Huh, this training isn't so hard." Tyr grinned. "So lesson one is a hunt, no sweat, if you can kill a monster then you can take down some earthling animal!" Tyr praised her.

"But that was when I had my goddess powers…" She stared at her hands. "I'm so weak now."

"Something wrong?" He looked her in the eyes. "Oh, well you can't kill something with your bear hands." He reached behind his back and drew forth his Mjollnir staff. He unsheathed a long dagger from his boot and tied it to the top of the staff. "There, a spear." He handed it to her.

Hope had a very unsure feeling in her heart, even with this magic spear she still felt helpless.

"Don't worry, I know you can do this." Tyr pulled the hood of the pelt over her head and led her out. "I know I'm the god of war and King of Muspelhiem… but I know a great deal about hunting. When Loki and I were kids we'd go hunting all the time. That is until he started playing tricks on me and well… things went down hill from there, and by downhill I mean I threw him down a hill." He laughed.

Hope smiled. "He's trying to get my spirits up."

"I won't lie. It will be a little difficult to sneak up on your prey since there's snow on the ground, so we might want to try something extra stealthy." He whispered as he glanced up at the trees, the greenery was lush but covered in the snow. "That might work…" He thought to himself, and noticed Hope was staring at the ground. "Hey! Nice work!"

She was examining paw prints that had been left in the snow. "Snow has its disadvantages and its advantages!"

Hope blushed and nodded, the biggest track caught her interest. "A deer… perhaps?" She thought. "That should be plenty to feed the pups, maybe even more enough to feed some of the other pack members…"

Tyr watched her quietly, he knew where all the animals were, he could feel their spirits. "I can't do this for her. I can only help her…" He thought to himself with a sigh, but something caught his eye. Just barely he could see a patch of hardened skin above her breasts.

"…!!" Hope glared up at him and he quickly looked away.

"I wasn't ogling!"

She grabbed the fur and pulled it tightly around her. "I feel like I'm a character from one of those sleazy hot cave girl flicks the guys in the video production class watch all the time." She thought embarrassingly to herself as she tried to focus on the tracks, all those little pups were counting on her and she couldn't let them down!

"Uhm…" Tyr looked back at her, for some reason he wanted to know if what he saw was what he thought it was. "I can't just grab her and throw her cloak open! She'll kill me on spot!" He was starting to sweat. "But… if it's what I think it is it might be something that's been plaguing her for some time! GAH! Don't do it!!" He thought vainly as he punched and strangled his right demon arm as it reached towards her.

Hope glared back at him again and sweat dropped. "Why is he beating himself up?"

"DIE YOU BAS-!!" Hope covered his mouth and growled angrily.

"Great! He probably just scared away whatever I was tracking! What is wrong with him today he's so un-nerved!"

"I've got to take the arm off before it does what I KNOW it's going to do!" he reached for the stake holding the arm in place and tore it out. Just as the arm began to fell, two fingers latched onto the piece of leather holding her cape closed and broke it. "AH!?"

Hope's eyes widened when she was hit with the sudden cold.

"Th-that scar…" Tyr gasped. "Hope, why is it there?"

She glared at him as the most innocent tears formed in the corners of her eyes. Hastily she snatched up her fur cloak and ran away from him.

"Hope! Wait!" He ran after her, she couldn't get far from his godly speed as he caught her with his arm. She struggled to get free from him but she knew it was in vain.

"I never noticed it before… not in the hotspring. You always seemed to keep it covered in your new battle garb…" he looked down on her back and saw the exact same scar as on her chest. "As a half goddess, you should be able to free your body of such blemishes… unless you want it to remain to remember something you don't want to forget. Hope, could it be you want to remember Surt?"
She didn't move.

"…I don't understand, Hope, you should leave what happened in the past! For what reason could you possibly want to remember that day?" He could feel pain and sorrow emanating from it. "They've become cursed…" he let her go. She quickly pulled her cloak back on and sighed heavily as she rubbed the tears from her eyes.

"Hope, if there's anything I can do then please let me, I don't want you to keep secrets like that from me." He pleaded.

She looked to the ground then stared behind him. Her eyes widened in terror and her mouth dropped. "AAgk!!" She pointed behind him.

Before he could look he was forced face first into the ground by a snarling wild cat.
"What is that… a lion!? No…" Hope panicked. "A Sabertooth!?"

"Get off me you stinkin FURBALL!!" Tyr expelled a napalm aura that catapulted the ice age cat from him. He staggered to his feet then ran to Hope, standing as her guard as the tiger landed on its feet.

"Don't worry Hope; I'll take care of the dental reject here. RUN!!"

"GROOOAAARR!!" The tiger roared as it charged towards the demon god, not knowing how hopeless it was to fight with him. All he knew was there was tender frightened flesh behind him, and that he wanted to devour every last inch of it.

"Worthless beast!" Tyr cursed as he caught the tiger by its throat and threw it to the ground. "You have no clue!!"

"I can't let him fight my battles for me." Hope saw the Mjollnir staff not far from where the tiger first pounced at them. "If I time it right… I'll do it." She watched as Tyr and the tiger circled each other. She built up all the strength in her legs and in a bound she was off.

"GRAAA!!" The tiger turned his attention from Tyr to the tasty one.

"You think I'm finished with you!?" Tyr thrust his hand out to strangle it but the beast avoided him by the tip of his fur. Eagerly it charged through the snow after Hope.

"…!!" Hope glanced back at it, he was practically at her heals and the staff at her finger tips.

"GRAAAOOOORR!!"

Hope grabbed the staff and spun around as the tiger jumped over her. "AAAAAAAAGGH!!" She roared back as she caught his paws on the staff and held him off as best she could. "HRRNNG!!"

"HOPE!" Tyr stepped forward.

"TYR NO!" She called back. "If he wants to kill me then he will have to place his life on the line as well… I don't intend to die! NOT NOW!!"

"THEN LET ME HELP YOU!!" Tyr roared back as he charged the beast from the side and tackled it to the ground.

"Eh!?" Hope stared in shock as Tyr wrestled with it and glared back at her with a wild look.

"What are you waiting for!? KILL IT NOW!" He shouted.

Hope stared at the beast; in its eyes was a look of fear.

"HOPE!! AGH!" With a kick the tiger was free of Tyr's grasp and ran off into the forest. "What the… Hope?" He stared up at her. "Why did you let it go!?"

"I… why did you…" She was just as confused as he was.

Tyr got to his feet, he wasn't sure if he wanted to yell or laugh. "Well… it seems you've regained your voice."

"Ah? I have!" She touched at her throat, but quickly remembered their problem. "Tyr… why did you step in… he was no match for you, you knew that but even still."

"You think I was just going to stand by and let that thing hurt you? You've gotta be kiddin me!! Hope, didn't you see that cat's muscles and claws? Those teeth!?! Without your goddess abilities that thing could have seriously injured you!"

"But it still wasn't your fight!"

"It is when someone I love is in danger!!" He barked and grabbed her shoulder sternly. "This is your problem! You always have to take the battle and the burden on yourself! Why!? Don't you believe in me!?"

"You know I do Ty-" She started but he wasn't finished.

"Then why do you never call out my name? Why won't you let me protect you?" He asked. "You've been so worried about protecting others that you don't even worry about yourself… Hope… I just want…"

"There is no time for this." Ulric emerged from the snow, shocking them both. "The sun will rise in three hours. Do not forget your present task."

"Yes sir." Hope confirmed quickly and desperately scanned around for tracks.

"I am sure that you will be unable to complete this first lesson today… we can always come back to it…" Ulric sighed.

"No! I'll definitely get something Ulric, I promise!"

"…You think hunting is a lesson? Young one, anyone can kill a dear… I am merely having you perform this task so that the females of the pack will welcome you with more open paws." He chuckled and turned to go back to the den. "Well then, get to it, those pups won't certainly get up at this hour to kill their own breakfast." And with that he was gone as quickly as he appeared.

"What did he mean by my first lesson?" Hope looked up at Tyr and saw the disheartened look on his face. "Tyr?"

"You heard the old man…er…wolf, let's get to hunting." He slowly walked by her, though his head wasn't held high like it always had been.

"… okay…" Hope picked up her weapon from the snow and caught up with him. "Tyr? I'm sorry…"

"About what?" He asked.

"I made you upset… but it's just that… I… oh how can I say this?" she looked down in thought.

"Don't worry about it right now! Ulric said we would continue this lesson later. Just focus on the task at hand for now." Tyr said, making Hope stop in her tracks. "What's wrong?"

"That's my first lesson?" She thought. "Why is it…?" When she looked up at him, her heart sunk. "I've never asked more than to be by his side… and yet, right now I feel that I burden him. I honestly thought that he'd be better off with someone that could always be beside him… why did I let distance become a factor?" She thought and held her hands over her heart painfully.

"Are you not feeling well?" Tyr asked.

"Tyr, I…" She trembled, but not from the cold. "I was calling for you… with all my heart, but it's true. I do worry about others before myself, but I want you. I want more than anything for you to embrace me and tell me that everything will be alright…" She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes. "The reason…" she touched at her scar. "…that I keep my scar is to remember that I was the one who took Surt's life, that I'm the reason that you had to trade your god-hood to become a demon king."

Tyr's fist clenched fiercely as he trudged through the snow to her.

"I never cry out for you because I don't want you to have to sacrifice anything else… I'm sorry…" she whimpered as he stood in front of her.

"…"

Hope flinched.

"You…" He growled then pulled her close to him in his one armed embrace. "You idiot!"

She looked up at him, his eyes were shut tight.

"If you hadn't killed Surt, there would be nothing! I don't care that I had to take his place, you saved my mother's life, you saved everyone, and you saved me." He leaned closer towards her. "Now let me save you."

"Tyr…Mmn?" Her eyes widened a little as he drew her into a passionate kiss, the shock quickly wore away as she drapped her arms over his shoulders and closed her eyes.

They wanted to stay that way forever, but Tyr drew back from her just a little and couldn't help but smile when Hope sighed in content and rested her head against his chest.

"Hmm."

"That was wonderful… dear?" Her eyes widened.

"Nicknames already?" He raised a brow with a grin.

"No… dear!" she whispered as she stealthily grabbed the Mjollnir spear and threw it through the air, straight through the animal's heart. "I… I killed it…" She felt guilty then over-joyed. "TYR I DID IT!!"

His eyes were completely wide. "Y-you sure did." His voice cracked.

Hope grinned and looked at him from the corners of her eyes. "Tyr did that just turn you on?"

"WHA!?" He yelped. "Er, I don't know what you're talking about, well let's hurry up Aand" His voice cracked again. "AHEM!! Let's hurry up and get this back to the den." He pulled the spear from the animal's body and threw the animal over his shoulders. "Man that was HOT!" He looked back as Hope picked up the spear and smiled at him in a coy way. "Calm down Tyr! You're a good god! And… yet…" He started to glance back at her again but shook his head and marched off.

Later as the sun beamed down on the snow…

"Just as I taught you." Ulric stepped back as Hope cleared her throat.

She held her hands to the sides of her mouth and howled. "UUUUWOOOWOOOO!!!"

It was quiet for a moment, soon there was the sound of little paws stampeding through the snow. "GRAAAH! RAAH RAAH!!"

"W-wait! WAIT!" Hope yelped as they pounced her and licked at her face happily, making her burst into laughter.

"Big Sister Hope got breakfast!!!"

"COOL! Didja kill it all by yourself!?!" They yipped in excitement as Ulric nuzzled them off of her with his snout.

"No, no, Tyr helped me."

"You guys are so cool!!" They howled in unison.

"Now, now pups, your new sister will tell you stories later, now eat that dear she hunted for you all before it goes cold!" He barked playfully.

"YES GRAMPA!!" And like little piranha's they starting nibbling away at the kill.

"Oh… they eat it…raw…" Hope looked away quickly.

"We are wolves." Ulric laughed as the other pack members came out and watched in amazement.

"Maybe having her around isn't so bad, feels nice to get a full night of sleep!" One of the den mother's stretched out and yawned.

"You can say that again!"

"Leamen, as far as we're concerned she's one of us already!" A grey and white wolf chuckled.

Leamen watched Hope turn green as the puppies ate. "Mm… not just yet…" She sweat dropped.

Kira was grinning evilly ear to ear. "Judging by the hole in its side, she threw a spear straight through its heart at a thirty yard distance… that's my niece!" He said proudly.

"Sure sure…" Leamen waved him off then ran out of the cave. "HOPE! The pack is already calling you a sister!!" She cheered with her arms wide open.

"DON'T GLOMP HER!" Tyr stopped her. "She won't be able to hold her contents."

Hope had a hand covering her mouth. "Ugh… It's okay, I've seen it on the discovery channel… but I didn't hear the flesh tearing and bone crunching…" She felt queasy.

"Oh get over it." Kira patted her on the back. "I'm proud of you, nice kill!"

"Thanks Uncle Kira…" Hope took in a deep breath and sighed. "I think I'm feeling better."

"That's good, now I can GLOMP YA!" Leamen caught her in her arms and hugged her tight. "MMM! I'm so PROUD I… snff Snff! Hmm?" She raised an eyebrow. "Sweat and roses? Hope…" she grinned. "Could it be…did you?"

Hope and Tyr's eyes widened. "NO!!"

"My nose tells me otherwise…" She grinned as she took a whiff from Tyr. "Cherry blossoms…"

Kira was in the demon king's face with the wickedest glare he had ever given. "…Cherry blossoms?" He growled.

"Back off old man it's not what you think!" Tyr growled back.

"Her nose said otherwise." Kira's gauntlets clinked as two blades dropped out of them.

"Uncle Kira we just kissed!" Hope protested then turned completely red.

"KISSED!?!" Leamen squealed and hugged her tighter.

"K-kissed!?!" Kira held one of the swords at Tyr's throat.

"Y-yeah SO WHAT?!" Tyr gulped.

"Aaand now I feel queasy again… URP!" Hope burped as she covered her mouth.

"YEAH! Big sister Hope is gonna regurgitate for us!" The puppies cheered.

"How interesting…" Ulric chuckled as the hybrids yammered on. "I believe this will be a truly rewarding experience for her after all."

A Fan Authors Worthless Rant

It's the biggest shopping day of the year today and I've finished typing this chapter! YEAH! ;3 Not that I wanted to go shopping, after working in a video game retail store last year, I've come to fear this day Oo;; The mayhem of confused bargain hunter Mommies XD Anyway, I've finally finished my senior research paper and two last minute comics for my school newspaper Those are my reasons for lack of DG Sorry X . I thought that I'd have this posted by Wednesday but my sis was hogging the comp and my nightmare of a fish tank needed to be cleaned The fungi… THE FUNGI!!! Twas a sight to be seen, but I also had to get this done before we start pulling down the Christmas decorations! YEAH! Anything non-Christmas related become COMPLETELY irrelevant when we're doing decorations ;3 Also, I plan on decorating your PC's with a holiday wallpaper I'm makin, with the first real sketch appearance of Kioshi! YAH!! XD

Also, if you feel this chapter could have been longer, don't fret, I'm saving the good stuff for later ;3

See ya next time!