Valkyrie In The Making - Belligerent

He flew around the building until he found the room; a faint glimmer of light and movement catching his eye.

As he landed on the windowsill he saw Vali take her in his arms and make her drink from a cup. His long lean fingers stroked her face, caressing her into a deep sleep. He placed her on the bed where she lay, her breathing slowing. Once he was sure she was asleep he began to take her boots off, slowly so as to not disturb her. Her hunting knife fell heavy on the ground, he looked quickly at the girl, inspecting to be sure she did not wake up at the loud thud. He picked up the knife and inspected it, once his curiosity was satisfied he stuck the knife in his boot.

He began to pull the other boot off, the boot that held her coin. Muninn made a loud screech flew away from the building only to reel around as he sped up and flew straight at the glass window, shattering it and landing square on Vali's head.

Vali let out a yelp of pain as Muninn began to peck at his head. Vali flung his fists at Muninn, landing some hits, but not many. As Muninn saw one of the fists come at him he waited and grabbed the bag of coin from it's captor and flew up into the rafters of the room. He hopped around and found a suitable hiding place in a corner where a rat had made it's home. Muninn cocked his head to the rat and lowered the bag into his hands as he swooped down at Vali, tugging a tuft of hair free from the confines of his scalp.

"Arrghhh! Gods curse you!" He screamed as he jumped at the rafters, trying to pull himself up, although everytime he got a handle on a rafter an angry bird pecked at his fingers. Finally he stopped and stood in the middle of the room. Blood was dripping from his head and hands, and he saw many of the bar patrons staring into his doorway, attracted by the racket.

"Well, don't just stand there, help me!" He screamed, helplessly.

The Tavern Keeper entered the room and looked up into the rafters as Muninn swooped down at him, screeching all the way, pulling a button from his shirt and returning to the safety of the rafters.

"No, sir. Ravens bring ill-luck, as you can see. I will not tempt the Father by tormenting his companion." The Tavern Keeper said as he hustled the rest of the crowd downstairs, shutting the door behind him.

"Fine. I will deal with this animal myself" Vali said, pulling Briggita's knife from his boot. "Come and get me, I can take better care of the lass than you."

"Creeeeeeee" Muninn squealed as he headed towards Vali avoiding the swipes of his knife as he landed on his shoulder, digging his claws in and screeching into his ear, bringing Vali to the ground. Vali crawled across the floor, with Muninn perched and digging into his back. He tried to get up by taking hold of the table. Muninn jumped up and pecked at his hands, bringing him crashing face first into the floor, and knocking the table and pitcher over on top of him. The clay pitcher breaking and cutting his face. Vali rolled over and Muninn hopped onto his chest and then onto his face, placing his talons over his mouth, cutting holes through his lips as he stared deep into Vali's eyes conveying what needed to be said.

"Reave! Reave! Reave!" Muninn called releasing Vali's mouth and taking off to hover over Vali.

"Fine. I will go, but you will see me again. That I promise." He sputtered through the blood. As he got himself up and stumbled through the door and down the stairs, leaving the knife on the ground.

Muninn perched onto the windowsill and watched Vali as he ran out of town, looking behind every so often to be sure the raven was not behind him.

Once he was out of sight Muninn flew over to the girl, still sound asleep, obviously dreaming deeply. He stood guard over her for the rest of the night.