Welcome to Gaia! ::

Evan nodded. He didn't dare look behind him. He wanted the boy cleared from his mind for now- he instead decided to concentrate on the path before him, and watch for any threats. It had been another hour and a half traveling down the path on which they had been before the split. Which meant that it was getting late.

Worse things than wolves will be out soon. We must not remain on this path for much longer.

He did not respond to that- he just kept moving. The last thing he needed at the moment was Hugin making commentary, especially to the obvious. Besides, he was still upset at Sif's comments before they had left. He might not have been all there when it was said, but he remembered.

Arrogant, overbearing b***h.

Yes... Sif is almost as prideful and tactless as her... former lover. You must tolerate her however, for she is just like myself or Munin. Truthfully, I am surprised that she made threats instead of destroying your home outright.

Evan smirked to himself, as if something funny had been said or remembered.

Yeah... small consolation.

Indeed. But look on the bright side- you will get used to her, and learn to silently laugh at her demeanor instead of despise it.

A controlled current of air curled around the former kitty, lifting the once again comatose Melissa into the air and causing her to drift in the direction of Evan's outstretched arms. It would only take about ten seconds for it to happen before she was placed gently in his embrace. A rather interesting facet about controlling the wind was that sometimes, no one else would know that it was happenning, besides those who had an affinity for it.

Thus, to anyone else it would look like a telekinetic ability.

She is not ready to control this. She must learn, and you must teach her... before Ymir does.

So you're suggesting a Dive? Now?

No, not now. Just soon. Wait until the rest point, then make an attempt. Besides, if you can infiltrate once without his notice... you can do so again when the time comes for it.

Evan sighed. Hugin was right- perhaps it was time to give this a shot. He would have to be clean, without traces if his influence. The entry would be easy enough- it was the exit that would be difficult. But it wasn't time to consider that now- they were roughly twenty-five minutes away from their destination.

And just like that, they were within the confines of some shelter.

Evan sighed as he placed his belongings on the floor of the cavern. It was still cold in here, but warmer than outside. That said, it needed to be warmer. Immediately, he pulled out his combat knife, ten inches in length with a six inch blade... and began carving something in the relative center of the cave.

As the intricate pattern of lines began taking shape in the smooth stone floor, most would have noticed it for what it was- a Norse bindrune. A roughly carved circle about one foot in diameter surrounded, and thus enclosed the rune. The boundary had been set, the rune had been placed, and all Evan had to do was activate it.

It's not like there's any other way to do it...

Evan planted his right foot, heel first, hard into the center of the runic symbol. With that, the fires were fueled and the cave became exponentially warmer. Before the fire sprang forth, he withdrew his foot, his leg a blur of motion. Sighing to himself, he sat down with his legs crossed, Melissa sleeping in his lap.

Hn... we made it. If I could, I would ask Karasu for a reading on this child. Still, I doubt that the cards will even give an awnser, and if they do they won't give a clear one.

However, it was worth a shot. Just later. Right now, it was time to try and somehow enter this girl's mind. He just needed to find out how to do so quietly. Either that, or he would just dive in, take care of it, and get out before he was detected. However, it was best not to be reckless. He had done that before... it wasn't too good. He had his ears chewed off by Hugin for a week because of his inability to handle that situation.

I can handle this one. I have to, for her sake.

"...Do you hear that, boy?"

Evan's eyes were downcast, a shadow blocking his gaze. His voice was calm and even- dangerously so. Melissa's condition was worsening, and now the reasons that she had accepted help from the vile frost giant came to the surface.

Because of him. Because she had it in her mind that if she did not do something to change her situation, Evan would leave her behind.

Ymir, you b*****d!

"Would you have her suffer for this long? Well? I don't hear you giving any ideas; only criticism. And you are not just a boy... I had figured so from the moment you just happened to pop out from behind those trees, at the exact same time those wolves were killed."

Evan looked up at Hakan, his eyes flashing red for a brief moment as he almost lost control of his emotions- but only for a brief moment. He figured the boy wouldn't be afraid, but all the same... he was getting tired of his burdens being added to and added to, without rest.

"You are correct. Animals are not the only danger. And by that brief shudder, I assume you know more than you let on about this unseen threat. Which makes me trust you even less, since you have said nothing about it."

While he spoke, he placed a hand on Melissa's forehead, preparing himself for the Dive. This was no ordinary fever... and unless anyone else had a bright idea, he was going to do it. Hakan deserved a chance to prove himself, and he was going to get it.

"My doubts are as-yet unfounded, but I do know two things... Your name is not a coincidence, and your abilities are as much reason for suspicion as your motives for tagging along, which I do not know as of yet. So I suggest that if you must interfere, make it something that aids us. And do it now."

He was certain of it now- this boy was both irritating and highly dangerous. No one had ever read his thoughts before- his shields were meant to keep all but the most skilled (or the most forceful) out of his mind. The very combat strategies and vast knowledge of Odin himself were inside of that head of his, and if anyone could read his thoughts, they could read any other information that they wanted.

The thought that the child could read him was... unsettling at best, and reason enough to kill him at worst. But since his doubts were only suspicions and nothing more... well, he had to do something about that.

((Seeing as the plan to reach Idunn first before this sort of thing happened is out the window, anyone is free to make a contribution... before it's too late.))

Evan cursed his luck right about now. Once again forced to choose which was the better of two evils... the first one was keeping her at home and letting her bore herself to the point that she would no longer want to stay, or take her along and have her suffer the rigors of the journey.

Now the evils were thus: Go inside himself and potentially fall for the trap that Ymir most definitely had in wait for him, or trust this boy and have him do something that was... worse than what Ymir could impose. And if this was bad...

Both helped. Both would hurt. One was worse.

This time, he made a wise move in speaking his mind instead of remaining silent.

"Explain, and do it quickly. We have little time."

Evan sighed. To lose one's individuality, or to lose one's life? Did the boy have this planned all along? Or was it just something that needed to be done? Either way, time was running out and things were not entirely good at the moment. Not to mention he knew about Ymir... which made him suspect the boy even more.

He would make a point to inform Karasu of his plans to watch Hakan. For the moment, this was the best option.

"...Do it. Seeing as this is the better of the two rather obvious evils, I'll take my chances with your wolves. However, should this go wrong, I will happily leave you out in the snow."

Because he couldn't kill him. He did not trust him at all, but he couldn't kill him. Had he done anything malicious? Wrong in any way? No. All he had was a general distrust of the golden-haired boy who knew far too much and could read his thoughts, regardless of what walls were in the way.