The Oncoming Storm

"I guess I should, um, apologize."

"That won't be necessary.  I rather enjoyed myself.  Though I suppose introductions would be nice.  Call me Thane."

"And?"

"I'm surprised you aren't chastising me."

"I never miss anything."

"Then you know I've been a very busy boy.  Naughty too."

"That was certainly one way to say hello."

"Cowardly words from a being as omnipotent as you. You’d do well to watch where you stand; you may soon find stable footing hard to come by the way you’re going." 

"I hope you don't take offense, but I hardly find you in any position to threaten me, brother.  You have nothing you can use against me.  I choose not to keep things that can b r e a k so easily.  You might do well to do the same."

"You know — I think I’m finally seeing the family resemblance. Yeah, you and war both look as though someone’s rammed a lead pipe up your ass. We weren’t created to respect, brother. We were created to destroy. So don’t get prissy about it. Pet? Which one?” 

"Oh, that's right.  You have multiple.  I've had a word with your hunter.  She's glutton for punishment it seems.  Foul mouth, too.  Don't make me have to kill her too."

“Leave her out of this. She has done n o t h i n g to you. This petty squabble of yours is childish, Death. True Neutrality? Bullshit.” 

  “You leave her the fuck out of this.” 

    “What’s happening?”

"Now look what you've done, brother.  You mess with me and I do strike back hard.  I know how to kill her.  Just the right touch and her body will be cold as ice in your hands.  Nothing but a corpse."

"Famine, help."

"Yes, Brother.  Help her."

She bites back a scream that pulls at her throat while every muscle in her body tenses, “I’ll show some respect when I get some.” Her tongue runs over her teeth between laboured breaths. “So, this talk?”

He inhales sharply.  "It seems, for some reason unbeknownst to me, my dear brother has a certain fondness towards you."  He runs a hand through her blonde hair.  "Which means you've just become of value to me.  If my brother tries anything on me, I will snap you like a twig and rip your heart from your chest.  Pass that message along to him for me, will you?"