the lost Spartan

oövervinneligt

Its been weeks since I created my retractable shield and just yesterday I drew up plans for my new armour and weapons.

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As I was tightening my bow string I heard heavy knocking at my door then the doorknob click and the creaking of the opening door "hey, do you have a minute?" hiccup asked me "no" I bluntly replied, hiccup sighed and came in anyways "it's about the dragon, the soul ripper" hiccup stated, I stopped optimizing my bow and slowly turned around "what?" I asked  "is there any chance you'll let it go, or even try and live in peace with it?" he asked.

As his words left his mouth the memories of that day flooded back to me, I can still remember the screams of my men, the heat from the burning ships, the smell of fear "you cannot live in 'peace' with a beast like that" I told him "but you can! I know you can" hiccup said enthusiastically "it killed my men, decimated my ships and stranded me on this backwards island" I said getting more angry as I listed what this dragon has done to me "Berk isn't backwards. it's called being progressive, maybe you should try it" he said before turning around and heading for the door "oh and astrid wanted to see you, something about hunting she said" hiccup said before closing the door behind him "fine. hunting." I muttered.

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. A hour later 

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"Hey slayer, up for hunting some boar?" astrid asked "let's get this over with, I have things to do" I told her "yeah and hunting boar with me is one of them so come on" she said running ahead of me, I followed, "are we hunting just boar?" I asked "not just any boar, apparently it's hide can't be penetrated, I call it  oövervinneligt" she said "that's a made up word" I told her "no you just don't speak the tongue, it means invincible" she told me "where I am from there was a lion with hide so strong even swords could not mark it, it was called the nemean lion" I told her "really? so is it still living?" she asked "no, a demi god named hercules killed it with his bare hands" I explained "well seems our land and yours have something in common" she said "yes... maybe my home and yours are not so different. Except the dragons" I added and she let out a light chuckle 

"We are near the boars resting place" I said "how do you know?" she said "the tracks are much deeper here, meaning its frequently visited" I explained, right on que a large boar, bigger than astrid appeared only a 20 feet away, me and astrid both knelt down "is that it?" she asked "you mean you don't know what the boar looks like?" I asked, she shrugged her shoulders "one way to find out" I muttered, i pulled an arrow from my quiver and loaded it into my tightly wound bow, as i pulled backwards on the string i held my breath to focus my aim, i waited for my opportunity but before i could knock back the arrow i felt astrids hands on my arms, she adjusted my form and stance, her hands were so soft and gentle, it gave me a sense of warmth i haven't felt in a while "there" she said "you'll be more accurate now" she said, I nodded and refocused on the boar.

I knocked back the arrow, it cut through the air, whistling towards the target, i let out my breath as the arrow connected, the arrow bounced off the animal as it squealed and ran away i turned to astrid "it's the one" i said picking myself up and we ran after it.

It wasn't long till we had caught up with the beast "what's our approach now?" astrid asked me "i don't know, i have never met a boar i can't kill" i said "wait! you said about the herculous guy right?" she said "hercules, yes" I answered "what weapon did he use?" she asked "his bare han- oh i see what you mean" I replied " you go in there and kill it with your bare hands!" she said "you make it sound so simple" I said "you beat my dragon in a fight, you still have to apologise for that" she said, i grunted but agreed to her plan.

I ran towards the beast tackling it to the ground, it easily slipped out of my grip and scrambled to its feet, it backed up a few feet and charged towards me, I never back down from a fight, i charged towards it as well and grabbed it by its horns and we were in a stalemate, it grunted as it pushed against me, thinking fast I ducked down, still holding onto the horns, I used its own strength against it and flipped it over, i swiftly broke its neck. I signalled to astrid telling her it was done.

It took a while to skin it but we did it eventually, i had grabbed the hide as i could use it for my armour and slung the large boar over my shoulders "why are you so isolated?" astrid asked "i have my reasons" i replied "but its been months since you arrived and you barely eat at the main hall, we don't even know your name!"  she said "fine. what do you want to know?" I offered "really?" she asked excitedly "if it means you'll leave me be about my personal life then yes. ask away" i told her, it did not take long till she began bombarded me with questions...

"whats a spartan?" she ask "me" I replied "are you all like you?" "no" I replied "why are you so angry?" she asked "im not" "why don't you talk to anyone?" "the less I talk, the less I get attached, the easier it is parting ways" I answered "why haven't you left and gone back to sparta?" she asked "when i kill that dragon I will. Plus I like the cold." I replied "berk or sparta?" she asked "sparta" "but you just said you like the cold?" she pointed out "yes but berk does not have the same alcohol" I told her "how old are you?" she asked "I am 21" i answered "woah me too!" she said "why are you this excitable?" I asked "hey! im asking the questions" she replied "don't you have a family?" she asked, I stopped in my tracks and she fell silent.

"I-I'm sorry i didn't mean too i just got carried away and-" "yes. i did... once" i replied to her surprise "what happened to them? if you don't mind talking about it" she asked "i can do it. as a spartan, our lives are limited as we are always in battle, i wanted a son so i got married to the woman i loved and had a child, a boy, i rose through the ranks but made more enemies. one day i was ambushed by a small group of persians, they killed my family in front of me. since then i have got close to no one" i explained "im so sorry I had no idea, what did you do?" she asked "i killed every last one of them. I ripped through their army and tore through their ranks till none were left. hence the name slayer" I said "I trust you will tell no one?" I asked "of course!" she said "thank you" I replied as I began walking again.

"Do you have any more of your questions?" I asked "yes I do" she said "its been a while since you washed up here so do you have your eye on anyone?" she asked, my silence lingred to long and she followed up on her question "come on, there's no way you haven't looked in the direction of at least one girl" she said "there... there is one." I replied "i knew it! who?" she asked "she is a good fighter, impressive almost. she makes me feel warm" I answered "you're not even gonna tell me!" she said "no. now lets get moving" I told her.

If only she knew... it was her...