Their Boy

Glancing through the whole in my floor covered by glass, I see tiny bipedal creatures moving quickly towards each other. I sighed, not wanting to have to care about such misbehaving, barely civil, beings. However since they keep us fed, alive, and prospering through their worshipping, I have to. As them killing each other would lead to less worshippers.

Standing up from my throne and sighing, I step around the clear glass panel and get ready to dispatch my 'employees'. Opening the door to their abode, not at all humble, I see Gildr, one of the newer ones, in the kitchen eating. Clearing my throat to get her attention, she turns around quickly, her wings fluttering slightly behind her.

"My Gods Odin, you know I hate it when you do that!" She spoke sternly while sitting up. Her mouth pressed into a thin hard line, making her already thin lips even thinner. Her sharp eyes took in my, undoubtedly showing, exasperation and pointed towards the hall behind me. "She's in there, but knock first before you go in." Nodding and mumbling a thanks towards her, I turn and head towards what is the training and weaponry room.

Smacking my hand against the door I push it open. I look in and see Gunnr polishing her spear and loading her quiver with new and shiny arrows. " I suspect you already know then?" I ask not looking at the array of weapons laying out on the table I hadn't realized was there. Scoffing, she puts down the spear and the cloth she was using. Smiling scornfully she walks over to stand in front of me so that I don't have to shout halfway across the room.

" Yes, they seem to not get along as well as they used to. Then again, I think they like fighting." She sighed. Chuckling, I fold my arms across my chest and smile. Turning around, I motion her to follow me. "I want you to assess the damage and then tell me what you are going to need to bring with you in order to help the side I favor the most."

She moves her feet to stand next to each other and whimsically puffs out her chest. Her arms fly to her side and lay there stiffly, mock saluting me. "Yessir Mr. I-See-All-Sir!" Rolling my eyes I head down the hall and back to the throne room and wave my hand t her. Signalling her to go ahead and take a look. Bending over she stares as the creatures, or humans as they like to call themselves, killed each other.

" How did this one start, sister?" Skogul asked. Another one of my employees. Although giving thought to the question that she had asked, it wasn't an easily answered question. " Was this one over another cow or chicken, maybe someone found someone else to blame for their problems?" She laughed sarcastically. Chuckling, I ran my fingers over the braid in my hair and then dragged my fingers down my face.

" One of the humans' kings wanted more land but he couldn't get it without taking over someone else's land. Of course the other side is fighting back because they need more land to farm and hunt because of their growing population," shrugging I look at her again, " I don't know or understand what they are doing, but it seems like hunting for game and not out of necessity for resources."

" It's probably because humans like to show off their talents in destructive ways." Gunnr says, standing up to stretch her back and rub her neck. Nodding, I lean back a little and start to think harder about which side I wanted to answer the prayers of and help win. I look over as I hear someone hum and see Baldr, one of my sons, walk into the room.

" Seems to me that the humans don't need help, I mean it looks like they're wrapping this battle up quiet nicely." He says, wrapping his arm around the person I didn't notice was there. I might be losing my edge. The winged tyrant standing next to him is Gierskogul. Skogul's twin sister. Did I mention most of my 'employees' are female?

Yeah, Frigg did not like that.

"That sounds like a good idea, until you realize that if we didn't help someone, we would lose followers and become significantly less strong than if we had helped." I hear Gunnr pipe up. Widening my eyes slightly to signal understanding, I playa mini game of Ennie-Meenie and decide on the first king. At least this way we'll get more battles and prayers. Suck it Big G.

Telling everyone in the room my decision, I begin to walk out before remembering something. "Gunnr," I command, "Go find the rest of your sisters and get ready for battle." Finally turning all the way around, I walk back to my chambers to get suited up and to hide from Frigg. Again.

~~~

Walking down a long and narrow dirt road full of people and merchants, I stop in front of two stands. One stand is newer and has a lot of good looking pastries and bread, but the other is a trusted merchant I've been buying bread from since my mom taught me how to shop. Looking into the coin pouch I strapped onto my thigh, I walk to the trusted vendor first before going to the newer one.

Just as I'm about to move onto the fruit stands next I hear a weak squawk. Taking hesitant steps towards the sound, I don't see anything and start to think that it was just apart of my imagination when I hear it again. This time closer. Picking up the pace, the squawk leads me to a crate. Inside the crate is a crow with black feathers. Bending down, I try and pick it up but have to pull my hand back quickly as it gets to fly away but stops and squawks again.

Sighing, I slowly out stretch my hands and move slowly to grab it. It, I have to check it's gender. Shifting it to one hand I quickly realize it is actually a he. Carefully, he watches me as I examine him and sun find his problem. His left wing is broken.

"Poor thing, I'll help you get better." Standing up from my previously crouched position, I begin my walk home.

As I walk, I slide my hands underneath him more do he can be comfortable. " I like the name Dragon. What do you think?" Getting a chirp in response, I nod my head. " Then your name shall be Dragon and I will love and take care of you until either you or I die. Which probably won't take very long, considering the shenanigans I constantly find myself getting into." Giggling I bring him closer to my face, accidentally picking up his scent. Quickly moving him to an arm's length away, I scrunch up my nose and say,

" I think it's time for your first bath with me."

Coming to the outskirts of the town that I live in, I walk over to a cabin and climb onto the stairs leading up to the small porch and door. Reaching for the knob, I turn it and open the door hearing the hinges squeal with the effort of keeping the door in place and also turning it. I peek my head into the doorway and hear nothing coming from the adjoined living room and kitchen. He's either still training or asleep.

He's probably still asleep.

Looking into his room I see a ball curled up on the bed, confirming my suspicion. Nodding my head I look down to the raven still in my arms. " How about we start you a bath and then move on to getting you something to eat, huh?" Chirping, he pecks the pad of my thumb.

Chuckling, I head towards the kitchen to heat up some water for Dragon's bath. Setting him down on top of the dinning table, I grab a pot and start walking the short distance to the water pump in the backyard. Setting the pot underneath the spout, I start to pump the lever up and down to get the water to start flowing. The water comes out suddenly but expected and sloshes around the container before beginning to fill it up.

I keep up this pace and eventually come to a stop as the pot becomes full. Wiping my hands on my clothes, I pick up the pot by the handles and carry it inside the house and back to the kitchen. Back inside the kitchen, I see him standing on the table where I had left him, but he's staring at something in the direction of dads room. I walk farther into the room and see dad staring back at him.

I jump on him, squealing, but not before putting the pot on the stove and lighting the flame underneath it. "Dad you're up, I was just about to make dinner! Go shower and change and the food will be ready when you finish." Dad stares at Dragon before slowly turning around with a confused look on his face. Pivoting on my heel, I turn to see the water in the pot beginning to steam.

Moving to the stove, I quickly take the pot off before it can start boiling. Whereas he was previously standing tensely, he is now picking at his left wing. I take the pot and dump half of the water into a small and shallow bucket sitting it on the table, and before I can stop him Dragon hops in and lowers his body into the water.

Laughing, I set the rest if the water back on the stove and, this time, let it boil. I grab the towel that I had set there before starting, scoop Dragon out of the bucket and into the towel, and start to gently rub him down. Letting him finish drying himself. His feathers are now shinning, and I can see an undertone of deep green I'm them. I'm grabbing clean pieces of cloth turn from old clothes I turn to him and begin fixing his left wing. I'm about to turn not back sound and add potatoes to the water when I hear Dragon squawk. I turn to look at him.

" Would you like to go with me?" I ask, and as if he could understand me, he squawks again and pecks my hand when I go to pick him up. That's weird. Resting him on my shoulder, I go back to making the mashed potatoes to go with the deer meat that the hunters in the village brought back yesterday.

Peeling and cutting up the potatoes, I carefully dump them into the water making sure that the hot water doesn't hit me or Dragon. Moving away from the stove, I go over to the cabinet and pull out a piece of the deer meat that I rubbed with salt and wrapped in burlap. Taking it to the table, I grab a knife and start to cut it to bite sized pieces. Grabbing another pot, I pour some of the potato water into it and dump the bite sized meat chunks into it.

I let it sit on the stove before gong back to the potatoes. Using a wooden spoon, I mash most of the potatoes and add a couple of vegetables to the pot.

"Dad please, he'll be staying in my room and I can feed him my food as I don't eat that much. DAD PLEASE!" I say adding a whine at the end and my best puppy dog eyes. I see Dragon doing the same and so I lift him up so Father can see him too. It works because after a few short minutes of silence he sighs, rubs his face and gives in. I've won again!

"Fine, but he's your responsibility. If something happens to him it's on you." He says, becoming uncharacteristically serious. Thanking him profusely I kiss his beak and leave to go to my room.

"Hey Dragon, do you think anything special is gonna happen to me some day?"

TBC

Hi, my name is Yanna! I hope you enjoyed the prologue of Their Boy! If you noticed any inconsistencies, comment and I will fix it