Lost and Found

Chapter Nine: Ruins and Runes

I really have nothing to say, so I hope you enjoy! :)

Chapter Nine: Ruins and Runes

New Asgard was in flames. Several of the newly built buildings had collapsed. A thin layer of dust hung in the still air. It was clear that Gorr had visited.

"We're too late," Loki muttered. They were standing on top of a small hill, looking down at the town. Even from here, the damage looked bad; who knows what it actually was up close.

"We don't know for sure," Thor commented with a hint of hope in his voice. He had summoned a rain storm as soon as he saw the buildings burning to put out the fires. The sky was just now clearing up. "Where are the bodies? I'm sure Gorr doesn't have a way to get rid of them."

"Maybe he ate them," Pietro said off-handly while he stared at the ruins of the town.

Thor and Loki turned to stare questioningly at Pietro, both shocked by Pietro's suggestion. Pietro felt their stares and faced them.

"What?" Pietro asked and raised his hands defensively. "I'm sure that he didn't, but we don't know..."

Loki rolled his eyes and tried to block out Pietro, who was rambling off theories about what happened. He had never been to New Asgard, but he was glad that his adopted home had found a new place to live after Surtur blew their first one up. It was sad to see this place ruined as well.

Many questions arose from the depths of Loki's mind, awaking his fears: Why was Gorr coming after Asgardians now? Were Sigyn and the kids alright? Where was everyone? And what in all the Nine Realms was going on?

Thor's voice cut through Loki's musings, but his worry lingered still.

"I can call Valkyrie," Thor suggested. "She should know what happened."

Loki shrugged and put his hands in his jacket's pockets. "Whatever works; I just want to know what happened."

Thor nodded and took his phone out of his pocket. He dialed Valkyrie's number, put it on speaker phone so Pietro and Loki could hear, and waited as the phone rang.

"Hello?" a woman's voice answered on the second ring.

"Valkyrie!" Thor tried to contain his excitement, but it was clear in his voice. "Are you alright? I'm in New Asgard, but it's in ruins. Where is everyone?"

Valkyrie sighed. She sounded tired. "Some creep showed and started attacking us. We had to flee before he killed someone. We tried to take him down, but he was really strong and powerful. Most of us don't know how to fight since all our warriors were killed when Hela attacked Asgard. We're safe now and are planning on heading back soon," Valkyrie explained.

Thor let out a sigh of relief. "Do you know where he went?"

"No idea. He just disappeared, saying that he had to listen to orders and leave," Valkyrie answered.

Loki raised an eyebrow. So Gorr wasn't in charge. But who was? Gorr was someone who really didn't like taking orders from someone else unless he or she or...whatever was much stronger than him. And Gorr was already pretty powerful.

"I'm glad that you are alright," Thor said. "Were there any casualties?"

"Just a few cuts and bruises, but we had the numbers against him. It only lasted for about five minutes, but the damage that he could do was frightening. I swear, he might be up there with Thanos."

"I know, I've fought him," Thor muttered with a glare on his face. "Both of them."

"Are you staying?"