The girl struggled at first. The wilderness was not something she had ever thought she would need to survive in and so had very little knowledge of how to do just that. But she managed to learn. She would from time to time see the native people of this land and when she did she would hide and watch them. Sometimes it seemed as if they saw her but none of them ever approached her. She watched how they moved when hunting, observed their tools and made crude versions of them for herself. She mimicked how they hunted, stalking prey or building traps. When the cold of winter pressed in on her she found shelter at the base of trees, cliffs or in caves. Through trial and error she learned to skin and tan the hides of the animals she killed and used their bones to make needles and better weapons, their sinew was used to stitch the pelts together to cover her and their meat filled her belly. As time passed her skills advanced and she became better at what she needed to survive and she also began to head further south, migrating with the animals to warmer lands. She lost track of time in her solitude until one day she heard what sounded like someone crying.

Concerned and a little bit frightened she cautiously approached the sound and peaked out into a small clearing. There she saw a small boy sitting in the grass crying. His golden hair was similar to her own so she took a chance and stepped out of hiding, startling the boy into ceasing his tears and turning bright blue eyes to her own that matched the lights in the northern sky that would dance. The two stared at one another for a long while before the small boy stood up and reached for her. Carefully setting down her bow the girl approaches him and kneels down in front of him, confusing him that she had not picked him up.

"What is your name little one? Where are you from?"

The Norse language slides easily off her tongue despite not having used it for longer than she could remember. The boy stares at her in confusion before she realizes he may not speak Norse, but perhaps the native language. She had managed to pick up some of it over the years and so she repeated her questions in it.

"I don't have a name and this is where I have always been. Ever since I woke up."

The girl smiles as she realizes he must be like her.

"Then I will give you a name." She studies him, as he studies her, before deciding on a name she had heard one of the boys of the native people called. "Maska. I will name you Maska. And I will be your sister, my name is Freya."

"Fre, Fre-ya." He seems to struggle with her name and she chuckles as she lets her hand fall to the top of his head.

"Fre-Fre is fine. Now are you hungry?"

He nods and she pulls out a small satchel she has with her. She had been expecting to be hunting all day and had packed a few things to eat throughout the day away from her camp, now she felt they would serve better to feed her new brother. Besides she would need to take him back to her camp and abandon her hunt for the day anyway.

Once the boy had finished eating the food she provided she stood and held out her hand to him. He took it and she led him back to her camp. She had set up in a small clearing at the base of a large oak tree. The shelter she had built was small, but warm, and was made from sticks she had cut and shaped into poles and formed into a frame that she then covered in furs and skins to keep out the rain and trap the heat, a small flap of skin served as the door. Outside of the shelter was a fire pit with more poles around it for cooking meat and hanging a skin sack she used for boiling. The sack wasn't heated over the fire but by stones she heated in the fire and then moved into it. It was a simple camp but it suited her needs. Freya also had several bundles of spare food supplies stored up in the trees surrounding the camp to keep them from animals that might try to steal from her.

Returning to the camp with her new charge Freya found herself busying herself with a few things that she needed done around her temporary home. Maska watched her work and tried to help out from time to time. As the sun began to sink below the horizon Freya dampened the fire and lead a yawning Maska into the shelter. Inside the shelter was just big enough for the two new siblings to lie down curled around one another. That first night Maska was restless. He seemed to toss and turn in his sleep as if searching for something. It kept Maska awake until he settled down from exhaustion. Concerned about what he may have been looking for in his sleep she told herself she would ask in the morning.

Morning came and Freya was the first to wake up and set to bringing the fire back to life in order to cook breakfast. The smell of food cooking had Maska waking and stumbling from the shelter out towards his sister. He plopped himself down and she handed him a simple wooden bowl filled with boiled roots, seasoned with herbs, and a few pieces of dried meat. Despite it being hot Maska ate the food quickly with his fingers before holding the bowl out for more. Freya chuckles at this and sets her own bowl aside to refill the one her little brother had just emptied.

After they had both eaten their fill the sat back and just relaxed until Freya broke the silence with her question from the night before.

"Maska, last night you seemed to have been searching for something in your sleep."

Maska looks thoughtful at the question and shrugs. "I feel like someone is missing. Last night I felt really cold even though you kept me warm. It was really strange."

Freya listened to all of this and grew thoughtful herself, reaching a conclusion she nodded before standing. "It's colder to the north, perhaps we should go there to see if we can find what you are searching for."

Maska seems excited by the idea and jumps up to help Freya begin to take down her camp. First they put out the fire and then Maska watches as Freya takes the furs and skins off the shelter frame, setting them aside for now. Next he sees her untie the poles from one another and then retie them together to form a flat sled. Freya then brings down her supply bundles from up in the trees and with the rope she had tied them into the trees with she secures them, and the furs and skins that made up the shelter and bed inside, to the sled leaving a loop to form a harness that she put over one shoulder and across her chest to her opposite hip. With everything packed Freya smiles to Maska and the two begin their journey north.

They spent more than one full cycle of the moon traveling north and as they got further north Freya began to notice that Maska would stop every now and then and then look off to one side or another. Freya would then change their course to go in the direction he indicated until they came to a small clearing around a large oak tree with a hole in its base. What surprised them both though was the small boy they found inside of the hole. He had honey colored hair that was longer than Maska's and had a slight wave to it. Maska woke the boy by patting him to see if he was alive, causing vibrant violet eyes to blink up at them. At first the boy looked frightened until Freya pulled Maska back from the hole to allow him to see they meant no harm.

"Its ok, its safe to come out."

At Maska's prompting the small boy came crawling out of the hole before standing. Now that he was out of the hole Freya could see he was rather thin and filthy, with sticks and leaves tangled in his hair. Concerned she turns to their things and digs through until she finds some of the dried meat that was still left over. She held it out to the boy.

"Here, its food." He cautiously takes it from her before plopping onto his rump and nibbling on the food. While he eats Freya looks around the area and decides its as good a place as any to set up for the night. She unpacks the things necessary for the camp and then gets a fire going. She leaves Maska to watch over the other boy as she goes to get water. Finding a stream she determines that it would be a good idea to bathe the new boy before they sleep. With water she goes back to camp and sets up what they need to boil some roots before reaching down for the boy.

"Maska, would you stay and watch the fire, I need to bath this one."

"Yes, I can do that."

Taking the boy to the stream Freya sets him down and strips off his dirty clothes before stripping out of her own and settling them both into the water. She gently holds the boy as she washes him and gets the filth from his hair and skin. While they are bathing she decides to try to get him to talk.

"So, do you have a name?"

He shakes his head and looks up at her."

"I see, well how about Kanata. I'm not sure what it means but I've heard the natives use it when talking to one another, so it can't be bad."

"It sounds nice." He turns on her lap and wraps his little arms around her, snuggling against her. "You're nice too."

Laying a hand on his head gently she smiles down at him. "Well that's what big sisters do."

"Sister?" He looks up at her with wide eyes.

"Yes, I'm your sister and Maska is your brother. He actually led us to you. I'm sorry we didn't find you sooner."

"Its alright. You're here now."

The two finish and Freya washes Kanata's clothes before they both redress and head back to Maska and the food he was watching cook. When they got back they all ate before climbing into the shelter and falling asleep, Freya snuggly between her brothers as they held tightly to her.

Many seasons passed after that and the three traveled quite a bit, only settling down when they ran out of supplies such as dried meats or had a need to tan hides. Eventually Freya made both of the boys new clothes and shoes to replace the simple gowns they had been found in. It was during their journeys in the north that they came across a dead polar bear with a small cub crying beside it. Seeing the small bear, Freya took pity on it and lured it into their group with a strip of meat. The bear cub was named Nanuq and began to travel with the family. This was how life progressed for many seasons, until one day Maska woke earlier than Freya while they were in the southern lands. Bored he left the shelter and went exploring. He found a wide open field and began to play there. He eventually found a rabbit and managed to convince it to join his play. Hearing a sound behind him he turned with the rabbit in his arms and looked up at the tall blonde man with green eyes. He noted how the man was even taller than his big sister and wondered who he was.

"Ah, you're America, correct?"

"America?" His questioning tone seemed to be ignored by the man, though the name felt oddly familiar, like he should recognize it but can't.

"I'm England, I would like it very much if you would let me be your big brother."

Maska just tilts his head in confusion at the man, not understanding what he is saying.

"Ah, bonjour sourcils. What has brought you out here so early?"

Maska notices an even taller man approaching with longer wavy hair and bright blue eyes. He watches him in confusion.

"Ohon. What is this? Et qui etes-vous, mon petit?"

"I very much doubt he speaks your froggy language. Besides he's America and he's already going to be my little brother."

"What! Non!"

The taller man pulls out a plate of food and motions toward Maska with it and the other man does the same. Maska looks between the two, slightly creeped out by the shorter man's tone and actions. When the adults notice the creeped out look on his face they begin to bicker and the shorter one curls up and looks all depressed. It reminds Maska of when there's a storm and Kanata does the same thing so he figures the same might work for the man and walks over to him, patting his head to cheer him up. He is caught by surprise when the man suddenly puts his head up and wraps his arms around him. He is so surprised he doesn't struggle as he is lifted off the ground and the man holding him begins to laugh. Maska sees the other man looking upset now and wonders what is going on with them. He tries to struggle a bit to be put down, not using his strength at all. He had done that once and it had really hurt Fre-Fre. Thinking of his big sister had him wriggling even more.

"Fre-Fre! Fre-Fre!"

Both men stop their actions at hearing the small boy cry out and finally take notice of his struggling. Arthur seems to realize something and smiles at the boy.

"Don't worry, we'll find your pet rabbit later. But for now I should get you home so we can change you into something nicer."

The tall man turns to leave the field with Maska held at his shoulder. He was still struggling slightly and crying out. He was confused, he didn't understand what was going on and he wanted to go back to his sister and brother. Eventually he tires himself out and falls asleep in the man's arms.

When Freya awoke that morning and saw that Maska was not in the shelter they were sleeping in she wasn't overly concerned, he often woke early and went exploring. He always came back in time for breakfast so she set herself to work preparing their food for the morning meal. Eventually Kanata managed to crawl out of the shelter followed by Nanuq. The two were close and were hardly ever separated from one another. Both sat down and watched Freya make breakfast quietly. When the food was done Freya gave him a bowl of it and then a bowl for Nanuq. Both looked around as she held the third bowl for Maska. He still hadn't come back and now Freya was growing worried. She told Kanata to stay in the camp with Nanuq while she went to find Maska. Grabbing her bow and quiver she heads out, following the slight trail Maska left behind. It leads her to a wide open field and once there she sees a blonde man with shoulder length wavy hair. He seems to be upset by something and is grumbling to himself in a language Freya doesn't understand. Just then he looks up and his eyes lock with Freya's and both widen in surprise. Before the other can move Freya is turning and bolting back the way she came. She can heard the man following her and tries to lose him but eventually she is back at the camp. She still hears the man running after her and, thinking quickly, she ushers Kanata and Nanuq into the shelter before turning with her bow notched toward the man as he comes through the trees.

"You needn't be afraid of my little one." His voice is soothing as he speaks and finally gets a good look at the girl he had been chasing. He is slightly confused at how old she looks, he had been expecting her to be a toddler like America had been but this girl looked like she was nearly to womanhood.

"What have you done with Maska?"

The man jumps at the question but realizes it is the native's language and sighs. He takes a moment to try and remember what he had learned from the natives he had encountered previously.

"I mean no harm. I friend."

Freya stays tense at this man's words. She still doesn't trust him, he knew what had happened to Maska.

"What have you done with my brother? Where is he?"

The man takes a moment to translate what she said before looking triumphant. "Brother? Yes Sourcils took him. You come with me, we see brother."

At the man's words Freya relaxes slightly and lowers her bow. She still isn't sure she can trust this man but he said someone else had taken her brother and if she wanted him back she would need to go with him. She thinks about Kanata and Nanuq behind her in the shelter. If this was a trap and he took her away and didn't let her return what would happen to the boy and bear. Then again if she exposed them to this man what would happen to them? Reaching a decision she hold up one hand in a wait sign before turning to the shelter and sticking her head in.

"Kanata, we're going to go find Maska. This man says someone else took him and he will show us where he is."

"Nanuq is coming too?"

Freya nods and backs out of the shelter opening followed by Kanata and Nanuq. The man standing across the clearing from them is even more surprised when he sees the small boy and bear come out. Despite his surprise he is very pleased with himself. He now had two colonies instead of just one, he couldn't wait to rub it in his rival's face.

Smiling kindly he holds out his hand for the girl to take and she takes it while holding the hand of the boy. The bear walks beside them as the man leads them away. He takes them to a large house and leads them inside where he calls for more people to come and seems to be ordering them about to various tasks. Kanata clings to Freya's legs at all the activity. Eventually the two are led up a man made mountain and the man opens a door to a large room. Inside the room is a large bed, a dresser and wardrobe, a vanity, and in one corner was a tub being filled with steaming water that smelled like flowers.

"First a bath for the two of you and then we will find you something good to eat."

Freya looks around the room having expected Maska to show up at some point.

"Maska? Brother?"

"Hmm you want your brother, well you will just have to be patient. You will both need to learn French, so we will stop using that horrid native language. And a girl like yourself should not be running around in such filthy things." He motions to her clothing. "I will see if we can find something more appropriate for you. Do not worry I will get your brother for you before too long."

Freya isn't sure what the man is saying and nearly began interrogating him heard Kanata squeal and she spun around. One of the women that had been preparing the tub had picked him up and was stripping him of his clothes to put him in the water. Freya made to stop her but the man that had brought them there grabbed her wrist and dragged her from the room.

"Stop, where are you taking me!"

"You need to bathe, you're filthy. I am taking you to your room. Ah, yes. My name Francis."

Francis led Freya to another room and gently pushed her inside before closing the door. She was about to open it and leave when two more women were there and pulled her to another tub filled with hot water and began to strip her. She protested and tried to stop them but the two women were persistent and eventually had her in the steaming bath and began to wash her. She heard them tutting over her hair as they worked combs through it and undid her braids that she kept it in. Her hair was very long, reaching her knees, and something she was proud of. She kept it tied up with braids so as to avoid tangles and getting sticks and leaves caught in it while she hunted. Occasionally her brothers would pick flowers and she let them weave them into her hair as decoration. She didn't like these women tending to it and undoing all her hard work at keeping it nice, even if they did seem to be cleaning it. While she was being bathed by the two women a knock was heard at the door and one of the women got up and went to see who was at the door. She came back with a large bundle of colorful fabric that she laid out on the bed before returning to Freya.

After she was clean she found out that the bundle of cloth was some kind of clothing as the two women pinched and prodded her until she allowed them to dress her in it. A loose and long shirt was first put on her followed closely by pants that puffed and ended at her knees where stockings were pulled up to. A top that was stiff and she felt one of the women actually making it tighter around her waist was added as well as a full skirt. Then came a close fitted dress over everything that was open in a large slit in the front to show off the skirt underneath. Once she was fully dressed the two women helped her to put something on her feet. She was hesitant to call them shoes as they were tight and pinched her feet uncomfortably. It seemed that even with the addition of the footwear she was not yet deemed presentable as the two women led her to a vanity table and began to work on her hair. They inspected her face and seemed to determine it was fine as it was and simply worked to twirl and tease her hair into tight curls and ringlets, pinning and tying it into place until it looked so different from how she was used to. Eventually they stopped and seemed to be praising her on something but she wasn't sure what. the two women then left the room leaving Freya alone. Curious about having been left alone Freya stands and wobbles over to the door. Before reaching it she realizes the shoes will only hinder her in finding Kanata and getting away from this place, she kicks them off and opens the door. She looks both ways down the hallway and then heads in the direction she remembered the room Kanata had been in being. She searched the many rooms she thought were his before realizing he must have been moved somewhere else. Carefully she begins to sneak around the large house, eventually coming to the stairs she had come up before and carefully made her way down them. She didn't notice that Francis had spotted her from one of the rooms downstairs as she made her way down them.

"Madeline! There you are. I was about to send someone to fetch you for lunch. Come now, Matthieu is already seated and waiting for you."

Freya stops and stares at this man like he is the bane of her existence, which at the moment he is. She wonders what he is talking about, but before she can say or do anything he is sweeping up the stairs before her and taking her elbow in his hand and leading her down the stairs to another room with a large table filled with food, many she had never seen before.

"You really must begin to learn my language if you are to be my colony. I will be teaching you and your brother French after we eat. Also I have chosen names for the both of you. YOu are Madeline and your brother is Matthieu."

Madeline jerks when he tells her she has a new name, she liked her old name, even if the ones that had given it to her had left her behind, it was still hers. She felt tears welling in her eyes as she was pushed into a seat next to Matthieu, he seemed to be wearing a short dress of similar fabric to her own but without the tight fit hers had. He seemed sullen and was pushing at what looked like several eating knives and something she didn't recognize but resembled the tool used to clean animal pens only smaller.

Once Francis sat down he reached forward to the food laid out on the table before them and began putting it on the flattened bowl in front of himself. Madeline watched and began to do the same, grabbing only what she could recognize, and putting some on Matthieu's flattened bowl as well. The meal was eaten in awkward silence and once they were finished the items on the table were cleared away and Francis ushered the children into another room with a short table and two chairs sat opposite a piece of black slate. In front of each seat was another piece of slate and a white stick. Francis pushed the children into the seats and began to try to teach them French. He was pleased when Matthieu began to pick it up easily, but Madeline struggled to learn the language. It was so different than the Norse she had learned so many years and even the language she had picked up from the natives. By the end of the lesson she could barely introduce herself. She hated this, but what could she do. Running away would be difficult with Matthieu to look after and he actually seemed not as upset now that she was here with her. In fact he seemed to be enjoying himself, even going to far to call Francis, Papa, which she gathered to mean 'father'. As she lay in the bed she had been told was hers that night she curled up and wished she was able to curl up with both her brothers again, she cried herself to sleep that night.


Thank you for reading so far, please review and if you have questions look for the answers to be posted in 'Ask Vinland'