The Monsters In Us All

Wilderness Survival 101

"Now, sit here," I say, pointing to the ground. "No. here. Put your legs in the water. There you go." I watch as he awkwardly follows instructions. I take my boots off and roll up my leggings before plopping down beside him. I grab the fishing poles I brought, placing one in his hands. "This is one way we catch fish," I inform him. "It's also a way to spend time with people and get to know them better. I thought you might want to learn this, since you seem to struggle with catching food. " I pull two worms out of my metal pale, stabbing them onto the fishing hooks. "Now throw it in, but not the whole thing. Watch," I instruct him, and he follows my lead.

***

It takes us until late evening to catch a dozen fish, and I show him to store them in a wicker basket I brought with my haul of other equipment for survival outdoors.

He sits beside me as I explain how to build a fire. I finish stacking the wood,leaning back, my legs underneath me. I check to see if he's paying attention. He glances at me and I nod. I feel odd teaching a grown man how to do simple tasks. Shouldn't he be teaching others these skills at this point in his life? Though, he acts more like a child.

"Now, there's two ways of doing this. You can take two stones in both hands and rub one across the surface of the other, or you can rub sticks into the fire wood. I'd say the rock method is easier," I say, picking up my stones. I begin working on creating a spark, rubbing them together. "it's not always instantaneous," I say, trying to reassure him, but more likely myself as I begin to get more and more frustrated.

Hiccup makes a warbling sound and Toothless instantly walks over and lights the wood with a plasma blast. I glare at him for cheating. 'Fine. Whatever," I spit, getting up and stomping over to the fish basket.

I come back a few moments later with fish and skewers. "Here," I say bluntly, dropping his half in his lap. I plunk down across from him, stabbing my fish on to my skewer and holding it over the fire, scowling at the flames. We don't speak and we don't make eye contact. he's probably wondering what in Odin's name he did wrong, but I don't care right now. When I finish eating, I get up and walk back home.

My parents of course are asleep when I walk through the door. A plate of cold chicken is waiting in my place on the table. I plop down in my wooden chair, taring strips of meat off the bone and shoving it in my mouth. I sigh, covering my eyes with my hands, my guilt finally setting in for being so rude to Hiccup. he was only trying to help. I throw my head back, groaning.

***

In the morning, I race down stairs with a full apology in my head, well to the fullest of viking apologies. Unless you're a Jorgenson, the chief, or Dagur, then you don't apologize for anything. I shuffle down the stairs, axe in hand as I situate my satchel over my shoulder. The second I hit the bottom step, I look up to see my parents staring at me silently at the table, my father's arms crossed, my mother's hands in her lap. I freeze in place, not knowing what the Thor I did wrong. I rarely ever get in trouble and it's never a big ordeal.

"Is something wrong?" I ask, fiddling with my my satchel flap.

"Uh-huh," my father says bluntly.

"Astrid, come sit down, lass," Mom tells me calmly.

I move toward the table, lead in my boots. I inch my way down into my chair. dad clears his throat, placing his hands on the table top. "Lets talk."

Uh-oh. That's never a good sign, but I haven't done anything wr- They know. It finally clicks in my brain. They know about Hiccup and Toothless. Maybe, Hiccup followed me into the village after I left wanting an explanation and someone saw him. They probably asked him what he was doing here, and he probably said my name, not knowing anyone else or many words. I just hope he's okay.

"I'm sorry, Dad. I was gonna tell you. I promise," I spew out in a panic, just wanting to get past the scolding and find out where they're keeping him.

"Good. So, you'll gladly tell us where you've been all week," he says, and it catches me off guard.

"Where I've been?" I repeat.

"Mm-hm."

"Right." They stare back at me awaiting an answer. "You see," I stall, trying to rack my brain for a good enough reason. "Ruff has been wanting a new job, so we've been discussing things she enjoys and in the evenings we've been working on her skills," I finish, smiling sweetly.

My father scrutinizes me, and I feel myself beginning to sweat. Please by it. Please by it. "Well, the adults are leaving to go search for the dragons' nest again before fall and winter set in." I nod, getting up. "So you are coming to help load supplies."

"But, I have a job to do!" I say a lot louder than I should have, worried Hiccup will think I'm avoiding him for making me mad.

"You have a different one today. Now, come on," he says, both of them standing up. I throw my head back groaning, following them out the door.