The Dawn of the Lost

15

I laid by the fire, furs wrapped around my shoulders. Ragnar sat across the flames he was the only one remaining with me, all the rest of his men had gone to their tents. "You are brave, I'll give you that Astrid," he said.

"Not brave, just don't want to be treated badly," I replied pulling my fur blanket over my shoulders.

"You made the right choice joining me," he said.

"I'm sure Uhtred won't see it that way," I said and turned onto my back to look up at the stars. Ragnar got up and walked over to me, he placed a hand on my shoulder.

"You did what you had to," he said and gently squeezed it. I didn't answer and closed my eyes. "I'll let you rest." He retired to his tent leaving me alone. I awoke to the sound of footsteps early in the morning, but it was just his men moving around. I sat up running a hand over my face. I hauled myself up and stayed on the outskirts of his camp  training.

"Did you want to come hunting?" Ragnar asked.

"No, I think I'll continue training," I replied.

"As you wish," he said leaving me alone, he paused for a second and then looked back at me, he went to say something but just turned his back and walked away joining his men. I watched till he disappeared, I continued my training. I threw my axes into the poor tree in front of me, it landed with a thwack! And splintered the bark from the tree. The rain began to pour, I would have trained for longer but I couldn't risk becoming sick. I retreated into Ragnar's tent, and wrapped my furs around my shoulders. I sat in the entrance propping my back up against the wood holding it open. 

The camp was now silent. It looked deserted, anyone who dared to infiltrate the camp would be met with a surprise. A few men locked their glances with me from their tents, but only the red haired one dare to approach me. "Astrid right?" he asked, I nodded. "May I join you?" 

"Okay," I said keeping my eyes on him till he sat next to me. 

"We heard what you did to Uhtred," he said. 

"And?" I replied. 

"It's just a bit unbelievable you would ever leave him," he said. 

"Well things I got in the way, I was no longer welcomed so I did what I to," I repeated myself. 

"Does that mean you're looking for a new mate? Someone to pup you?" he asked. 

"No," I said. 

"Why not?" he quizzed me. 

"Because I need no mate, I'm quite happy on my own," I replied. 

"And she's also in denial," Ragnar replied as he had snuck around the back of the tent. 

"I don't think so," I said. 

"Face it Astrid, you are," he replied. 

"What makes you say that?" I quizzed him. 

"Because you still say his name when you sleep," he replied. "So you're obviously still thinking about him."