Solace

Sophia hurried after her cousin and his wayward dog, following the trail they left in the tall grass. She knew bringing the shepherd out here was a bad idea, but Timothy had insisted. By the time she caught up, Tim had his dog by the collar to keep it from jumping on the person they'd found.

"I'm so sorry about Angel," Tim panted, "she's still a bit of a wild pup. …Oh my god. Are you all right?"

Sophia fixed her flashlight on the dark form in the grass. A woman. Her long dark hair was a rat's nest, her torn clothes splattered in blood, and sharp eyes flicking between them. She took a defensive step back from the strangers. Tim dragged Angel away, apologizing again as Sophia shrugged out of her hoodie.

"Easy, easy," Sophia said calmly. "Whatever happened, it's okay. You're okay now, you're safe."

The woman's piercing green eyes tracked Sophia's every movement as she carefully laid her hoodie over the woman's shoulders.

"What's your name?"

She blinked.

"Lani," she said roughly.

This close, Sophia noticed bruises around Lani's neck as though she had been choked. Protective anger ignited, but Sophia kept it inside.

"It's nice to meet you, Lani. I'm Sophia, and that's Tim, my cousin. If you need somewhere safe to go, our cabin isn't too far. You can get cleaned up and call whomever you need."

Lani nodded cautiously. Sophia led them carefully back through the grass and trees. She wanted to ask Lani what happened to her, but it was too soon. She could only imagine the other woman was still in shock. As the cabin came into view, Lani hesitated. Sophia smiled at her gently.

"It's just Tim and my nieces. I won't let them bother you, I promise."

Somewhat assured, Lani continued following. The curious younger girls were shooed off as promised, and Sophia took their new guest inside to the bedroom she shared with her nieces. She laid out her extra pajamas and left Lani shower and steady herself.

"I'll be right outside. If you need anything, just call, okay?"

Again Lani nodded. Sophia closed the door and settled at the dining table with the first aid kit and a cup of tea.

'Impressive; I'm 5'10" and she's nearly as tall as I am. Nice to have someone else around for a bit that's as tall as me. But where did she come from? We're the only people aside from random campers for miles, and her clothes are more business casual than wilderness wear. Possible something happened, and we just didn't hear it.'

The thought worried her.

One of her nieces bounded inside and considered the closed bedroom door.

"Leave her be, Annabelle."

"But…"

Sophia shook her head, and the girl joined her instead, poking at the antiseptic and bandages.

"What happened to her?"

"I'm not sure."

"What do you think happened?"

Annabelle stared expectantly at her aunt, whom she knew was the sharpest of the family. Sophia licked her lips and spoke carefully.

"I'll have a better idea when I get a closer look at her wounds, but… You know the way a man should never treat a woman."

Annabelle's expression confirmed she indeed remembered those lessons.

"He could still be looking for her!"

"Calm, Annabelle." Sophia patted her shoulder. "She'll be fine. Why don't you go back out with Laila and Tim? We don't want to spook Lani any more than she already is."

The girl pouted for a moment but knew her aunt was right. She wrapped the older woman in a strong hug before disappearing back outside. Sophia listened to the chatter of her family out at the fire pit, punctuated by Angel's yips and grumbles, as she continued to wait. Lani appeared soon enough, smoothing at her towel-dried hair. She scrutinized the space before finding Sophia, who offered her a chair at the table where she sat. Lani settled herself in it stiffly, shoulders squared.

"Looks like the clothes fit okay. Are they comfortable?"

"Yes, thank you." Lani eyed the medical supplies. "I have no need for bandages."

Sophia plucked up the antiseptic anyway.

"Maybe not, but that cut above your eye has started oozing again. Best not to risk infection, yeah?"

Lani's lips drew into a thin line. "If you insist."

She closed her eyes as Sophia gently dabbed at the wound and covered it in a bandage. Slowly, Lani's shoulders began to relax, and she offered another gash on her calf. Sophia tended it as diligently as the first.

'Pretty thing,' she thought, 'from a family far better off than mine. Maybe even the upper-class. Delicate, too. No wonder she couldn't defend herself. Whoever did this had better fucking hope I never find them.'

"Can you tell me how you ended up out here?"

Lani thought for a moment. "I cannot remember clearly."

"What about whoever did this? Your family, anything?"

Lani hesitated and looked away.

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, but if it's possible they're still nearby, I need to know."

"I can assure you, they are not."

Sophia nodded.

"Do you have any friends you want to call? Or someone that could help you?"

Again, Lani hesitated. Sophia pursed her lips.

'A dangerous situation, perhaps. Mom was in one like that before she met dad. Couldn't even call her own friends without risking that guy finding her. And if Lani lost the only family she could trust in The Snap, then she's screwed.'

"You'll be safe here tonight. We can figure out tomorrow what you want to do." Sophia packed away the unused supplies. "Let me know if you get hungry."

Lani nodded and finally took the cup of tea.

"Thank you."

*****

Loki was sure now. He was on Midgard again. He wasn't entirely pleased with his rushed transformation, but it was working well enough for now. Perhaps later, he'd have the strength to change it. He'd taken the name 'Lani' from an old conversation with Frigga. It was a name she wanted to give her daughter if she had one. This was back when Hela's existence was still being hidden. If she'd been born later, perhaps she'd been called 'Lani' instead.

He-no, she; she was glad to be clean sooner than planned, and genuinely appreciated the offer of room and board. While she lacked the energy for her usual social acumen, Loki couldn't bear to be alone. She could feel unknown eyes searching for her; the titan's so-called children, she was certain. Finished with her tea, Loki accepted Sophia's invitation to the fireside. Here, too, she kept her nieces from bothering Loki, and the familiarity of gathering around a fire served to comfort her some.

Loki let herself simply breathe, relishing the sensation of air moving freely in and out of her lungs. She was alive. But how? She clearly remembered feeling her neck break, and her body turn cold. There was something after that, something she couldn't remember. It had been dark and stifling, and she'd been in agony, but there had also been something warm and golden for a moment. She picked at her palm as she tried to remember. She wanted to gaze up into the stars, but couldn't stand to bare her throat.

'Perhaps, for now, I should be glad I am even alive at all. I will remember, with time.'

A sudden pressure on her shoulder made her flinch. Sophia pulled her hand away instantly.

"I didn't mean to startle you. We're going in for the night."

Tim was drowning the firepit, and the girls were already inside. Loki brushed herself off and followed Sophia back inside.