Spirit of a Warrior - HTTYD

Eight

*Eight years before*

My head was pounding heavily as I stumbled on my walk home. Tears stung my cheeks as the flushed beating of my face was red hot. I had just gotten in a tussle with that bully-boy the village calls, Dogsbreath. He insisted that I had no strength because I was a girl and the Hofferson family only should have sons.

I had lost the fist-fight and my left eye was swollen shut with a bubbling, purple appearance. I couldn't stop crying as my little seven year-old arms push open the door to my house. My mother looks at me terrified and scoops me into her arms.

"Astrid, dear. Who has done this to you?"

"That jerk, Dogsbreath", I sniff.

My father then enters the room ominously and towers over my small frame.

"Let me fetch some ice for that eye", she hurriedly grabs a cloth and goes out in the village.

I am left with my father who has a disappointed scowl painting his burly face.

"Did you win the fight?", he asks.

I hug my arms close to my body in shame as I shake my head.

He roughly holds my chin and looks closely at the black eye that was forming.

He sneers in disgust.

"This right here is a sign of defeat. Weakness", he snarls and abruptly gets up from his chair and huffs towards his bedroom.

I couldn't help but cry more as I ran to the washroom where a small reflective surface hung on the wall.

I see the becoming shiner as tears barely leaked from it.

I begin to feel a stir in the pit of my stomach. Anger rises into my bones and I see the failure of a fighter I was today.

I pull loose strands of hairs that were tucked under my headband and pulled them in front of my eye.

The vibrant blonde strands seemed to distract from the protrusion below.

I furrowed my eyebrows as I bravely look in the mirrored image of myself.

I will never let anyone see my defeat or weakness ever again.

_____

*Present*

The morning chirps of birds were heard outside the cave as I squinted to see the light.

Despite the freezing air, the sun seemed to warm me just enough to pull me outside.

I quietly sneak past the sleeping boy and his dragon and walk into the slight warmth.

I notice the saddle bag by the entrance to the cave and I pull the small dagger from its flap.

I decide to go find some breakfast as I take in the quietness of the morning on this random island.

Sneaking ever so cautiously, I see a large squirrel climbing the bark of a large elm.

With a deep breath I hurl the small blade and strike the neck of the small creature.

I feel badly for the little guy, but we just might starve due to my negligence and stubbornness getting us stuck here.

I manually start a little flame and I skin and cut up the animal just like my father had taught me in the forest years and years ago.