Days turned into weeks, and the idea of talking Eyarr into moving back to New Berk became ever more present in my head.

"Babe, can I ask you something?" I finally asked one afternoon. He was busy sharpening some of his daggers, and I was mending one of my tunics.

"Sure, what's up?"

"I know you and I are both movers and whatnot, but do you think, eventually, you'll become comfortable with living on New Berk permanently?" He glanced up at me in mild surprise.

"I mean… In time I suppose. Why do you ask?" I awkwardly frowned, struggling to articulate my words.

"I dunno, I guess, I just often wonder… If given the opportunity to, I'd go back to New Berk. But you've been hesitant; I've noticed you don't exactly feel the same." I finally explained, twirling and twisting my fingers around, a nervous tic I developed. I watched his face, trying to read what crossed those fair features.

"And… whatever's got you hesitant, I at least want to understand why. I won't force you to move if you don't want that, but I want to understand what's happening." I finished assuredly. I didn't want him to feel obligated to move around again if he didn't want to, but I wanted to make it clear that I wanted to return to New Berk. But it was still important to understand and listen to him first. I truly attempted to help him feel that he could share his feelings and thoughts without judgment from me.

He sighed deeply, holding the whetstone in one hand, his dagger in the other. I saw his eyes shift around, assuming he was thinking about his response.

He then broke the silence, putting the whetstone and dagger down.

"Honestly… it may sound stupid, but it's because of Chief Hiccup." I was silent. I did not expect that answer.

"What? Why?" He rubbed his neck awkwardly.

"I mean, you remember how I interacted with him when I first arrived? Not particularly on the best terms."

"Eyarr, he let you take me away from New Berk. I dunno about you, but that sounds like he trusts you enough."

"But even still. I don't know if I'm ready to go back there yet and… talk it out. He kind of intimidates me." I wanted to laugh a bit but didn't, not wanting to embarrass him. I understood where he was coming from. Hiccup could be a bit intense and sometimes let his emotions get the better of him, especially with dragons.

But that's what they had in common. Hiccup and Eyarr both had a love and respect for dragons. I even remember Eyarr bringing it up at one point!

I took his hands in mine, grazing my thumb over the visible veins and his rough skin. I appreciated the size difference between our hands. His being considerably bigger than mine.

"What is it?" I heard him ask.

"You know I love you," I started, "and I don't want to force you into anything you're not ready for yet… but I hope you'll eventually become comfortable with the idea. New Berk has everything left of my home on Motunui, and sometimes it physically hurts…" I gazed at him through my lashes, waiting for his reaction. For a moment, I saw a fleeting glimpse of sympathy cross his face, but then it was gone.

"I know that… but I'm not ready to go back yet." I felt tears well up in my eyes in frustration.

"You understand what I'm saying, right?" He nodded slowly.

"I do… I'm just… not ready." I pursed my lips together, standing up and grabbing my shawl.

"I don't understand! You say you understand what I'm saying, yet I can't help but feel you don't appreciate or actually get my feelings about it. New Berk has all I have left of home… I don't have that here!"

"Laeli, it's nothing personal. I need some more time to mull it over!"

"We've been doing that for months! When will you accept that it's time to move on?"

"Laeli-"

"Don't you get it! Can't you see the signs? I don't feel at home here! This isn't my home! I have not been able to fully settle down here. I was fine with this being a temporary place to stay, but the longer we're here, the less at home I feel… I want to go home, Eyarr. And home isn't here."

I didn't let him get another word in as I left the house, slamming the door behind me. I didn't even know where I planned to go. I just let my legs take control and lead me to wherever. I was so tired.

Tired of his stalling, for whatever reason there was. I knew he 'understood,' but I felt he didn't understand what I was trying to say. He never got the feeling of a real home before, and I've been trying to help him appreciate the feeling of one. But gods be damned, he was so stubborn and resilient, and it was exhausting.

I don't know how long I walked and zoned out, but I found myself somewhere in the forest. With a shaky sigh, I sat on a fallen log, covered almost entirely in moss.

Why didn't he get it?

"He's being a little too stubborn again?" A familiar raspy voice came.

Turning around, I somehow wasn't surprised to see Eir standing a few feet away, leaning on his staff.

"Oh, hi, Eir. How'd you guess?"

"Frankly, I just know. You're an easy woman to read." I rolled my eyes.

"Thanks for the compliment." He rested a boney, wrinkled hand on my shoulder. When I glanced up, he had a twinkle in his one good eye.

"Come with me. I think I know what will help." He said with an assured smile through his white beard. I deduced I didn't have much say otherwise, so I followed him out of the forest, where he took a new path I was unfamiliar with down to the beach.

"I didn't know that trail was even there," I remarked. He let out a cough and a chuckle.

"The forest has paths everywhere. You just have to know where to look."

"Fair enough, I suppose. What is it that you want to show me?" He wordlessly led me to an unfamiliar section of a beach. What made this place different from the other ones I usually went to, I saw sacred symbols carved into the rock. Just beyond the shore were towering rock spires sticking out of the ocean like jagged knives. Two were connected via a tree's roots like a bridge. The tree grew into the sky, its roots cascading down into the crashing waves below. It seemed to be a miracle that the tree survived in such a precarious spot.

"What're we doing here?"

"I'm going to help you channel your connection to the sea." I raised my eyebrow, confused.

"Channel my connection? What do you mean?"

"In the time you've been here, I've observed how you interact with the ocean and how deeply connected you are to it. You see, we Celts have a deep appreciation and connection to the elements. The sea is one of them. My responsibility as a Druid is to remind my people who we are and keep our connections strong."

"Okay?"

"Come to the shore." I did as he said, and Ocean greeted me, swirling around my body. I could somehow sense Ocean was anxious… stressed, as if it was mirroring my emotions.

"How on earth-"

"You sense it."

"I'm supposed to?"

"Yes. That tells me your connection is powerful. Powerful enough to make you feel its emotions mirroring yours."

"Oh, I see."

"And given that I found you in a less than enthused state, I figured this would be the best way to help you channel your frustrations."

"… My frustrations with Eyarr."

"Exactly." The understanding finally dawned on me. Being able to get my anger out through Ocean, that wasn't through sailing. This could work… at least it was worth a shot.

I removed my boots and socks, and Eir turned away to give me privacy. I then removed my tunic and belt, leaving me in my bra and the wraparound skirt-turned shorts that allowed for better mobility.

I dug my feet into the sand, positioning them just so. And just like that, I let my limbs take control, feeling the force of the ocean deep within me. I sent punches and kicks flying, feeling the power of the ocean surging around my body. Upon opening my eyes, I saw Ocean swirling around me like I had seen weeks ago.

It hit me when I realized what Ocean had been trying to tell me. I guess it knew how long I'd pent up my frustration and anger for the past two years, frustration with everything. Ocean wanted me to channel that out and start over.

I then mentally acknowledged that Eir had known this for a while and had been waiting for the right time to assist me. Whatever way he used to figure it out, I was thankful for him going out of his way to demonstrate my inner power, providing a way to discover it.

That didn't mean I wasn't still annoyed with Eyarr's stubbornness about moving back to New Berk. Again, I didn't want to force him into it. I just wished for an easier way to ease him into the concept. I knew he knew that we eventually wanted to settle down and finally have a steady life, but I simply guessed it was a matter of finally making a choice. He was hesitant to take that first step, which made sense. To make such a big change… needed confidence and courage.

Whatever the case may be, I was determined to help him just like I was when I first met him.