One Equal Temper of Heroic Hearts

Guarded

Mahina and Merida hauled their boar back to camp, whereupon Mahina got to draining the blood before the meat could spoil and carving up the boar for cooking.

Merida was eyeing Mahina's knife work with deep concern, but Jack just seemed impressed.

"Great work, you two," he congratulated them. "This'll last us a bit."

"I'd love to take your thanks," Merida said, tone a smidge uneasy, "but Mahina is really responsible for the kill."

Mahina gave a pleased little grin. "I happen to enjoy hunting boar," she said as she worked. "I probably have more experience with them than any other type of game- this one appearing was really a convenient coincidence."

"I'm not sure I've ever met someone who liked hunting boar all that much," Jack noted, sitting on one of the logs he and Hiccup had hauled into camp and around their fire.

"It's a much more entertaining sport when you can fly," Mahina admitted.

"Yeah, that'll do it," Jack chuckled.

Hiccup double-checked the perimeter of cleared dirt around his ring of stones, then brushed off his hands on his pants. "Now we just need Eugene and Rapunzel with the firewood."

"Speak of the devil," Merida said as Rapunzel and Eugene returned.

"Who are you calling a devil?" Eugene demanded, but his tone was playful, and Merida snorted.

"Oh, so insults are fine, but you tell him what to do and he puffs up like an angry kitten," Jack muttered to Mahina.

Mahina patted his shoulder. "Yes, yes, his ego is a nightmare," she mumbled back, shooting him a smirk that he returned.

"We think there's a town that way," Rapunzel said. "The path gets clearer and there's not as many resources. We might be able to get there before dark."

"Did you actually see the town? Wagon tracks or footprints?" Jack checked.

"No," Eugene said, raising an eyebrow.

"Any sounds of chatter, movement, a village in earshot?" Jack added.

Rapunzel shook her head.

"You were gone for about an hour and a half. We have forty-five minutes until sundown," Mahina said. "We haven't got time to reach town before dark, even if it is nearby like you think."

"We don't know the area. We can't risk walking through the woods at night. There could be robbers, wildlife," Jack said. "We should stay put for tonight and look for the village tomorrow. Agreed?"

"Oh, come on! Rapunzel and I have dealt with far worse than a dark forest! Heck, we've gotten through a whole Dark Kingdom!" Eugene said. "And besides, won't an inn be more comfortable than ice tents?"

"I handle heat poorly, an ice tent sounds great," Mahina said rapidly.

"Not helping," Eugene retorted.

"Wasn't trying to."

Merida snorted softly at that.

"Eugene does have a point," Hiccup said. "An inn isn't just going to be more comfortable, but also safer than the woods."

"Depends on the inn. If anything, a small town inn along a trading road could be a hotspot for thieves," Merida countered.

"I'm nocturnal. I can keep watch without a problem, if safety is the issue," Mahina offered.

"I don't mind the woods and I can start fires," Merida added.

"It is getting pretty dark out here," Rapunzel conceded, and Eugene frowned.