I walked toward the rock ledge beside the river. The sun was just coming up over the low hills to the east and shone on the blue tones of the forested mountains to the west. It lit the grasses and shrubs that were sprinkled with morning dew, glowing like tiny diamonds. Above me hung the dripping branches of several large trees. I enjoyed the quiet this time of day and this spot beside the river, where I could hear the natural sounds of birds and running water. Soon enough, the noises of the settlement would rise – the sounds of many voices and of axes on wood.

Looking down at my reflection what reflected was not what I expected my new body to look like, this not being a tv show that made sense but siphoning off the magic mother gave me from the spelled eagle talisman she gave me in my boyhood once we arrived in the new world when Elijah was still growing in mother's womb.

When we arrived in what could be future Virginia- or it could be anywhere on the east coast, we traded in grief and loss for grief, loss, and enemies from the Skraelings and the werewolves who in human form could tear a man apart with no resistance and they wouldn't even mean to.

But on the night of the full moon they transform into wolves with their true power available to them and enhanced by the full moon they were unstoppable and besides magic- which took time and wolfsbane which didn't really help as the beast was already in a berserkers rage there wasn't much that could be done but hide.

Father hated this above all else- being forced to hide and cower in a cave protected by mother and her slave Ayana's spells a mile from our village.

I hated it too- especially knowing I would have to keep Niklaus and Henrick from going out, more for the latter than the former since the wolves wouldn't hurt one of their own.

The only threat father could take his frustrations out on would be the Skraelings.

Letting out a breath I turned away from the river and headed for the main part of the settlement. Most of the homes were cabins, much like those in other areas favored by the Scandinavians. while I went toward my own, the one occupied by my family, which included my parents and the five of us. The long-house had one large, long room with a fire pit in the middle. Over the fire was a hole in the roof with no openings but with magic we didn't need to deal or worry about the smoke.

The place had beds along the walls, enough of them to accommodate the small crowd. At the far west end was a section that housed the animals; the settlers had arrived with cows, a bull, sheep, chickens and short horses. A cow, a horse and chickens lived with Mikael's family. So did a dog. Except in winter or pouring rain, most of the people and animals spent much time outdoors.

Since the morning was nice my family was outside eating, leaning against a tree father sat cleaning his sword, an axe by his side. Walking past my siblings I patted their heads Messing up their hair and I bent down to kiss the top of Rebekah's head as the ate. Hendricks leaned into it while he went back to his porridge.

Niklaus and Elijah just accepted it learning they couldn't escape the head pats.

Kol got up and ran trying to escape he ran across the village.

But a magically augmented seven foot tall 26 year old is faster then the 16 year old witch. At full sprint I jumped on him wrapping my arms over his chest pinning his arms. I rolled so We landed with my back breaking our fall and not Kol's face.

He kicked out with his legs before I trapped them by locking my legs over his and began siphoning his magic from him. It felt like a black hole being devouring a speck wetting it's appetite and craving more and I drank deep holding myself from taking to much and I ruffled his hair.

"Rassragr!" Kol cursed and I slapped the top of his head hard enough the impact on his skull echoed. The sound of everyone laughing at Kol's struggle. In the corner I could see father smile. It wasn't visible to the naked eye but you could see his face was less tense before he beat his it back to his normal expression.

I ruffled his hair for a few more seconds and let him go. lol jumping to his feet and ran to the table as I got to my feet.

"Finn." Mikel called and I turned to see him throw me my axe. It spun in the air and caught it with my left hand. "You need to go hunting today and gather wood for Up Helly Aa and be back by tomorrow and take one of your brothers. Be back by tomorrow at latest." He said as he got up and walked inside our hovel.

Looking at my brothers I let out an exhausted sigh before I went to grab a bow and arrows.

"Niklaus." I call and he looks at me from the table. I hold out my axe or the bow to him. "Do you want to cut wood or go hunting?" I ask him for his choice. He took a minute and took the axe.

I gave him a small nod and turned to go hunting. I took a sword and walked to the village edge. I used the magic in my talisman to find a deer or an elk. A red trail of light formed in front of me. I followed it going through the forest, over fallen trees, under branches and through thick foliage.

I followed the trail for four hours until the trail lead to feeding pack of deer. Shooting two adults through their eyes dropping them both as the rest of the flock scattered I tied a noose around their throats before removing their guts and I pulled the rope around my waist and pulled dragging the deer heading to the village. I let out a breath as the sun beat down on me knowing I was half a day from getting home.

So I pulled.

The village cheered as the cold chill of the night was held off by fire's warmth and vitality was kept high with the smell of roasting pork and blood buns.

Niklaus and Elijah both competing for the whore- Tatia's affection.

Kol was off in the corner somewhere preparing a trick that I already siphoned to refill my talisman.

Sweet Rebekah was trying to get Nicklaus or Elijah to dance with her while I sat besides father drinking ale.

"Skol." We said in unison drinking to our health we held up our horns of ale and bit into our mutton.

Everyone danced, drank, and ate well into the night. Many went to the longhouse, many went to there homes, and many were on their way to passing out or we're already passed out.

My eyes were on Rebekah for most of the time as many of the men or boys got a little too forward.

Driving my fist into a middle aged man's stomach and driving my knee into his face got everyone's attention, beating the man within an inch of his life sent the message.

"Thank you." Bekah said as she held onto me trying not to fall to the ground. Stopping I lifted her into my arms in a bridal carry and carried her back to our home.

Placing her on her cot I kissed her brow and let her be as she snuggled into her furs.

Turning away I walk out to collect everyone. Walking past father who walked inside with mother who gave me a small smile as I looked to pick up the rest of our siblings.

Walking towards the barn with the male grunting and girlish gasps I open the door and the gasp was chocked with a scream as the girl tried covering herself but unable to seeing as my raging little brother was on top of her.

"Finn!" He screamed his face red as a rose with rage, fading fear, or maybe embarrassment.

Kol!" I shouted back grabbing the back of his tunic and pulling him off the girl holding my half naked brother off the ground. He struggled trying to get out of my grip kicking wildly but I just walked towards the door and into the cold night.

His rage turned into pained gasps, his insults became impossible to understand through chattering teeth until I dropped him inside our cabin. He hopped inside as he pulled up his trousers.

Heading out once more I found Niklaus and Elijah arguing while Tatia stood a ways away from them watching on peering like a bird looking for proud at her mates.

Walking behind the cabins and out of sight of my brothers and the whore I went behind a tree, I pulled her behind it covering her mouth as I took her deeper into the forest as her dainty fist beat on my chest but her screams remained muffled.

I lifted her up and pushed her against the tree. "If you kick my balls I will hurt you girl." I hissed keeping my rage intact as I glared at her. "You will listen to me. You will no longer play my brothers against each other- you lost the right to them the second you started playing with their hearts. You are nothing but a disgraceful widow not worthy of being with my blood. You will go to them tomorrow as soon as possible and you will apologize to them and you will do whatever you wantaway from my family." I don't tell her anything else I drop her and turn to where my brothers were still arguing.

"Enough!" I shout from my diaphragm so it would come out deep and I wouldn't hurt my throat. Nicklaus threw a punch striking Elijah in the lips knocking him on his ass.

Kicking the back of his leg to the ground I pushed him to the ground I saw his eyes glowing gold before returning to dark blue.

Elijah stood up and tried kicking Niklaus's face until I grabbed it and yanked his foot up and swiped his leg kicking over Nicklaus's head.

"I said enough." I told them getting up pulling Nicklaus up and pushing his arm behind his back- I pushed it to the point he was on the tips of his toes while keeping his balance as I lowered myself to flip Elijah on his stomach and pulled him up doing the same to him.

Spelling their arms in that position I slapped their backs and told them to go. "The spell will end once your home." They ran as fast as they could and harder out of sight.

Looking around at the village the men knocked out on the ground and the women who were heading home covering their noses from the heavy smell of smoke that grew worse by the second. Our cabin was protected so it wasn't much of an issue, the distance between our village and the forest and the river- it was unlikely the village would burn.

Where are you Henrick? I went to every cabin, the longhouse, and looked for him In the forest. Looking up at the night sky the moon wasn't full not that we would be here if it was.

Going home I walked into the cabin past my sleeping family and grabbed my sword.

And went out.

—later—

I couldn't breathe- every second that past it grew worse. I couldn't find Henrick, where was Henrick? The locator spell had him moving North into the mountains where he finally stopped moving. Six hours of running in that direction made it harder to breathe. The elevation and the stronger winds freezing me to my bones didn't do me any favors. Finally at the tip of the mountain where the top was flat, almost cleanly cut.

My heart stopped and my blood turned to ice at all the treasures of gold, silver, weapons, bones.

There at the edge was Henrick skin ghostly pale-blood pooling underneath him covered in deep cuts.

The green scaled dragon standing ten meters in night over him, blood staining it's snout as it chewed a pair of destroyed flesh and pulverized bone.

The pregnant silence that filled as the beast went to go for the remaining half the ice in my blood burned as I pulled my sword out filling it with magic until the steel was glowing red from my magic with the occasional crack and pop as the magic was breaking it apart leaving a gagged mess.

I let out a roar of my own and jumped at the monster.