#mimr

“Welcome back dumbass,” Brok greeted, the others looking over to greet Kratos as well. 

“Hi dad,” Atreus whispered, his voice hoarse, smiling brightly from where he lay on a hospital bed. Atreus then hesitated, looking to the side before forcing himself to meet his fathers gaze, “Dad?”

“Yes son?” Kratos answered immediately, walking forward to stand to the right of Sindri, close to his son, but not crowding him. Atreus’s respirator hummed in the silence as Atreus seemed to contemplate something.

“Can we go to the park with Fenrir when I’m better?”

Kratos stared back into his son's bright blue eyes, “yes, we shall take Sveki and Svana as well.”

Mimir nodded, “of course we will, lad, we can even get ice cream.”

“Me and fuckface over here will go with ya, we’ve been needing some fresh air.” Brok commented, slinging an arm over his brother and smirking at Atreus. Sindri nodded along, placing a gentle hand on the side of the hospital bed. 

“I would be happy to accompany you as well,” Freya said, grasping Atreus’s hand in her own lovingly.

“We could have a picnic!” Atreus concluded, beaming, before he erupted into a coughing fit, a nearby nurse came in, helping Atreus sit up and cough into his elbow.

“It’ll be okay,” the nurse soothed, rubbing his back and handing him water once the coughing subsided. “Mr. Kratos was it? I need to speak to you outside for a moment.”

They walked back out into the hallway, before the nurse stopped them a good distance from the doorway that kept Kratos from his family. 

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Sindri watched as Atreus joyfully recounted the last time he had gone to the park, vividly describing the things he had seen.

“What kind of ice cream do you like best, Atreus?” Sindri asked, wanting to keep the conversation flowing, to be able to believe that everything would be okay.

“I don’t know Sin, i like all the flavors but strawberry might be favored just a smidge more than the others.” Atreus joked easily, giggling when Brok made a face.

“What you should love is chocolate and caramel!” Brok boomed, going on to explain each and every reason why it was the best combination.

And just as Brok was finishing his speech, Kratos walked, stone faced, and stood beside Atreus grasping his hand gently.

“They told you, didn’t they?” Atreus asked, smiling weakly up at his father, a look of knowing behind his young eyes.

“Yes,” Kratos’s voice shook as he spoke, unable to contain the emotion within him.

“It’s okay dad,” Atreus hushed, “we’ll still go to the park, right?” 

“Yes.”

“And have that picnic?”

“Anything you want.” 

Tears spilled from Kratos’s eyes, etching lines into his face.

“Just promise you won’t leave me.”

The Giant Mimr

Led by his zeolots Mimr goes around collecting the weak and beaten ones left behind on the battlefield to add them to his entourage. If someone is foolish enough to resist or attack him he'll crush them mercilessly.

"The soldiers don't fear the battle and the fight. They fear to be left behind. Lost in the endless fields of death until he arrives. They would rather embrace death than be found by him and his zealots."

I took part in this years ArtWar Challenge over at cubebrush.com. It was a blast to work alongside so many hard working artists on my little character. If you like follow me on facebook and twitter: https://www.facebook.com/axel.sauerwaldhttps://twitter.com/AxelSauerwald