Not many things could startle Brig.

She considered herself brave and sensible enough not to scream at spiders or when those stupid boys popped out from their hiding spots with intentions of making girls yelp and jump backward.

However, one morning when she was thirteen years old, something was odd upon waking. When she finally found the cause of that oddness, it sent her to hysterical screaming.

Fin, who slept next to her, bolted awake with wide eyes but Brig couldn't explain anything. Soon enough her father was in the room with the same wild, confused and concerned expression.

"What's wrong?" he demanded. Looking at the event retrospect, she could suppose she hadn't looked harmed at all. She only became angry at his instant lack of sympathy because something was so very, very wrong with her.

She lifted her hand and it was smeared with blood.

"I'm bleeding! Why am I bleeding? DAD, WHY AM I BLEEDING?"

His brow rose in a moment of surprise.

"Where?"

"Down my legs!"

"Are you in pain?"

That question she considered, because nothing really hurt. It didn't make sense. Usually when you bled you were hurt! It was just a fact of life!

"No!" she began to panic wondering if she had some awful, silent sickness. Something more virulent than the Winter sickness that one couldn't even feel until suddenly dropping dead.

Something must have dawned on her father then because his worried glance fell to somewhat of a lost look.

"Oh."

That was all he said, like he knew what her disease was all of a sudden. Neither fear nor panic laced in that 'oh.' So simple, and infuriating.

What the Hel was going on?

"WHAT? WHAT IS IT?"

"Clean yourself up. I will find someone to explain it to you."

"What? Why can't you explain?"

Her usually composed if not boastful father was stumbling over his words, "It's...I just can't Brig. I really do not know how to explain this."

"But you know what it is, obviously!"

"Just clean yourself up. Don't argue." His attitude was back to his normal seriousness and uncontested demands.

She threw her covers back in a frustrated, fearful bellow and was even more horrified at the spots of blood in the fur bedding. Though, the ultimate horror struck her when she finally found the origin of the blood. If she had a weaker constitution she probably would have fainted.

How in the seven worlds could she not feel any pain if she was bleeding so much? Was she going to die?

Fin crawled out of the bed abruptly; seeming alarmed she had been sleeping with such things.

"Shut up!" Brig said defensively though Fin never spoke a word, she only gave a judging look. It wasn't Brig's fault. She didn't even know what was happening to her!

She found and ripped extra material for a dress she was sewing for Fin and used that to wrap her wound. She managed to clean herself alright and put on a long dress.

"Well?!" she asked when she saw her Dad again, who was dressed for public as well.

"Come on, let's go."

"Where?"

"Don't argue, just follow."

"But I'm bleeding!"

He grabbed her wrist and tugged her along, seeming impatient. She only grew furious at her vague father. They arrived in front of the Elder's and he beat the door as though he was in an extreme hurry, which made her worry about how long she had to live.

There was no answer. He did it again. Still no response.

He swore, then reasoned, "She must be out."

She probably died, Brig thought unkindly then took it back in case the old mystic really wasn't dead and had read her thoughts. But really, the old woman had lived for so long and Brig found it more a surprise everyday she lived.

They next went to the Thorston Lodge and Tuffnut the Brazen was the one to answer their call.

"What's up?"

"Is Harkin in?"

"Yeah but she's busy. What do you need her for?"

Suddenly, Briarprick ran out of the home screaming, followed by Bludgeonstick who was holding a dagger and threatening to kill her, who was then followed by Harkin, shouting curses at them, which prompted Tuffnut to add to the curses and go after them all.

Her father just let out an agitated noise of frustration from the back of his throat and continued on. He wouldn't even wait for someone. Meanwhile Brig still knew she was bleeding and couldn't do anything about it.

They walked through the town circle where dragons usually were found when not with their Viking companions. A Gronkle and a Blue Zippleback caught Brig's scent and clamored around her suddenly. She didn't know what to think but Snotlout had to pause his steps to shoo the curious dragons away from his daughter.

Eventually both father and daughter were perched in front of the Ingerman lodge. Brig had no idea to why her father kept going from home to home or what he was looking for or how it would help her stop the bleeding.

Her father rapped on the door and Ruffnut the Terrible was the one to answer.

"Whaddya want 'Lout?"

"Brig has a thing..."

The Missus Ingerman raised a brow, "Yeah because I know exactly what her thing is."

"You know, a lady thing."

"What do you want me to do about it?"

"Tell her it will be okay, tell her what it is."

Brig swore the lady's eyes lit up in amusement but she found nothing amusing about her predicament.

"Oh no way, I'm not going to let you skimp on your parental duty."

"But you have a daughter!"

"And she is not burdened yet. So until then I'm not saying anything about it. You tell her. She's your daughter, high commander."

With that Ruffnut closed the door on them and her father grumbled out another curse. Maybe two.

"Come on," he barked and carried onward. He seemed to hesitate before knocking on the next door. It was their cousin's home.

Brig would be so mortified if her father blurted that she had a 'thing' to them.

But it was Astrid the Agile that appeared in the threshold.

"'Lout?" she asked in a tone not hinting of pleasantry. Brig never remembered the chief's wife to take kindly to her father.

"Please," she heard him say, and he was starting to sound desperate, "you are a woman and I need a woman to explain this," he gestured to all of his daughter. "Brynna was taken too early and I never thought this time would come without her."

Astrid seemed to understand. She gave an appraising and yet sympathetic look to Brig. Brig was growing tired of all the vagueness about her condition. So far she got the hint it was only something a female was afflicted with some bizarre sickness consisting of bleedings and a slight abdominal cramp.

"Fine. I will. Leave her with me for the day," Astrid nodded.

"Done," he agreed and gave Brig a kiss to her cheek like she was some child before departing.

What a great father; faster to dump her off with someone else when he couldn't handle the situation.

"Come inside Brig," Astrid instructed.

"What is going on? Really?"

"You want to know why you bleed?"

"Yes, why won't Dad tell me?"

"He can't explain it, no man really can," she gave a slight superior smirk but Brig found nothing funny about it either.

"Will it stop?"

"Yes, it should in about five days."

"WHAT? Almost a week?"

"Could be shorter, or longer. It differs."

"And what is it?"

Suddenly they were interrupted by her skinny red-headed cousin.

"Mom! Svenan took my-"

"I don't want to hear it right now Icky, begone!"

Brig's cousin halted and gave them a look mixed of hurt and suspicion. "Hi Brig, bye Brig," he said but obeyed and left them with a sigh. Astrid took a breath and smiled kindly at Brig before continuing her answer.

"You started your bleed cycle, meaning you are a woman now and its purpose is to indicate whether or not you are with child. If it happens that means you are without, and if does not happen then you are with, and you don't have to worry about that until you are married, but it will come each month until you can no longer bear children."

Brig had to take it in, this was ridiculous, this would have to go on for YEARS?

"How do I deal with it?"

"Lots of hot tea helps, keep clean wraps."

She had to sit, it was such a startling piece of news; she'd never even suspected. No doubt she would have known if her mother were still alive, like her father had indicated. He had put it off until after it had happened, causing her to panic and fear for her life. She stood after a moment, realizing she felt uncomfortable sitting for too long.

"So I can't die?"

"No, not from this,Astrid looked like she had wanted to say something more but instead averted her eyes before landing them back on Brig, How do you feel right now?"

"I feel okay, though a bit angry at my Dad."

"That's common." It was a remark in a snide tone that made Brig wonder if Astrid was referring to anger in general or anger at Snotlout. However, the lady's words were quickly followed by, "You will be moodier before and during the cycle. And you are lucky to not be so affected by other symptoms; some girls have horrible stomach aches with it and can barely stand."

Fair enough.

But still, this 'bleeding cycle' was like an unwelcome pest. A monthly unwelcome pest. She'd rather have to deal with the spiders.

But the more she thought about it, she had to have it or else that meant...well something she was hardly ready for.

It was not a good day for Brig.

A/N Hi. It's been awhile, and I'm sorry.