AN: Hey! Here's another chapter for all of you! :D I know it has been a long while since I have updated. School is being a b… not so good to me. They give me so much typing activities there was even a time I dreaded to look at my own laptop. Yeah, academic research does make a good writer's block, add to the fact that Destiel and DarGar had been trying to distract me from my ThunderShield muse (and they were really successful *sighs*). I know this is a short chapter but I will try -the operative word- to update as much as possible within the weeks to come. Thank you so much for giving me your time in reading this fic.

Special thanks to:

EpicKiya, Kai Chen, Naru-chan-Lover, mangaloverize, and ninjaeris13 for the faves.

themyrrh, thank you so much for the comments. They made my day! :D and the unnamed guest and mangaloverize again. Thank you!

The ones who gave their alerts, thank you as well. :)

9:

The utter fear in Thor's eyes was enough for Steve to wave the white flag. He saw anger and frustration but his is what Steve would call a terror. If the big blond man was already this afraid, what of Steve? He refused to let his fear speak to him though, but denying the fear's existence was futile. Steve wonders if this really is the end.

"Thor, why-"

Thor's quiet voice was a voice resigned to his fate, flowing from a sarcophagus he was already lying in. "My father."

Steve knew he already asked this for a million times, but still he did. Maybe for one last time. "What?"

"My father," Thor gulped. "I believe this is some sort of a test."

Oh now he was singing like a canary. If this was non-life threatening situation, Steve would have said something so vile his mother would have washed his mouth with soap. After all this time, Thor chose to talk when it was almost too late. "What kind of test is this?"

"I am not certain," Thor gritted his teeth. "I woke up finding myself lost in this wilderness without much explanation as well. It was the eve of my name day, and I always knew there would be some sort of a test. I knew this involved my hammer, my inheritance. I never would have thought that it would come to this." He looked at Steve. "I believe the test involves the annihilation of this creature. However, without my hammer it would be a futile effort. You would die, and I would fail."

Steve met those blue eyes with his own, and never had he so much hopelessness. The fear he refused to acknowledge was already invading his system in heaps, shaking him to the core and froze him more than the frigid winter ever could. The information Thor gave was one of those Steve really needed the most, though he was not sure it was worth knowing.

Then he remembered Bucky. He had to live for Bucky. If he dies here in the middle of nowhere, what would Bucky think? That Steve was a coward? That he simply gave up? That he never put up a fight? If Bucky was here, he would push Steve even though it was against his own will. He would want Steve to fight. He knows and the idea that someone believes in him makes Steve strengthen his own resolve.

The smaller blond man stood up, forcing his legs not to sway. He knew this could be the end, but Steve refused to give up the fight. "We are still alive aren't we?"

Steve's statement rattled Thor a bit. "I do not understand."

"I do not want to give up, not while we still have the chance to live. After almost two days' worth of suffering with you, because of you, and I would just simply give it all up?" Steve was already gritting his own teeth. "No, I refuse to believe that."

Thor stared at him, dumbfounded. "Are you implying..."

"Yes, we should try and take this creature down." Hearing those words from his own mouth was something Steve could not actually believe. The conviction coming out from his mouth was too foreign, but Steve knew he could not back down. Never. Not until he knows he can still do something, anything.

"You are out of your mind, mortal," Thor growled. "Without the hammer, you are nothing!"

Steve considered the thought as he continued to his staring showdown with the monster. Unlike their first encounter the monster was unmoving, almost calm. Flames were still raging on what seems to be its mouth and a metallic stench permeated with the burnt timber in the air. The hammer was still in its hand and Steve could see its gentle thrum.

Another thing entered Steve's mind. "Does this thing have a... weakness or anything?"

Thor huffed. "All I knew was it could only be defeated by a great power, by brute strength alone."

Steve caught the words left unsaid. The hammer was the only key to defeat the monster. Their one and only chance however, is in the hands of the enemy. What should they do?

*.*.*

Logan saw it all, and it was the first time in his long life that he felt an undeniable fear. Although he would never admit it out loud, he was scared for the fate of the younger blonde man. There was great part of him that wanted to join the fray, but at the same time he wants to just stay in the shadows and wait for the right time.

After the events at the already ruined cabin, Logan tried his best to steer the monster away from the direction of the two other men. However, the monster seems to not care about him. Logan continued to attack the monster even though his claws were proven ineffective against its armour. Logan didn't know what it is but all he knew it was a threat, for the two men and him at the same time. He followed the creature for a full night, making all the effort to distract the monster and lose its path. He tried everything, from snarling to growling to downright full attacking but nothing fazes the monster. It continues on walking, albeit slow but calculated like it already knew where the other two men are. It was just taking its time, the fire in its mouth still burning through the cold night.

Logan never felt so exhausted in his life. The journey took most of his energy for he followed the monster right where it is now. Logan stayed under the shadow of the trees, waiting for the perfect time to pounce. His position made him see the situation all too, the smaller blonde man on the ground with the other blond man standing tall. The monster was right in front of the bonfire, a hammer in its hand, looking so calm and still.

Wisps of cold air came out of his mouth as he panted quietly. The exhaustion was catching up to him and it was not a good sign. He kept his claws ready though because he knew that he would enter a seemingly unescapable battle any moment now.

The moment he was waiting for came when he heard the loud cracks of burning timber, as if something colossal has stepped on it hard. When he looked back to the clearing, he saw the monster advancing to the pair. Logan knew he has to move soon, or else those men will die.

*.*.*

The monster made it first move, and all Steve could do was hold his breath.

As the monster stepped on the fire, Steve thought about everything that had happened for the last two days like there were flashes right before his very eyes. From the moment when the hammer lifted him to the sky right up to this. How many times has he almost died again? Steve lost count and this might be the last time he could think.

There was an insane part of him that refused to give up, yes, but that part was getting clouded by all of his other thoughts. He can't think clearly on what to do. Or can he really do anything? Without the hammer he was truly useless, as Thor would have said. He might be able to lift that thing, but now that it was out of his reach he was back into being the simple scrawny little man from Brooklyn. Not even all the bullies back home combined can even compare to what will fall on him right now.

"Thor, what should we do now?" Steve asked quietly, not even taking his eyes off the monster. The other man stayed silent.

The monster made another step, this time it was already out of the fire. It was even a more frightening sight, and Steve could not help but pray inside his mind. Taking a deep breath, he whispered and closed his eyes, "Dear God, lend me the strength to survive."

When he opened his eyes again, a flying hammer was already flying towards the man beside him. It hit Thor so hard he crashed to the trees, destroying much of them in the process. Before Steve could even react, the hammer was already flying back to the monster. It all happened so fast; all could Steve do was gape and stare. The fear he was holding back now cascaded in heaps. He wanted to make sure the other man was alright, but he could not make another move because the monster was already staring at him. He could not even look back just to see if the other man was still breathing.

Steve didn't know how long time has passed, but it seems that Thor was not getting up yet. Come on, Thor. Do something! I don't think that killed you! He knows he doesn't like the crazy blond man, but he refused to see him die. Thor was a bit uppity and spiteful, sure, but that was horrible thing to happen to anyone.

The smaller blond man was a little thankful when he heard a few faint grunts from behind. But his little bit of gratitude was eclipse by the fiery stares of the monster, which was currently focused on him. A bellow of fire was blowing to hiss direction and Steve dodged as fast as he could. The bottom part of his pants were unlucky though, for they were singed by the fire. Steve was not sure if he was also injured but he only knew one thing: he had to get to Thor.

Fire streams were almost easy to dodge as the monster released them one by one, as Steve was using his stature as an advantage. Ducking just a little bit lower than his normal height proved to be effective as he ran back to Thor. He panted so hard he was sure he would pass out any minute, but Steve's mind refused to succumb. He had to get to Thor.

Thor apparently crashed into a pine, with snow blanketing his whole body. The hammer was stuck on his stomach and he was clearly grimacing in pain. Blood was freely flowing from his head, matting his short beard. His blue eyes were wide open though with determination and anger burning through. As Steve was nearing the other man's position, he could not understand why those blue eyes were replaced by fear again.

A searing pain enveloped his back and Steve screamed in pain before crashing right beside Thor. It seems that he ran out of luck. He could feel the burn on his back ravaging his skin and muscle. Lethargy was slowly seeping in as the pain was overwhelming every sense that he had.

No, he can't give up now. That was his mantra, his last repeat of the mantra. If he must die, then the other man should live.

Before the blackness claimed him, he blindly gripped the hammer's hilt with his last strength and let Thor go free.

The last sounds he heard were a howl and a battle cry.