I've not been writing about Henrik but he's been here the whole time. Just doing something else, staying away from Nik because Mikael said so. Also this is a short chapter. So without further ado

I was out collecting sticks for tonight, for once my friends had been grounded instead of me. Carr had done something, and gotten CAUGHT. Kyle was working with his parents… which left me alone, doing my own job that Mother had given me.

I saw Henrik come over, for once, though I doubted he'd actually come over to ME. HE did as he was told all the time… when he was done, he'd explore. There was maybe only two things I'd done that he'd never done or saw before.

I kept at my job and tried to pick up a stick with MY stick. I'd started a game a while back. I would use my stick, which was long but thinnish. It wasn't too big or heavy not to carry. It was a workout. It had two twigs on it, close enough to pick up sticks, for easy carrying but more so with a stick that had its own close twigs. The game was that if there were any sticks it COULDN'T pick up then those sticks were easily OURS. The rest would be handed over as fire wood. Pretty clever if I do say so myself.

I dropped one straight stick… I tried to do it anyways for Mikael. He'd started to try to spend time with me now. Yesterday he took me out with him on his trip. He'd gone hunting for food, water, and herbs. Then we went out and played together. I'd actually managed to get him to play with me. ME out of everyone.

Henrik picked up my stick I'd dropped and smiled at me. I smiled back as he handed it back to me. "There you go Nik." I laughed.

"Thanks Henrik. I'll let you go on with your day now. Sorry to be a nuisance." I said, grabbing the stick and getting out of his way. He hugged me so fast that I dropped my stick in surprise. I hugged him back after a minute and he smiled.

"I love you Nik. You could NEVER be a nuisance. Who ever told you that is just jealous they aren't you." I grimaced at his compliment. No one EVER does that. At least only Kol, Eli, and Bekah did.

"Um. Thank you?"

"I know Dad tells you mean things but he NEVER means it, I promise. In fact he told me how he thought you were going to be a GREAT warrior when you grew up." I smiled at him. He wanted something didn't he? Mikael NEVER says things like that about ME.

"What do you want from me Henrik?" He coughed before looking away, laughing nervously. I smiled. "He's never said that about me has he?"

"Umm. No. But I did."

"Mm hm. What is it you want?"

"Promise not to tel Daddy and Mommy?" I chuckled.

"Look at me." I held my arms away from me. He looked at me, frowning. "Do I LOOK like I tell them anything?" I smiled. My most mischievous smile ever. His frown turned into a beam. I beamed right back at his realization.

"I KNEW I could trust you with anything." I chuckled, blushing. If I was good for anything, it was not telling a secret or action. Basically I NEVER told anything. "So can I ask you?"

"You've already readied and aimed your bow haven't you? Shoot it." I chuckled at having said Mother's saying.

"Can you take me to see the wolves transform?" I inhaled, WHY did he ask THAT! He must surely know the answer is NO! I opened my mouth to reply and he quickly went on. "Please? I mean you go out to see them transform don't you? I mean you come back safe and sound. It can't be that dangerous. Please Nik? You're the only person I can ACTUALLY ask." He replied, frowning as tears came to his face. "Please don't tell."

"I'm NOT telling ANYONE. You must surely KNOW I cannot do this."

"Then why do YOU do it?"

"I-… Because I-…" I sighed, plopping myself on the ground. Dad had said to NEVER bring anyone else there. I would be disobeying him if I did it anyway. Or did he tell YOU not to go again? I grumbled. Did I or did I not? Henrik plopped himself right at my side.

"PLEASE NIK!" I threw my head away from him, moaning. I didn't know what to do. I stared into the clouds for a minute. "Please? Please, please. Please don't make me beg." He cried. I looked at him.

"I don't want to but you know that's against the rules. You could get hurt."

"But I won't!" I looked at him. He was beginning to cry. I WAS the ONLY person he could come to with this.

"The wolves are transforming tomorrow night. Find a rock and we'll go to the lake to see who throws the rock further." He smiled. "WHOEVER wins get the say in what we do. Got it? NO ifs, ors, buts about it!" He nodded eagerly. I got a rock and and he came back with a rock of his own. "Cheat and you're out." I replied, laughing at his face.

"You too." I nodded.

"I give Elijah's word that I won't cheat." I smirked at his reaction. "What? You're playing with big brother Nik. What else could you expect?" He laughed and we ran off, leaving my things to themselves, though I'd hid my stick along with the stick sword.

We arrived to the lake and I looked at him, smiling. He looked up at me. "Who goes first? How do we keep track of who wins? Who's rock goes the farthest?"

"You'll go first. I'll leave so I can't cheat and you'll go as far in as your rock does. You'll call for me and then I'll come do my own."

"How do I not get hit?"

"You will duck." I smiled. "Or would you prefer if I went first?"

"I'll go first."

"Then give me YOUR word you won't cheat." I smiled as he scoffed at me.

"I give you my solemn word as a warrior I will not cheat in this game."

"Wow, longest way to say I give my word ever. Well then, I'll head off for a short walk and come back." He nodded and I walked off like I said I would. Think about how I would pull this off IF he won. If I won, I wouldn't have a problem. I mean, this is my FIRST try at being responsible… which I'm probably failing at. How does one even BE responsible? What is responsibility anyway? It's such a LONG and BORING word. I'd actually told the truth though. It WAS against the rules, but hey! I BROKE the rules for a LIVING! Finn followed them for his living.

I went round about to the lake and found him waiting in the middle of the lake. Wow. Here's to hoping God helps me win. I stood right by the lake and readied myself to throw my rock. I swung my hand back and forth twice before throwing it and landing in the water. It didn't even reach Henrik. I'd lost. I groaned.

"Fine! You get the say if I sneak you out of the house to go see the wolves transform." I murmured, angry I'd lost. I felt a fire within me and it burned so hard, making my veins burn and I felt like hurting something. I tried inhaling and exhaling slowly. It didn't work. I needed to go see Mother. She helped me when I had my rare anger problems.

"I say you do!" He laughed. I glared at him before getting out of the water. "Nik?"

"I will take you to see the wolves. I give my word, I give Elijah's word." I ran off to find my mother, not to tell but to get her help. I needed to make up a reason why I was so angry. But then again she rarely asked for a GOOD reason. I could just tell her I was thinking about sand or the Sun.