Heads up for mild physical violence :)


Entry 57

For the first time in my life, it seems like the gods listened. We woke this morning to see the ocean waves flowing once again, carrying broken slabs of ice along the current. Usually, this doesn't happen until mid April… it's only the end of March. And with the ocean opening again, trade can resume earlier than normal. And if trade can resume, then we really will make it, if just barely. The moment my dad noticed, he sent a ship to the nearest island, to get word of our situation out.

I'm indescribably relieved; at least no lives will have to be lost because of my mistakes. Even Dad seems happier; not that that's saying much.

I just wish that happiness transcribed into everybody else.

For the first time since the raid, I decided to go out and get some supplies in town. Yet when I showed up at the leather shop, they said there was nothing for sale. That was a lie if I'd ever heard one, because I only went there in the first place after I saw Spitelout walk out with an armful of goods. Yet still, I brushed it off, thinking maybe he bought them out, and headed to the lumberyard. But again, I was met with an excuse.

Thoroughly confused, I just wandered around Berk, trying to understand why. Everything was going to be okay… it was rough, but Berk was going to make it. So why did it feel like there was almost an… aversion to me?

As I was there, walking back toward home, the sound of quick footsteps came up behind me, and before I knew it, I was on the ground. Laughter erupted above me, and I turned to see Snotlout, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut leering over.

"I can't believe how lucky you are, runt." Snotlout shook his head. "We all thought you were gone for good."

"You'd like that, wouldn't you," I mumbled. Luckily, they didn't seem to hear me.

"How'd you do it, huh?" Snotlout pulled me back to my feet. "How'd you make them keep you around?"

"W-what are you talking about?" I asked.

"I know we'd be better off without you. YOU know we'd be better off without you. So why are you still here, huh? Why'd you come back?"

I honestly had no answer.

"You didn't think we actually CARED if you came back, did you?" The three of them laughed.

"No one even looked when you disappeared," Tuff added. "They all just went home. Even your dad."

I looked down, for just a moment, at the confirmation. But they saw it.

"Look, he really DID think his daddy cared!" Snotlout laughed harder. "News flash, Useless! He doesn't give a flying yak about you!"

"And that's why Snotlout is gonna be the next chief," Ruff snickered, elbowing her brother.

I still said nothing. Somehow, I couldn't bring myself to try and refute their claims…

"Thor, maybe we'll just throw you out ourselves!" Snotlout said. "What do you think, guys?"

"Sounds good to us!"

Snotlout clamped a hand onto my arm, pulling me toward the woods. Finally, I found my voice. "Guys, stop, please!"

"Aw, he's begging!" Snotlout continued laughing.

"No, for real, let me go!" I tried wrestling out of his grasp, but I couldn't. Then, I realized something; Snotlout was holding my right arm. And I use my left hand.

I've never hit anybody before; it just always seemed like there was no point. There's no way I'd really hurt anybody with my pathetic level of power, but the truth was… I was scared. So, with as much might as I could, I threw my left fist at Snotlout's face. It hit harder than I was expecting, and definitely harder than HE was expecting, because he let go immediately. I took that as my chance to run, but they got out of their shock pretty quickly. And I'm still not the fastest person in my generation… that title belongs to Tuffnut, and in a couple of seconds, he'd tackled me to the ground. Pain shot through me at the impact, and I looked back in horror. Snotlout and Ruffnut appeared a moment later, and before I even had a chance to speak, Snotlout was on me, throwing his own, much more potent punches.

Even the twins looked shocked. After a moment, they backed away, and finally, so did Snotlout.

"Come on, man, let's go," Tuff said.

"Fine," Snotlout gave one last kick to my side. "That'll teach him to try and fight back…" he growled. Then, the three of them took off.

And I didn't move.

What… what just HAPPENED? I groaned, bringing a hand to my head. That was bad, even for Snotlout. It's almost like he was going for the kill… well, maybe not that serious, but still. If I hadn't stopped him, where was he originally going to bring me? 'Get rid of him ourselves'... what did that mean? I'd NEVER felt that scared by them before… scared enough to try and fight back. I pulled myself upright, cringing at the pounding in my head. I could taste blood, and thought it might be best not to move for a while. So, I decided to get all this down, to try and make sense of it. Just when I thought I'd had a stroke of luck, it was too good to be true. Of course; I should have known better than to think things would be alright…

Until next time…

-H