Hmmmm, I can't tell if 43 views in a month is good or not. I don't know much about this fandom yet. Though I am enjoying this story a lot, because I like Brotherband, even if it isn't as well-known as Ranger's Apprentice. I always thought these two should be together. It makes sense, does it not?

…

Hal woke up feeling like he had been repeatedly punched in the stomach by Tursgud. It didn't help that Stig was nowhere to be seen. Now that they were on speaking terms, he wanted to confront Stig and ask him a few questions. Maybe the larger boy sensed something was coming and took off before Hal woke. That left a bitter taste in his mouth, worse than the medicine that Edvin made him take when he wasn't sleeping or eating properly.

"I don't love him," Hal whispered to himself periodically as he got himself ready for the day. He made a quick detour down to the creek to bathe, mostly so he could have alone time. He didn't want to face his team quite yet. Most were still sleeping or just waking up, and he didn't want to bother them. He took his outer clothing down to the creek with him, stripped down to his underwear, and stepped into the water, gasping when the cold water hit his bare skin for the first time. "By Gorlog's great hands I don't love him!" he hissed, dunking himself.

"Don't love who?" a voice asked when the young skirl surfaced. Hal turned toward the voice and wished he could drown himself. Stig was sitting on a flat rock beside the creek, watching Hal through slitted eyes. The water covered up to the young skirl's waist, which he was thankful for. He'd never felt self-conscious about his appearance in front of Stig before, but now that he may have feelings for him, he did. "Hal?" the bigger boy asked again, and Hal blinked. "Who don't you love?" he asked again.

"No one important Stig," Hal replied, wading out a little farther. He hated saying that to his best friend, because of course Stig was important to him. He was Hal's best friend. Just his best friend. Nothing more. "It's nothing. I'm just thinking out loud." He gazed at his clothing spread out on the bank. Stig eyed it too and smiled wolfishly at Hal.

"I see you've left your clothing, and your towel, on shore," Stig said, snatching up everything. "Why don't you come get them?" Hal crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. He wasn't letting Stig bait him into getting out only to do something nasty to him. "I promise you Hal, I won't do anything. You've changed in front of me before. What makes this different?"

"Nothing," Hal responded heatedly. Just that I like you more than I thought, he added to himself. "I just don't want to get out right now." Stig tilted his head to the side and studied the smaller boy. He still had his arms folded in front of his chest, like he was protecting himself. "Stig, please, just leave." That made the bigger boy mad.

"Why?" he asked irritably. "Why are you pushing me aside Hal. We used to be so close. Now I feel like we're complete strangers. Gorlog's teeth, you talk to Jesper more than you talk to me, and you've known me longer! What's really going on? I know when something's bothering you, and I want to know what is." Hal looked away and blushed. Was he that transparent all the time? He really didn't want to try and explain things to Stig now. But then again, when would he get another chance? Stig was here. He had the bigger boy's full attention. No one else was around.

"Okay fine," Hal relented, climbing out. He held out his hand and Stig handed him the towel. He dried himself quickly, then retrieved his clothing and dressed himself again. "Something is bothering me. I like someone from our team, but I'm not sure how to go about telling him I like him." Stig got a funny look.

"Don't you like our whole team?" he asked. Hal would've gladly smacked him upside the head. He was being purposely stupid. No one would be that stupid.

"I mean, I like like someone from our team," the young skirl responded through gritted teeth. "The kind of like that makes you want to, you know, date the person." Stig's eyes widened considerably and he made a perfect little O of surprise with his mouth.

"Oh," he said softly. "You're gay?" Hal nodded miserably. Maybe it was a bad idea telling Stig how he felt. "Hey, that's cool," Stig replied, placing his hand on Hal's shoulder. "So who is it you like? Is it Jesper? Is that why you've been talking to him a lot?" Hal shook his head.

"No, I don't like Jesper," he replied. "I'm pretty sure Stephan likes Jesper. Would it be okay if I not tell you who it was? I don't even want to admit it to myself yet." Stig grinned easily at him.

"Hey, no problem," he responded. "But when you're ready to tell, I want to be the first person to know." He gave Hal an awkward one arm hug, then sauntered off. Hal stared at his retreating form, wishing so bad he hadn't hugged him. The contact made electricity shoot up his spine and left him feeling tingly. Hal decided it was time to tell the whole team the truth. Not who he liked (or loved, he wasn't sure which), but about who he was.

"I don't love him," he repeated for perhaps the thousandth time. Steeling his nerves, he marched back to camp. "Herons, come here please," he called across the clearing. All activity ceased as the team slowly gathered around him. "I have something to tell you all," he began. He stuffed his hands into his pockets so the team wouldn't see them shaking. "I really hope this doesn't change your opinion of me, and I really hope you'll keep me as skirl when I'm done." Stig moved beside him, not saying anything, just being a sense of calm over the young skirl. He felt the bigger boy's hand on his back, much like the first day they had an assessment.

"What is it Hal?" Ingvar asked. The other members of the Heron Brotherband mumbled in agreement with the young giant. They wanted to know what Hal's announcement was. Hal closed his eyes, his nerves beginning to waver. He couldn't do this. He just couldn't. Stig's began rubbing circles on his back, the only thing keeping him from running away into the woods like a frightened child.

"Quiet!" Stig bellowed, and the Herons instantly fell into silence. "Your skirl is going to speak now." He pressed his lips to Hal's ear. "It's okay Hal. I'm right here if you need me."

"Alright guys, there's something you need to know about me," Hal said quietly. The other members leaned forward so they could hear their skirl better. Hal took a deep breath. "Guys…I'm gay. I like someone from our team." He closed his eyes and leaned against Stig, who circled his arms around him and murmured to him, telling him that he did a good job. He cracked one eye open and was met with six smiling faces.

"We kind of figured skirl," Edvin said. "The way you've been acting kind of gave it away. But who do you like?"

"I think I know!" Wulf cried out. "I bet it's Jesper! Hal's been talking to him a lot and calling on him when he needs something. He even wants to spar with him." Stephan turned a murderous eye to the unlucky twin. Wulf backpedaled. "What? It's logical."

"It's not Jesper," Hal replied with a sigh. "I'm not telling you who it is. I haven't even told Stig yet, so what makes you think I'm telling you?" There a small wave of laughter, and all the tension seemed to leave the campground.

…

"Hey, what you did, that was really brave," Stig said softly to Hal later that night. Both boys couldn't sleep, so they were sitting side by side again one wall of the hut, outside. There were no clouds or rain, and the sky was brilliantly clear. "I've faced bullies and battled creatures before, but I don't think I'd ever have the courage to do what you did."

"It wasn't anything special," Hal replied, blushing a little. Stig didn't offer praise much, so being praised by him was a rare treat. "I was just tired of hiding who I really was. It was bound to get out at camp eventually, might as well beat them to the punch. I just hope Tursgud doesn't find out." He grimaced. "Imagine what he'd do if he found out that I like boys."

"That doesn't make you any different than the rest of us," Stig protested. "It's just another thing that makes you so unique. So special." Hal sighed.

"I dunno Stig," the young skirl replied. "Tursgud might see it as a weakness he can exploit. I don't want it to get to that point, so we should inform the team to keep it on the down low." Stig gently shoved his shoulder into the smaller boy's. Hal smiled at him. "Thanks for listening Stig."

"What are friends for?" Stig asked. Hal glanced away, blinking back tears. Why did Stig have to keep reminding him that they were only friends, and nothing more?

"Yeah," Hal replied thickly. "I think I'm going to turn in for the night. Good nigh Stig, see you in the morning." Hal moved off before Stig could say anything. He disappeared inside the hut and settled into his spot. What if he didn't want to be just friends with Stig anymore? He wanted to date Stig now, now that he could tell himself he liked his best friend. It still wasn't love though.

…

Yay, it's longer!